Under the rule of the ruthless warrior King Andragoras III, the kingdom of Pars thrives, while the naive and gentle prince Arslan trains to carry on his father's legacy. Arslan views Pars as a joyous and righteous land, until a captured slave of his age from the hostile nation of Lusitania escapes and takes him hostage, exposing Arslan to the horrors and cruelty inflicted upon slaves. Arslan is rescued, but the encounter leaves a lasting impression on him. Three years pass, and Arslan faces his first battle against the Lusitanian army. Due to the Lusitanians' use of spies and traps, the battle ends in disaster, with the majority of Parsian troops slain. With the aid of his loyal friend and bodyguard Daryun, the stricken prince barely manages to escape with his life. With his father nowhere to be found and his homeland now occupied by the enemy, Arslan loses everything in one fell swoop. Seeking shelter, Daryun takes the prince to his friend Narsus, an eccentric but brilliant strategist. With the help of Narsus and various other people he meets along the way, Arslan begins his campaign to reclaim his kingdom. The path is riddled with many challenges, from the greedy nobility to the mysterious warrior known as Silver Mask. Nonetheless, Arslan refuses to falter in his mission to save Pars from both its enemies and its own corruption.