The year is 1213, in the eastern Iranian city of Tus. Sitara, a young girl who has lost her mother and been torn far from her homeland, is taken in by Fatima, a kind-hearted lady from a family of scholars. At first, Sitara detests studying and tries to escape, but Fatima’s son Muhammad, an aspiring scholar himself, teaches her the true importance of learning, telling her: “If you study and become wise, no matter what trouble befalls you, you’ll know the best way forward.”

Eight years after Muhammad leaves on a journey, an army led by Tolui, the fourth prince of the Mongol Empire, invades the city of Tus where Sitara and everyone lives. Raiding their estate, Tolui plunders a treasured book from Fatima’s late husband’s collection, “Elements,” and burns the city to the ground. Plunged into the depths of despair as a captive of the Mongol army, Sitara is approached by Shira, a young boy working as an interpreter for the Mongols.

Motivated by a desire to move up in the world, Shira says he wants to introduce the learned Sitara to Tolui. Sitara learns why Fatima was murdered and why “Elements” was taken, and vows to recover the book that Fatima had cherished. This marks the beginning of her revenge towards the Mongol Empire, which stole everything from her. Granted an audience with Tolui, Sitara introduces herself as “Fatima.”