Tronia, Uzel Forest.
In the forward camp near the chosen testing site.
A group of fully equipped mages in splendid robes held their mage staffs and chanted together around the newly built grand array in the camp.
Moments later, brilliant light shot skyward, rising above the forest like a magnificent tower.
The light spread through the air, forming a gigantic umbrella-shaped structure.
Its framework consisted of ribs like iron reinforcing bars, with thirty-six supports in all, spreading out to cover an area a hundred miles across.
As the enormous umbrella-shaped projection of condensed light unfurled, the birds and beasts in the forest all felt an inexplicable terror.
"Mass Fear..."
"Output adjustment complete!"
"Sir, by our estimates, the birds and beasts in this forest, along with any creatures possessing a degree of emotion and intelligence, will gradually relocate over the next month.
We have already planned routes to keep their impact on the human settlements to the south to a minimum."
After the spell was complete, the leading High Mage handed his mage staff to a servant who had been waiting for some time, then went over to report to Roland, who sat on a raised platform gazing into the distance.
Roland turned to look at him, nodded, and said with a smile, "Thank you all for your hard work."
"It is our greatest honor to serve you, sir. There is just one thing I do not understand."
"Oh?"
"No humans live in this forest, only wild animals and lower-tier magic monsters. Why go to so much trouble?
We are going to destroy the woodland here anyway. Setting a few forest fires at key locations should more or less do the job."
The High Mage had good reason to be puzzled.
Roland had insisted on spending a considerable extra sum, along