Seventeen-year-old Elias Varren becomes an adventurer because his family needs money. His sister's medicine costs thirty-six copper a bottle. His father, once a brilliant craftsman, is drinking away his gift. So Elias does what he has always done. He works harder than anyone, sleeps four hours a night, and calls that strength.

With his best friend beside him, he joins the Adventurers' Guild at the lowest rank. There is no magic in this world, only steel, rope, preparation, and the rare holy power of the Church. Small contracts lead to collapsing quarries, drowned ruins, and expeditions past the edge of every map.

Elias becomes exceptional. He also becomes someone who doesn't know how to stop, until the people who travel with him teach him that strength doesn't mean carrying everything alone.

And as his family heals and money stops being the reason, he discovers he still wants to go.

Sometimes he just wants to know what's beyond the next hill.