Though his apprenticeship hangs on him like an ill-fitting garment, Quon is unprepared for the twist his life takes when his parents are killed and he is forced to flee the city. Adrift in the wilderness with no purpose and no protection, he is approached by an old man who hints that his destiny may be more than he imagined. Ancient tales fill Quon's head with expectations of glory, but he soon learns that being a hero is far different than dreaming of becoming one.