The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 72: Forging Glass

Vol 2 Chapter 72 Forging Glass

One week later, the preliminary construction of the wall surrounding the garrison was completed.

"With this, the garrison's safety has a basic guarantee."

After construction finished, everyone gathered to celebrate. Sylutia also decided to let everyone rest and relax properly tonight.

Inside the walls, the bonfire burned, the stored jerky was taken out and stewed in an iron pot together with porridge, then spices were sprinkled in. It was not as grand as an outside feast, but under the harsh conditions, it was a very decent dinner.

Beast-skin drums were beaten in the apprentices' hands, the initial rhythm not fast. Hearing that familiar beat, many apprentices spontaneously took each other's hands, gathered around the bonfire, and danced in step.

[Ancient Ritual · Bonfire and Dance Steps] (Beast Fang · Bloodline · Blazing Sun)

'In the Seventh Epoch, Primordial King Mureto led his people across the Vast Star Wilderness, trekking for nearly twelve years, enduring countless hardships until they reached the Midsummer Lands and founded humanity's first home there. To commemorate that long expedition and the peaceful harvests, people would dance around the bonfire and listen to elders hum the ancient songs of the forebears.'

The synchronized beast-skin drumbeat (Beast Fang), the crowd circling in dance (Bloodline), and the grand burning bonfire (Blazing Sun) — the three essential elements required by the ritual were all gathered, and at this moment everyone's mood resembled that of the legends: a relieved satisfaction that comes after a long journey finally ending in a settled home.

With the drumbeat sounding, the apprentices recalled the songs they had learned, hummed that ancient melody, their footsteps gradually falling into sync. The bonfire itself seemed to take on a strange magic, swaying with the tune and tempo.Gradually, a warmth of bloodline connection flowed among the crowd, dispelling the chill deep in the Darkmist Mountains. Even the corroding wind was temporarily held back from the bonfire;

everything became calm.

That ancient ritual, an enduring story in human history — legend, memory, history — was awakened in their blood at this moment, rousing people from deep numbness and gloom to feel the vibrancy of life again.

During the dance, Sylutia was pulled in by the apprentices and joined them, holding hands with everyone, stepping in time to the songs, feeling the warm heat radiating from the flames.

So the ancient melody was hummed again and again until it gradually ceased.

When it ended, though many people were sweating and physically tired, there was a thoroughly satisfying mental release that felt especially comfortable.

That night, everyone slept especially soundly, and the invisible oppressive gloom that had accompanied their arrival in the Darkmist Mountains dissipated entirely.

……

The next day, Sylutia sat inside the temporary main tent, reviewing the current consolidated reports while listening to the apprentices' briefings.

"Right now, food supplies can last another month."

"When is the next resupply approximately?" Sylutia asked.

"According to the schedule provided by Commander Reginson, it should be in thirty-two days, but the timing isn't certain;

the journey might be delayed by a few days."

"Uncertain, huh." Sylutia pondered. Now that she was the garrison's leader, she naturally had to consider food supply matters.

"How long until the greenhouse garden is finished?"

"The scholars are still directing the craftsmen refining the glass. It will take roughly two more weeks to complete the first small greenhouse, and a month before a large greenhouse can be built," reported a young apprentice with short hair.

"Grant, have you studied the Six-Part Glaze School's knowledge?" Sylutia asked the young apprentice before her.

"Sorry, Senior Tia, I know of the Six-Part Glaze School, but I haven't studied under them. Their school’s knowledge rarely flows outward."

"I see..." Sylutia tapped her fingers. In fact, before leaving the Glittergold Plains she had learned from Scholar Seraph.

However, because she had been pressed for time then, her study had only consisted of memorizing what he taught;

she had never truly practiced it and could not claim full mastery.

"All right, starting tomorrow I'll teach you and three others the basics of the Six-Part Glaze School. But I only studied roughly too, so we'll need to practice together."

The Six-Part Glaze School was a powerful faction. Seraph had taught relatively basic parts, and their information control was not too strict;

but mid-to-advanced techniques could not be casually taught outside, or it would draw the School's punishment.

"I understand." Grant answered excitedly.

Getting such a professional course was a rare opportunity. Back on the Glittergold Plains, learning from a high-ranking senior usually cost a large sum, sometimes even more than enrolling in formal classes.

Knowledge carried a price — that was the rule among the Hidden Grove and many other extraordinary organizations.

"As for the tuition." Sylutia remembered the rule Seraph had told her.

"I'll charge you two hundred gold coins each. You don't need to pay now;

just record it on the books and pay when you have the means." If they had learned directly from Scholar Seraph, that course would cost three thousand six hundred gold coins.

"No problem, Senior Tia." Grant already knew the course price from the Glittergold Plains. He had once been very interested but had been frightened off by the fee and hadn't dared to ask further. He hadn't expected to receive instruction here. Even if Sylutia's teaching couldn't match those high-level scholars, given the price, what else could he ask for?

The next day, Sylutia visited the newly built glass workshop inside the garrison to watch how the craftsmen produced glass and to ask about the specific processes.

Throughout the process, Sylutia kept recalling what Scholar Seraph had taught her, including choices and ratios for glass raw materials.

For ordinary glass, the process was relatively simple: commonly found quartz sand and limestone, mixed with soda ash. Glassmaking in this world followed broadly similar steps.

But for forging extraordinary glass, a special glass spirit liquid had to be concocted and then solidified into glass.

To brew the glass spirit liquid required two light-related Aspects: Blazing Sun and Luminous Moon. Depending on their ratio, and with additional special ingredients, different glass spirit liquids could be mixed. If extremely high fineness and transparency were needed, increase the Luminous Moon proportion. If stronger light concentration and higher strength were required, increase the Blazing Sun proportion, and so on.

Sylutia already carried raw material for the Blazing Sun Aspect — the refined Sunflower Seed Oil that Lady Franne had given her. As for the Luminous Moon Aspect ingredient, she could produce it herself with Sylutia's Clear Spring.

Once the materials were confirmed, it was a matter of repeated trials and adjustments. Many subtle sensations in this process could not be described well in books;

they required personal experience.

Over the following month, aside from purifying water and directing construction, Sylutia spent all her remaining time on glassmaking.

Mixing again and again, firing and solidifying repeatedly, testing the finished quality every time.

Finally, through her and several apprentices' joint efforts, the garrison's first piece of custom glass was forged successfully.

[Water Ripple Glass] (First Tier · Superior): A special glass imbued with the Luminous Moon Aspect, it can effectively resist Distortion erosion. (Can withstand the Darkmist Mountains' environment for one year)

Although it only had a one-year shelf life, it met the basic needs for now. As for the previously hoped-for inlaid-wire glass, it required specialized metal wire they could not yet produce and would have to be purchased from outside, which was difficult to obtain.