In the kingdom of Ilya, all were not fortunate enough to survive the Plague. Those who did possess power: they are the Elites. Those born Ordinary are just that: ordinary. Paedyn Gray's lack of an ability made her a felon by fate, and a thief by necessity when the king decreed that all Ordinaries be banished in order to preserve his Elite society. Having been trained by her father to be overly observant since she was a child, she poses as a Psychic in the crowded city. When she saves the life of an Ilyas prince, Paedyn is thrown into the Purging Trials, a brutal competition that exists to showcase the Elites' powers. If the Trials don't kill her, the prince will if he discovers she is Ordinary. - adapted from jacket

Now alone, Adena learns the streets of Loot by herself and meets a mysterious Elite named Kai Azer who harbors a dangerous ability, but their love is quickly interrupted when Adena becomes Paedyn's seamstress for the Purging Trials.