In a world where magic is performed by drawing precise runes and symbols using a special ink, knowledge of this art is kept secret from ordinary people, who are told that only those born with innate gifts can become witches. The story is set on the Zozah Peninsula, where the Great Hall of Witches enforces a strict code: only authorized witches may use or learn magic, and forbidden practices—especially drawing magical circles directly on the human body—are outlawed. Witches loyal to the Hall wear pointed, brimless hats, while a renegade faction known as the Brimmed Caps rejects this system and experiments with dangerous, prohibited magic.

The protagonist, Coco, is a bright and curious orphan girl who has always dreamed of becoming a witch. She grew up believing magic is an inborn talent, but her life changes when she secretly observes a traveling witch named Qifrey casting a spell by drawing a circle. Realizing that a mysterious book she had once received from a masked stranger contains actual magical diagrams, Coco attempts to copy a spell in desperation. The forbidden magic she unleashes accidentally encases her mother in crystal, freezing her in a stone-like state. Qifrey arrives in time to save Coco, but he cannot undo the transformation. Because Coco is the only one with a faint memory of which spell she used, Qifrey takes her as his apprentice, both to teach her proper magic and to pursue his own agenda against the Brimmed Cap who gave her the book.

Coco joins Qifrey’s atelier—a secluded workshop in a tranquil corner of the peninsula—where he mentors three other young apprentices: Agott, a strict perfectionist who respects rules above all; Tetia, a warm and cheerful girl; and Richeh, who is quiet and naturally gifted. The atelier is also overseen by Olruggio, Qifrey’s childhood friend and a practical, no-nonsense witch. Under Qifrey’s guidance, Coco begins learning the fundamentals of magic as a craft: drawing intricate glyphs with a special ink derived from the sap of Silverwood trees, using a brush-tipped wand, and understanding that every line and geometric shape must be precise for a spell to work. Mistakes can cause unpredictable or disastrous effects.

As Coco develops her skills, she navigates the tension between her boundless curiosity and the rigid societal rules that limit magic to a select few. The Brimmed Caps take a growing interest in her, hoping she will help revive free and unrestricted use of magic. Meanwhile, Qifrey harbors his own secrets, including a silverwood parasite growing in his missing eye socket that threatens his life and sight, and a personal history of loss caused by forbidden magic. The early narrative arcs focus on Coco’s adjustment to the atelier, her rivalry and friendship with the other apprentices, the pursuit of the Brimmed Caps, and the quest to find the original forbidden spell book that may hold the key to restoring her mother. The story explores themes of knowledge as power, the ethics of restricting learning, perseverance through failure, and the consequences of wielding magic without understanding its full nature.