A MISSING FIANCEE. A PERSONAL GRUDGE. A SECRET TO DESTROY EVERYTHING.

Valerian Bone has straddled the line between our world and the magical for the last five years as an alchemist. Ever since he can remember, it's brought his family nothing but misery. Even his missing fiancée, Rosalind, is part of this curse, the school she was last seen at offers him an invitation to teach his speciality at a time he desperately needs the money.

The school is full of secrets and nosy teachers, and teaching an advanced class takes up a chunk of the time he wants to spend searching for Rosalind. Valerian finds himself continuing the investigation Rosalind uncovered, a conspiracy related to the manner of his parents' deaths years before. He must unravel his own identity if he wants to save his reputation and find Rosalind alive.