Runika Jones is a four-foot-five professional thief and amateur rune-caster. But one thing she isn't, is stupid.

So when Runika picks the pockets of the Archmaster Luniorn the Green, headmaster of his own runecasting academy, she figures she's done for. Instead, Luniorn offers her a deal: come study at his academy, learn how to properly cast runes, impress him and graduate. But life in the academy is very different to life on the streets, and Runika will find that fitting in is not always easy for someone so practiced at not standing out. With her cat, Jean, by her side, Runika only has one semester to make friends and show she has what it takes to survive this new life, or else.