From the bustling streets of Canton to the shadowed corridors of Oxford, Robin Swift's journey is anything but ordinary. Rescued from despair by the enigmatic Professor Lovell, he is thrust into a world where language is magic and words hold unimaginable power.

At Babel, Oxford University's prestigious Royal Institute of Translation, Robin immerses himself in the study of Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese. Here, the art of translation is more than mere words—it's a mastery of enchanted silver bars that bolster the British Empire's might.

But as whispers of an unjust war with China reach his ears, Robin's loyalty is torn. Does he stand with Babel and its imperial ambitions, or will his conscience lead him down a path of rebellion? In a world where language can both empower and oppress, Robin must decide where he stands before the silver loses its luster.