Building a team

He stretched his body, easing his mental fatigue.

"Chief Mage Patrick." Idonis's voice came from outside.

"Come in."

"Chief Mage Patrick, here is the spell research you instructed us to complete." All four came in with Idonis, who took out four arcane scrolls and placed them on Patrick's desk.

The scrolls contained the four mages' study records, conclusions on the use of fourth-rank spells, and arcane conjectures. All four had written with great care, and Quelrintis's scroll even included a transcription of the Arcane Ring he had made.

The Force Orb's spellcasting runes intertwined with the nodes of Mana Amplification: 118 arcane circuits, three large arcane nodes, and nineteen arcane links. It was very well done. Mana Amplification greatly increased the Force Orb's area of effect.

"Good. Put your own magic signatures on them and place them in the tower's library. Also, have any of you studied alchemy or enchanting?" Patrick asked.

Idonis said, "Candiris and I have both studied enchanting."

"I worked at the Sun Temple all along. As a way station on the southern slope of Sunscar Peak, the Sun Temple often had enchanting and alchemy work. Arcanist Yanida and I used to handle some of that work alongside our other duties," Quelrintis answered after some thought.

"I want to get the Mage Tower's Alchemy Workshop and Enchanting Workshop running. Previously, we relied solely on the council's purchases and funding to keep the Mage Tower operating, but now I want Sunfury Spire to operate properly and independently, and to make it stronger."

Patrick wanted to turn this place into a frontline hub. He could not accomplish anything great through his own strength alone, so he needed to turn Sunfury Spire into a collective, foster a shared sense of honor and of gains and losses, and create values, a view of elves, and a worldview belonging to Sunfury Spire.

Only with a sense of collective honor would every member of Sunfury Spire develop a strong sense of responsibility toward their group. That responsibility could grow into an individual sense of belonging to the collective, encouraging them to work more wholeheartedly and actively, to break new ground more eagerly, and to advance courageously.

Elven life desperately needed such a spirit. Elves' outlooks could be described as utterly terrible: a decadent, passive attitude toward life, an irresponsible mindset, and a selfish attitude toward work. Through a collective vitality, the elves at the Sun Temple could develop habits of self-restraint, self-improvement, surpassing themselves, and personal development.

The Sun Temple was well situated, with an endless stream of Ranger Forces and adventurers passing through. Patrick planned to have the Mage Tower produce potions and equipment to create economic value. For one thing, this would free Sunfury Spire from its dependence on the council; for another, it would give everyone in the tower a sense of belonging. At the same time, a highly profitable Mage Tower could properly reward everyone's hard work.

No elf would want to give up a good career, and a stable career with potential would make people work twice as hard. Patrick had observed them for a long time. Idonis, Candiris, and Quelrintis were enthusiastic about parties and salons and were all very casual about their work at Sunfury Spire. This was the normal elven way of life, and there was little Patrick could say about it.

The Sun Temple had not accumulated enough and had no foundation to speak of. They could only start building one slowly from now on.

"I want all of you to work together with me. I plan to get the Alchemy Workshop and Enchanting Workshop running and sell our products throughout the Ghostlands. As for the profits, the Mage Tower and all of you will each take fifty percent." Patrick laid out his plan. Splitting the profits equally between the two sides was an extremely compelling offer to these ordinary minor mages.

"But, Chief Mage Patrick, the alchemy techniques and formulas we know are fairly ordinary. We can't guarantee that the products will be attractive enough," Quelrintis voiced his final concern. After all, finding buyers would also be a problem once the products were made.

"Don't worry about that. I'll teach you some of the Cabrolon family's alchemy and enchanting formulas.

"I'll write the formulas on arcane scrolls and put them in the library. All the knowledge in the library will be open to you. You can study while making products and earning money. You can also place books you've studied or transcribed in the library. They will be a reflection of your learning." Patrick's proposal was very good and very attractive. The Cabrolon family's alchemy was among the finest even in Silvermoon City. Its alchemical products had always been purchased directly by the council and the royal family, so the quality of its potions was naturally beyond question.

Working in the Mage Tower while studying and earning an income was like being favored by the goddess of luck for ordinary elves. Patrick believed that a stable living environment and a steady source of income would calm the restless hearts of Idonis and the other three, leading them to work hard and contribute their sweat to Sunfury Spire.

"Thank you very much, Chief Mage Patrick. I would be delighted." Idonis agreed immediately, and grew even more excited after Patrick laid out the later terms.

"I agree."

"I agree too."

"Agreed." All three were radiant with excitement and agreed on the spot.

Neither Idonis nor Candiris had been born into a medium-sized or large clan. After struggling unsuccessfully in Silvermoon City, they had joined the East Sanctum to study magic, seeking to raise their spellcasting levels or catch some master's eye and enter the Royal Arcane Association directly. Unfortunately, those hopes had gone unfulfilled for years, until the recent battle in the Life Forest made them feel that an opportunity had arrived.

Later, when they heard that Patrick had been appointed Chief Mage of the Sun Temple, they became even more certain of their earlier thoughts. They resigned from their jobs at the East Sanctum and went straight to the Sun Temple to join Patrick. Now, the idea Patrick proposed was, to them, a kindness akin to being given a new life. They had struggled all this time to find an opportunity, and at last one had arrived.

Idonis and the other three left full of joy. Patrick specifically prepared several enchanting formulas and alchemical recipes for them, letting them practice first and study alchemy properly and systematically.

Patrick stood on the balcony. The whole Sun Temple was becoming increasingly lively, and the number of peddlers and merchants had grown as well. With the peddlers and merchants arriving from all over, the Ranger Forces resting here were enjoying an increasingly comfortable life.

The magic of Sunfury Spire shone all day, providing security for the traveling merchants who came and went. The merchants' arrival greatly improved life for all the elves at the Sun Temple. In the past, life on the front lines had been hard, with virtually no choice in ingredients, daily necessities, and the like. Now, merchants brought spices, ingredients, accessories, and other goods produced in Silvermoon City, and the elves here generally snapped everything up, allowing this remote place to enjoy some comforts of a better life as well.