Hundreds of years later, she appears at small northern farm of Brenden Vetch, a sorrowful and solitary young man, and invites him to become the gardener of magical plants at her school.

But Valoren pays no attention to her, becoming obsessed with both the mysterious new gardener as well as a new magician, Tyramin, who has brought a popular magic show to the Twilight Quarter of the city.

Believing Tyramin to be dangerous, Valoren arranges for the Twilight Quarter's warden, the bored Arneth Pyt, to investigate the magician.

Brenden's innocent trip to the Twilight Quarter to inquire about a strange plant leads to the public exposure of his strong magical powers.

Brenden, fearing the pursuit of the relentless Valoren, then flees to a mysterious mountain in the far north and hides among the ancient magical rock-like beings who took refuge there long ago.

Brenden agrees to stay to assist overwhelmed Valoren and the amazed school wizards in learning to communicate and live in peace with the beings, who embody the wonder of wild magic.