In the witchcraft kingdom of Timhallan, magic is Life. But for many centuries now, a terrible prophecy has been whispered from mouth to mouth, according to which a child will be born in the royal house, deprived of a magical gift, and, consequently, the ability to rule for the good of the state. The heir to the throne will become the source of the death of the world... Frightened by the ancient prediction, the sorcerers subject not only the royal children to the Test, but every baby born in the state, and those of them who are Dead, that is, deprived of the ability to control magic, are doomed... However, some - and among them, a boy named Joram - still manages to survive...