Cornflower Witch

Chapter 198 Forging Glass

A week later, the initial construction of the city wall surrounding the garrison was completed.

"In this way, the security of the base will be guaranteed at the most basic level."

After the construction was completed, everyone gathered together to celebrate, and Hilti decided to let everyone have a good rest and relax tonight.

Inside the city walls, a campfire burned, and stored dried meat was taken out and cooked in an iron pot with porridge. Spices were then added. Although it was not as good as a feast outside, it was a very good dinner in the harsh conditions of the time.

The animal-hide drums were played by the trainees. At first, the rhythm was not fast. Upon hearing the familiar rhythm, many trainees spontaneously joined hands, gathered around the campfire, and danced.

[Ancient Ritual, Bonfire and Dance] (Beast Fang, Blood Law, Blazing Sun)
'In the Seventh Age, the barbarian king Muretor led his people across the vast wilderness of the stars, a journey of nearly twelve years, enduring countless hardships, to reach the Land of Midsummer, where they established humanity's first home. To commemorate that long expedition and the peaceful harvest, people danced around the campfire, listening to the elders hum the ancient songs of their forefathers.'

The synchronized beat of the animal skin drums (beast teeth), the crowd surrounding the dance steps (blood law), and the grand bonfire burning (blazing sun)—all three elements required for the ritual have been gathered. Moreover, the mood of the crowd at this moment is similar to that of the legend from back then, a sense of relief and satisfaction that comes after a long journey, finally settling down.

As the drums beat, the students recalled the songs they had learned and hummed the ancient tunes. Their steps gradually became synchronized, and the campfire seemed to be imbued with a strange magic, swaying with the songs and rhythms.

Gradually, a warm feeling of blood connection flowed among the crowd, dispelling the chill deep in the dark misty mountains. Even the erosion from the wind was temporarily contained by the campfire, and everything became peaceful.

Ancient rituals, enduring stories from human history, legends, memories, and history are awakened in this moment, reviving people from deep numbness and gloom, and allowing them to rediscover the vibrancy of life.

During the dance, Hilti was pulled in by the students to join them, walking hand in hand with everyone, stepping to the music, and feeling the warmth emanating from the flames.

Thus, the ancient folk song melody was sung again and again before gradually coming to an end.

Afterwards, although many people were sweating and felt physically tired, they felt a sense of exhilarating release and exceptional comfort.

That night, everyone slept exceptionally well, and the invisible, gloomy pressure they had felt upon arriving at the Dark Mist Mountains dissipated completely.

……

The next day, Hilti sat in the temporary tent, looking at the reports from all sides and listening to the reports from the students beside her.

"The food supply can last for another month."

"When is the next supply resupply?" Hiltiya asked.

"According to the schedule provided by Lord Reginson, it will be in 32 days, but the time is uncertain and there may be a few more days of delay on the way."

“Uncertain?” Hiltiya said thoughtfully. As the leader of the settlement, she naturally had to consider the issue of food supply.

How long will it take to complete the greenhouse garden?

"Currently, the students are still directing the craftsmen to refine the glass. It will take about two more weeks to build the first small greenhouse, and a month to build a large greenhouse," a young student with short hair reported.

"Gran, have you studied the 'Six-Part Glass School'?" Hiltiya asked the young student in front of her.

“I’m sorry, Senior Tia, although I know about the ‘Six-Part Glass School,’ I haven’t studied it. Their knowledge rarely leaks out.” “I see…” Hilti tapped her fingers. Actually, she had studied it with Scholar Serofi before leaving the Radiant Gold Plains.

However, in order to save time at the time, her learning process was merely memorizing what the teacher taught, and she never actually put it into practice, so she cannot be said to have truly mastered it.

"Alright, starting tomorrow, I will teach you, along with the other three, the basics of the 'Six-Part Glass School'. However, I will only be learning it superficially, and we will need to practice together."

The Six-Part Glass School is a very powerful faction. Cerophile teaches the relatively basic parts of it and is not very strict in controlling knowledge. However, if it is intermediate or advanced knowledge or skills, it cannot be taught to outsiders at will, otherwise it will incur punishment from the Six-Part Glass School.

“I understand,” Grant replied excitedly.

To receive such professional instruction is a rare opportunity. In the Huijin Plain, learning from senior students of higher rank usually requires paying a large sum of money, though the amount is less than directly enrolling in a course.

Knowledge has a price; this is the rule of the woodlands and many extraordinary organizations.

"As for tuition fees," Hiltia thought of the rules Serophie had told her.

"I'll charge each of you 200 gold coins, but you don't need to pay now. It's just for record-keeping. You can pay me back later when you have the spare money." If you were to study directly with Scholar Serofi, this course would cost 3600 gold coins.

“No problem, Senior Sister Tiya.” Gran had also learned about the price of this course in the Radiant Plains. Although he was very interested at the time, he was shocked by the price and did not dare to ask for details. He did not expect to be able to learn it here. Even if the teaching effect of Siltiya is not as good as those high-level scholars, considering the price, what more could he ask for?

The next day, Hilti visited the newly built glass workshop in the settlement to see how the artisans made glass and inquired about some specific procedures.

During this process, Hilti was also constantly recalling what the Cerrofi scholars had taught her, including the selection and proportioning of glass raw materials.

For ordinary glass, the process is relatively simple, requiring only readily available quartz sand and limestone, along with soda ash. The glassmaking process in this world is roughly similar.

However, to make extraordinary glass, a special glass-like liquid needs to be prepared and then solidified into glass.

To prepare glass spirit liquid, two light-related phases, 'Blazing Sun' and 'Radiant Moon', are required. Then, depending on the different proportions of the two, other special raw materials are added to create different glass spirit liquids. If glass with extremely high fineness and transparency is required, the proportion of 'Radiant Moon' needs to be increased. If glass with high light concentration and strength is required, the proportion of 'Blazing Sun' needs to be increased, and so on.

The raw materials for the "Blazing Sun" aspect are carried by Hilti, namely the "Sun Seed Oil (Refined)" given to her by Lady Fran. As for the raw materials for the "Radiant Moon" aspect, she can make them herself using "Hilti's Spring Water".

Once the raw materials are determined, the next step is continuous experimentation and adjustment. During this process, there are many subtle details that are difficult to describe from books and require personal experience.

For the next month, besides purifying the water source and directing the construction, Hiltiya spent all her time making glass.

The process involves repeated mixing, calcination, and solidification, with continuous testing of the finished product's quality.

Finally, through the joint efforts of her and several trainees, the first piece of specially made glass at the base was successfully forged.

[Water Ripple Glass] (Tier 1, Excellent): A special glass enhanced with the 'Moonlight' property, effectively resisting 'Twisting' erosion. (Can withstand the environment of the Dark Mist Mountains for one year)
Although it only has a one-year shelf life, it meets the basic needs. As for the previously anticipated 'wired glass', it requires special metal wire, which they cannot currently manufacture and can only purchase from outside sources, making it difficult to obtain.

(End of this chapter)