Mitakahn Arkenoir(18) is called home to find out his father, the king, is dying from an unknown illness. Together with his older brother Axion, and their friend Cipher, they travel into the gem portal for answers. After the king's passing the royal family goes on retreat to a small town in the mountains. Axion meets a young lady and begins a romance. Mitakahn finds a mystical silver-tailed hawk named Chronis in the wild and a townsman named Echo shows Mitakahn how to make a potion that unlocks his special ability from the gem portal. Mitakahn drinks the potion and starts having visions. He is convinced a dark fleet will invade their kingdom and the only way to prevent annihilation is a sword of fire. Axion decides to stay behind in the mountains with his girlfriend Euphrati.

Mitakahn returns home to Zepathorum to warn them of danger and it does not go well. Mitakahn is forced to leave his kingdom to find the Carbon Terra, an ancient diamond gemstone that will lead him to the sword of fire. He follows what he can discern from his visions, but nothing is clear. Along the road, Mitakahn is almost immediately attacked by bandits and left for dead. He is healed by a bizarre storm and a benevolent dragonrider with her own mysteries. Mitakahn walks away from the whole debacle with a silver gauntlet that retracts into his scars when he is not holding his sword.

He recruits his friends, and they look for the Carbon Terra in Epitaph City. They have to solve the mystery of Mitakahn's dreams in order to unlock the gem and communicate with what is stuck inside, presumeably a founder god. The god will tell them where to find the mythical sword of fire, they hope. Mitakahn must find the sword of fire before it is too late. While Axion comes to terms with returning home to take the throne, only to stumble upon several surprises.