‘-- Runes are much more complicated than Arrays. While Runes can directly change reality, magic Arrays are Keys to move and control magic energy. --’

‘-- There are basic and complex Arrays. The basic Arrays represent the behavior of magic energy and the complex Arrays are combinations and modifications of basic Arrays. Therefore, the basic Arrays, like the Rules, are finite. While the complex Arrays are limited by the creativity and capacity of the Alchemist. --’

‘-- To effectively draw and modify an Array you have to comprehend the concept of the form and imprint it using spiritual energy, just like the Runes. The most important and simple Array is the Execution Array because it invokes its contents. So every Array is formed from the Execution Array. --’

Master AI projected the Execution Array in Karl’s mind.

‘-- The concept of the circle is execution. It has two aspects: Origin and Space. Like the Origin, the circle is the beginning and the end at the same time. Also, the circle creates a magic space and everything important will be placed inside. --’

To help Karl comprehend the concept, Master AI projected the correspondent feeling on his mind.

After training for a couple of hours, Karl was able to successfully draw the Array. His ability to imprint was several tiers better and the Array concept seemed to be much easier than the Runes’ Also, after sleeping, Karl’s body processed the excess magic energy and his spiritual energy improved.

With only one day of training, Karl was confident he could draw the Execution Array several times a day. So, Master AI taught him the Absorption Array.

This Array would absorb magic energy into the drawn material.

Master AI explained that the hexagon form represents Concentration. It has the aspect of Development, that given time, would accumulate power.

Karl took two days to comprehend the concept and draw his first Absorption Array. He learned that this Array was fundamental to his work, without it he would need an unending source of energy crystals. After draining its energy an energy crystal would become obsolete. Fortunately, the Absorption Array could be used to charge the crystal.

Basically, the Array could absorb magic energy from the environment, while transferring it to the crystal. Like the Runes, the magic Array only needed magic energy to be activated. Therefore, once the Absorption Array was exposed to the environment it would start working and absorbing energy into the crystal.

Of course, the absorption rate would depend on the quality of the crafting, while the capacity would be limited by the quality of the crystal.

Initially, Karl thought that using the Absorption Array would transform the energy crystals into an infinite source of power, provided that the environment had enough energy. But Master AI revealed that every material was finite. A LQ energy crystal would only last one year at most and its capacity would constantly decrease with usage.

.........

At the border of the Eastern Forest, 50 kilometers southeast from Caiset Village, a woman ran from a low tier beast.

Darla was a Mage who specialized in stealth and stealing. Six months ago, she accepted a job commission from a mercenary group. The group offered her a lot of money in exchange for her help in stealing a salamander’s egg in the Eastern Forest. 

Normally, she wouldn’t accept the request because the salamander was a MT beast. But the group promised a lot of money and guaranteed that she would only need to steal the egg and run.

At the time, she didn’t think it through and accepted. She was desperate for money. The shadow materials that she needed were very rare and expensive. Since her family stopped investing in her after she failed to advance, she had to start working as a hired Mage.

The first part of the mission went just like planned, but once she stole the egg, the salamander went crazy. Even though she used Shadow Cover, the sleeping beast was capable of realizing that its egg was taken.

The beast became furious and destroyed everything in the vicinity. The rest of the group told her to run the other way while they attracted the beast’s attention. She escaped the blazing inferno with few wounds, but walking out of the Forest wasn’t easy. She lost herself a couple of times and met with a lot of beasts. First, it was fine because her magic was suited for hiding, so she passed unnoticed to most of the beasts. But she was unable to hide all the time and had to fight with some beasts.

‘Damn! I have to lose this beast... Why did I accept this mission? It’s crazy, coming to the Eastern Forest and messing with a MT beast... It’s all their fault! Father told me I was special, made me suffer, train, and then...  I was discarded, like a broken tool! If I survive, I’ll destroy him... Damn you, Wind Lord’

The wind beast finally caught up with Darla and attacked her. Darla tried to Obscure the beast by pushing shadows to its eyes. Although the shadow mass was able to block the beast’s view, its trajectory was already set on her. The blind beast clashed with Darla, hurting her with its weight and claws. Darla broke some bones in the fall but refused to give up. With sheer will, she maintained the magic obscuring the beast’s vision. Unfortunately, the beast’s instincts were enough to guide it to her.

In less than a minute, she died, razored by the beast.