Struck by a sudden, mysterious weakness upon seeing his reflection, he barely manages to exit the castle and is temporarily sheltered by a young amphibious boy named Ado and his father, the Pond King.

Joined by the latter two, Kim encounters Themistocles travelling through Magic Moon to gather allies against Boraas, and accompanies him to the last station of his journey, the realm of the Steppe Riders.

In their capital fortress Caivallon, Kim and Themistocles try to persuade King Harkvan and Prince Priwinn to join forces with them, but the proud Steppe Riders decline.

While attending a council of war, Kim learns that Boraas has gained a mysterious ally named the Dark Lord, whose appearance predicts the certain destruction of Magic Moon.

Shortly after, Priwinn and a number of Steppe Riders arrive as refugees in Gorywynn and relate how Boraas' army has razed Caivallon to the ground and killed Harkvan.

Now fully determined to stop Boraas and save Magic Moon, Kim sneaks out of Gorywynn to find the King of Rainbows, joined by Gorg, Kelhim, Rangarig and Priwinn.

The companions proceed to their first station, the Gorge of Souls, the renmant of a horrible war predating Magic Moon's existence, to follow the course of the Vanished River to Castle Worldend, the gate to the Rainbow King's realm.

As they travel, they end up saving a farmer named Brobing and his family from a raiding party and find themselves hounded by Baron Kart and a massive contingent of Boraas' army.