In the hidden city of the Shadow Tribe, Astral finds himself torn between duty and his burning ambition to become a skilled swordsman, a path his father the king has strictly forbidden. His betrothal to Sharon, a formidable warrior who admires his spirit yet longs for greater strength in him, adds to his inner conflict. As remnants of the destroyed tablet surface in their territory and stir renewed clashes with the surface dwellers, Astral takes his first tentative steps toward proving his worth.