The Hidden Land of a Thousand Years

On the Three-Headed Demon Dragon's back, Merlin stood beside another Archmage: an elderly man with a full head of white hair. He was Mage Byron, an elder of the Royal Elder Council.

They had left Bright City far behind and were flying toward a remote corner of the Black Moon Kingdom, not far from its former Royal Capital.

"Mage Byron, the Black Moon Kingdom has become the Black Moon Empire and united the entire world. It's the second great empire after the Molta Empire. As a royal elder, you must be pleased?"

Merlin asked with a smile.

"Pleased? Of course. His Majesty Butuo XVII was crowned emperor and led the Black Moon Kingdom to unite the world. As a member of the Royal Family, I'm certainly pleased. But the Royal Family has lost the Violet-Gold Crown. Beneath all this prosperity lie many dangers. Fortunately, His Majesty sees that clearly. That's why he sent me to take you to the Hidden Land."

Merlin nodded. It seemed everyone in the Royal Family knew danger surrounded them. One misstep, and their fate might be even worse than it had been when they were merely the Black Moon Kingdom.

"By the way, have you ever entered the Royal Family's Hidden Land?"

"As an Archmage, of course I have. But I couldn't venture far inside. I still don't know how the Black Moon Great Mage managed to get in."

At the mention of it, Archmage Byron looked helpless, as though it was the last place he wanted to face again. If Butuo XVII had not ordered him there directly, he would never have returned.

"Whoosh..."

The Three-Headed Demon Dragon's wings whipped up a gale as it swooped down into a dense forest. Beyond the trees lay a secluded valley.

"This is the valley. Mage Merlin,