All in all, Krai had a pretty good vacation.

But with the Gathering of the White Blade over, it's time for him to return home. Passing through its gates for the first time in a month, he finds the imperial capital looking like it had been carpet-bombed. Apparently, a battle had broken out between Hidden Curse and the remnants of Akashic Tower while he was away.

Krai learns the wanton destruction has caused the Gathering of the White Blade to be put on hold for the first time in its long history and he's arrived just in time to attend. Unable to run away a second time, he has no choice but to face that hellish party of pompous nobles and freakish hunters.

But that turns out to be the least of his concerns and the Thousand Tricks finds himself with a quest issued by the emperor himself. Normally, he'd want nothing to do with this, but he's unable to say no when he sees the payment being offered—a rare Relic from the imperial family's collection.