The Vastness of Magical Destiny

When Komer shared his thoughts and intentions with Newman, Newman’s intense interest was almost immediately piqued. For him, magic mechanisms were far more appealing than the "Star Magic Array," as they didn’t require profound magic spells or substantial mana. Instead, they largely depended on ingenious concepts for magic mechanisms and a good command over the choice of materials; magic played more of a supportive role, which, of course, was indispensable for the magic mechanisms.

Komer intentionally guided Newman toward certain areas of exploration, such as the magical enhancement of siege devices to strengthen their attack power and durability, and the installation of magical reaction devices on the City Wall to counter nocturnal stealth assaults by enemy Soldiers. These proposed ideas helped Newman step out of his misconceptions almost immediately and acknowledge his advantages in this field. Komer also generously promised to provide Newman with more Funds and support on magic materials and even to help him recruit some Magic Apprentices gifted in magic mechanisms to hasten the progress of his research.

However, distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. Newman immersing himself in the study of magic mechanisms did not help Komer resolve the current weakness of the Caucasian Mage Group. If, in the last Battle of Busen Plain, Uma’s Undead Army hadn’t restrained the power of the Royal Court Magicians and the Church of Light, the entire Caucasian Mage Group would have likely crumbled long ago—a pain Komer felt deeply. Without a powerful Mage force as a backup, the Army he meticulously trained would have to pay a much higher price to win a war.

Komer did not harbor extravagant hopes for the extent of his Mage force, but the severe situation in the North forced him to invest more effort into his Mage force. It was particularly challenging to recruit reliable and powerful Mages, especially since he had made clear his stance of potential confrontation with the Church of Light. Mages affiliated, even slightly, with the Church of Light were unlikely to join him readily. Under these circumstances, Komer was compelled to dedicate significant attention to Magic Arrays.

The secret chamber beneath Damarlinsk Castle left Komer with quite a few useful books, especially about Magic Arrays. Komer, during moments of Meditation, casually examined these when he had nothing else to do. A Magic Array, in essence, was about enhancing or overlaying certain large-scale magic or powers. To amplify and overlay such powers, special mediums were necessary, such as the induction of special Demon materials, or a specific minor spell as a catalyst, or even a particular naturally or artificially created environment. In a nutshell, a special inducer was needed, and importantly, one or several Mages capable of wielding such immense power were required to manage and control it to ensure that the Magic Array, once activated, released power in the direction intended by the caster.

This Earth Magic Array also emerged in Komer’s mind only after seeing Clarence’s proficiency in earth-based magic, and recalling the setup of the "Star Magic Array" beneath the obelisk in Damarlinsk Castle. However, like Space Magic and Psychic Magic, Star Magic was considered one of magic’s three least popular fields, and not many on the Continent were knowledgeable about Star Magic. Finding someone skilled in Star Magic was even more challenging. Except for Komer, only Newman had some exposure in this domain, and since he could not enter the battlefield himself, Komer had no choice but to rely on Newman.