The illegitimate son of the powerful Count Everard, Alfred, was mortally wounded in a battle with orcs - a dryad took his last breath and gave birth to a son. So the count had an amazing grandson named Ilex, which means Defender. An incomparable scout and tracker, privy to all the secrets of the Eternal Forest... such as Semigorye needs, because on the other side of the border there are orcs who are coveting the possessions of people. And so Ilex, through hidden paths, leads the holy sister of the Guardian Church, Myrdle, from the city to the count’s castle, and the Eternal Forest accepts and transforms her, giving her Power. Will she use this Power for or against her church, and will the Eternal Forest and her beloved Ilex forgive her if she makes a cruel mistake?