224 pages; soft cover; prose

The combat league is reaching its climax, and the four teams that fought their way there are ready for center stage. First is Oliver's team against Team Valois, a trio of tricky sword arts users whose leader harbors an unnatural loathing ready to bubble up to the fore. Team Cornwallis will face the favorite to win the league: Team Andrews, a ragtag group of dynastic talent and unbridled chaos. Demitrio, the astronomy instructor, makes a rare appearance among the matches' spectators; the philosopher seeks the culprit behind the faculty murders, and his eyes are trained on Oliver's team...