Each year, Democryos sends his brightest student into the war-torn countryside to work magic. But when his wife leaves him for a mysterious stranger, he finds his own life ravaged. Forsaking the comfort of the citadel, he searches for her, traveling through the same forgotten lands where he sent his students. Along the way, he befriends an elusive member of the king’s harem, a holy man harboring guilt, and a maimed soldier. Together, they stumble upon a key—not only to the war, but to understanding the magic of voidance itself.

In the ruins of the Celestium, secrets were revealed. Chimeline was changed. And a dark promise was made: They're coming. As Democryos struggles with the horrifying truth behind the power of voidance, Mander's prophetic words become manifest. A new evil from beyond their world has been awakened, forcing Dem and his companions to flee south to Xiland. Everything that they hold dear will be put to the test. Friendship. Love. Faith. Reason. The war with Mander may be over, but the real one has just begun.