Glassford, Southern Federation.

After traveling westward from Hannes City for three months, Anna and her entourage had finally arrived at their destination.

Their journey could have been quicker had they not taken their time to rest and recuperate several times on the way. After all, the threat of Ives Ballard and the assassins of the Silent King was already dealt with thanks to Berger.

But still, there was another reason why the group did not hasten their journey. It was because they remained ever watchful for any unexpected dangers.

From their past encounters with their assailants, they had learned a hard truth. It was far better to move slowly and be prepared than to rush headlong into their own deaths.

And it seemed that fortune was indeed on their side. After more than six long months since they had left the Empire, they had finally arrived at their destination without a single casualty.

"This place is… not too bad," Daryl remarked as he hopped off the caravan and glanced at the town.

Glassford was unlike most towns in the Federation. It wasn't ruled by a single race or family but instead managed through a council made of humans, elves, dwarves, and gnomes. Each race had its own district, yet the town was stitched together with shared marketplaces, guild halls, and taverns where all mingled freely.

This town was of great importance to the Southern Federation and also served as a highly secure and strategic location. After all, the entrance to the Soaring River Secret Plane appeared in this town. As such, the place was nicely built and well fortified.

The arcane resources that Magi could retrieve from the secret plane were of great importance to all the institutions, Magus families, kingdoms, and races in the Southern Federation. As such, it was jointly governed by the four major races.

There were still ten more years to go until the secret plane opened its doors for the Magi of the Federation. As such, the town wasn't as crowded and bustling as it is when all the prominent Magi from the Federation gather every thirty years.

Daryl walked around the caravan, then helped the children alight. Meanwhile, Rowan helped his wife get off the transport. Looking around at the townscape, he couldn't help but break into an emotional smile.

"We finally made it!" he wiped the tears from his eyes.

The last couple of months had been truly harrowing for him and his family. On more than one occasion, he had nearly brushed against the cold embrace of death, but luckily, he and his family had made it out alive.

Anna got off the carriage as well. She turned to Rowan and offered a faint but sincere smile. "You did well, Rowan."

The middle-aged butler beamed. "Lady Anna, what now?"

The crimson-haired princess looked at her surroundings, then at the people going through their day. She heaved a soft sigh, then whispered in a low voice:

"Now, we all enter the secret plane."

"…All of us?" Rowan was slightly surprised.

He wasn't expecting him and his family to enter a secret plane that was only meant for Magi. The man didn't know how to feel about it. He couldn't help but wonder if he and his family were going to become a burden to the Magi in their group if they entered this mysterious secret plane with them.

"Yes." Anna nodded with a serious expression.

"I've thought it through, and I believe it's best for you and your family to enter the plane with us. We can't risk a repeat of what happened last time. There's no guarantee the assassins have stopped pursuing us, and this remains the safest course of action."

"But…" Rowan hesitated. "Is this really the right thing for us, I mean, me and my family, to do?"

"I believe it shouldn't be a problem." Anna shook her head. "From what Adam's told me, the master of the secret plane, eccentric as he may be, seems to have a good relationship with my little brother. So I believe everything will work out."

Rowan hesitated a little more before helplessly nodding. "Very well, my lady, I… I shall leave the rest to you then."

The princes glanced at him and faintly smiled, "Don't worry. Your family will be safe. I assure you."

The entourage of eight rented a single room at a tavern. Under the wary gaze of the innkeeper, they all went inside the room together.

But when sunrise came and the staff went to check on the room…

The guests had vanished without a trace.

***

The sound of waves crashing echoed through the vast secret plane. Dozens of rivers flowed through the skies above, weaving together in a tangled pattern that resembled a loose net.

"…So that is why," Kaspar muttered in awe as he gazed at the rivers soaring through the skies of this mystical realm.

The rest of the people in the group were also equally awestruck, whether they were Magi or mortals. Anna and the other Magi had explored secret planes in Europa before, but none of them compared to the one they stood in now.

"The mana here is so rich… and abundant." Ada inhaled deeply, her eyes sparkling like the stars.

After infusing mana into the ivory card, Anna and the rest were instantly teleported into the secret plane. They had arrived at the very center of this mystical realm, standing before a towering, ancient pyramid.

"So this is the House of Cards," Anna muttered in awe as she gazed at the colossus pyramid made entirely of giant cards.

Adam had already told her about this place. The pyramid served as the central powehouse of the secret plane, the heart from which every facet of this dimension was controlled. It was also the dwelling place of the spirit of the secret plane.

"Princess, now what?" Kaspar appeared beside her and asked in a low voice.

At the same time, he carefully scanned his surroundings, making sure no immediate danger lurked by. Currently, they were standing in a vast clearing right before the entrance of the House of Cards, and at the edge of the clearing was a dense forest.

Anna inhaled deeply, then said in a solemn voice, "Now, we wait."

"…For what?" Kaspar couldn't help but frown.

Adam had only shared the details of the secret plane with Anna, leaving the rest in the dark. Naturally, Kaspar was clueless.

A grim expression shadowed the princess's face. She was about to speak when suddenly a shadow fell over them from behind.

And then, a cold and deep voice echoed in their ears:

"Trespassers in my sanctuary, tell me before I tear you apart… how did you set foot in my domain?"

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