The excitement over Veylin's promotion to Count had barely subsided when the arrival of the construction aid delegation drove enthusiasm for building Minas Tirith Port to new heights.
Through his study's floor-to-ceiling windows, Veylin could see the bustling figures at the construction site below. Every face was filled with hope.
He turned around. Leo and Elwin stood before his desk, having just spread a blueprint across its entire surface. Its intricate lines and runes were dizzying.
"My lord, the core circuit of the ether-concentration array must be etched in mithril. My mentor stressed that any substitute would cause at least twelve percent energy loss." Leo pointed at the enormous Ether Tower blueprint spread across the desk, his expression intent with scholarly focus. He had completely shed his former awkwardness, and his every gesture now carried a spellcaster's confidence.
Mage Elwin added, "Yes, my lord Count. And based on experience in the Royal Capital, adding ground star iron powder would be best for keeping the foundation's runes stable. It offers effective resistance against earthquakes and subsidence. Of course, these are all 'optional extras.'"
Veylin's fingers moved slowly across the intricate blueprint as he calculated the project's material shortfalls and cash flow.
It was an enormous undertaking, but the returns would be equally astonishing. A true Ether Tower would become the absolute core of the territory's technological and military strength. It would be more than a tower-it would be a heart pumping vitality into the territory. Once completed, it could continuously draw in ether and convert it into a stable, usable energy supply for the workshops. It could even light every street in the main city.
Not to mention its terrifying military potential.
With different spell modules preconfigured and installed, the tower would become an immense spell battery. Veylin could almost picture