Although the mosaic artist Kai Crispin does not find in Sarantia what he was looking for in the capital halfway across the country - peace and oblivion, the strange mystical city brings him its gifts - the attention of emperors, the friendship of common people, the love of the best women, the joy of creativity and opportunity become a participant in incredible events. However, one blow of the dagger changes everything - both in the fate of the Empire and in the lives of many people. A new time begins, a new faith is born, a new war breaks out. A new road opens up for Kai Crispin, and he sets out on it, having experienced the worst thing for an artist - the death of his own creation, to which his soul and talent were given - and still not believing that he can live on...