Back at the hollowed out rock:

Me and village craftsmen were at our mining site again. And we were working on something big this time. There was smoke coming from large pit covered in dirt. Bonfire with rocks on top of it. And finally, bloomery furnace.

Yes, we were preparing for iron smelting. We were camping here already for three days, had neat campsite nearby and everything was processing smoothly. Iron ore was already mined and had been currently roasting to dry it completely. Few last batches had been waiting for firing in charcoal pit. And it turned out the architect guy was really skilled. The bloomery he designed looked pretty solid. And I myself was putting my Sewing into use when creating bigger and more functional bellow.

Noon:

Everything was ready. Preheating process had entered its final phase and I now put pulverized iron ore into the bloomery. Fellows were taking turns at bellow, gushing tons of air inside. I continuously put charcoal and ore into the bloomery until there was no ore left. Now it was only about waiting. Smelting process in such simple furnace as bloomery takes long and consumes a lot of coal. Well designed furnace can have temperature up to 1300°C, enough for iron to smelt.

Late evening:

"Ok guys, it's about the time. Prepare hammer and tongs. Try to not burn yourself"

I made hole inside the bloomery and with help of staff picked out its volume. And there it was, the bloom. It was orange to white glowing sponge. Two crafters took it into tongs made of wood (nothing better available) and brought it onto makeshift stone anvil.

Then all of us took big wooden hammers and started to beat the bloom like there was no other day.

"Phew, seems like we did it gentlemen"

After initial hits, the bloom still hold its shape and didn't shatter. This mean success. Huge success.

We continued with hammering. Pieces of burning coal and slag flew everywhere, but we didn't stop. We hit again and again until there was only disk of hot metal remaining. Time was of essence since it was necessary to beat remnants of coal and slag from the iron sponge.

In the end, we made about 5 kg of raw iron. It may seem like nothing for the tedious work, but it can't be further from truth. I can be glad that something has even been smelted. I could have got useless piece of slag instead.

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Moreover, this amount is just enough for two necessary items. First is pick. Obtaining ore is damn pain in ass, so pick would make this job much easier. Second is axe. Smelting requires a lot of charcoal (wood cannot be used, it doesn't reach needed temperature). And the charcoal has to be burned from wood, so axe is also necessary.

In meantime, I instructed architect guy to make hearth. Just a conveniently made pit from clay to contain burning charcoal and bellow that will push air into it.

"And like this, we can start to smith our first iron tool" (J)

"Is it really necessary to do this only for tool?" One of my students asked.

"Yes it is. Now it may seem stupid to do this when you can do same with stone, but damn, iron tools are much more durable and you can make a wide variety of items from it. It will revolutionize you lifestyle" (J)

"Let's proceed to smithing. Unlike copper, which is pretty soft, iron is hard material. You can transform its shape only when its veeery hot. Like glowing red or even white. Thus, you need to heat it."

I put the iron disk into hearth and bellowed air into it. Coals were glowing hot and the disk itself started to glow also. When it was bright orange, almost yellow, I put it on the anvil and using stone chisel and copper hammer, I began to split disk into two. It was annoying hard work, but I managed to do it.

Firs half was made longer into bar that was thick on one side and thin on the other. Using stone chisel, hole was somehow pierced in the middle of the bar. Even tough it was pain, I made the hole big enough for shaft. Then flat blade was made on one side and spike on the other one.

Craftsmen were looking at the process like it was some kind of magic, surprised how iron can be transformed from clump into fine tool.

The axe was made in same manner. Only the hole had to be pierced using pick's spike. I wouldn't have been able to do it just with stones since the axe's head is far thicker.

Smithing just these two tools took unexpectedly long time. When I finished axe, it was almost dark.

"Let's call it day men" (J)

"Yes I agree, it was long day"

"I hope we can test your tools tomorrow"

"Surely, if I wake up, my hands feel like made from iron"

With little irony, I walked to campsite and prepared for night.

[I love my sleeping bag, so convenient. Sorry guys, you only have ground haha]

With mischievous thoughts, I fell asleep