In the continent of Wesselan, magic is not a gift, but a gift from a curse.
A hundred years ago, the "Disaster of Annihilation" tore the sky apart and dropped 12 kinds of "sin karma" - each corresponding to the original sin of mankind (arrogance, greed, rage, etc.). Those with superpowers are called "sin-markers" and are hunted down by the church and forced to hide in the "ash cellar" of the underground city-state.
Only mind-reading is not included in the 12 sins because it is considered a "harmless listening". However, Alice has more than just mind-reading - her "voice web" can touch the lies and truths in the deepest parts of the soul. The church regards her as a heretic among heretics, while the resistance organization "The Blade of Sin" regards her as the ultimate weapon.
