Famed for its vibrant culture and nonaggression policies, the Rani Queendom seems the ideal spot for Vir to lay low, and as Vir journeys south, he reflects on his unexpected meeting with the avatar of Lord Janak, deep in the sewers under the Hiranyan Capital City of Daha.
Arriving at Zorin in the north of Rani, Vir enlists with the Brotherhood of Mercenaries, an international organization of hunters for hire.
There, he meets Spear’s Edge, a mercenary band of three named after its charismatic spear-bearing leader, Tia.
After completing a botched mission to escort a drug trafficker bound for the small Ranian town of Eshana, Vir and Spear’s Edge travel together to the Ranian capital of Avi. Along the way, Vir grows close to not only Tia, but the mejai Haymi, and warrior Vason.
For the first time in his life, Vir is treated not as an ostracized Ashborn scum, but as a friend and a companion. Though he has to hide behind the skills of disguise he learned whilst training under the Hiranyan ex-general Riyan Savar, Vir comes to treasure this friendship dearly.
As they grow closer, completing mercenary contracts, Tia reveals her tragic past, in which demons slaughtered her parents while she was young, sparking her bitter hatred for demonkind.
Horrified, Vir comes to understand the camaraderie he’d come to take for granted was nothing but a dream.
At this time, Vir receives a summons from the reviled Pagan Order, an extremist nation on the western edge of the continent—a region known as the Voidlands for its lack of prana, the magical energy upon which all magic relied.
Tempted by their offer, Vir accepts the contract and journeys alone to their capital of Balindam.
After enduring a staged test by Lord Reth and the other members of the Tribunal that rules the Pagan Order, Vir learns a shocking truth: the Pagan Order is not as it seems to be. Not a nation of demonic slavers as they would have the world believe, but a sanctuary run by demons for demons.
The Tribunal offers Vir a home in the subterranean Undercity—a city in which demons may freely roam without disguise or the fear of persecution.
Vir, elated to finally be among his people, agrees to join a nighttime rescue operation to save fellow demons incarcerated in the south of the Kin’jal Empire.
Little does he know of the fateful encounter he is about to have…
Meanwhile, as Vir was journeying south and rising the mercenary ranks with Spear’s Edge, Maiya has been training as an Imperial Handmaiden in the Kin’jal Empire’s Capital City of Sonam.
Under the tutelage of the best warriors in the realm, she learns of proper decorum… as well as Kin’jal Combat Arts, and the craft of subterfuge and espionage.
Her training takes her to the Ash Boundary—the great wall of pure prana that separates the Human Realm from the dreaded Ash.
Maiya’s superb performance fighting Ash Beasts, leading squads of Balarian warriors, and mastery of the art of spycraft reaches the ears of none other than the ruler of these handmaidens herself—Princess Ira Kin’jal.
The princess calls for a private meeting with Maiya, and to Maiya’s disbelief, the two become fast friends and confidantes.
Maiya proceeds to become the princess’ right-hand operative, completing special tasks only she can accomplish. As her coffers grow at an astonishing, so too do her worries. For through her information network, Maiya has learned of Vir’s involvement with the Pagan Order.
Desperate to meet up with her childhood friend, yet having been one step behind tracking the breadcrumb trail of Vir’s movements, Maiya arranges a daring plan—to allow Vir to come to her. She plans to be present during the prisoner rescue.
Her plan goes awry when she learns that Princess Ira has negotiated an agreement with the regent of Matali. One involving the regent’s only sister, and none other than Princess Tiyana Matali, or Tia, as she likes to be called.
By a twist of Fate, Vir, Maiya, and Tia all meet at the worst possible moment when Vir is in the midst of breaking free the captured demons.
To save the prisoners, Vir is forced to reveal his true identity to Tia, who reels from the revelation that her dear friend was one of the demons she reviles. Vir is equally as shocked to learn that Tia was in fact the princess of the Matali Kingdom all along, and Maiya is left attempting to patch the situation.
Given that Maiya represents none other than the kingdom who enslaved the very demons Vir is attempting to free, Vir’s trust in his old friend is terribly shaken, and though the mission is a success, Vir’s mind is a violent storm of chaos as he flies back to Balindam on his Acira.
Understanding her friend better than anyone, Maiya pursues Vir, confronting him at Balindam, where she explains how Princess Ira is unlike the other Kin’jals, and that she plans to overthrow her father, the ruthless militaristic Imperator Andros, ushering in a new era of peace and prosperity. Maiya explains how Ira sympathizes with demons, and how she loathes the current situation.
The two chat until dawn, catching up, reminiscing, and mending their relationship.
Just as Maiya invites Vir to come back to Sonam with her, however, the Pagan Order receives grave news: Princess Mina Hiranya’s hunting party has located Vir, and is on their way with a small army of mejai. Worse—they wield a terrifying four-armed giant demon, said to rank over seven hundred on the Balar Scale used to measure a Warrior’s combat potential.
Despite the danger, the Pagan Order offers to protect Vir… If he agrees to stay. To become a full-fledged member of the Pagan Order.
Vir, understanding that staying would endanger countless other demons, decides to take up Maiya’s offer and leave.
Vir and Maiya leave atop her Acira and travel to Sonam, where Vir hopes to lie low and lose his pursuers trail, but Fate is not so kind.
They are intercepted by Mina’s hunters, and a grueling fight ensues.
For the first time since their training, Vir and Maiya fight together. They push well beyond their own personal capacity, working fluidly as a team… And yet, their foe is too powerful.
For Mina has sent not only her force, but has recruited criminal mercenaries as well. Dregs who are not part of the Brotherhood. Who kill for a living.
The sudden appearance of reinforcements from the Pagan Order gives Vir and Maiya hope, but it is a false hope.
Despite their best efforts, Vir and Maiya are vanquished… Or so they thought.
At the last minute, the red-skinned four-armed giant reveals himself to be Cirayus, Vir’s godfather, who ferried Vir through the Ash and delivered him to Rudvik, the lumberjack.
Cirayus kills the almighty Mejai of Realms with a single strike, and together, the three flee from Mina’s mercenaries.
From Cirayus, Vir learns that he is not only the Primordial—a legendary figure in demonic mythology—he is also royalty. The son of the Raja Maion and Rajni Shari Garga.
This revelation affects Vir deeply, and his resolution wavers. Should he stay with his childhood friend—now lover? Or should he travel through the Ash in search of his destiny?
Despite the terror of letting him go, Maiya helps Vir understand that his future lies in the Demon Realm. That staying would only cause him a lifetime of regrets.
Vir agrees, and swears that he will return for Maiya one day.
The two bid each other one final farewell, and together with his godfather, Vir steps through the boundary through which no human can survive.
In search of answers, full of hope and fear, he enters the Ashen Realm…
1THE ABYSSAL FLATS
Vir crossed the Ash Boundary not really knowing what to expect. On the one hand, the Ashen Realm was a place full of mythological beasts and terror. It was the stuff of bedtime stories and campfire tales. It didn’t feel real.