The reason Rebecca said the array "wouldn't work" was simple.
Ordinary people couldn't recharge a magic array, nor could they control its activation or deactivation.
A mage's magic array was fundamentally different from the simple symbols carved into stone by commoners. The latter was like using a stick as a crutch, while the former was like creating a wheelchair with technical precision—one was primitive material, the other an industrial product. The symbols on the stone operated continuously without external assistance, albeit weakly, and required no skill. A true magic array, however, was a far more complex mechanism.
Running on two legs simply requires lifting them, but reaching speeds of seventy miles an hour requires buying a car, adding fuel, and even passing a driving test. Magic arrays were similar; they needed a steady energy source and a skilled user to control activation and deactivation, even for the simplest of arrays.
Hety and Rebecca could run to the blacksmith workshop and carve basic combustion-supporting arrays on each furnace without worrying about their status. However, it was unrealistic for them to stay on-site, recharging each array after every smelting session, and controlling the energy flow through each one.
"If we're talking about arrays on the furnaces, their size will inevitably be limited. Even with Aunt Hety's skill, we'd only be able to carve second-tier support arrays…" Rebecca explained earnestly, trying to keep her tone professional. "And arrays that small can't recharge themselves. For self-charging, the array would need to be at least as big as a whole tent. So, any array on the furnace would need to be recharged manually. And even with just basic on-off functions, a regular person couldn't control it…"
Thanks to the memories of Gawain Cecil, Gawain knew that magic arrays in this world had incredibly complex classifications and principles of operation. Ignoring the overwhelming technical details, he could categorize them roughly:
Based on size, arrays were classified as small, medium, large, and super-large. The smallest arrays could be etched onto armor or swords, while the two largest arrays in the world were located in the Northern Violet Kingdom's Thousand Towers City and the "Sanctuary of the Stars" built by the elves in the southern continent, each sprawling across city streets and neighborhoods, immense in scale.
In terms of complexity, arrays could be classified as single-function or composite.
Regarding energy sources, arrays were either self-charging or externally fueled. Self-charging arrays had complex "draw" structures, allowing them to absorb ambient magic energy autonomously. However, due to the low concentration of ambient magic outside power nodes, these draw structures were necessarily large. Thus, all self-charging arrays occupied vast areas, while smaller arrays could only function with external energy sources.
In this world, self-charging arrays were rare due to their inefficiency. The "draw" structure often occupied 80% of the array's area, yet provided less energy than a single tributary of a magic node. In the same space, multiple complex arrays could fit.
For efficiency, mages preferred manual recharging over the bulky, sluggish self-charging structures. This was why all major magical installations were built near power nodes, where recharging was easy.
Gawain stroked his chin, studying the blacksmith's furnace before him.
Then he asked two questions: "Must the recharging component be on the furnace itself? And must all the functions be packed into a single array?"
Rebecca blinked, puzzled. "Isn't that how it's done?"
Gawain felt he was onto something: people in this world seemed to focus on converting magic into its most straightforward power or individual uses of force, without ever considering how this "extraordinary power" could be more broadly and accessibly applied.
"Imagine drawing a large self-charging array that absorbs ambient magic, then adding an 'output port' that transfers magic to smaller arrays on the furnaces. That would solve the recharging issue, and for the activation… we could make the connection between the furnace and the self-charging array controllable. Disconnecting it would naturally shut off the small array. Plus, the self-charging array has an overflow mechanism, so it wouldn't overload."
Rebecca quickly grasped the idea in her own way. "You mean break the array down into separate pieces that work together? That's… possible?"
"It's an idea," Gawain nodded. "I think we should discuss it with Hety; she'd know the technical details."
Rebecca wholeheartedly agreed, though she knew her aunt's casting accuracy barely met the mark for safe spell use. However, her theoretical knowledge was unmatched, even among mid-tier mages!
Gawain led his group away from the blacksmith workshop, leaving Old Hammel and his apprentices and workers staring after them in bewilderment.
One apprentice hesitantly asked, "Master, should we… continue with the furnace?"
The old blacksmith glared at him. "Of course, keep working! Don't even think about slacking off—if you want meat tonight, it depends on what we get out of this batch!"
Meanwhile, Gawain had sent Amber to fetch Hety to his tent. When he finished explaining his idea, the elegant mage shook her head.
"Using one array to charge another is a brilliant idea, but it's difficult to execute. Mana output is extremely precise. If the 'interface' has any flaw, both arrays would be ruined. And the efficiency of a self-charging array is a huge issue. Even if we cover the entire blacksmith yard with an array, it might not generate enough mana to power more than a few magic furnaces…"
Gawain listened calmly, knowing she would bring up these concerns. He already had a solution in mind.
A slight smile appeared as he continued thinking over his plan, feeling he had finally found the right path forward.
He moved aside the pile of blueprints on the table, unfurling a particularly large one filled with symbols and lines.
This drawing was something he'd completed days ago, though only now did he realize what it could be used for.
"Take a look at this," Gawain said.
Hety stared in surprise at the large array on the table. Her first thought was amazement at her ancestor's breadth of knowledge. "Ancestor… you can draw magic arrays too?"
"I only know a little, and this array isn't my invention," Gawain replied, keeping things mysterious. "Look closely and tell me what you think."
Hety leaned down, studying every symbol and their intricate connections, her brows knitting together. "All basic runes… the arrangement and combinations are very simple. The energy level doesn't seem to exceed Tier 2?"
Gawain nodded. "The array's creator could only manage to control the energy output of a Tier-2 rune sequence."
Hety glanced up at him, then down at the array with a newfound respect. "It's incredible that someone designed all of this with just basic runes… To create such a large-scale array with only foundational runes… this is a remarkable feat of ingenuity."
She paused, puzzled by some additional intricate structures in the array. "It seems designed to draw ambient energy from the environment… but what are these extra, redundant-looking parts?"
Gawain pointed to the repeating structures in the array's inner ring. "Amplifiers."
"Amplifiers?" Hety's eyes widened, then realization dawned. "Yes, that could amplify the input… and this part here could purify the ambient energy… This way, these basic runes would absorb ambient energy much more efficiently. This is… this is…"
For a moment, Hety seemed lost for words, unable to express what the array made her feel.
Gawain, however, knew what she was thinking. "Impressive, right? Like a person with a lame leg traveling the world with a crutch, or an unarmed person carving poetry into stone with a stick. It's effort beyond limits, a miracle crafted with nothing but Tier-2 runes that could astonish even grand mages."
"The grand mages wouldn't be astonished," Hety smiled wryly. "They wouldn't even glance at it, really. Because despite the creativity here, it's still made from Tier-2 runes. No matter how efficient it is, the energy it draws can't compare to the personal mana sources of grand mages…"
"But it's a prototype, a foundational model that can be continuously improved. What if you swapped these Tier-2 runes for Tier-3? And if you increased the combination complexity to Tier-3? How many times would its efficiency surpass that of current self-charging arrays?"
As Gawain spoke, he pointed to a few critical nodes within the array. "Besides efficiency, look at these essential parts."
"These look like… mana channels?" Hety squinted. "I noticed them before, but there's no corresponding energy drain. Is the array incomplete?"
"No, this array has no built-in energy drain. Its sole purpose is to provide external mana—to power the weak human body. And because of this, unlike most arrays, its interface compatibility is so high that it can connect with any energy-consuming device."
Gawain continued, "So, can this array power the blacksmith workshop?"
"If every symbol performs as intended… or rather, I'm certain it will. It's practically optimized to the limit!" Hety's expression grew more animated. She finally broke free of her traditional mage mindset, realizing the significance of the design before her. "A highly efficient self-charging array with a broad 'frequency' for outputting energy. It could not only power the blacksmith shop but even… supply energy to countless other things!"
Eagerly, she asked, "Ancestor, what's the name of this ingenious array?"
Gawain pulled out an old notebook. "I don't need to
name it; its creator already has."
Opening the notebook, he pointed to a line of handwritten notes on one of the pages: "Annie, I finally completed the 'Mana Network' today. May it keep you in good health."