The moment Ahcehera emerged from Cresencia, she immediately threw herself into work.
If anyone had observed her over the next several days, they would have thought the princess had suddenly become obsessed with preparing for the end of the world. Every hour of her schedule was occupied. Every task on her growing list demanded attention. Every precaution she could think of was carefully considered and executed.
The discovery of Cresencia had changed everything.
For the first time since her transmigration, Ahcehera possessed a genuine advantage that belonged solely to her. It wasn't political influence. It wasn't military authority. It wasn't the wealth of the Bloodstone Royal Family.
It was something far more valuable.
Security.
A hidden sanctuary beyond the reach of enemies, conspiracies, and fate itself.
Naturally, she intended to use it.
Under the cover of secrecy, Ahcehera began moving her most valuable possessions into the pocket dimension. Jewelry inherited from generations of royalty disappeared from private safes. Precious documents were quietly transferred. Rare artifacts, emergency funds, and personal belongings all found their way into Cresencia.
She performed every transfer personally.
Not even Emil was allowed to participate.
The fewer people who knew, the safer the secret remained.
During the process, she discovered another remarkable feature of the dimension. Objects stored inside remained exactly as they were when they entered. Food showed no signs of spoilage. Flowers remained fresh. Even water seemed untouched by the passage of time.
The implications were astonishing. A storage space capable of preserving resources indefinitely could become one of the most valuable treasures in the galaxy. Fortunately, nobody else knew it existed.
By the fourth day, Ahcehera had expanded her preparations considerably.
Using her royal authority, she discreetly purchased survival equipment, emergency medical supplies, portable shelters, energy batteries, communication devices, and enough preserved food to sustain a small settlement for months.
Of course, explaining such purchases would have been difficult. That was why she rented a warehouse in the Starcentral District.
The location was large enough to accommodate multiple deliveries while remaining inconspicuous. Most merchants assumed the princess was supporting some military project or charitable initiative. None dared question her intentions.
The warehouse quickly became a temporary gateway to Cresencia.
Day after day, shipments arrived. Crates of supplies and agricultural equipment. Seeds, tools, building materials, and medicine. Even several compact generators.
Whenever the workers departed, Ahcehera would quietly transfer everything into her pocket dimension. The process became almost routine. Yet every time she stepped into Cresencia, she felt a growing sense of relief.
No matter what happened in the future, she would never be completely helpless. That knowledge alone was priceless. Meanwhile, the palace servants struggled to understand their princess's recent behavior.
"Do you think Her Highness is planning something?"
"I heard she rented a warehouse."
"Maybe she's preparing for military exercises."
"Perhaps she misses the little wolf."
The rumors spread throughout the palace. Most concluded that the wolf's disappearance had affected her emotionally.
Ahcehera almost laughed when she overheard one conversation.
If only they knew.
The wolf had indeed left an impression on her, but her current activities had nothing to do with grief. They were about survival. After all, she knew how the story ended.
Or at least she thought she did.
The original Ahcehera Bloodstone had suffered a tragic fate. Whether the future remained unchanged or not, she refused to leave her life entirely in the hands of destiny. She would prepare, again and again, until even fate itself became powerless against her.
Several days later, Ahcehera made another discovery. The flow of time inside Cresencia differed dramatically from the outside world.
At first, she thought it was merely her imagination. Then she conducted several tests. The results left her speechless. One full day inside Cresencia was equivalent to approximately one minute outside.
The revelation nearly made her laugh with excitement. Such a difference was absurd.
Impossible, yet undeniably real.
For someone constantly pressed for time, the dimension was a miracle.
She immediately took advantage of it.
Whenever she entered Cresencia, entire days passed while barely any time moved outside. She spent weeks organizing supplies, planning future projects, and exploring portions of the endless landscape.
Then weeks became months. Gradually, the once-empty dimension transformed. Storage facilities appeared. Agricultural zones were marked. Several plots of land were prepared for future cultivation. Emergency shelters were constructed.
The space slowly evolved into a hidden sanctuary.
By the time Emil's voice interrupted her through her communication device, Ahcehera had spent nearly two months working inside Cresencia.
"Mistress, your departure is scheduled in one hour."
Ahcehera smiled.
Only one hour had passed in reality.
The thought remained surreal.
Stretching her arms, she gazed across the vast fields surrounding her.
"This place truly is unfair."
With one final glance at her growing sanctuary, she exited the dimension. Reality returned instantly. The familiar walls of her bedroom greeted her.
For a moment, the transition felt strange.
Two months inside.
One hour outside.
No matter how many times it happened, her mind struggled to adjust.
After taking a quick bath and changing into fresh clothes, Ahcehera prepared for departure. The Joint Military Entrance Examination would begin soon. As one of the designated examiners, she needed to arrive early.
There were also accommodations to inspect and official responsibilities to review. Agartha Base wasn't a place where anyone could afford mistakes. Descending the grand staircase, she found Emil waiting patiently near the entrance hall.
The robot immediately straightened. "Mistress, the chauffeur has arrived."
"Thank you, Emil." Ahcehera smiled warmly.
Despite being an artificial intelligence, Emil had become one of the few individuals she genuinely trusted. Until now, he had never betrayed her confidence.
"Please take care of the palace while I'm gone."
"Of course, Mistress."
She nodded. "Also, make sure Puereza doesn't overwork herself."
"I will relay the message." A faint smile crossed Emil's face.
Whether it was genuine emotion or advanced programming, Ahcehera could no longer tell. Nor did she particularly care. With a final farewell, she stepped outside.
The morning air felt cool against her skin. A sleek transport vehicle waited near the palace gates. Its polished exterior reflected the sunlight as the chauffeur opened the door. The journey to the airport passed quietly.
Starcentral District gradually came alive around her. Towering skyscrapers glittered beneath the morning sun while countless aerial vehicles traveled through designated traffic lanes.
The city possessed an energy unlike anything she had experienced on Earth.
Advanced, vibrant, and alive.
Eventually, the airport came into view.
After completing the necessary security procedures, Ahcehera boarded the military transport starship assigned to her route. Unlike civilian vessels, military transports prioritized practicality over luxury.
The corridors were clean and efficient. The seating arrangements were functional. Most passengers wore military uniforms or government insignias. Officers discussed assignments. Soldiers reviewed reports. Specialists examined data projected by their optical brains.
The atmosphere felt professional and disciplined.
Ahcehera found it strangely comforting. Compared to royal politics, military environments seemed refreshingly straightforward. After settling into her assigned quarters, she spent the next several hours reviewing information related to the upcoming examination.
Agartha Base would host students from numerous planetary systems. Some would become future officers. Others would disappear into obscurity. A few would eventually become major figures within the story.
The thought made her pause.
Among those candidates could be individuals she had once known only as fictional characters.
Future heroes.
Future villains.
Future allies.
Future enemies.
The line separating them often depended on perspective.
Eventually, fatigue claimed her. She closed the documents and allowed herself a brief rest. The steady vibration of the starship lulled her into sleep. Everything remained peaceful.
Until it wasn't.
A violent tremor shook the vessel.
Ahcehera's eyes snapped open.
The starship lurched sideways. Alarms immediately erupted throughout the ship. Red emergency lights flooded the corridors.
A mechanical voice echoed overhead.
[Warning. Warning. External attack detected.]
The atmosphere changed instantly. Passengers rushed from their quarters. Military personnel moved with practiced efficiency. The calm professionalism from earlier vanished beneath urgent activity.
Ahcehera stepped into the corridor. Another impact struck the vessel. The walls groaned. Several passengers nearly lost their footing. Something was wrong.
Without hesitation, she made her way toward the command deck. The closer she approached, the more tense the atmosphere became.
Crew members raced through corridors carrying reports. Emergency teams mobilized. Communication officers shouted updates.
When Ahcehera finally entered the control room, she was greeted by chaos. Holographic displays filled the air. Warning messages flashed repeatedly. Several officers stood frozen as they monitored tactical information.
"What happened?" Ahcehera asked. Her voice immediately drew attention.
The nearest officer turned. The moment he recognized her, his expression changed dramatically. "Y-Your Highness?"
The room fell silent.
Several heads snapped toward her.
Whispers spread almost instantly.
"The Princess is aboard?"
"Why is royalty on a transport vessel?"
"This ship isn't equipped for royal protection."
The murmurs grew louder.
Ahcehera ignored them. Her attention focused on the tactical display.
A hostile warship had emerged from hyperspace near the final wormhole leading toward Agartha. Its sleek black hull appeared on multiple screens. Energy signatures flared across its weapons systems.
Moments later, another barrage struck the transport vessel. The starship trembled violently. Several alarms intensified.
Ahcehera narrowed her eyes.
The military transport was durable. But it wasn't a battleship. Its purpose was transportation, not combat. Which meant the situation was far worse than the crew's expressions suggested.
Slowly, she looked toward the tactical officer. "Tell me everything."
The officer swallowed nervously. Then he delivered the words that caused the atmosphere inside the control room to grow even colder.
"Your Highness... I believe they're trying to prevent anyone from reaching Agartha Base."