Ard and his companions are being hunted by King Martin. The lovable mage finds a quiet spot in the uninhabitable wilds of Garrish to train his soul magic—only nothing ever goes quite according to Ard’s plan.

Bran returns to Vein City to find Gloria jealous that he came back with Nyx and Circe. While trying to solve that, Vincent becomes even pushier about entering the Vault. When going to open it, Bran discovers that this life has changed yet again.

Ard joins the war with an explosive start, the Garrish army is marching through the pass to the ruined Chillwind Fort.