About ten days later.
Artoria, who had been constantly occupied—and constantly on guard—finally found a legitimate excuse to venture deep into the forested mountains.
This was to be the village's final resource-gathering expedition before the rainy season: hunting, logging, foraging for herbs… anything that could be collected to help weather the approaching calamity—whenever it might come.
She entered the mountains with the villagers but soon slipped away along a winding path, heading swiftly toward the dangerous heart of the forest. It had been nearly half a month since she'd last seen Bluey.
I wonder if Bluey misses me?
Is its injury healing well?
The rainy season's almost here… has it stored enough food? Is it going hungry?
Her mind brimming with questions, the blonde girl rushed toward the cliffside.
—Only this time, she no longer needed to climb it.
"Huh?"
As she rounded a narrow outcrop barely wide enough for one person to pass, arriving at a gentler slope, her attention was instantly seized by something wholly out of place.
Where there had once been nothing but empty grassland, a structure—pure white—now stood like a fortress conjured from thin air.
It wasn't very large, no bigger than a basketball court on the inside. But as Artoria gazed upon this strange white fortress, an indescribable feeling stirred in her chest.
Constructed from squared blocks of marble, the structure was both simple and imposing. Its neat geometry radiated a sacred solemnity—a kind of reverent silence that pressed gently yet heavily on the heart.
And then, the next moment—driven by curiosity and a need to understand—she stepped inside.
There, sprawled atop a large stone slab, sound asleep, was Bluey, the very dragon she'd been aching to see.
So this is what Bluey's been busy with these past few days?
Where in the world did it find all this marble?
Watching Bluey curled up atop the rock, Artoria felt a wave of joy—and curiosity. There was no way marble of this quality had just been lying around in the wilderness.
If I can figure out where it got these stones… maybe we could prepare for the rainy season with a lot less strain.
The girl's personal feelings faded for a moment, overtaken by the cool calculations of a king. As the sole heir to Britain's throne, Artoria immediately recognized the marble's potential. Compared to a dragon that built its nest atop cliffs, it was the people living on solid ground who truly needed such sturdy materials.
But—
"Rrroo?"
Bluey, now stirring from sleep, let out a confused but cheerful cry.
"Yes, I'm here! I came to see you!"
In an instant, the rational monarch vanished, replaced by a beaming girl full of delight. That one cry, like a spell, scattered all thoughts unworthy of this place.
Yes, that's right.
This was a domain meant solely for dragons.
Human concerns had no place here.
…
Fully awake now, Bluey soared over to Artoria, circling above her head and occasionally letting out excited, high-pitched calls.
Artoria could understand perfectly what Bluey was trying to say:
"Finally! You're here! I missed you sooo much!"
"How have you been these past few days? Been eating well?"
"I hunted a ton of monsters—especially this huge fire-breathing boar!"
"See this building? I made it! Cool, huh?"
"But for some reason… it still feels incomplete. Like something's missing, but I can't figure out what."
"Oh, and I tossed out all the spoiled food, but I dug a pond out back and stocked it with fish. Let's grill some later!"
Bluey babbled on, sharing every detail of its recent days.
Artoria listened with a heart full of relief. Despite the separation, Bluey was in high spirits—healthy, lively, thriving.
Seems I was worried for nothing.
—Even without her, Bluey could take care of itself. It could even keep itself entertained.
Still…
"Something's missing?"
Prompted by Bluey's words, Artoria also became aware of a strange sense of dissonance inside the building.
It was subtle, yet jarring. Something didn't quite belong—or rather, something wasn't there.
And she was sure: when she'd first walked in, this feeling hadn't existed.
Weird… what's changed?
She instinctively turned her gaze to the stone pillar standing in front of her.
Something about the top of it felt oddly empty—as if it were meant to hold something. But what?
Artoria raised her head, staring at the bare pillar. Then she looked back at Bluey, still flying excited circles around her like it had endless energy.
Suddenly, it clicked.
"Hey, Bluey."
"Rroo?"
"Fly up to that pillar and strike a fierce pose."
"Yes—just like that."
…
Artoria stepped outside the fortress.
There, she found one last unused marble block—the final piece with no clear destination.
She raised her longsword.
Wind elemental energy surged along the blade's edge, sharp and lively.
What followed wasn't swordsmanship meant for battle—it was artistry.
She closed her eyes, recalling Bluey's pose from a moment ago. Then, with swift precision, she carved into the marble. Under her wind-enhanced blade, the hard stone yielded like soft clay.
She continued her work, stone chips falling away in sizes large and small, until a complete form emerged before Bluey's eyes.
A dragon's head. A tail. Wings. Claws.
Through Artoria's careful craftsmanship, a life-sized statue of Bluey took shape—an exact replica, lovingly sculpted.
When Bluey, curious and excited, lifted the statue onto the pillar—
Fwoosh—
Something magical—or rather, mysterious—happened.
Blinding white light flared from the statue, followed by a rumbling boom.
The fortress—previously just a stack of marble blocks, no more solid than a pile of toys—suddenly seemed to anchor itself to the earth, fusing seamlessly with the surrounding mountains. It was no longer a pile of stones. It had become part of the land itself, indestructible.
[Ding! Congratulations, you have completed the mini-game: Building Blocks.]
[After much effort, you have successfully constructed the building: Mausoleum of White.]