At age 24, Julius Alkas is a one-man powerhouse and a rising star among magi in the Civilized Systems. Alongside his mana familiar, Koda, he is a formidable force to behold. However, against the backdrop of established power players and conspiracies that threaten to shatter interstellar civilization, all of the power Julius can muster is not enough. For the path that lays before him, he must put his cunning to good use, make allies in unlikely places, and reach for the stars.