She understood how demanding the task was, but she also knew it wasn't impossible.
With the proper amplifiers, artifacts that enhanced mana flow, sensitivity, or control, the barrier could be sustained even at a distance. It would push the mages to their limits, but this was precisely why she had entrusted the task to Archmage Elric and his disciples.
Archmage Elric, usually amiable and easygoing, was now as serious as Addison had ever seen him. When he adopted that expression, he exuded an authority she had never witnessed before. Still, she wasn't afraid. She knew he was carefully calculating the risks involved and weighing the feasibility of her request.
The fact that he didn't reject it outright was already telling. Even Archmage Elric understood that what she was proposing was possible, doable, even, but not without cost. There would be consequences: backlash, strain, or some other form of pain from pushing themselves beyond their limits.
