The Skylance family is a proud family with a long tradition in the military. Rowen has been brought up from a very young age to join one form of the military after he graduates. However, he's torn between where to go, or if he even wants to go anywhere at all. The young mage sets off on an expedition to test his worthiness with the rest of his class, but things go wrong. Afterward, Rowen must choose his new life path, but the event has scarred him. He may very well be the first Skylance in generations to shy away from the militant life.