The next day, I went to the royal palace alone.

　I had been in the imperial capital for a while, and I thought it was time to go home to my parents.

　I am the Carlisle baron--no, the head of the Vice-Emperor's House of Carlisle.
　I have to greet the emperor on my way out. Otherwise, it's a problem for the Duke of Carlyle, father.

　Well, before that.
　Even ordinary people return to greet the people they cared for on their journey and we need to say hello to Eliza.

　So I came to the palace and asked for an audience with Your Majesty, but instead of Eliza, it was a minister whose face I had seen before.

Well, ......
"My name is Reitz. Vice-Emperor.
"Mr. Reitz. Where is His Majesty?
His Majesty is not in the palace. He went to see his guardian dragon this morning.
"The guardian dragon ...... is said to have helped His Majesty the first emperor during the founding of the empire ......?
"Good-bye.

　Minister Leitz nodded clearly.

　The empire has a legend of a guardian dragon.
　It's in history as a founding episode, but it's only half-lore.

　Because that guardian dragon has never been seen since the founding of the country.
　Some historians believe it was actually a bluff.

"Today I went to pray to the guardian dragon, a monthly ritual.
I did. ......
His Majesty told me. If the Vice-Emperor wishes, he can tell you where to go.
Well, let's see ...... then, tell me about it.

　　　　　*

　Leitz told me the location and I headed out with my flying magic.
　Unlike instantaneous travel magic, flying magic that flies through the air as fast as a bird.

　Still, it's much faster than horses and carriages.
　Flying through the air, I headed to the place where the guardian dragon and Eliza were.

　Less than an hour later, flying straight over the grasslands, a temple-like building came into view in the distance.

　A squad of soldiers was guarding the entrance to the temple, and I landed in front of them.

"Your Highness!

　One of the soldiers - probably the captain's man - called out to me, and with that they all fell to their knees in unison.

"Make yourself comfortable. You all don't have to thank me because protecting the king is the most important thing.
"Ha!

　When the captain's man responded on behalf of the soldiers, they stood up again in unison.
　Very well-trained, unflappable leadership. Very well done.

Is His Majesty here, by the way?
What. His Highness told me to let you in when he arrived.
It's a ritual. Do you know when to go in?
"You said anytime," he said.
"Okay, thank you.

　Say so to the captain's man and go into the temple.

Oh ......

　The moment I stepped in, I shuddered at the difference in the air between the outside and the inside.
　The air was unlike anything I had ever felt before.
　The air was mysterious and austere.
　The air was filled with such wonder.

　I steeled myself and headed to the back of the temple.

　A long path led to a huge space with an altar.
　There was a huge stone statue of a dragon in front of Eliza, who was praying alone.

This is the guardian dragon: ......
"You're here, Alec.

　Eliza looked up, turned around and smiled at me.

"Sorry, did I interrupt you?
No, it's not.

　Eliza told me it was okay, so I moved closer to her.

　We were alone in a vast space, the sound of shoes echoed heavily.

This is an amazing stone statue, was it made by the first emperor?
No, this is the guardian dragon himself.
"Yourself?
"Yeah. Apparently there was a lot of trouble when he was building the empire, and he was petrified. They haven't changed since.
That's right.

　Petrification.

　As I looked up at the huge stone statue of the dragon in front of me, my bosom flashed.

"Alec?　What is it?
This is ......

　The Philosopher's Stone.
　The philosopher's stone, which I carry with me always, glowed by itself.

　I can sense its will.
　unusually, the stone spoke to me.



　It was a way to use the magic of unpetrification.

"Uh-huh, I see.
"Okay, what?
"Sorry, I was just backing off, Eliza.
"Huh?　Yeah ......

　I don't know what it was, but if Alec was right - and Eliza took a few steps back.

　I looked at the stone dragon statue again.
　I reviewed in my mind the magic I learned from the Philosopher's Stone once more, and then held up my hand to cast a spell.

Hello?　Alec, what are you going to do?
I stopped the petrification. You're a guardian dragon, and it would be good for the Empire to untie you.
"Huh?　What are you talking about, Alec, it's impossible to--

　Eliza wonders, while the magic is triggered.
　A feeling of weakness overtook me as a considerable amount of magic was taken away, but the magic was successfully activated and the dragon's stone statue was enveloped in light.

　Soon, the guardian dragon's petrification is released.
　The stone statue's appearance gradually returned to normal, lifelike scales.
　The eyes, too, gradually lit up, unlike when they were stone statues.

　In less than a minute, he changed from the stone statue back to his full dragon form.
　The guardian dragon was thumping!　And fell face down on the ground, but was breathing in my sleep.

　Sleeping here is a bit distracting, but I was relieved that I had succeeded, because it was proof that the petrification had been released.
　Then I turn to Eliza.

......
"What's up Eliza?　You look so surprised.
You'd be surprised at ......
"Surprised?

　Did I do something strange?

Because the dragon is petrified?　It has always been said that keeping a creature the size of a dragon petrified for so long is a magic comparable to that of a god. That's why some people say the legend of the guardian dragon is a lie.

　I remember that theory.

But it's true. There are dozens of ordinary wizards who tried to solve the petrification problem, only to have their magic taken from them by the roots because they didn't have enough power. And then Alec easily solved it: ......
"Uh, ......
"That's great, Alec. ......

　Convinced Eliza was looking at me with hot eyes.