A young man with a rather normal upbringing, Levi's life is drastically altered when he discovered the talisman given to him by his grandfather is the fabled Elder Gem, an item of great power. Thrust into a dangerous game between King Farren and the secret organization known as the Giala, Levi is sent on a journey to Blackthrush Academy, a prestigious school for knights, to protect both him and the Gem. Along the way, Levi joins with three others also travelling to the Academy, Kana Nightshade, Kinzo Galamen and Miri Cintaren. Levi has a tough time on the journey, knowing little of the world, or how to defend himself and is forced to rely on others to see him through to Blackthrush, several of whom die. Once at the Academy, Levi begins to train as a knight, learning magic and swordplay. He befriends the headmaster, Aldus Calanol, who tells him that he must keep the Elder Gem a secret as there are spies in Blackthrush. Levi and his friends are forced to deal with Rorien Stern and his vampiric Kar-Sang, who they ran afoul of on their journey. Stern plagues the Academy, kidnapping and killing students and Levi finally allows himself to be taken to protect the innocents. A group of bounty hunters who Levi had encountered before come to take him and battle Stern and Levi's friends, but Levi manages to convince their leader that turning him over to Farren is good for no one and they leave. However, one of the hunters doesn't agree and chases Levi down, killing one of his protectors, Jed Korlec. Levi is saved by some of his new friends from Blackthrush and he kills the bounty hunter, ending the danger that had been following him since he left his home.

For the next year and a half, Levi stays at Blackthrush, his training as a knight progressing. However, he and his friends, along with Aldus, actively work to discover who the spy for Farren is. After a mishap at the Academy, during which Levi finds a mysterious book only he can read, they discover that the spy is one of four instructors. Levi's friends investigate, making Levi seem less suspicious. Still unsure of the spy, everyone at Blackthrush heads to Saken for the Midarra Festival, a traditional holiday, to enjoy a tournament for all the knights of the realm. At the Festival, Levi is met by his urchin friends who helped him to Blackthrush. For their help, the urchins ask Levi and his friends for a favour. They need to take down a cult known as the Forsaken that is brainwashing street kids. Levi agrees to help and infiltrates the nobles' residence to try and find whoever is funding the Forsaken. Things go awry and Levi is framed of theft and thrown in prison off the coast. In jail, he meets Kyner Synnas, the lost Prince of Wintenveil, who discovers Levi has the Elder Gem and takes it, intending to use it to buy his freedom. Levi enlists the help of a Giala assassin to track Kyner down and after they both save each other from a sea serpent, Kyner gives the Gem back. They travel back to Saken, passing through a geyser field in which Levi sees glimpses of a possible future. Once back at the Festival, Levi helps kidnap Ara Stern, Rorien's sister, in an attempt to save one of his friends, Cody, who had his body stolen by the cult leader. Rorien helps Cody and together, they all destroy the Forsaken, but one of their leaders, Cody's brother, escapes with Ara. Levi, Aldus and some of his friends infiltrate the nobles' residence to try and find Ara, but they only find the noble funding the Forsaken and kill him. While leaving, Levi and Miri follow Karl Linae, a Blackthrush instructor to a secret chamber where he meets with Farren, revealing himself as the spy. Levi and Miri chase and fight Linae, but are beaten and Levi uses elemental magic, instead of his normal mental magic to save Miri. Aldus helps Levi kill Linae and they return to where Cody and the others have killed Stern and the Kar-Sang, but at the cost of one of the urchins. Aldus leads Blackthrush back home to avoid being questioned by the authorities, but Kyner tricks Evander, one of Levi's friends into betraying him and Farren and a large force besiege the Academy. Levi escapes with some friends as the two sides battle, but is caught by Malroth and Avelyn, Farren's generals. They defeat Levi's friends and take him captive.