The First Furnace – Ringing Hammers and the Iron of the Future
On an early winter morning, when their breaths had just begun to turn white in the cold air, Akio’s village was filled with new energy. Under the direction of the dwarven master blacksmith Dolgan, the long-awaited construction of the iron furnace had finally begun in earnest. In one corner of the village’s central plaza, designated by Dolgan himself, villagers busily hauled in materials one after another.
“You there, boy! You’re not kneading that clay properly! Put your back into it!”
“Akio, lad! You’re stacking those firebricks well enough, but if you don’t pack more of that special mud into the joints, the heat will escape!”
Dolgan’s thunderous voice rang out over the square. But within his harsh tone lay genuine skill and a pure passion for forging iron, which in turn fired up the motivation of the villagers. Akio followed Dolgan’s instructions closely, laying bricks and solidifying the furnace’s foundation with his own hands. Dolgan watched from the corner of his eye, quietly impressed.
(This kid’s technique… he’s no mere amateur.)
“Akio, Dolgan-dono. We found that charcoal made from the local red pine maintains a higher heat for a longer time than ordinary charcoal. I think it would make excellent fuel for the furnace.”
Sylvia presented her findings, written on a piece of parchment, after conducting burn tests on various types of charcoal. Her eyes held the confidence of a wife supporting Akio’s new endeavor, as well as the wisdom of a forest sage. As the village chief’s “principal wife,” she offered her knowledge generously to improve their daily lives.
“Oh? The wisdom of the elven principal wife, is it? Aye, the quality of fuel greatly affects the quality of the iron. It’s worth trying,”
Dolgan agreed, nodding appreciatively at her well-grounded suggestion.
The furnace project had become a village-wide effort. Kina and the other beastfolk used their great strength to transport heavy stones and large quantities of clay. Alto listened closely to Dolgan’s instructions, his eyes sparkling as he took his first steps toward becoming a blacksmith. Leonora remained alert for any threats, and Celestina gathered the children to gently tell them about the future this new furnace would bring.
Meanwhile, Ayane prepared a large pot of warm porridge made from sweet potatoes and crushed nuts, serving it to the hardworking villagers.
“Everyone, let’s take a lunch break. Eat up, and let’s do our best again this afternoon.”
At just fifteen, Ayane had already taken on the presence of a mother figure within the village, thanks to her attentiveness and reliability. Beside her, Miko and Yume helped by carrying buckets of water with all their might.
Several days passed, and thanks to Dolgan’s guidance and the villagers’ dedication, a stout, cylindrical furnace made of dark red firebricks and special clay began to take shape. It wasn’t yet finished, but it already held the imposing presence worthy of being called the village’s first “iron furnace.”
“Alright, that’s enough for today! Tomorrow, we fire this furnace up for the first time! Bellows ready, Alto?”
Dolgan called out with satisfaction.
“Yes, Master! Anytime!” Alto answered with enthusiasm.
That night, Akio stood beside Sylvia, gazing at the partially completed furnace under the moonlight.
“I honestly never thought we’d make it this far,” he murmured, filled with emotion.
“It’s because of you—and everyone else. And… meeting new allies like Dolgan-dono made all the difference.”
Sylvia leaned gently into his arm.
“I believe this furnace will bring our village strength and security.”
“Yeah. With iron, we can make better farming tools, weapons—everything we need to protect our way of life.”
In the cold night air, Akio felt the warmth of Sylvia beside him and the hopes of the villagers in his chest. Renewed with determination for tomorrow, he dreamed of the gleam of iron still yet unseen. The heart of the village burned as one.
What do you think about this chapter?
