Helianna was born and raised in the small town of Ash Hill in the middle of nowhere. When it is discovered that she is a null, her life is flipped on its head as she is conscripted into a secretive fighting force. To further complicate her life, she discovers that she is able to use magic as well, a combination that puts her freedom in jeopardy. Afraid to lose her autonomy, she must mask her secretive magic among her peers both in training and in deadly missions.   But as she trains to master her abilities, Helianna is drawn into a world where secrets are normal, and nothing is as it seems. With each revelation, the divide between right and wrong shrinks, forcing her to question everything she believes. As she fights for survival, freedom, and truth, Helianna must discover the true nature of her magic and her place in a world that is far more complex than she ever imagined. [winner of the fall 2024 Royal Road Writathon challenge]