When Carson agreed to take on the trio's third summer mystery, he had no idea what dangerous adventures it would bring. Withholding the time and place from his friend, Levi and cousin, Emma was wrong, but Carson didn't want to risk their refusal. In his mind, the decision to time travel to a place not found on Earth's atlas, was the right thing to do. In addition, it was the request of a ghost, who gave them the time travel rings in the first place.Upon the trio's arrival, they meet a thirteen year- old girl named Alina, who calls herself the guardian of Labora. Upon their entrance into a unique tree city, a number of inhabitants mysteriously become ill. During efforts to discover the origin, Carson finds a red gemstone which belonged to Alina's mother before she was killed by a nearby clan. Things take an unexpected turn when Alina transfers her guardian powers to Carson just before she is abducted. Their investigation becomes a rescue mission against time, against century old evils, and against horrors living within a treacherous world where Carson, Emma and Levi are considered intruders. The trio's quest to save their new friend and save her people, faces them with only two outcomes, do or die.