The following morning, Miguel took the sketch of the furnace and headed to the city's furnace hall. The sun was rising, casting a golden light over the buildings and streets of Drakmoor. He walked with determination, knowing that each step brought him closer to a safer and more prosperous future for his kingdom.

Upon reaching the hall, Miguel found the person in charge of the furnaces, a sturdy man with a steady gaze named Bartolomeu. Bartolomeu was known for his skill in handling intense heat and his expertise in producing charcoal, essential for the local economy.

Bartolomeu was standing beside one of the large furnaces, watching the fire crackle and send sparks into the air. When he saw Miguel approaching, he wiped his hands on a cloth and extended his hand in greeting.

“Good morning, my lord!” said Bartolomeu with a smile, his eyes shining with respect and curiosity. “What brings you here so early?”

Miguel shook Bartolomeu’s hand, feeling the firmness and honesty in the grip. He smiled back, grateful for the dedication of those who worked tirelessly for the good of Drakmoor.

“Good morning, Bartolomeu,” Miguel replied, returning the greeting with an equally firm handshake.

Miguel looked at Bartolomeu with determination and a slight smile on his lips.

“Tell me, Bartolomeu, do you know how to build furnaces?” asked Miguel, trying to gauge the man’s experience.

“Yes, my lord,” Bartolomeu responded with a nod. “My family has always built furnaces for charcoal production. I know the craft well.”

“Great,” said Miguel, taking the sketch of his new furnace from under his arm and unrolling it on a nearby table. “I have a new furnace in mind. I want your help to build it.”

Bartolomeu leaned in to get a better look at the drawing, curious.

“This furnace,” Miguel began, pointing to the details of the sketch, “is different from the ones you usually build. It will use an air circulation system to increase the temperature. The idea is to allow fresh air to enter here,” he indicated an opening at the base, “and for hot air to exit here,” he showed the chimney at the top. “With this, we can achieve higher temperatures more quickly and efficiently.”

Bartolomeu furrowed his brow, studying the sketch closely. “Interesting, my lord. I’ve never seen a furnace like this before. It looks like an ambitious project.”

“Yes, it is,” Miguel admitted. “But I believe it can revolutionize the way we produce not just charcoal, but many other materials needed for the growth and defense of our kingdom.”

Bartolomeu stroked his chin, thoughtful. “Well, my family always said that true advancement comes from those who dare to dream big. We’ll need specific materials and perhaps some adjustments during construction, but I’m willing to try if that’s what you wish.”

Miguel smiled, pleased with Bartolomeu’s response. “Perfect. Let’s work together to make this happen.”

Miguel continued explaining to Bartolomeu the details of the new furnace, pointing to different parts of the sketch as he spoke.

“For this furnace to work correctly, we will need some specific materials,” Miguel began, with a serious look. “First, we will need refractory bricks. These bricks are essential to withstand the high temperatures we want to achieve. They should be made of a special mixture of clay and silica.”

Bartolomeu nodded, absorbing the information.

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“We will also need a good supply of high-quality charcoal to fuel the furnace. The charcoal must be pure and well-prepared, without impurities that could hinder the burning.”

“We can easily get the charcoal,” said Bartolomeu. “We already have a good stock and can increase production if necessary.”

“Perfect,” Miguel replied. “Additionally, we will need iron pipes for the air circulation system. These pipes need to be heat-resistant and well-fitted to avoid air leaks.”

Bartolomeu scratched his chin again, thoughtful. “We have the blacksmith Arthur in town who can help us make these pipes. It will be a tough job, but it’s possible.”

“Great,” said Miguel. “Finally, we need high-strength mortar to bond the refractory bricks. The mortar should be made with a special mixture of sand, lime, and cement.”

Bartolomeu nodded again. “Understood. We will need a good amount of lime and sand, as well as cement. This should be feasible, especially with the new lime production you initiated.”

Miguel smiled, pleased with Bartolomeu’s understanding. “Exactly. If we can gather all these materials and work together, we can build a furnace that will not only improve charcoal production but also open new possibilities for our kingdom.”

Bartolomeu took a deep breath, feeling the weight of responsibility but also the excitement of the challenge. “Let’s do this, my lord. I will try to gather the materials, and we can start working immediately.”

Miguel nodded, confident. “Thank you, Bartolomeu. I’m counting on you.”

Miguel headed to Arthur’s forge, where the heat from the furnace and the constant sound of hammers striking metal created an environment of intense activity. He spotted Arthur, who was supervising the work of his son, Benjamin, a strong and dedicated young man who was quickly becoming a skilled blacksmith.

“Arthur, I need to discuss something important with you,” said Miguel, approaching the two.

Arthur stopped what he was doing and turned to Miguel. “Of course, my lord. What do you need?”

Miguel began to explain, taking the furnace sketch from his bag. “We are planning to build a new furnace to improve our production. We will need iron pipes for the air circulation system. These pipes need to be heat-resistant and well-fitted to avoid leaks.”

Arthur studied the sketch for a moment, his face showing a mix of interest and concern. “I understand. This will be delicate work. Iron pipes are not easy to make; they need to be perfect for the furnace to work correctly.”

At that moment, Benjamin, who had been listening to the conversation, stepped forward. "Father, I can do this. I feel ready for this task."

Arthur looked at his son with an appraising gaze. "Do you think you are ready for something this complex, Benjamin?"

"Yes, Father. I have practiced a lot and I know I can do it. I will do my best to ensure everything turns out perfect," Benjamin replied, with determination in his eyes.

Arthur smiled, proud of his son's confidence. "Very well, then. If you believe you are prepared, I agree to let you take on this task. But remember, it’s a big responsibility. Every pipe needs to be perfect."

Benjamin nodded, determined. "I know, Father. I will do everything with the utmost care."

Miguel watched the exchange with a smile. "Thank you, Arthur, and thank you, Benjamin. I trust in your abilities and know you will do an excellent job. We need these pipes to ensure the furnace works correctly and helps us advance even further."

With a final nod, Miguel left the forge, feeling more confident about the progress of his plans.

***

Amélia stood in the middle of a clearing, her breath heavy as she observed the soldiers around her. The sun shone brightly, illuminating the battle scene. The clearing was surrounded by tall trees, their canopies creating a natural barrier around the fight. With a command shout, she launched herself against the baron’s soldiers who had been sent to kill her.

The clang of swords clashing echoed through the clearing, and Amélia moved with the grace of a dancer, dodging and attacking with deadly precision. Her sword, a thin and lethal blade, glinted in the sunlight as she cut down one enemy after another. Beside her, her soldiers fought bravely, but the attackers’ numerical superiority was starting to take its toll.

Amélia stepped back, blocking a blow and spinning to deliver a deep cut to the soldier who had attacked her. He fell to the ground, and she raised her sword again, her eyes fixed on a new target. A baron’s soldier charged at her, his sword raised for a killing blow. Amélia dodged effortlessly, striking him on the side and bringing him down.

“Protect the rear!” she shouted as more enemy soldiers emerged from the surrounding forest.

Her blonde hair flew in the wind as she fought, each movement calculated and precise. Another soldier advanced on her, and she blocked his strike with a quick movement of her sword. With a flick of her wrist, she disarmed the adversary and brought him down with a strike to the leg. She knew that despite her skills, the situation was becoming increasingly desperate.

One of her soldiers, a burly man with a scar on his face, approached her as he fought. “Lady, we need to retreat! We are being overwhelmed!”

Amélia knew he was right. The baron’s soldiers were pressing harder, and her own men were starting to fall. She blocked another strike and countered, bringing down another enemy soldier before shouting an order to retreat.

“Everyone, fall back! Protect the rear!”

With a final effort, she cut down two more enemies before turning and running towards the edge of the clearing. Her men followed, fighting bravely to cover the retreat. The forest around them was dense and dark, providing some cover as they fled.

The sounds of battle faded as Amélia and her soldiers ran through the forest. She knew they were leaving many of their own behind, fighting to buy them time, but there was no other choice. They needed to reach Miguel. She thought to herself and hoped all this sacrifice would be worth it. She did not like Miguel, but ever since she left Drakmoor, she could not stop thinking about those walls... She was a curious person by nature and wanted to know more about everything that bastard was doing. Besides, Miguel was the only one who, for some reason, did not look at her with eyes of subjugation; to him, she was just another person... And that made her trust him now more than her other two blood brothers.

After a few minutes of frantic escape, Amélia and twenty of her soldiers emerged into a new clearing, breathless and covered in sweat. She stopped to catch her breath, her eyes scanning the surroundings to ensure they were safe, at least for now. She knew the battle was far from over, but she also knew they needed to keep moving. Her brothers would not give up so easily.

“Let’s go, we can’t stop now. We need to reach my bastard brother,” she said, and with a final look of determination, she led her men through the forest, leaving behind the sound of battle and the promise of more conflicts to come.