The once idyllic planet of Vilor is on the brink—nature is dying and its people face extinction unless they can put aside old grudges and develop the technology necessary to leave their planet before time runs out! Amidst the panic, a meek biologist, Sencius Gavle, discovers an ancient chamber that could explain the ecological collapse that has doomed the planet, but the desperate race for survival causes his findings to be ignored.

Meanwhile, Chelin Vesper is a young woman who is caught between two her career as a professional courtesan and her duty to her prominent family—a family who happens to be spearheading the worldwide evacuation efforts. Her natural aptitude in aethertuning and appetite for sensation creates more problems than it solves, especially now that she’s convinced the planet’s living aetherstream is trying to communicate with her!

When Chelin and Sencius meet, he describes a forgotten chamber she’d only seen in visions and they agree to undertake an expedition to uncover its secrets. One that will change them, and Vilor, forever.