Gideon is the creative pseudonym of a tandem of popular authors working in the genres of LitRpg and combat fiction. In the “Bard” cycle, the world of Barliona, invented by the famous science fiction writer Vasily Makhanenko, is used as the setting, but the heroes here are completely different. The novel “The Departed,” which opens this series, tells the story of the lead singer of a musical group who, in search of inspiration and with the permission of her tight-fisted but insightful producer, goes to the virtual world of Barliona. The unusualness of her action is that for the game Kira chooses a very exotic race of sylvari - humanoid plants, and as a class - a bard, a wandering minstrel singer. Developing and playing as such a hero is not at all easy, especially considering that the starting location suddenly turns out to be isolated from the rest of the world. However, determination and the ability to get along with people help the heroine achieve considerable success and learn what others have no idea about. But what will this forbidden knowledge lead to? Secrets and legends of Barliona, adventures, humor - all this awaits connoisseurs of the genre.