"Right, I'm beginning. Pay attention, you brats!"
Once she saw that Lucas had finished arranging the magic implements, Maitis began the ritual to construct the barrier.
She stood at the center of the circle, which was roughly ten meters in diameter, and struck the ground several times with her staff. Rest and the others stood a short distance back, watching the ceremony unfold with rapt attention.
Rest and Isis, being mages themselves, were naturally fascinated, but Yuri, Lyubase, and Andrew were just as intrigued.
"Normally," Maitis explained, "constructing a barrier requires the caster’s own mana, or mana stored within implements and catalysts. If the mana runs dry, the barrier dissolves."
She tapped the ground again.
This was the heart of the Magical Wilds—the very point where the energy flowing through the earth surged to the surface. They were standing directly atop a Dragon Vein.
Rest watched closely. If he focused, he could see pale motes of light drifting up from the soil.
"But this time, we’re going to let the Dragon Vein foot the bill. As long as the vein doesn't run dry or the magic circle itself isn't physically destroyed, the effects will be permanent... well, there’s always the risk of it wearing down over the centuries, I suppose. But that’s hundreds of years away. If the kingdom lasts that long, that is."
Rest caught his breath as lines of light suddenly streaked around Maitis. Floating in the empty air, they wove together in circular motions, sketching intricate geometric patterns.
"Now for the main event. I'm going to layer four different barriers at once. Any half-decent caster can manage one or two. But layering four? You won't find anyone but this old hag who can pull that off."
Despite the casual self-praise, the magic circle forming in the air was a masterpiece. The glowing construct descended, searing its luminous design onto the earth.
"First layer: The Monster-repelling Barrier."
Rest looked up toward the sky. He could sense the mana in the atmosphere dropping sharply. In exchange, the magic circle on the ground began to pulse with a brilliant light.
"Second layer: The Fertility Barrier."
New patterns radiated outward from the first circle. The geometry expanded just enough to encompass the existing work without disrupting it.
The Fertility Barrier did exactly what the name implied: it granted the power of abundance to the soil. It redirected the energy that had previously fueled the unchecked growth of weeds and the monsters that fed on them, channeling it back into the land to ensure a bountiful harvest.
"And third: The Disease-repelling Barrier."
The magic circle expanded even further. This layer was designed to prevent the emergence and spread of plagues.
As the circle grew, Rest felt the atmospheric mana continue to thin. By now, the concentration was only slightly higher than what one would find in a typical human town.
"And finally... the fourth: The Crime Prevention Barrier."
"Crime prevention?" Isis murmured, her voice laced with confusion.
Rest didn't say anything, but he was thinking the same thing. Barriers for monster repulsion, fertility, and disease prevention were well-documented in books; Rest knew them well. Such barriers were common in the Royal Capital and most large cities.
But a "Crime Prevention" barrier? He had never heard of such a thing. Did it literally mean it would eliminate crime?
Rest glanced at Andrew. The young prince gave a wry smile and a shrug. He clearly knew more than he was letting on, but this wasn't the time to press for answers.
"Incredible..."
"It’s beautiful."
The massive magic circle finally reached its full size. The radiant geometry looked like a sequence of elegant mathematical formulas, yet it possessed the delicate beauty of a fine painting.
The quadruple circle drew hungrily from the Dragon Vein, weaving a protective web for the future residents. The mana in the air settled, reaching a density no different from the world outside the Wilds.
An invisible dome rippled out from the central circle, expanding until it completely enshrouded the heart of the plains.