Aric, a quiet scholar from the coastal village of Oakhaven, finds his life irrevocably changed by a series of vivid dreams. These are not ordinary dreams, but a terrifying and breathtaking reality where he is pulled into a "cosmic hall" with an "anvil of pure, incandescent light". Here, Aric discovers he is a "Dreamforger," a mortal chosen to wield the power of the "Forge of Dreams" to shape worlds from his own imagination.

Aric's first creation is a pristine, luminous island, but his wonder is shattered when monstrous, shadowy creatures known as "Nightmare Breakers" emerge to unmake it, leaving behind only rot and desolation. He discovers that the dream world is not just a realm of creation but a battleground, and fragments of the dreamscape can bleed into his waking life.

Driven by a new purpose, Aric returns to the Forge to create a second, more resilient world populated by beings of light called the "Luminara". However, the Nightmare Breakers, now more organized and malevolent, launch a renewed assault, threatening not only his new world but also the peaceful waking world of Oakhaven. Aric seeks help from his mentor, Elira, who reveals that Aric is part of a legendary cycle, warning him that previous Dreamforgers "vanished, consumed by its hunger, or shattered by its guardians".

Now, Aric must fight to master his power and protect his creations, facing a battle for his sanity and the very fabric of reality.