And darkness falls. The world has been irrevocably changed. With the resurrection of the ancient Aeneria and the rise to power of the Empirists, the Seri world is thrown into chaos. With a new ruling body, governing through supernatural force and fear, the balance of power in the world begins to dramatically shift. And as the power of the Aeneria spreads, so too does the physical world itself begin to warp and change. As many bow down to their new gods, too fearful to rise up against them, others flee. Deep underground, sequestered within an exile community of refugee Seri, Nephael struggles vainly against his own failings. Desperately seeking information and some means to reverse what has happened, he finds himself lost and despairing, with no threads to grasp.

A seeming world away, trapped within the ancient city of Tal Banmyr, Piri finds himself ensnared in an endless nightmare and navigating an existential crisis, the outcome of which will determine the fate of Aetrelys and all who live there.