A child is stolen off the streets and given strange abilities. From the fighting pits at the Heart of Gaia to the Caelisian Castle surrounded by pine trees, Nilda follows an ambiguous path to an unknown destiny after being permanently altered by the mysterious Being of Smoke.

At the same time, a phenomenon called 'Gates' starts opening around the empire, allowing monsters and demons through the portals it creates. Nilda is forced to protect her loved ones from this strange new threat, even when she finds herself mysteriously tied to the strange Gates.

This story is 'part 0' to the Endless Solvent series.