One day, several decades later.
"Have you heard? Recently, some border regions of our country seem to have experienced desertification one after another..."
"I vaguely remember hearing about it. It was probably some Arcanist causing trouble while conducting magical experiments again..."
"I think so too..."
Amid conversations like these.
A Grand Arcanist who had recently quelled a border rebellion with a single Nornal Fireball Technique, turning both the enemy and their entire fortress into a massive bonfire, calmly entered the city.
He went straight to the central district and reported the situation to Iolam.
"The rebellion has been wiped out. They were too weak to pose any threat."
"But for some reason, the magic power and Life Force in the target area have withered over a vast stretch..."
After hearing his report.
Iolam did not underestimate the issue. He immediately took it seriously, his expression becoming extremely solemn.
"You have worked hard. Please go to the hall and enjoy the banquet that has been prepared..."
As the Grand Arcanist with the highest casting level in the entire Kingdom of Netheril.
After sending the other party away.
Iolam promptly began employing Divination Magic, intending to uncover the hidden source of the problem described in the report.
However.
It was as though something had completely obscured it.
No matter how hard he tried.
The future he saw was nothing more than blurry afterimages.
They had no logic or connection whatsoever.
It was as if, somewhere in the unseen, a curtain had veiled his sight!
In the end.
After repeatedly trying many times.
Once he confirmed that the problem could not possibly be resolved anytime soon.
He sent a mental message to another Grand Arcanist.
He planned to pay a price to borrow something from the other party, using it to strengthen the