Despite having stored the crystal away, Gawain could still "see" the energy-like overhead image in his mind. He soon discovered how to close the image: by consciously shifting his attention away from it, the display would vanish. Recalling it was equally simple—he only needed to will it back into existence.
Throughout this process, he realized that he no longer required the crystal's power. A mental link, based on thought and intention, seemed to have been established. The crystal's role in this connection was likely akin to that of a key or catalyst.
Seated at his desk, Gawain examined the questions he had written down and attempted to organize his thoughts to find answers.
Based on his memories and recent events, it became evident that the sun's fluctuations were directly related to the magical tide on the ground. Whenever sunspots appeared, magical energy surged, causing elemental forces to become agitated. The so-called dark magical tide was essentially the explosive outburst of chaotic magical energy, overwhelming and eroding the material world, with the monsters emerging during elemental storms considered a secondary phenomenon.
The phenomena of sunspots and magical surges were familiar to the intelligent beings of this world; they were recognized as natural occurrences—erratic but not uncommon. Gawain hypothesized that the magical tide's essence was a magical surge that exceeded a certain "threshold." Once the magical energy reached a critical limit, the stability of elemental order would be disrupted, triggering the outbreak of the magical tide.
What role did the sun play in this process? Did the sunspots trigger the magical surges, or were both phenomena manifestations of the same event?
Gawain pondered this and added a related question to his notes: What is the true nature of the sun?
It seemed certain that the sun was a giant gaseous planet—at least according to the monitoring data—but it clearly differed significantly from the gaseous giants Gawain knew from his homeland.
In Gawain's world, gaseous giants were not luminous; they might contain massive amounts of nuclear fuel and emit energy radiation, but they did not reach the fusion critical point, functioning instead like unlit furnaces. In contrast, the sun in this world emitted both light and heat.
Was it "ignited"? Or did it possess unique properties due to the differing laws of nature in the two worlds?
Gawain favored the second explanation, realizing that the phenomena of sunspots and magical surges served as reminders of the fundamentally different physical rules in this world. Clinging to fixed ideas would likely lead to unproductive reasoning.
He dismissed the first hypothesis for a crucial reason: if the sun was indeed a lit gaseous planet undergoing fusion, it would be classified as a star. Its emitted light and heat would not be as minimal as what he observed now. Given the apparent size of the sun and its bluish-white surface color, it would generate enough heat to incinerate the planet beneath it.
Gawain wrote down his conclusion: The sun is a uniquely functioning gaseous giant whose activities influence surface magic, hypothesized to release catalytic energy radiation. The appearance of sunspots might indicate an increase in energy radiation; however, without effective detection methods, this remains uncertain.
Next, he considered the second question: What exactly is the monitoring satellite?
It could be a remnant of an ancient civilization or an outpost left by extraterrestrial visitors. The civilization that constructed it must have been highly advanced—certainly untroubled by the so-called magical tides, as the satellite remained operational even during their occurrences, indicating a significant technological gap. However, where is that civilization now?
Gawain reflected on the fact that the satellite he had encountered was severely malfunctioning, yet there were no signs of maintenance personnel arriving. He boldly speculated that the civilization responsible for the satellite might have perished or left, no longer concerning themselves with this region.
Alternatively, it might be that the civilization had simply lost interest, treating the satellite with indifference. Yet this possibility seemed unlikely; Gawain dismissed it.
Regardless, the satellite was deteriorating without maintenance, which suggested that the threat of being confronted by a superior civilization was not imminent—a relief. However, if that civilization could assist with the magical tide yet chose not to intervene, that was troubling news.
The satellite likely served as a means to monitor magical fluctuations.
Gawain recalled the second type of aerial view he had observed earlier—the one layered with color filters. The varying shades could represent different levels of magical energy, and the synchronized changes during surges supported this hypothesis. Thus, the satellite could indeed function as an early warning system for magical tides.
Yet the current condition of this observation post was concerning. No matter how Gawain issued commands, he could not adjust the visuals, which frequently experienced severe interference and shaking. These indicators suggested that the system was on the verge of collapse.
Finally, he turned to the last question: Why did the ancient Gawain Cecil leave behind this crystal?
While he had yet to comprehend the crystal's full capabilities, it had proven useful in reestablishing contact with the monitoring station. Was the crystal of any significance to others?
If it was, what purpose did Gawain Cecil intend for it? Did he use it to gain a similar vantage point?
This thought was intriguing—perhaps the most legendary pioneer was able to lead refugees to safety during magical tides and establish a new kingdom precisely because he had access to a comprehensive view of the land.
However, mere speculation would not suffice; practical testing was necessary.
Gawain held the intact crystal, contemplating how to test it. Given that this involved his secrets, he could not simply hand it over to anyone. Although the natives might not understand the implications of suddenly seeing an overhead view resembling thermal imaging, there was always the risk that a particularly astute individual could deduce the truth from those images.
Thus, he needed someone reliable, ensuring that even if the test succeeded, no uncontrollable consequences would arise.
Gawain glanced over at the half-elf girl, Amber, who was lost in thought beside him. As their eyes met, she shivered, startled by his gaze.
"What are you planning?" she stammered. "Are you finally ready to reveal your true noble nature and turn on your guard?"
This idea was out of the question. Given Amber's unpredictability, he quickly dismissed it.
Just then, someone reported that Rebecca had returned from surveying the land.
Gawain's spirits lifted at this news. "Bring her in quickly!"
Rebecca rushed into the tent, her energy palpable. She appeared invigorated rather than fatigued after a long day outdoors. Assuming Gawain wanted her to report her findings, she began excitedly, "Ancestor! You won't believe the quality of land nearby! I initially thought the area around the Dark Mountains was entirely barren and unsuitable for development, but following your map, I found—"
"Hold on; we can discuss that later," Gawain interrupted, handing her the crystal. "I need you to do something."
With a puzzled expression, Rebecca accepted the crystal, uncertain of what was required. "And then?"
Gawain carefully considered how to articulate his earlier experience with the satellite and directed her, "Now, imagine being very high up in the sky—above the clouds—where something can observe the earth. Concentrate on establishing a connection with that entity."
Rebecca blinked, processing his words. "Oh, you mean the Eye of Secrets?"
The Eye of Secrets is a concept among mages, symbolizing a transcendent gaze that allows gifted individuals to perceive the world's essence and the flow of magic. Though mages cannot directly perceive this eye, their souls are subconsciously aware of it—meditation serves as a means to connect with it.
Gawain clarified, "No, it's something beyond the Eye of Secrets, something tangible, like a magical device."
Rebecca focused intently, but then sheepishly smiled. "But I don't see anything at all."
After trying various guiding methods without success, Gawain realized that the legendary Gawain Cecil's all-seeing powers could not be substantiated.