A funeral for a child is held in the town of Jackalfax. The child’s father, politician Corvus Crow, comes out of city hall to make a statement, thanking the townspeople for their support. He acknowledges the death is difficult for his family but recognizes that the town is now safe from the disasters that his daughter, Morrigan Crow, brought upon them. Meanwhile, crows circle overheard, unnerving the crowd.

Three days before her funeral, Morrigan finds a dead cat in her backyard. Cook adds the cat’s death to a growing list of unfortunate events that the townspeople blame her for. When she attends a monthly meeting with her father Corvus and her new caseworker, the caseworker goes over a list of similar complaints that demand either financial compensation or written apologies. People believe Morrigan is “cursed” and causes disasters. By the end of the meeting, Corvus decides to cease her education since she is destined to die within the following year—at the age of 12.

While Morrigan writes the necessary apology letters, she listens to a news report of a potential Wunder (energy source) shortage. People fear cursed children, like Morrigan, are to blame for the crisis; the Wundrous Society (an elite magical school) denies there is a shortage.