Sil is, practically speaking, impossible. It's a good thing that when the Shroud falls, his home won't be saved by possibilities. Living in the Bardenas Desert isn't easy, but the Heralds make it possible. There, nature's hostilities and supernatural dangers are kept largely at bay by the powers Heralds bestow upon their Favored. Sil Hamuth was planning on following his father's footsteps to live a difficult life with his fellow Bardenes and enjoy his woodworking while doing it. However, when a freak event sees Sil awaken not as someone Favored by one Herald, but two, plans change. If he hopes to retain his identity and realize his potential, Sil will have to follow a pair of strangers out of the Bardenas and into one of the vaunted Institutes of the world outside. And when Sil's world is thrown into chaos after the Shroud lifts, the stakes get higher: a desert boy's uniqueness might hold the key to saving everything he holds dear. The Shroud is a high fantasy progression novel. Here, you can expect: - A fast learner with much to learn. - A unique magic system featuring tradeoffs and intrinsic challenges. - A fleshed-out, realistic world. - Intense combat in a society that must be able to defend itself to stay afloat. - Interesting characters with unique ambitions and struggles. - Defined advancement with no system, inspired by wuxia and xianxia progression. - Fast pacing that will pick up past the first five or so chapters.