A week after the construction began, the progress was significant. The entire foundation of the wall had already been excavated, and the work was advancing well. However, during the construction of the first few meters of the wall, a critical problem arose, something Miguel felt was a major oversight on his part. The wall would be tall, but how to place bricks so high?

Miguel had to think quickly and found a solution: to build a wooden platform with an improvised elevator. This unforeseen issue temporarily halted the construction of the wall but allowed more bricks to be produced, accumulating a considerable stock for when construction resumed.

Miguel dedicated himself to sketching the lifting platform. He drew a 15-meter-high wooden structure, planned to be built lying down and later raised by ropes. The base of the structure had wooden wheels, allowing the platform to be moved along the wall as needed. In the center, an improvised elevator with a lever and rope mechanism allowed the person inside the elevator to turn the lever until reaching the desired height.

The sketches were detailed, showing each component and explaining how they should be assembled. Miguel led the construction of this platform, dedicating himself tirelessly to the project. He worked side by side with carpenters, blacksmiths, and laborers, ensuring that each piece was built as planned.

The construction of the platform took a week. First, the structure was assembled on the ground. Large wooden logs were used to form the base and the main structure. The wooden wheels were carefully adjusted to ensure the platform could be moved easily. Once the main structure was complete, the lifting mechanism was installed. Sturdy rope and a robust lever were integrated, ensuring the elevator could be operated efficiently and safely.

Finally, the moment came to raise the platform. With the help of ropes and a coordinated team of workers, the structure was slowly lifted to a vertical position. The beastmen, with their considerable strength, played a crucial role in this process. The ropes were pulled with precision, and the structure was carefully placed in its final position.

Miguel watched with pride as the lifting platform became operational. He knew that this innovation would allow the construction of the wall to advance efficiently and safely. He planned to build at least ten of these platforms but needed to find a way to reduce the construction time for each one.

The servant Elnar, who had been present throughout the entire process, was impressed with the ingenuity of the platform. He approached Miguel, admiring the structure.

"This is incredible, Miguel," said Elnar. "I've never seen anything like this before. You truly have a talent for creating innovative solutions."

Miguel smiled, pleased with the compliment. "Thank you, Elnar. It was hard work, but necessary. Now, with this platform, we can continue building the wall and ensure the barony's safety."

With the first lifting platform completed and operational, Miguel felt renewed confidence in his plans. The construction of the wall could continue, and each day brought them closer to a safer and more prosperous future for everyone in the barony.

---

A week had passed since the construction of the wall resumed. The front part was already taking shape and looked well-finished. The progress was visible, and in the center of the wall, a huge opening marked the spot where the great gate would be placed. Miguel watched the construction, aware that more lifting platforms would be needed to maintain the pace.

During a meeting, Elnar suggested that the new platforms be built in the city of the beastmen, near the border. Miguel thought the idea was excellent and quickly drew detailed sketches of the platforms, handing them to Elnar to take to his city. With this efficient logistics, they could further speed up the construction process.

Now, Miguel had another task at hand: designing the sketches for the great gate and its manual mechanism. He sat in his office, spreading the papers on the table and beginning to sketch.

The gate would be made of robust wood, reinforced with iron bars to ensure its strength and durability. He drew the two gate leaves, each five meters high and two meters wide, which would meet in the middle of the wall opening. The iron reinforcement would be arranged in a cross pattern, ensuring stability and additional strength.

For the opening and closing mechanism, Miguel designed a manual system of pulleys and counterweights. At the top of the gate, pulleys would be installed connected to sturdy ropes. These ropes would descend inside the walls of the wall and be fixed to large stone counterweights. When a lever was activated, the counterweight would rise, pulling the rope and consequently opening the gate. The same mechanism would work to close the gate, using the gravity of the counterweights.

Miguel ensured that the mechanism was efficient and easy to operate, even in emergency situations. He drew the levers in strategic locations, allowing them to be quickly activated by the guards.

With the sketches completed, Miguel called Marcus and Arthur to discuss the construction of the gate. They met at the construction site, where Miguel explained the details of the sketches.

"Marcus, you will be in charge of building the wooden gate leaves. They need to be sturdy and well-reinforced with these iron bars," said Miguel, pointing to the sketches. "Arthur, you will be in charge of the hinges and the iron bars. They need to be strong enough to support the weight and pressure of the gate."

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Both nodded, examining the sketches carefully.

"We'll start as soon as possible," said Marcus. "We need to make sure the gate is ready before the wall advances much further."

The construction of the gate began immediately. Marcus and his team of carpenters worked tirelessly, cutting and shaping the wood for the gate leaves. The wood was treated to withstand the weather and wear over time.

Meanwhile, Arthur and his blacksmiths worked on the iron bars and hinges. The sound of the hammer hitting the hot iron echoed through the construction site, a melody of progress and determination. The iron bars were shaped and fixed to the wooden leaves, forming the reinforced skeleton of the gate.

The pulley and counterweight mechanism also began to be installed. The pulleys were fixed at the top of the gate, and the sturdy ropes were carefully connected to the stone counterweights. Miguel supervised each step, ensuring that everything was according to the sketches.

After two weeks of hard work, the gate was finally ready. The wooden leaves, now reinforced with iron, were installed in the wall opening. The pulley and counterweight mechanism worked perfectly, allowing the gate to be opened and closed with ease.

Miguel, Marcus, and Arthur watched with satisfaction as the gate opened for the first time, moved by the manual system. The sense of accomplishment was palpable.

"Excellent work, all of you," said Miguel, smiling. "This gate will be one of the first lines of defense for our barony. Let's continue with the wall construction and ensure our city is protected."

With the gate installed and functioning, the construction of the wall could continue with renewed vigor. Miguel's vision of a safe and prosperous barony was increasingly becoming a reality.

---

A month and a half had passed since the construction of the wall began, and 40% of the structure was already standing. It was an imposing sight, and the city was beginning to feel safer with the growing protection. About 400 men, both humans and beastmen, worked tirelessly every day to make this possible. The accelerated pace was impressive, and the collaboration between the species showed the strength of the formed alliance.

In recent weeks, Elnar had returned with five new lifting towers. Miguel was impressed not only with how quickly the towers were built but also with the significant improvements made to the original design.

Elnar explained the improvements while showing the new towers to Miguel and Ricardo.

"The towers have been reinforced with a wider and more stable base," said Elnar. "We added wooden supports at angles to increase stability, allowing the tower to support more weight and prevent swaying during lifting."

Miguel examined the wooden supports, noticing how they were intelligently arranged to better distribute the weight. The wider base certainly gave a more robust and reliable appearance to the structure.

"We also implemented a double pulley system," Elnar continued. "This reduces the force needed to lift heavy materials and increases the overall efficiency of the lifting process."

He showed Miguel the double pulleys installed in the towers. With this system, the force applied to the lever was divided, making it easier for the workers to lift heavy loads without excessive effort.

"Additionally," said Elnar with a smile, "we used hemp ropes reinforced with silk fibers. They are lighter, more durable, and have less risk of wear."

Miguel touched the ropes, feeling the softness combined with the strength of the fibers. It was an innovative solution that increased the safety and longevity of the equipment.

"These improvements are incredible, Elnar," said Miguel, admiringly. "You really exceeded my expectations. These towers will further speed up the construction."

Elnar smiled modestly. "It was a joint effort. The engineers from our city, as you call them, helped perfect the original design. We wanted to ensure these towers were as efficient as possible."

Ricardo, who was observing closely, nodded in approval. "This will make a big difference. We can work faster and safer now."

Miguel thanked Elnar and his team for the excellent work. With the new lifting towers in operation, the construction of the wall advanced at an even faster pace. Each tower was strategically positioned along the wall, allowing materials to be lifted and placed efficiently.

The collaboration between humans and beastmen continued to strengthen. The wall was not just a physical structure; it symbolized the unity and determination of everyone to protect the barony and build a safer and more prosperous future.

Miguel watched the construction with a sense of accomplishment and hope. With 40% of the wall completed, he knew they were on the right track. The improvements to the lifting towers were a testament to the ingenuity and collaborative spirit that permeated the entire project.

As the towers lifted concrete bricks to the necessary heights, Miguel thought about the future. He knew there were still challenges ahead, but with allies like Elnar and the determination of the workers, any obstacle could be overcome.

"Let's keep up this pace," said Miguel, inspiring confidence in everyone around him. "We are building something extraordinary here, and each one of you is a fundamental part of this effort."

With Miguel's words echoing among the workers, the construction continued, and the wall rose ever higher. The vision of a protected and prosperous barony was closer each day, and Miguel knew that together, humans and beastmen could achieve great things.