Three-year-old Ars Louvent has the power to visualise the innate talents of others; one day he meets Rietz, a man of an undesirable social class but with incredible talents, only Ars can see.

To prepare for the political turmoil ahead, Ars is now determined to recruit the most talented people he can find with the help of his Appraisal skill, and he's off to a larger town to see if he can scout someone with an aptitude for magic.

Ars has discovered someone with an extraordinary talent for magic, but she has no interest whatsoever in serving him.

Ars's quest to recruit more talent continues into the future, especially as his family grows and tensions begin mounting; little does he know he may find it in the most unexpected places, or rather, the most unexpected people.

Things are looking grim for the Louvent's; Ars finds out he has a fiancée.

Raven's condition takes a turn for the worse; the governor has been assassinated, meaning the local lords must now brace for war; Ars tries to lead House Louvent in his ailing father's stead.