The first day of classes forges both friendships and rivalries among the students and instructors as the darkness of the labyrinth descends upon Kimberly Magic Academy.
Oliver, Pete, Chela, and Nanao are rescued from the feuding upperclassmen, and Nanao has a story to tell about her past. Katie clashes with Professor Grenville over the troll that attacked her in "Ceremony".
Oliver's feud with Richard Andrews comes to a head, and he and Nanao must face the aristocrat in a duel within the labyrinth. But other agendas are at work, and the duel turns more dangerous than any of them expected.
Four months have passed since the disappearance of Darius Grenville. While the faculty mull this over, Pete goes through some changes, and Nanao learns to fly.
The competition between the freshmen heats back up as Oliver, Nanao, and Chela are challenged to a three-on-three duel by Stacy Cornwallis, Fay Willock, and Joseph Albright.
The Kimberly student council mounts a mission into the labyrinth to rescue the students kidnapped by Ophelia Salvadori, with the Sword Roses and Miligan close behind.
The Sword Roses encounter Cyrus Rivermoore on the third layer, and Pete begins his escape from Ophelia's lab. Carlos and Alvin recall Ophelia's tragic descent into madness.
