For decades Gigaus had sorted the potentials of the Mages of Alath searching for the next great one--a mage capable of accessing all the Channels of Power. Perilous times are upon the peoples of Kalda, war is brewing in the west and an ancient evil threatens the world once again. In the past, great ones have often appeared ahead of those dire circumstances, ready to lead Gigaus's Order. Day after day, Giagus hopes that he will one day sort a great one. But discovering a great one comes at a price, one Giagus does not know he has to pay.