Alexia wields immense power—enough to turn the tide of battles and cleanse entire cities of plagues. Yet, despite her role in the brutal Gemstone War, Alexia is a socially anxious dreamer who yearns for peace in the war-torn land of Leveria. Sent on a perilous mission to destroy a crucial mine in the Ruby Kingdom, Alexia is paired with Maleon Stonebreaker—a hardened cynic whose ideals were shattered by the same violence she now faces. As their journey plunges them deeper into conflict, Alexia’s belief in love’s power to heal and her own ability to be a hero are put to the ultimate test. Meanwhile, across the border, Zander is driven by a promise to his dying mother: to find the Sunrise and use a magical locket to save their homeland. Zander embarks on a quest with his loyal friends, the story-loving Alfread and the immature Kenneth. But as they venture across Leveria, they uncover a new threat—an invasion by men who control the minds of beasts. Zander swears to defeat this menace, but his quest forces him to question the glory he seeks and his loyalties in the face of a Sapphire Kingdom poised for war. In this coming-of-age tale, Alexia and Zander stand on the brink of becoming the heroes Leveria desperately needs. Together, they could end the centuries-old Gemstone War. But if they fall to the darkness within and around them, they risk becoming just another link in the chain of hatred and vengeance that has bound their broken kingdom for so long.-------------You may like this story if you are into:-Coming of age plots-Extremely skilled protagonists-Introspective, character-focused writing styles-Epic, multiple-perspective sagas (I have hundreds of chapters backlogged)-Explosive finales