Even after putting the crystal away, Gawain could still "see" the overhead view in his mind, as if it were some kind of energy-based imaging. He soon discovered how to dismiss the view simply by shifting his focus away from it. To bring it back, he just needed to consciously call it up. The link seemed to be controlled by his mind, and the crystal's role was merely that of a key—or perhaps a catalyst.
Sitting at his desk, Gawain began to review the questions he'd written down, trying to find some answers.
Based on the memories of the original Gawain Cecil and recent events, it was clear that changes in the "sun" had a direct impact on magical tides on the ground. When red spots appeared on the sun's surface, the earth's magical energy surged, causing elements to become more active. These magical surges could escalate into the dark tides—a massive, chaotic release of magical energy leading to a catastrophic elemental breakdown, during which mysterious creatures would emerge in elemental storms. While the exact mechanism of these monsters was unclear, they appeared to be secondary effects of elemental instability.
In this world, the phenomenon of solar red spots and magical surges was known and accepted as a natural occurrence. However, it was irregular, with no predictable frequency.
Thus, Gawain hypothesized that the nature of magical tides lay in surpassing a critical threshold. When magical energy rose to a certain limit, the stability of elements would collapse, triggering a magical tide.
But what role did the sun play in this? Did the red spots cause the magical surges, or were they simply two manifestations of the same event?
Gawain pondered and jotted down an additional question on his paper: *What exactly is the sun?*
It was apparently a gas giant—at least, that's how it was described in the "monitoring data." Yet it was quite different from the gas giants he knew. In his world, gas giants didn't emit light and heat. While they were filled with nuclear fuel and emitted low levels of radiation, they didn't undergo nuclear fusion. In contrast, this world's "sun" seemed to provide both light and heat.
So, was it ignited somehow? Or did it have special properties due to differences in the laws of this world?
Gawain leaned toward the latter explanation, as the red spots and magical surges indicated a vastly different set of natural laws. Sticking to conventional logic might lead to futile attempts at understanding this phenomenon.
He also dismissed the "ignition" hypothesis for another reason: if the sun were a fusion-powered gas giant akin to a star, it would produce far more heat than the land could handle. Given its size and near-blue-white color, it would have long since reduced this planet to ashes.
Writing down his conclusion, Gawain noted: "The 'sun' is a unique gas giant whose activity affects surface magic, possibly through some catalytic energy radiation. The appearance of red spots may indicate increased energy radiation, though without proper measuring tools, this is uncertain."
Moving to the second question, *What is the "monitoring satellite"?*
It could be a construct of an ancient civilization, or possibly a remnant from extraterrestrial visitors. Whatever its origins, its builders were clearly advanced, capable of disregarding the magical tides that threatened life on the planet. The fact that the satellite remained operational during magical tides suggested a vast technological gap.
Where was the civilization that left it? Given the current state of the satellite, which had long since entered disrepair, Gawain surmised that this civilization had either perished or departed, no longer interested in this world. Of course, it was also possible that they were so wealthy that losing a satellite was as inconsequential as discarding a napkin, but he considered this unlikely.
In any case, with the satellite barely functioning and no signs of maintenance, it seemed he didn't have to worry about some "superior civilization" suddenly descending to deal with him. Yet if such a civilization could solve the magical tide problem but chose not to, that was a troubling thought indeed.
As for the satellite's function, Gawain speculated that it was designed to monitor magical fluctuations. He recalled the second type of aerial view (he referred to the original, crystal-clear satellite view he'd seen over the years as the "first type"), which displayed the land in layers of color, possibly representing magical fluctuations. The changes in these colors during a surge supported this theory, indicating the satellite might be intended as an early-warning system for magical tides.
At the very least, "monitoring" seemed to be one of its functions.
But, with the satellite in disrepair, no commands seemed capable of adjusting the view, and frequent interference and vibrations reminded him that the system was on its last legs.
The final question remained: *Why did Gawain Cecil leave behind this crystal 700 years ago?*
While he still didn't fully understand the crystal's properties, he had verified that it allowed him to reestablish contact with the monitoring station. So, could others also use it? If so, what purpose did Gawain Cecil have in mind for it? Did he, too, use it to access the satellite's view?
This idea made a surprising amount of sense. Perhaps the legendary founding knight's ability to lead refugees through the magical tide and monster-infested lands in an incredible escape was due to having an "all-seeing map" advantage…
But speculation was not enough; he needed to test it.
Holding the crystal, Gawain considered how to test it. This involved his secrets, so he couldn't just hand it over to anyone. Although the locals might not understand what they were seeing, he couldn't discount the possibility that someone might deduce the truth from the aerial view.
Thus, he needed someone reliable and trustworthy, someone who wouldn't pose an unpredictable risk if they did succeed in using it.
His musings were interrupted when a messenger arrived to report that Rebecca had returned from surveying the land.
Overjoyed, Gawain immediately said, "Have her come over right away!"
Soon, Rebecca entered the tent, looking as energetic as ever despite spending the entire day outdoors. Assuming Gawain wanted her report, she launched into her findings as soon as she entered. "Ancestor! You wouldn't believe how much good land we found nearby! I thought everything around the Dark Mountains would be barren and undevelopable, but according to your map, I found…"
"Hold on," Gawain interrupted, handing her the crystal. "I need you to try something first."
He looked at his many-times-great-granddaughter with a smile, noting how she was the opposite of Amber: obedient, reliable, and perhaps a little slow on the uptake.
Rebecca took the crystal, looking at Gawain in confusion. "What should I do?"
Gawain recalled how he had established contact with the satellite and began guiding her. "Imagine something high up, much higher than the clouds, an object that can overlook the entire land. Now, try to connect with it."
Rebecca blinked in confusion. "Oh, like the Eye of Arcana?"
The Eye of Arcana was a concept among mages, referring to an innate "eye" each mage had that allowed them to perceive the essence of the world and the flow of magic. Though mages couldn't directly sense this eye, their souls could communicate with it during meditation.
Gawain quickly clarified. "No, even higher and more specific. Imagine it as a real, tangible object, like a magical device."
Rebecca focused hard, then looked at him apologetically. "I don't see anything…"
Gawain tried several more approaches, but the crystal showed no reaction in her hands.
It seemed the legend of Duke Gawain Cecil having an "all-seeing map" would remain unconfirmed.