The reason Rebecca mentioned that "it cannot be used" is quite simple.
Ordinary people lack the ability to charge a magic array and cannot control its activation or deactivation.
The professional magic arrays used by wizards are fundamentally different from the simple symbols inscribed on stones by common folk. The latter can be likened to picking up a stick from the roadside to use as a cane, while the former is akin to constructing a wheelchair using various technical methods. The disparity is comparable to that between raw materials and industrial products—symbols carved on stone do not require external involvement to maintain their effectiveness, albeit weak; they demand no special skills. In contrast, a magic array is a complex mechanism requiring precise operations.
Walking on two legs only requires lifting one's legs to move, but reaching a speed of seventy miles per hour necessitates purchasing a vehicle, fueling it, and obtaining a driver's license. The principle is the same for a magic array: it requires energy infusion and needs professionals skilled in magic control to operate it—no matter how simple the array may be.
Both Hettie and Rebecca can disregard their social statuses to come to the blacksmith shop and inscribe simple combustion assistance arrays on each furnace, but they cannot remain here all day to recharge the arrays after every batch of ore while managing the energy flow of all the arrays.
"If the array is to be inscribed on the furnace, its size will inevitably be limited. Even with Hettie's abilities, she can likely only inscribe support arrays of level two or lower," Rebecca explained seriously, trying to maintain a professional demeanor. "Such a small-scale array cannot achieve self-charging—an array capable of drawing in ambient magic would need to be at least the size of an entire tent. Thus, the arrays on the furnace require someone to recharge them. Additionally, even the simplest array requires basic operations to turn on and off, which ordinary people cannot manage..."
Through the memories of Gawain Cecil, he understood that the magic arrays in this world had complex classifications and operational principles. Without delving into the intricacies of specialized knowledge, they could be roughly categorized:
**By Scale**: Divided into small, medium, large, and super-large arrays. The smallest arrays can be inscribed on armor and swords, while the largest two magic arrays in the world are located in the City of Thousand Towers in the northern Violet Kingdom and the "Temple of Stars" built by the elves in the southern continent. These two magic arrays are city-sized and outlined along the roads, which is a terrifying scale.
**By Functionality**: Can be classified into single-function and composite types.
**By Energy Charging Method**: Can be categorized into self-charging and external charging. Self-charging magic arrays have a complex "absorption" structure that allows them to draw in ambient magic from the environment for self-energization. However, since ambient magic outside of magic focal points is generally sparse, self-charging arrays are often quite large, while all small arrays must rely on external energy infusion.
In this world, self-charging magic arrays are quite rare—primarily due to their inefficiency.
A self-charging structure often occupies about eighty percent of the total area of a magic array, but the energy it provides is often less than that of a single tributary from a magic focal point. Given the vast area of the drawing, several functionally complex arrays could fit within. Thus, wizards prefer to charge the arrays themselves rather than opt for the slow and cumbersome self-charging structure.
This is also why all large magical facilities in this world are located near magic focal points: for convenience in charging.
Gawain stroked his chin as he gazed at the blacksmith furnace.
Then he posed two questions: "Is it absolutely necessary to inscribe the charging portion on the furnace?"
"Is it necessary to cram all functions into a single magic array?"
Rebecca blinked in confusion: "If not, then what?"
Gawain sensed he had grasped the key issue: the people in this world seemed to focus solely on converting magic into its most primitive and brutal form or merely on the individual use of that power, never considering how to promote this "extraordinary power" in a broader, more foundational way.
"Create a large self-charging magic array that draws ambient magic from the air, then install an 'output port' on this large array to supply magic to the small arrays on the furnace. This way, the charging issue is resolved. As for the operational issue… you can establish a controllable connection between the furnace and the self-charging array; once severed, the small array will naturally stop, and the large self-charging array will have inherent overflow characteristics, so there's no risk of it exploding…"
Rebecca quickly comprehended Gawain's idea: "So we can break the magic array into pieces and use them like that? Is that feasible?"
"That's certainly one way to approach it," Gawain nodded. "I think we should discuss this with Hettie—she is likely more of an expert."
Rebecca fully agreed with this. Although Hettie's spellcasting accuracy might only be at the level of outlining the human form, when it came to theoretical knowledge, even mid-tier wizards might not compare to her!
Thus, Gawain led them away from the blacksmith shop, leaving old blacksmith Hammer and his apprentices and helpers looking bewildered.
"Master, are we still going to fire up the furnace next?" one apprentice cautiously asked, finally daring to speak after the duke and the viscount had stood before them earlier.
The old blacksmith shot the apprentice a glare: "Of course we will fire it up! Don't think about slacking off—whether we eat meat tonight depends on the outcome of this batch!"
Meanwhile, Gawain had sent Amber to summon Hettie to his tent. However, after he articulated his thoughts, the elegant lady shook her head.
"While the idea of using one magic array to charge another is excellent, it is incredibly difficult to execute… The output of magic is a precise matter. If the 'interface' has an issue, both arrays will fail. Moreover, the efficiency of self-charging arrays is a significant concern. Even if we were to inscribe an array as large as the blacksmith shop's yard, the magic it generates likely wouldn't be enough to power even a few magic furnaces…"
Gawain understood that Hettie would present these challenges, but he had already devised a solution.
He smiled slightly, feeling that as his thoughts deepened, he was finally uncovering the path he should pursue. He pushed aside a pile of drawings on the table and laid out a particularly large sheet covered with symbols and lines.
This document had been completed days ago, but it was only today that he realized its potential utility.
"Take a look at this," Gawain said.
Hettie stared in astonishment at the large array of symbols on the table, her first reaction being to marvel at how knowledgeable her ancestor was: "Ancestor… You can actually draw magic arrays?!"
"I only know a little, and this array was not created by me," Gawain teased, leaving her in suspense, "but first, take a look and see what you think."
Hettie leaned down, meticulously examining each symbol and the connections between them, her brows gradually knitting together: "These are all the most basic symbols… The arrangement and combination methods are also the simplest; it seems that the highest energy level doesn't exceed level two?"
Gawain nodded: "Because the person who left this array could only control energy intensity up to a level two array."
Hettie looked up in surprise, her face betraying a hint of admiration: "It's truly remarkable that it's all designed using basic symbols… Creating such a large-scale array with only the most fundamental symbols… this is… an incredible achievement! This seems to be a structure capable of drawing ambient energy from the natural environment? But what are these redundant, complex structures for…"
Gawain pointed to the repeating structures in the array: "To amplify."
"Amplify?" Hettie's eyes widened, and then she realized, "Of course! This allows for amplification… and the structures here can further purify the ambient energy… in that case, these basic symbols can draw ambient energy with much greater efficiency! This is truly… truly…"
Hettie struggled to find the right words to describe her feelings about this array, but Gawain understood what she wanted to convey: "It truly represents effort, doesn't it? Just like a person with a limp supports themselves with a cane, or someone unarmed carves poetry into a stone with a stick; it's an effort that surpasses limits, utilizing basic level two symbols to create a miracle that would astonish even the great wizards."
"The great wizards probably wouldn't be astonished; they wouldn't even glance at it," Hettie replied with a wry smile, shaking her head. "While this array is highly creative, it is ultimately constructed from level two symbols. No matter how efficient it is, the energy it draws cannot compare to the personal magic wells of great wizards…"
"But it's a prototype, a foundational model that can be continually improved. It only has level two symbols, but what if you replace them with level three based on this concept? What if you increase the complexity of their combinations to level three? How many times more efficient would it be than the existing self-charging arrays?" Gawain continued, pointing to several special nodes in the array, "And beyond efficiency, take a look at these more critical components."
"This… seems to be a magic conduit?" Hettie frowned. "I saw them earlier but didn't see corresponding energy-consuming units; is it because the array is incomplete?"
"No, it's because from the beginning, this array didn't contain energy-consuming units; its sole purpose is
to supply magic—feeding magic to a weakened human. Because of this, it differs from typical internal interfaces in arrays, with these conduits having such a high degree of 'compatibility' that any energy-consuming unit can connect to them," Gawain explained slowly. "Now, can this array provide energy to the blacksmith shop?"
"If all the symbols can function properly… no, they will definitely function; it has nearly reached the limits of its calculations!" Hettie's expression grew increasingly excited as she finally broke free from the conventional wizard's mindset and recognized the greatness of this creation. "With high-efficiency self-charging, and the ability to output energy at a considerable 'frequency,' it can completely supply energy to the blacksmith shop, and even…"
She was eager to ask, "Ancestor, what is the name of this genius array?"
Gawain pulled an old notebook from his possession: "It doesn't need my naming—its creator has already named it."
As he opened the notebook, one page revealed a brief note:
"Annie, today I finally completed the 'Magic Web.' May it bless your health."