The main heroine, Ella, tries to return to real life. She agrees to do a favor for a new friend, and as a result is swept into a chain of dangerous events that pull her away from her past pursuits and problems, sending her into the next round of adventures. In an attempt to make useful use of her experience, she discovers new possibilities; events turn out not to be accidental, and new acquaintances perceive her in a way that is not quite ordinary.