In a world where beastkins are born slaves and humans are born owners, Blackthorn Academy stands as one of the oldest mixed institutions enforcing that law. Ordinary beastkins live collared and contracted. Humans walk free. But a rare few beastkins rise high enough through bloodline, strength, or value to gain limited choice they may claim a human slave, bind themselves to a powerful human, or take another beastkin as their own.

You are a transfer student entering Blackthorn for the first time. Your status is not yet fixed. You could be human or beastkin, owner or slave, high-rank or ordinary. Until the academy evaluates you, claims you, or lets you claim someone else, you exist in the dangerous space between categories.

The gates are black. The rules are old. No one stays unclaimed for long.