Gray Lexly, son of a candlemaker, wants to escape his life of old-world technologies and study at the prestigious Astra Academy, a school for arcanists—those who can wield magic. But Gray has a major problem. Every night, as he sleeps, he's visited by monsters. When they injure Gray in his dreams, he wakes with the same wounds in real life . . . On the night Gray might finally die in his nightmares, he is saved by the kind and mysterious Professor Helmith, a powerful arcanist. She offers to protect Gray and invites him to attend Astra Academy.

Gray Lexly, son of a candlemaker, wants to escape his life of old-world technologies and study at the prestigious Astra Academy, a school for arcanists—those who can wield magic. But Gray has a major problem. Every night, as he sleeps, he's visited by monsters. When they injure Gray in his dreams, he wakes with the same wounds in real life . . . On the night Gray might finally die in his nightmares, he is saved by the kind and mysterious Professor Helmith, a powerful arcanist. She offers to protect Gray and invites him to attend Astra Academy.

Death Lords. Celebrations. And arcanists plotting to destroy Astra Academy from within. Gray Lexly thought he had defeated the fragment of Death Lord Deimos, but Gray's dreams are now haunted by a sinister ruler of the abyssal hells. Luckily for everyone in Astra Academy, it seems Deimos won't be escaping the dreamscape anytime soon. Unfortunately for Gray, this means he's stuck with the Death Lord. So, when Deimos's followers—and enemies—come looking for him, it's Gray who stands in their way.

Gray Lexly is trapped in the abyssal hells. His once enemy, Death Lord Deimos, is injured, and together with Ashlyn, Nini, and Knovak, Gray must find his way home before they all perish. But even if they manage to escape, that won't stop the chaos raging out of control in the abyssal hells. Death Lord Naiad is out to kill the other Death Lords, Kallikore is creating monstrous elder creatures, and Umbriel seems intent on using the Oblivion Gate, the heinous counterpart to the Twilight Gate . . .

Gray Lexly has returned to Astra Academy to train himself for the ultimate confrontation. Legendary arcanists from across the world are gathering to assist in the ultimate battle of life and death, but will it be enough to stop the rampaging Death Lords who have amassed power in the abyssal hells? And before Gray can focus on any of that, he must first get married. With pressure mounting from all sides, Gray is grateful to have Ashlyn at his side, but will it last? The soul fragment from Death Lord Deimos still skews his perception, and sometimes Gray doesn't feel like himself.