Ancient Egypt is ruled by the tyrannical Pharaoh Precht who has conquered many lands, enslaved hundreds of people, and slaughtered countless lives. One day when he attempts to force himself on to a Hebrew slave woman called Levy, her husband Gajeel attacks him in defense. He punishes the couple by ordering their first born child to be sacrificed to his gods. Sometime after this, Levy gives birth to a son who both she and her husband try to hide for as long as they can but eventually Precht becomes suspicious.
When Precht's men come for the baby Gajeel and Levy hide him somewhere near the river where he is found by Mirajane the wife of Laxus, Captain of Precht's army. Having miscarried her second child, Mirajane views this baby as a gift from the gods to ease her pain and decides to adopt him as her own son. She also appoints Levy to be nurse to her children although she's unaware of her relation to the infant.
Years later, brothers Natsu and Gray have a very strong rivalry but are also extremely close. Natsu is known far and wide for his great strength and combat while Gray is gifted with an incredible cleverness and wit however both are taught kindness and courage by their faithful nurse which leads to them abhorring the slavery that takes place in Egypt.
Their father Laxus considers Natsu the pride of their family which causes him to constantly pressure him to become a man of true honor by succeeding him as captain of pharaoh's army. However for some reason he shuns Gray and considers him an embarrassment to the family much to his wife's disapproval. For years Natsu and Gray have asked Mirajane why their father treats them so differently but she has never disclosed the reason.
One day Laxus takes Natsu to Pharaoh's palace in hopes of making him one of the royal guards. Natsu impresses Precht with his strength and is given the charge of protecting his daughter. At first Natsu is pleased with his new position but working in the palace allows to see just how cruel the pharaoh really is. He eventually decides that the way he can become of a man of true honor is to somehow over throw Precht.
Meanwhile Gray eventually discovers that Laxus's resentment toward him stems from the fact that he is not really his son nor Egyptian. That he is actually Hebrew and the biological son of his nurse Levy and her husband Gajeel. This discovery causes Gray to secretly help slaves escape from Egypt and aid them in anyway he can.
The choices that these brothers make not only lead them to changing their owns lives but the lives of many others which includes the lives of three very interesting young women.
Lucy, the pharaoh's daughter and princess of Egypt who is renowned by all for her fashionable ways but is secretly very insecure about herself and feels trapped by her father's wicked reign.
Juvia, a Greek woman who was snatched away from her home and is to be sold as a concubine to the pharaoh however she is rescued from that fate by Gray and he secretly shelters her in his house hold.
Erza, a slave chosen to be Lucy's hand maid but she secretly disguises herself as a soldier in order to get close to the princess's fiance, Jellal the prince of Ethiopa in order to get his army's help in freeing her people.