Chapter 48: Secret realm

Liliana’s mind raced. Who could have possibly given her this information sheet besides Cassian?

With the current strength of Pack Draven, it was impossible for someone else to try to build a relationship with her just to gain Cassian’s favor through her.

Then... there was only one possibility. It was because of her. And... who could have given it to her?

The kind of power that could make the dean give her the sheet in his hands for free.

Could it be? she wondered inwardly.

"What is it? You’ve been lost in thought for a while now."

Liliana shook her head. "I’m just afraid that something bad will happen to me tomorrow morning."

"Nonsense," Cassian said. "As long as you don’t show your true face in front of anyone else, you’ll be fine. Trust your brother."

Liliana looked into Cassian’s black eyes and nodded.

"I’ll return to my room. Get some proper rest. Tomorrow morning, I’ll come to pick you up. We’ll go together to the academy field to gather with the others."

Liliana nodded. "Okay."

After the door closed, Liliana chose to ignore her thoughts. She went back to organizing the things she needed to bring and the things she needed to leave behind according to the academy’s instructions.

Once she finished, she closed her eyes and only woke when Striped Tiger beside her growled, trying to wake her.

"I’ll take a shower first," Liliana said as soon as her eyes opened.

She quickly washed herself and put on her academy uniform.

"Come out quickly," Liliana ordered Striped Tiger when Cassian’s voice could be heard outside the door.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Mm," Liliana answered.

The two of them hurried to the largest field in the academy. Many students were already there, discussing various things that made the place feel extremely noisy.

Cassian did not let Liliana move away from his side at all.

"We’ll join our pack when we enter later. They’re over there," Cassian said, pointing.

The Beta sons waved their hands, calling Cassian and Liliana to come closer.

"Future Alpha, Miss Liliana," one of the Beta sons greeted.

"Mm," Cassian replied casually. Liliana only nodded and smiled in response.

"Are all the members coming this time?" Cassian asked.

"Yes, Young Master."

"Gather them first. I want to discuss something important with them."

"Yes," the Beta son replied before quickly organizing the members of Pack Draven so they would become quiet and gather together.

"Have you made sure you brought your supplies properly?" Cassian asked after a while.

"Yes, Young Master Alpha," they answered in unison.

"We’ll enter together as a team, so don’t even think about looting or harming members of our own pack. Understood?" Cassian asked in a stern voice.

"Understood, Young Master Alpha."

Cassian nodded in satisfaction. "We’ll stay together when we enter and split up when your bodies call for certain items or anything else you may need."

Everyone nodded in unison.

"You can continue your discussions. When it’s time to enter, follow me," Cassian ordered while looking at each member of his pack one by one.

"Yes, Young Master Alpha."

After giving several instructions to the Beta sons, Cassian walked over to where Liliana was and brought her aside.

Striped Tiger followed behind him, as if unwilling to be separated from Liliana even for a moment.

"Eat this," Cassian said as he took a chocolate bar from the pocket of his robe.

Liliana accepted it and ate it without asking anything.

"Be careful with Vera. She might cause trouble again this time."

"Mm." Liliana nodded. "I’ll try not to go near her."

"Did you bring all the things you need?" Cassian asked casually.

"Everything. Not a single thing is missing."

The two continued talking until the dean arrived at the open field in front of them.

Everyone had gathered in their respective packs, including Cassian and Liliana.

"You only have seven days," the dean said loudly once the surroundings had fallen silent.

"Whether you obtain valuable items or not depends on your luck. The items will choose you, not you choosing them. Remember that well."

"Even if you want an item, if it does not agree and does not want to choose you as its temporary owner, don’t even dream of bringing that item out of the secret realm," he added.

The dean took a deep breath before continuing. "I will not forbid you from working together, because Akademi Mirena only prohibits you from killing one another."

"If I find out that you dare to take someone else’s item after leaving the secret realm, Akademi Mirena will reluctantly ban you and your pack from studying at this academy in the future. Do you understand?" he asked.

The dean’s all-black clothes fluttered in the wind, along with his swaying beard, further adding to the old man’s imposing presence.

His eyes gleamed sharply as he watched the students standing before him.

"Understood," the students answered in unison.

The dean nodded in satisfaction. "I will open the secret realm now. Use your instincts properly. Akademi Mirena will not be responsible for your deaths caused by mere carelessness."

The dean waved his hand. The academy teachers quickly walked to the very back rows of each pack present.

Seeing that everyone was ready, the dean began chanting a spell in a language that ordinary wolves could not understand.

In an instant, the wind blew violently, sending the students’ robes flying.

The sky, which had been clear moments ago, turned dark in an instant.

The ground beneath them shook violently, as if something were shifting, moving, and trying to emerge and swallow everyone standing above it.

The dean struck the staff in his hand against the ground with great force, making the sound echo deafeningly throughout the area.

"I grant permission for the opening of the secret realm. Swallow them and give them whatever you deem worthy," the dean said in a thunderous voice.

Liliana swallowed hard. She had only heard about the secret realm briefly. She truly had no other knowledge about this place. If Cassian had not invited her to come, she would never have thought of coming here.

The ground beneath her feet shook even more violently.

"Hold my hand, Liliana," Cassian ordered.

Liliana nodded and gripped Cassian’s arm tightly.

Striped Tiger stood beside her in an upright position, completely unfazed by the trembling ground beneath him.

In an instant, cracks appeared in the ground directly beneath their feet.

The cracks widened further. Liliana took a deep breath as the ground beneath her feet moved again and sank deeper.

"Ahhhh!!!"

The students’ screams echoed throughout the field, which had previously been silent and filled with tension.

In an instant, the academy field that had been filled with people was now empty, with only a few teachers remaining.