Everyone knows the tale of the Grim Reaper; however, few know of his young apprentice, Nox.

A young boy, no older than seven years old, cloaked in a poncho forged from the night sky itself. His eyes hollow disks, his skin the sheen of dry bone, he hides himself among lost pets and forgotten toys. If you might ever suspect you catch sight of him wandering through the dusk, be weary of the dark oak shepherd's crook he wields to gather souls for his teacher.

Nox, a rather sensitive child, only has the heart to carry the souls of the weak and elderly. Seniors succumbing to old age, cats who have lived out their last nine lives, those are all fair to him. They've lived out their lives. Seen all to be seen. He couldn't bear to take the soul of a creature with memories still to be made.

But his teacher has decided that day will now come. As his next lesson, Nox must guide the soul of one they call Madeline. The village girl who resides just on the second highest hill.

The shepherd has seen Madeline many times on previous lessons. Her golden halo of hair observed through the window of her house, a guiding light in his treacherous work. He cannot fathom her death, but his teacher will not be taking no for an answer.