The Valley has stood for centuries, isolated from the world beyond, its people bound by ancient traditions and the iron rule of the Priorius priesthood. Magic flows through its lands in the form of Gia, the essence of life itself. But those who wield it are not free—they are claimed by the priesthood, shaped into instruments of power under the watchful gaze of the Grand Elder. To be gifted is to be owned. To resist is to vanish. For Dorian Cook, hiding his abilities has always been a necessity. Not just for his own sake, but for his family—for his father, a man who laughs louder than the weight of the world should allow, and for his older brother Kurt, whose unshakable presence has always been Dorian’s anchor. Together, they have carved out moments of joy in a life built on caution, sparring in the arena, exploring the mysteries of the Wilds, and daring to dream of a future beyond the priesthood’s reach. But whispers of darkness are spreading, and the Valley is beginning to rot from within. Corruption seeps through its sacred halls, infecting the land itself. The Grand Elder, once a man, has become something far worse, and the priesthood’s control is slipping into something more monstrous. A reckoning is coming. As war looms and the Valley teeters on the edge of ruin, Dorian’s secret is no longer his alone. To understand what he is—to master the forces within him—may cost him everything. But in a world where standing still is as dangerous as stepping forward, he may not have a choice. Richly imagined and brimming with action, Priorius: The Valley of Life is a tale of survival, family, and the quiet resolve of a boy who never sought greatness—yet may hold the key to his world’s salvation.