For several centuries, princes have ruled in the Lands of the Coast—light magicians—and everyone is fine with it. The “Great Neighbor,” the Republic of Rito, has imposed its laws on allied territory and “pinned” its proud manor rulers against its border with three controlled duchies, providing itself with a shield against troublesome raids by dark people. Kirill, who has become a “came-from-another-place” (a “popadanets”), knows nothing about the complicated political situation—because now he is merely the five-year-old son of one of the princes, and he has a dark gift instead of a light one. What could happen if he tested his newly acquired magic in a simple harmless experiment? As it turns out, quite a lot—because the situation is already ripe, and ignorance does not exempt one from responsibility…