"Is that what they want?" The Free Cities. The idea of trying to destroy the Singularity sounds slightly ridiculous, because removing magic entirely is just... So drastic. Like destroying an entire field of science, or even like removing an entire law of physics or something. Magic seems to integral to this world, and not only thinking it could be destroyed, but that doing so is a good idea, seems short-sighted at best.

"I guess maybe that's why they're so focused on technological advances. If they can get ahead a' the other factions, then eliminate magic, they'd have a huge advantage." And although it's true that New Magic is popular there, the actual technological advances independent of magic are also an important focus, so it feels like that might fit as far as motivation goes.