In the 1620s, the realm of Vales stands on the brink of a transformative period. The magic steam engine has heralded the Industrial Revolution, while enlightenment ideas challenge the foundations of feudal imperial authority. The empire of the Old World is weakening, the colonies of the New World are filled with ambition, and the tradition of "swords and magic" has persisted for 1,600 years. An old order is on the verge of being overthrown by a new one. This is both the best and worst of times, the era in which the colonial adolescent Joan Vida navigates her studies and life. "Everyone is born free, but the caster is more free." This narrative revolves around themes of magic and personal growth.