"Gold in the Dark Night" by Leah Arden, summary Automatic translate

This book is a debut fantasy novel, written in 2020 and the first in the extensive "Descendants of the First" series. The plot unfolds 1,000 years after a Star fell to the Continent, causing a global catastrophe and a long Black Winter.

The Prehistory of the World and the Gifts of the First Ones

The catastrophe forever changed the face of the earth. Fragments of the enormous Star triggered volcanic eruptions and powerful earthquakes. The sky was covered in thick, acrid smoke for years. The sun’s rays could not penetrate the shroud, leading to the harsh Black Winter. The earth was poisoned, and soon a third of the population perished from cold and starvation. People lost hope, forgetting what a blue sky looked like.

During this dark time, the First Ones emerged — unique individuals endowed with magical Gifts of various elements. They founded four new states, dividing the Continent’s territories: Kaidan, Ilos, Isar, and Ceru. This peaceful coexistence did not last long. One of the First Ones committed a terrible act of fratricide: he took the life of his sister Teyala in order to seize her fiery power.

Teyala’s death sowed fear and mistrust among the survivors. The rulers of the states feared that the ability to absorb another’s power could be passed on through inheritance. They imposed a strict ban on marriages between Gift-wielding individuals from different countries. People of mixed blood began to be persecuted and called the derogatory term "kahari."

Lost Memory on the Islands

The protagonist, 18-year-old Oiro, lives in exile on the Islands. They traditionally provide refuge for outcasts, fugitives, and half-breeds who no longer have a place on the Continent. Six years ago, Oiro woke up in the hold of a ship with no memory of her past life. She remembers only her name and age.

Oiro has an unusual appearance — a pronounced case of heterochromia. Her left eye is a pure gray, devoid of any blue or violet tint, and her right eye is a dark brown. She is being raised by kind adoptive parents: Roy, a Kaidan, and Layla, a Teyalian. Those around her consider Oiro a half-breed Kahari. Roy trains her and the other teenagers in martial arts. Oiro trains like everyone else, running laps around the training field and diligently practicing her strikes.

The girl is regularly plagued by strange, frighteningly realistic dreams. Sometimes she notices inexplicable things happening to her. For example, one day, a red apple, dropped from her hands, hangs in the air for a few moments, defying the laws of gravity. Oiro doesn’t understand the nature of her hidden abilities.

Escape to save a friend

Oiro’s closest friend is her best friend, Daren Otero. He is a year older than Oiro. Daren’s mother is from Ilos, so he too bears the Kahari mark. The young man possesses the rare Gift of Darkness, which allows him to instantly move through shadows. His magic has strict limitations: Daren can only travel to places he has already visited and explored personally.

On the Isles, as in Kaidan, the Gift of Darkness is considered a terrible curse. The locals fear this magic and mercilessly execute its bearers. When Daren’s secret is threatened with disclosure, the friends are forced to flee. They decide to travel to Ilos — the only nation where the descendants of the First, who wielded the Gift of Darkness, are openly worshipped. There, Daren will be able to stop hiding and find a safe haven.

A Long Journey Across the Continent

The fugitives secretly leave the Islands and embark on a dangerous journey through unfamiliar lands. They are forced to spend the night in the open, hide from storms on tiny, deserted patches of land, and constantly evade patrols. Along the way, they are joined by an old Isari woman named Malta. She has a foul temper and is fond of grumbling, but knows many ancient legends.

Malta often tells stories of the Black Winter, the First Ones, and the fall of the Star. Her stories help Oiro better understand the political structure of the Continent and the nature of the Gifts. With each passing day, Oiro’s dreams become more distinct and clear. The girl feels an irresistible pull toward Ilos, though she cannot logically explain the reason for this powerful feeling.

Captivity and shadow magic

Hiding in foreign lands becomes increasingly difficult. Soon, the heroes are tracked down and captured. Oiro, Daren, and Malta find themselves locked in a prison wagon bound for the capital, Cera. They are driven across cobblestones, and the chances of a peaceful escape fade with each passing hour.

After three days of travel, the wagon approaches the border of Kaidan. After waiting until nightfall, Daren makes a risky decision. He disappears for two hours to thoroughly explore the area on foot. Returning to the wagon, he declares that they must escape immediately. Daren uses his Gift of Darkness and teleports his friends 50 meters into the forest.

This use of magic greatly exhausts the young man. He had never transported more than one person at a time before. The heroes manage to escape the night guard and avoid imminent execution, continuing their journey to freedom.

On the border of Ilos

After long hardships, the heroes overcome the final obstacles and reach Ilos. Meanwhile, relations between the four countries are strained to the breaking point. Kaidan, a traditional Light-worshipping nation, is amassing troops and preparing to unleash a full-scale war against the Ilosians. The rulers of Kaidan hate the Darkness and wish to completely destroy its bearers.

In Ilos, Oiro meets with the warrior Rushan of the elite Nazari squad and Crown Prince Dayan. It turns out that Oiro’s lost memories are directly linked to the royal family of Ilos, to which her sister, Ayla, also belongs. Rushan blames himself for not being able to sense Oiro’s presence sooner. The ancient magical connection between the Nazari warriors and their rulers has somehow failed.

The Return of the Lost Princess

The book ends with an emotional scene in the royal palace of Ilos. The palace halls are adorned with a majestic throne of black basalt, crafted from fragments of the fallen Star. Prince Dayan orders the tired Rushan to bed, while he himself remains seated on the floor in the dimly lit corridor. He is lost in his own thoughts, recalling the long years of separation from his sister.

After a while, the doorknob creaks softly. Oiro appears on the threshold. She’s dressed in a simple Ilosian dress, her long hair neatly combed. Dayan freezes in anticipation, afraid to frighten her. He doesn’t know how fully the girl’s memory has returned or whether she’ll recognize him now.

Oiro makes a strange sound — something between a quiet sob and a laugh. Tears stream down her cheeks, and a happy smile appears on her lips. She laughs loudly and rushes toward Dayan, stretching her arms out in front of her. Her brother hugs her tightly and lifts her off the floor.

At this point, the book’s central secret is revealed: Oiro is no ordinary orphan from the Isles. She is the lost princess of Ilos, named Oiro Leila Kalanoua. The name "Oiro" means "gold," and "Leila" translates as "dark night." The girl, whose name symbolizes gold in the dark night, finally returns home to her true family, preparing to face the coming war.