The Wind Elemental Stone

I flinched back from the strong wind blowing out of the gemstone.

The women's skirts flipped up, exposing them in an undignified manner.

I thought we might get blown away, but the wind naturally died down after a short while.

The Water Elemental had vanished at some point as well.

Resonating with the spirit and producing wind.

If that's the case, this gemstone is probably…

"Could this be a Wind Elemental Stone?"

"It appears so. I had a hunch it might be, and I was right."

Elza came up next to me, straightening her disheveled clothes and hair as she spoke.

She was the one who told me to choose this. She must have been certain.

Judging from what just happened, there's no doubt about it. But Yohane eyed the stone with suspicion.

"Compared to the Earth Elemental Stone, it seems kind of…"

"In a word, it has no presence. Even a fragment of the Earth Elemental Stone radiated an overwhelming sense of power just by being near it, but I can't sense anything like that from this gemstone."

"As Alexia-san says. Until the Water Elemental touched it, it looked like nothing more than an ordinary stone."

"Yeah."

I've seen the Fire and Earth Elemental Stones with my own eyes before.

Standing before an Elemental Stone, you could feel the spirit's immense power pressing against your very skin.

But this Wind Elemental Stone has none of that.

The only impression I got was that it was just a pretty stone.

Besides, it's strange that a Wind Elemental Stone was in that place at all.

Elemental stones are said to be spirits that have fallen into slumber, and they hold enough power to sustain an entire city.

A Water Elemental Stone would mean never worrying about droughts, and an Earth Elemental Stone would bring bountiful harvests without fail.

A Fire Elemental Stone is a fuel source in itself.

A Wind Elemental Stone would surely have immeasurable value as well.

That should be just as true for the Empire, setting it apart from other magical tools.

"If it's the real thing, would Crown Prince Kelves really give it away so easily?"

"I don't think he realized this was an Elemental Stone in the first place."

"What do you mean?"

"There was probably another Wind Elemental Stone. He must have secured that one properly. He did say they recovered the Elemental Stone."

"If there was another one just like it, wouldn't he recognize this one too?"

"No, that would be impossible. This poor thing has been exhausted from being used improperly. It didn't look like anything more than a large gemstone until just now, did it?"

"Now that you mention it, you're right."

Since I've held an actual Elemental Stone before, I understand how unique they are.

That's precisely why I didn't recognize it.

Even my appraisal didn't reveal anything.

Azu, who can resonate with spirits, didn't notice either. It took the Water Elemental, a fellow spirit, to finally sense it.

"I see. But if it's been exhausted, it won't be much use. Will it recover like the Earth Elemental Stone did?"

"The Earth Elemental Stone just needed to be buried in the ground and used to grow plants."

"That's true. But in this state, recovering its power through normal means could take decades… possibly over a hundred years. The Earth Elemental Stone fragment still had plenty of power, but this one is completely depleted."

"So it's essentially just a regular gemstone."

I got a bit excited thinking the Four Great Elementals might all be gathered, but it seems things aren't that easy.

Not that I'm a mage who could make good use of it anyway.

And Azu still has trouble mastering all the elements.

"It was a gift, so it's not like we lost anything. If that's the case, I'll just display it at home. It might make a good family heirloom."

"If there were a place where magical power pools, it would recover much faster… but such places are occupied by powerful monsters and are dangerous. And we can't have someone steal it either."

"A place where powerful monsters have set up camp that someone can still manage? That's hardly realistic."

"How useless."

Deciding to set it aside for now, I stuffed the Wind Elemental Stone into Azu's tool bag.

"We've been told to take it easy until the coronation. Let's take them up on that and relax."

This is the biggest event for Crown Prince Kelves.

He had to postpone it once, but this time he'll hold it under perfect conditions.

Everyone from top to bottom is incredibly busy.

It's better to stay put rather than wander around carelessly right now.

Besides, Alexia needs time to think right now.

She couldn't stop her father's downfall, and the Empire didn't help her.

I can't even imagine how much despair she felt when she went from being a noblewoman to a slave.

That was clearly reflected in her initial attitude.

Over time, we built trust, and I think she opened up her heart.

Given Alexia's competitive nature, she must have been planning to somehow get revenge someday.

Yet the very person who ruined her and her father had self-destructed without her even noticing. Accepting that must be difficult.

"Alexia."

"What?"

I gently ran my right hand through her red hair.

Hair as red as her personality.

Then I slowly moved my hand to her cheek, and Alexia grabbed it, holding it there.

"… Master, you won't leave me behind, will you? If you just up and disappear after buying me, I'll never forgive you."

"I know."

"I'll definitely protect you if you stay close. So stay by my side."

Alexia released my hand and turned her back to me.

Finn clasped her hands behind her head, smirking.

"If she's embarrassed, she shouldn't say it."

"Shut up."

"Fufu. That's exactly what's cute about you, Alexia-chan."

"I-I feel the same way! Master, please know that I feel the same!"

"Azu, I appreciate the sentiment, but calm down…"

"If sir disappeared, what would I do? I'd be lost on the streets."

"I haven't disappeared, so stop imagining weird things!"

"You lot are so noisy."

As Azu and the others made a commotion, Finn's muttering echoed through the room.