Content Warnings: This book contains self-harm, recreational drug use and drug addiction, racism, classism, colorism, physical abuse, mental abuse, explicit wartime violence, explicit sexual violence, sexual assault, human experimentation, suicide, and genocide.

Sixteen-year-old Fang Runin, known as Rin, enters an examination room to take the Keju, an academy entrance exam. Across the Nikara Empire, more than 23,000 students simultaneously take the Keju, hoping to score into 3,000 academy spots. These spots are largely given to children of rich families who can afford tutoring. Only a few are given to students from Tikany, Rin’s small town in the southern Rooster Province.

The story flashes back to two years ago. Rin’s foster parents summon a matchmaker, who finds Rin a wealthy merchant “twice divorced and three times her age” (6). The Fangs are making this match for strategic gain: They were forced to adopt Rin after the Second Poppy War, when Empress Su Daji mandated the adoption of war orphans. They made Rin a shop girl and opium runner but were clear that she was burdensome.

After the meeting, Rin steals an opium packet and goes to Tutor Feyrik’s house. She pleads with Feyrik to tutor her for the Keju.