Theodore approached the neat stacks of bricks he'd created just now. Steam rose from the still-warm clay as he extended his hands.

Theodore focused, channeling his [Elemental Spells]. He conjured a cool breeze, rich in moisture, and directed it over the bricks in a controlled vortex. As the air circulated, it rapidly absorbed heat from the clay, carrying it away in rising currents.

He fine-tuned the process, adjusting the air's temperature and humidity. Too cold, and the bricks might crack from thermal shock. Too dry, and they'd lose essential moisture. Theodore found the sweet spot, creating an environment that mimicked optimal natural cooling conditions.

The steam intensified briefly as the cool air met the hot bricks, then gradually dissipated. Under his careful manipulation, the bricks cooled evenly, their internal structures settling into perfect stability. Within minutes, what would normally take hours was complete, leaving behind stacks of perfectly cooled, ready-to-use bricks.

"Careful now," he called to the approaching workers. "They're still a bit hot."

A burly man with arms like tree trunks stepped forward, grinning. "No worries, m'lord. Heat's nothing to us [Stonemasons]."

Theodore nodded, impressed. "Good to hear. What's your name?"

"Burk, m'lord. Me and the boys here are ready to get these bricks where they need to go."

As Theodore continued cooling the bricks, a steady stream of workers began to arrive. A wiry woman hefted four bricks at once. Nearby, a man was stacking bricks on a cart with blinding speed.

"Quite the operation you've got here, my lord," came a familiar voice. Jack approached, eyebrows raised as he surveyed the scene.

Theodore smiled, wiping sweat from his brow. "The soap business is booming. It's allowed us to hire some real talent."

Jack nodded, watching as a [Featherweight Carrier] effortlessly balanced a towering stack of bricks and moved them where they were needed. "I can see that. Where are they taking all these?"

Theodore pointed to a cleared area nearby, where the rich, red clay was still visible. "Just over there. We're building a proper kiln for future brickmaking. No offense to my magical abilities, but we'll need more sustainable methods moving forward. I'm thinking of using a mana crystal for the kiln. A few specific runes and—hopefully—some help with your spellcraft, and we'll have a good kiln at our hands."

"Ah, so that's why you summoned me.”

"Correct.”

"Well, I'd be delighted to help, my lord. Of course.”

As they spoke, a constant flow of workers moved between the brick stacks and the construction site. The air was filled with grunts of exertion, the clinking of bricks being stacked, and the creaking of laden carts.

"Impressive progress," Jack mused. "At this rate, you'll have that kiln up in no time."

Theodore nodded, his eyes scanning the busy scene. "That's the hope. Winter's coming, and we need to be prepared."

A commotion near the brick stacks drew their attention. A young [Apprentice Carrier] had overloaded his cart, causing it to tip precariously.

"Whoa there!" Burk called out, rushing over. With a grunt, he steadied the cart, preventing a potential disaster. "Easy does it, lad. No need to show off."

The apprentice's face flushed red with embarrassment. "Sorry, sir. I just wanted to prove myself."

Burk's stern expression softened. "Prove yourself by doing the job right, not by taking unnecessary risks. Now, let's redistribute that load properly."

Theodore watched the interaction with interest. "Good man, that Burk," he murmured to Jack.

"Indeed," Jack replied. "Natural leader. Might be worth keeping an eye on him for future projects."

The morning wore on, and the piles of bricks steadily diminished while the kiln site grew more organized. [Mason] class workers had begun laying out the foundation, their skilled hands ensuring each brick was placed with precision.

A [Geomancer] moved among them, her eyes glowing faintly as she assessed the stability of the growing structure. "Shift that corner slightly to the left," she instructed. "It'll bear the weight better."

Theodore approached her, curious. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Theodore."

The woman bowed, her expression serious. "Mira, m'lord. [Journeyman Geomancer]. I ensure the structures we build are sound."

"Fascinating," Theodore replied. "I'd love to hear more about your work when time allows."

Mira nodded, a small smile touching her lips. "It would be my pleasure, m'lord. For now, though, we've much to do."

As midday approached, the field had transformed. Where once there had been only stacks of newly-made bricks, now a busy construction site thrummed with activity. The kiln's foundation was taking shape, its outline clearly visible.

Theodore stood back, observing the progress with satisfaction. Workers moved with purpose, each applying their unique skills to the task at hand. [Watercarriers] circulated, ensuring everyone stayed hydrated under the warm sun. A [Crew Leader] moved from group to group, coordinating efforts and resolving minor disputes with practiced ease.

"M'lord," Burk approached, wiping his brow. "We've moved the last of the bricks. What would you have us do next?"

Theodore considered for a moment. "Check with Mira and the other [Masons]. See if they need any assistance with the kiln construction. If not, take a break. You've all earned it."

Burk grinned, saluting casually. "Right you are, m'lord. We'll keep things moving along."

Burk moved off, and Jack sidled up to Theodore. "Quite the hive of activity. Hard to believe this was an empty field just yesterday."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"It's amazing what people can accomplish when given the opportunity. Speaking of which, how goes the soap production?"

Jack's eyes lit up. "Booming, as you said. We've had to expand operations again. At this rate, we'll be supplying half the kingdom by winter's end."

"Excellent," Theodore replied. "We'll need that revenue for what's to come."

Their conversation was interrupted by a shout from the kiln site. "Oi! Watch that arch! It needs to be higher!"

Theodore chuckled. "Duty calls, it seems. Care to lend a hand?"

Jack rolled up his sleeves, grinning. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

***

"Alright, everyone," Theodore began, his voice carrying across the field. "We're building a downdraft kiln. It's going to be more efficient than anything you've seen before."

Burk, the burly [Stonemason], raised a hand. "Begging your pardon, m'lord, but what's a 'downdraft' kiln?"

Theodore nodded, realizing he'd need to explain things more simply. "Good question. Think of it like a chimney that pulls air down instead of up. It'll give us more control over the firing process."

He sketched a quick diagram in the dirt with a stick, showing the basic layout. "We'll have the fire chamber here, at the bottom. The heat will rise through the ware chamber where the bricks are stacked, then be pulled down through the floor and out through flues."

Mira, the [Geomancer], stepped forward, her brow furrowed. "I've never seen a design like this, m'lord. Are you certain it will work?"

"It will," Theodore assured her. "The downdraft design allows for more even heat distribution and better fuel efficiency. Trust me, this will be perfect for what we want here."

The workers began to lay the first courses of bricks for the walls.

"We need to angle these bricks slightly," he instructed a group of [Masons]. "It'll help direct the heat flow."

One of the masons, a young man named Tarn, looked confused. "Angle them, m'lord? But won't that make the wall unstable?"

Theodore shook his head. "Not if we do it right. Here, let me show you."

He demonstrated the technique, explaining how the angled bricks would create a more efficient heat path without compromising structural integrity. The masons watched intently, their skilled hands quickly adapting to the new method.

As the walls began to rise, Theodore turned his attention to the fire chamber. "We'll need to line this with firebricks," he explained to Burk. "They'll withstand the extreme temperatures better than regular bricks."

Burk nodded, but his expression was puzzled. "Firebricks, m'lord? I'm not familiar with those."

Theodore paused, realizing he'd taken some knowledge for granted. "Right, my apologies." He quickly explain it in a way they'd understand.

He outlined the process for creating firebricks, simplifying the chemistry as much as possible. Burk listened intently, his eyes lighting up with understanding.

"Ah, I see!" he exclaimed. "Like the bricks we use for forges, but even tougher. Clever, that is."

As the day wore on, the kiln began to take shape. The walls rose steadily, their slight inward lean barely noticeable but crucial to the design. Theodore moved from group to group, answering questions and offering guidance.

"No, we need the flue channels to be narrower," he explained to a team working on the floor. "It'll increase the draft and improve efficiency."

"Narrower? But won't that make it harder to clean?"

Theodore nodded, appreciating her foresight. "Good thinking. We'll design removable plugs for cleaning access. The improved efficiency is worth the extra maintenance."

Later, Theodore called for a break. The workers gathered around, drinking water and munching on bread as Theodore explained the next phase.

"We're making good progress," he began, "but the most critical part is yet to come. The dome roof needs to be perfect to ensure even heat distribution."

He laid out a sketched diagram, showing the curved roof and explaining its importance. "The shape will help circulate the hot gasses. It'll ensure every brick gets fired evenly."

"I think I understand, m'lord. The dome shape will create a natural convection current, yes?"

Theodore beamed. "Exactly! You're catching on quickly."

As work resumed, Theodore found himself constantly amazed by the skill and adaptability of the workers. Despite the unfamiliar design, they quickly grasped the principles behind it.

The walls grew higher, the system of flues took shape, and slowly but surely, the kiln neared completion.

"We're going to use a technique called corbelling to create the dome without formwork." He said as they neared completion.

Blank faces stared back at him. Theodore sighed, realizing he'd slipped into technical jargon again.

"Sorry, let me rephrase that. We're going to stack the bricks in gradually overlapping layers, each one extending slightly further inward than the last. It'll let us build the dome without needing to support it from underneath."

Understanding dawned on the workers' faces. Burk nodded approvingly. “Like building an upside-down staircase, eh?"

Theodore grinned. "That's a great way to think about it, Burk. Exactly right."

As work on the dome began, Theodore found himself constantly moving, checking angles, ensuring each brick was placed just so. By the end, the kiln stood complete. Its domed roof rose gracefully above the landscape.

Theodore stood before it. "Well done, everyone. This is a masterpiece."

Well, that might be an exaggeration, but they did the work, and that deserved some praise.

Burk approached, wiping his hands on his apron. "It's like nothing I've ever seen, m'lord. But will it truly work better than our old kilns?"

Theodore nodded confidently. "It will. Let me explain why."

He gathered the workers around, using the completed kiln as a visual aid. "In traditional kilns, the heat rises straight up and out. A lot of energy is wasted. But in this downdraft design, we're forcing the hot gasses to travel further, extracting more of their heat before they escape."

He pointed to various features as he spoke. "The dome shape helps distribute heat evenly. The narrow flues create a strong draft, pulling the hot gasses down and through the stacked bricks. And the thick walls and firebrick lining help retain heat. It makes the whole process more efficient."

Mira nodded slowly, her eyes tracing the kiln's contours. "My skill says it. Yeah… It's... harmonious."

Theodore smiled at her insight. "Exactly, Mira. This kiln is designed to work with the natural flow of heat and air, not against it."

He turned to address all the workers. "What we've built here isn't just a kiln. It's a step forward for all of Holden. With this, we can produce better bricks, faster and with less fuel. That means stronger buildings, warmer homes, and more prosperity for everyone."

A cheer went up from the gathered workers.

As the excitement died down, Theodore noticed Jack approaching, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Impressive work," Jack said, eyeing the kiln. "But I can't help wondering, why this particular design? Surely there are other efficient kiln types."

"You're right. On Ea—I mean, in other places I've studied, there are many kiln designs. Updraft kilns, which are simpler but less efficient. Horizontal kilns, which are great for continuous production but require more space and fuel. Even modern tunnel kilns, which are incredibly efficient but far beyond our current capabilities."

He patted the kiln's wall. "This downdraft design is a good balance for our needs. It's more efficient than traditional kilns but doesn't require technology we don't have access to. It's perfect for our current level of production and the resources available to us."

Jack nodded. "Always thinking ahead, aren't you? This isn't just about making bricks, is it?"

Theodore grinned. "Nothing ever is, Jack. This kiln is a stepping stone. It'll help us build better infrastructure, train more skilled workers, and push our technological boundaries. Who knows where it might lead?"

Theodore took one last look at the completed kiln.

"Alright, everyone," he called out. "That's enough for today. Tomorrow, we'll fire it up for the first time. Get some rest; you've all earned it."

The workers dispersed, chattering excitedly about the next day.