Tria had known since she was a child that she had special gifts. Now she will be able to master her craft among peers as powerful as she.

But Tria is crestfallen to discover the school is... well... a bit less grands than advertised.

The shock of her dismal, tumbledown surroundings, however, is nothing compared to the surprise that awaits her; her roommate, Lina Mueller. An insufferable snob and haughty dillettante, Lina violates Simonton's rules by casually flaunting her power whenever she pleases -- and toward whoever displeases her. Unluckily for Tria, that includes her. When Lina eggs Tria into retaliating, a sorcery civil war begins that lands both young women in front of the furious headmistress.