Aedris, the capital of Lumina Nocte, is a city on a desolate, dark planet at the edge of known space. Life here would be impossible without the glowing green crystals that dot the landscape. These crystals are more than just a source of light; they provide food, warmth, energy, and even healing. They are the lifeblood of Aedris—and with their value, they are fiercely controlled by the powerful elite, who mine the crystals and hoard the most precious resource, Noxflare. Kaelen, a young tinkerer apprentice in the slums of Aedris, makes a meager living by repairing the discarded remnants of the rich. His days are spent fixing broken machines, salvaging anything that might be worth a few extra credits. But his life changes when, during one of his routines, he discovers something no one else has: he can alter the color of the light inside a crystal. The shift in hue is subtle at first, but it is unmistakable—and with it, new powers emerge. Kaelen realizes that his discovery could change everything. But he knows the risks: if the wrong people find out, the power of the crystals—and perhaps even his life—could be taken from him. Determined to keep his secret safe, he confides only in his best friend Renik, a clever gutter thief who has always been by his side. Yet, there’s a bigger problem: in order to continue his experiments and unlock the potential of the crystals, Kaelen needs better resources—better materials, better equipment, and most importantly, access to the most advanced research facility in the city: Bastion College. But there’s a catch. Kaelen's position in the lower tiers of society means that he's not qualified to enter the prestigious institution. Faced with the choice of revealing his discovery to gain access or letting his breakthrough slip away, Kaelen decides he cannot abandon his research. Instead, he takes a darker path: forging transcripts, cheating, stealing, and even considering murder, all to get the credentials that will let him into the college—and into the heart of the city's power. With danger closing in and the stakes rising, Kaelen must navigate a web of deception, betrayal, and power struggles. Will his secret remain hidden long enough to unlock the truth behind the glowing crystals, or will the shadows of Aedris consume him?