Thirty-seven-year-old John Atwater spent fourteen years fighting the worst the world had to offer, and one year after his honorable discharge, he’s just looking to find peace. He thought he’d find it with a nine to five in his hometown, but the monotony is getting to him and he yearns for adventure. A trip to Scotland proves more than he bargains for when he falls through a magical door on the side of a mountain, and finds himself in the mystical world of Mhorelia.
He’s the only person in three hundred years who’s passed through that door – a door that will only open for the Chosen One, destined to usurp the oppressive ruler of Mhorelia, Balloch Macnicol. But once John’s inside, he just wants to get home, and in order to do so, he must make The Ascent. He’ll be forced to travel up the mountainous island that stands in front of him, battle anything that gets in his way, and fulfill his destiny as the Chosen One.
For help, he's guided by a shapeshifter named Kaigen and a group of elves who’ve been attempting this perilous journey for the last twenty years. They'll cross deep canyons, wide lakes, and ever-changing terrain, where everything is out to kill them. John must choose to either fight alongside his new companions and learn to work as a team, or risk going it alone - a decision that will surely decide his fate. His desire to return home drives him at every turn. He must keep going. He must defeat Balloch. He must get home. No matter what.