女枪手巴尔莎被招募来保护新龙勾第二皇子查古姆免受父亲的侵害。皇帝认为皇子被邪恶的水灵附身，决心杀死他。

巴尔萨准备与查古姆一起离开首都。她必须在不被人注意的情况下离开这座城市。皇帝派遣四名秘密猎人追回皇子并杀死巴尔萨。

巴尔莎发现她和查古姆被跟踪。她别无选择，只能与追赶者作斗争。在混乱中，巴尔萨失去了查古姆。

查古姆按照巴尔萨的指示，顺利到达了山中汤达的家。巴尔莎能够追上，但现在必须恢复体力。

陀珞烗揭露了查古姆的病情。巴尔萨知道皇帝永远不会公开寻找皇子。

由于无法确定巴尔萨的确切位置，帝皇的猎手们兵分两路。在青雾山脉，他们看到巴尔萨和查古姆被一只大狼拖下悬崖。他们认为巴尔萨和查古姆已经死了。

为了隐藏到明年春天，巴尔萨买了一座水磨坊，暂时和查古姆住在那里。为了打发时间、赚点钱，他们用磨坊为当地村民磨粮食。

巴尔莎拜访了一位伟大的剑匠，为她的长枪获取新枪头。一旦铁匠确信巴尔萨没有杀死王子，他就同意为她打造新枪。

Shuga tries to figure of if the drought sign is diminishing. He gets permission from the head star-diviner to translate the ancient stone scrolls, that record the history of Yogo and are rumored to contain information about the drought.

Tōya teaches Chagum how to act more like a city dweller. After Chagum sees through a rigged gambling game, he is determined to teach the men a lesson and help the people get their money back.

Unhappy with her arranged marriage, Saya's soul leaves her body. Tanda performs a soul call to guide her back. However, Tanda's soul becomes trapped in Nayug and needs Balsa's help to return to his own body.

Chagum challenges a boy to a rucha match on the Summer Solstice festival. He asks Balsa to train him to fight. He fights the boy and wins the match. After the boy's father insults Chagum, Balsa steps in and defeats the father.

Balsa gets challenged to a duel by a former rival. The rival targets a traveling couple in order to draw out Balsa's anger. She attempts to protect the couple but ends up engaging in a fierce duel and allows her anger to overwhelm her. She wins the fight but thinks that she killed him; breaking her vow to never take a life.

Torogai makes contact with the water beings of Nayug and discusses Chagum's current condition. Torogai discovers that the official Yogo founding history is false, and recounts her escape from the knot.

While gathering more information on the drought sign, Shuga finds proof that Chagum is alive. Shuga wishes to tell the prince's brother, Crown Prince Shagum, whose health has been weakened by the recent events. However, he is unable to, fearing the Emperor will discover Chagum's location.

Chagum's brother, Shagum, dies from overwork and grief leaving Chagum the heir to the throne. Shuga learns from the ancient scroll that the water spirit is not evil, and must be born in order to prevent the drought. Armed with this knowledge, Shuga leads the search for Chagum to bring him back to become the crowned prince.

Shuga locates Chagum and Balsa in the city. The watermill is found by the emperor's hunters and they lay a trap. This is prevented when Tōya risks his life and sets fire to the watermill. Seeing the fire, Balsa and Chagum set off to find the Inishie Village.

Balsa, Chagum and Tanda travel to Inishie village in hope of learning the ancient story of the water spirit. They locate the village and listen to the ancient story. Chagum is horrified to learn that the spirit's "guardian" must die for the spirit to be born.

Chagum runs away in an attempt to return to the Yogo court and avoid being killed by the La Lunga (egg-eater). Determined to keep Chagum safe and bring him to Hunter's cave, Balsa goes after him. Seeing Chagum's distress, Balsa vows to keep him alive even if she must sacrifice her life.

Shuga and the hunters arrive in Inishie Village. Torogai tells Shuga of the egg eater. Shuga agrees to return to court and starts deciphering the remainder of the secret tome. Balsa, Chagum, Torogai and Tanda move to Hunter's cave, where they prepare for winter.

The winter arrives and the mountains become impassable. Balsa tells Chagum the story of her guardian, Jiguro; how 24 years ago he decided to go against his Emperor in order to save Balsa's life.

Balsa continues Jiguro's story, and reveals the reason behind her oath to save eight souls. Balsa begins to train Chagum as they await the spring.

Spring has arrived and Chagum has grown physically and mentally. Chagum and Balsa are reunited with Shuga and the eight hunters. The power of the Sacred Spirit begins to influence Chagum's actions, and La Lunga finally appears to claim the egg.

Balsa, Tanda, and the hunters chase after Chagum. Shuga and Torogai learn that the spirit will be born in another location and race to get there before dawn. When Balsa's group encounters the two La Lunga, Tanda learns how to harm the creatures, allowing the group to kill one of the egg eaters.

Balsa's group locate Chagum. The physical world and Nayug begin to merge. Balsa and the hunters manage to hold off endless waves of La Lunga long enough for the sun to rise. Tanda successfully extracts the egg and Chagum's life is saved.

Chagum returns to the palace and is named Crown Prince and Divine Hero of the People. While Chagum is reunited with his mother, Balsa contemplates the future. Chagum meets with Balsa and wants to run away with her, but Balsa's words give him the courage to stay. Her pledge finally fulfilled, Balsa departs for Kanbal.