Locke followed Wizard Trajan through one tunnel after another. Then they turned down a corridor and stepped across a soft, brightly colored petal floor before stopping in front of a column-shaped Pistil Pillar.
Because they had been shrunk, the Pistil Pillar appeared enormous in Locke and Trajan's eyes. A Rose Dragon made of countless petals stood atop it.
The Rose Dragon's wings were composed of many varieties of multi-headed roses. Behind her was a dazzling flower ring resembling a solar corona, while her head was crowned with flowers made from various rose-type Magic Plants. On her chest was a brilliant peach blossom, which looked like a medal pinned there.
Wizard Trajan cautiously bowed to the flower dragon.
"Ancient Fairy Dragon, I have brought this young wizard here. You are the guardian of this laboratory, and it is now up to you to determine whether he is qualified to enter the Key Laboratory."
The flower dragon showed no reaction. She merely stared blankly at Locke and Wizard Trajan.
Wizard Trajan frowned and repeated himself, but the flower dragon still did not respond.
After thinking for a moment, Wizard Trajan could only walk beneath the Pistil Pillar and shout a repetition of his earlier words.
Only then did the flower dragon move. She lowered her head and looked at Wizard Trajan. "Ah, it's Trajan. Why are you shouting so loudly? I'm merely an old dragon, not deaf. You shouted far too loudly."
The Fairy Dragon swayed her tail and looked at Locke. "Hello, Locke Augustine. I am a Third-Ring Wizard, but I have lived for more than two thousand years, so I count as an old fogy. My memory isn't very good, and I often forget things. At my age, my hearing has naturally been affected, and my eyesight isn't very good