The kingdom of Caldor is at war. As its king tries to bring the light of Toric to the western kingdom of Grelchin, he is beset by problems at home. A plot is stirring against his reign, a killer known only as the Shadow stalks knights in his capital city, and an assassin from Grelchin nearly manages to take his life. Amidst this strife is a shining light, a knight called Tristan who leads his troops. However a strange and portentous moment sets the king against his knight and starts a chain of events that could lead to the downfall of the king, his kingdom and even the peace of the world itself.