On the frontline battlefield, at Nightmist Fortress.
The quartermaster led Carola and the others through the camp to a tent.
Workers were already moving supplies there, arranging several tables into a single work surface in the open space.
Dozens upon dozens of wands, each about a foot long, lay in neat rows, their magical radiance shimmering like rippling water in the sunlight.
Delight flashed in Carola's eyes. He involuntarily took a few steps forward, drawing closer to the wands.
"These are the new models we recently developed!" As Carola lightly ran his fingers over their smooth surfaces, the quartermaster introduced them with a hint of pride in his voice. "They incorporate the Royal Academy's latest magic guidance technology, combined with ergonomic design..."
Carola did not really understand all that talk of technology, but he understood one thing.
These new products were more powerful and more stable than the old models.
They were better suited to casting Demon Domination through magical implements.
"So we can finally replace those old things?
"You may not know this, but those experimental wands we used before were salvaged goods from who knows where. Their grips and shafts were pieced together...
"The magic crystals in their tips were fine, but the mana seemed to encounter an awful lot of resistance in the middle. They often used up extra mana..."
Remembering how much he had suffered with those experimental wands during intensive training, Carola could not help pouring out his complaints.
Wands were common casting aids for lower-tier mages. Such tools could effectively improve both casting efficiency and the success rate of spells.
Conversely, however, poorly made equipment could make lower-tier mages suffer dearly.
This was especially true of Carola and the others, who had academic backgrounds and lacked the extensive practical experience of wild mages.
Listening