The Swordmaster and the Strategist

Banished demons from Nightmare Cove have come for blood. As allies die horrific deaths around him, Xerxes has no choice but to grip his sword and call on his meager magic to stay alive. When he receives an opportunity to train at one of the most prestigious mage schools in the empire, Xerxes jumps at the chance to learn how to defeat the demons. But will it be enough? Is it too little too late? An empire that spans the stars is cracking at the edges as a Golden Age comes to an end. Cultists hide in plain sight while mages and generals alike vie for superiority and spin secrets. As a Dark Age looms, the only way for a young combat mage to survive is to keep getting stronger. Falling in love could prove little more than a fatal distraction. The shifting tides of friendship might offer strength—or become a deadly weakness. If Xerxes outlasts the fall of an empire, what will rise from the dust?