The Arcanist's Price

To save a soul, he must risk his own.

When an Unbeast parasite infects the Supreme Realm Lord—the most powerful defender of Arinthia—young Beastcaller Leo Stormrider volunteers for what seems impossible: mastering a legendary technique that could free victims of Unbeast possession without killing them. But time is running out. The Supreme Realm Lord's strength wanes daily, and the Unbeasts have launched their invasion.

With only his wolf Familiar Shadowshine and the ghost of an ancient teacher by his side, Leo must master both life and soul magic—a combination no one has successfully wielded in a thousand years. But when Leo discovers that using the technique leaves its victims permanently weakened, he faces a devastating choice: save the realm's greatest defender at the cost of his power, or watch as the Unbeasts consume everything he holds dear.

Meanwhile, Leo's friend Yohji undertakes a deadly trial to claim the Emperor's Sword, a weapon of unimaginable power. But in a world where even the strongest can fall to corruption, having power may not be enough—it's how you use it that matters.

As war engulfs the realm and ancient evils stir in the shadows, Leo must prove that sometimes the greatest strength lies not in the magic we wield, but in the choices we make—and a Beastcaller may be all that stands between Arinthia and its darkest hour.