Of Serpents, Swords, and Steam

Thirteen-year-old Titus isn't good at anything; not swords, not his studies, not steamworks, and certainly not Aethermancy, but it isn't for lack of trying. Utterly unable to concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes, he is relentlessly tormented by bullies. It also doesn't help that he is the middle child in a rather large family of high achievers, which only makes him feel more and more insignificant.

But Titus has a dream: to become the greatest Aethermancer and Artificer the world has ever known, to prove all the nay-sayers false, and to once and for all defeat the evil naga invaders and drive them from the kingdom. Then, when he has finished his work - and the king has made him the leader of the Ashcoats, of course - he'll return to make his family proud.

Little does he know that his destiny holds so much more promise and adventure - or pain - than even he dared hope.