Aldrick, the youngest duke of the northern estate of Eldermere, returns home after the devastating war that ravaged the lands. Haunted by the sounds of clashing steel and the screams of the dying, he arrives at what was once his proud domain, only to find it reduced to ashes and silence. The once-thriving village is now a desolate graveyard, with charred houses and the frozen corpses of his people strewn across the landscape. The cold winds carry whispers of despair, and Aldrick's heart is heavy with grief and guilt.

As he surveys the destruction, memories flood back: the laughter of children, the warmth of the hearth, the vibrant colors of the market. Now, only shadows remain. He learns from scattered survivors that the war was not just a battle for territory but a brutal extermination of his people by a merciless enemy seeking to claim the northern lands. Aldrick is consumed by sorrow and anger, feeling the weight of his title and the souls of his subjects pressing down upon him.

In his despair, Aldrick hears whispers of a legendary witch who resides at the peak of the highest mountain in the north, a figure shrouded in darkness and mystery. The witch is said to possess the power to manipulate life and death, able to resurrect the fallen and restore what was lost. Despite his deep-seated fear and disdain for magic—having witnessed its destructive potential during the war—Aldrick feels an irresistible pull toward her, a glimmer of hope amidst the encroaching darkness.