In the fractured dystopia of Sandric, unity is an illusion, and deception thrives beneath the surface. Survival comes at a cost, and the system controls the most vital resource: light. Energy is currency, and wattage determines your worth. Levity is no hero. As a reluctant representative thrust into The Sanctioning-a brutal, mind-bending trial designed to break her-she must rise above the system's cruelty to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Betta, a confident and calculating Sanctioned leader nearing the end of her term, has spent years navigating the regime's lies. But when she uncovers secrets that threaten their world, she must decide whether to expose the truth or remain a pawn in the system's game. Bound by an unbreakable connection, Levity and Betta face shifting alliances, treacherous betrayals, and impossible choices. The fate of Sandric-and the hope for something better-rests on their shoulders.