An unparalleled academic genius of his generation – Norman has a bright future ahead. While he may be the rising star of the famed Illustrious Academy, in the brutally competitive Irvanian socio-political landscape, opportunist vultures lurk at every corner and no tactic is too low.
The greatest obstacle in the way of his grand ambition to become a master artificer is an ancient alien parasite that has made his body its nest. Oh, and there is also the problem of a high-profile murder investigation that is likely to destroy his career. And he may also get implicated in imperial treason.
Will Norman be able to reassert control over his life? Or will he succumb in his pursuit of the forgotten arts of essence harvesting and become something else…
Sometimes being the best among the best is still not good enough.