Almark

Among the grizzled mercenaries of the frozen north, few are as strong as Reiz—a reputation his son, Almark, has not inherited. Casting off his timidity, Almark seeks to become a fighter worthy of his father’s recognition. But Reiz wants more for his son, hoping to spare him the cruelties of life in the north. Reiz sends Almark to the South’s prestigious Norkh Institute to hone his affinity for magic. Here, in this land that has forgotten war, a boy who has known nothing but conflict will strive to one day return home strong enough to bring prosperity to his homeland and make his father proud.

Despite the headmaster’s insistence on Almark’s great potential for magic, the Norkh Institute’s promising new arrival has never so much as cast a spell—an inadequacy his newfound rival, nobleblooded Tohrk Shifei, is keen to remind him of. The sin of being a talentless Northern barbarian puts Almark at odds with Tohrk and the other prideful, highborn students. As the rift between nobles and commoners is made clear, Almark finds friendship among those who share his kind humility. After all, he traveled here to become a great mage, not bicker with Southern elites. So, together, Almark and his new friends endure. For a warrior’s pride is much like the Northern ice: frigid, unyielding…but also deadlier than the sharpest of swords when it cracks…

Rescuing a first-year from a monster, exploring a haunted garden, and taking final exams don’t scare a trained mercenary like Almark. Even so, failing the exam would mean attending remedial classes instead of visiting Wendy over summer break. And while Almark has never felt this way about someone before, he knows better than to let this opportunity slip. But questions loom as his school life settles back into rhythm after the previous tumult. Where did those monsters in the forest come from? Why can’t Almark get a read on Wollis? And most importantly—how is he going to pass this test when he’s barely learned a single spell?!