A'Dong squatted in the shadow near the brick kiln, the ground beneath him scorching from the sun's intense heat. In the distance, rows of freshly baked bricks were neatly stacked, still emitting heat. He wiped the sweat off his brow, his fingers blackened with coal dust. His gaze wandered along the kiln's edge, eventually fixing on a tall chimney towering in the sky. From its peak, thick black smoke coiled upwards, drifting far away. It was part of a newly built furnace. The sight of this massive industrial structure, emitting such a dense cloud of smoke, filled him with both awe and an inexplicable pressure. For the first time since arriving in Mangshan, he realized that this place was entirely unlike the small fiefdoms he had previously known.
This was Norton—a place where everything seemed to move steadily and systematically, with an underlying sense of calm and power.
A'Dong and his family had once lived in a small feudal state within the Xiaohan Kingdom. His father had been a tenant farmer, working the land of a wealthy landlord. Their life had been modest, but stable. However, after his father fell ill, the family spent all their savings on medical treatments, but to no avail. His father passed away, leaving them not only without their main source of income but also in considerable debt. The landlord's pressure on them to repay the debt grew unbearable, and eventually, they were forced to flee. Joining a wandering group of refugees, they left behind everything they had known.
That period of their lives was the darkest for A'Dong. Every day in the refugee camp was a battle for survival, with scarce food and a constant sense of exhaustion and hopelessness. They drifted from place to place until one day, armed bounty hunters descended on their group, capturing many of them to be sold into slavery. A'Dong, along with his mother, younger brother, and sister, were sold to Norton officials and sent to Mangshan.
Upon arrival, they were immediately led through a thorough disinfection process. Separated by gender, they were stripped of their old, worn-out clothing, which was burned on the spot. A'Dong clung to his younger brother, who was trembling in fear, his heart sinking with despair. He thought this was the end of the road for them.
But what happened next took them by surprise.
They were given clean, simple cotton clothing to wear, and they were even allowed to choose the color. The officials meticulously recorded their ages, health conditions, and any skills they might have had, before settling them into temporary tents. A'Dong vividly remembered when his younger brother was taken away, and he feared that the boy was being sent to perform some grueling labor. However, his brother returned later that night, full of excitement. "I've been sent to school!" he exclaimed, breathless from enthusiasm. He described how they were being fed twice a day and that their little sister was also enrolled in classes.
A'Dong was assigned to work at the brick kiln, while spending the other half of his day attending a literacy school. Though the work was exhausting and the school lessons challenging for someone who had never held a pen before, A'Dong found solace in the routine. The meals were sufficient, though he often saved a portion of his food to take back to his family at night.
Over time, he learned that his mother had been sent to work at a textile mill, where she was being trained in a new weaving technique. Occasionally, his younger brother would bring back news that their mother was adapting well to her new work, weaving cloth faster than before. A'Dong couldn't help but marvel at how different everything was here compared to their old life.
Life at the brick kiln was harsh, but it also ignited something in A'Dong's mind. He quickly realized that Norton was a place unlike any he had ever imagined. It wasn't merely a chaotic collection of laborers and refugees. There was a sense of purpose and order here, a silent force driving everyone toward the same goal. Watching the giant chimneys spew thick black smoke into the sky, and seeing the massive water wheels turn by the river, A'Dong began to nurture a dream of his own. He didn't want to spend the rest of his life laboring at the brick kiln. He wanted to learn a trade.
At the literacy school, he overheard craftsmen discussing blacksmithing and the importance of metalwork, which piqued his interest. Particularly, the dwarven blacksmiths, who had come from afar, caught his attention. Their houses were short and sturdy, built from brick, and though smaller than human homes, they appeared much more comfortable and solid. A'Dong thought to himself: if he could learn the craft of blacksmithing, perhaps one day he could have a house of his own, instead of always being at the mercy of others.
Sometimes, he would pass by the forge and watch from a distance as the blacksmiths hammered glowing metal, sparks flying with each strike. The sight of molten iron being shaped into useful tools stirred something deep within him. However, he quickly learned that becoming a blacksmith's apprentice wasn't as simple as watching from afar. It required a considerable fee, and for someone like A'Dong, who had barely saved any money, the prospect seemed daunting. His wages were modest, most of which went toward supporting his family.
The monetary system in Norton puzzled him at first. The currency was a type of paper, light and thin, with clearly printed numbers on it. When he received his first payment for his work at the kiln, he was handed several of these pieces of paper, unsure of their value. Eventually, he learned that these papers could be exchanged for food, clothing, and tools.
Determined to save up enough money to pay for an apprenticeship, A'Dong began to carefully ration his earnings. Though he didn't know when the opportunity would come, he firmly believed that once he learned the craft of blacksmithing, he could carve out a better future for himself.
When A'Dong first arrived in Mangshan, the mines and kilns had already been operating steadily. However, he soon began to notice other changes around him. New furnaces were being built, each taller and more imposing than the last. Massive chimneys spewed black smoke into the sky, while water wheels along the river powered strange, intricate mechanisms. These were things A'Dong had never seen before, things that seemed to belong to a world far beyond his comprehension. Yet, even as he worked in the brick kiln, he could sense that Mangshan was changing, transforming before his eyes.
...
"Finally, it's working," Wenzian said, satisfied, as he watched the flash burn across the surface, leaving a charred mark on the table. After countless trials, he had finally determined the correct ratio of ingredients for black powder, using the ancient notes from the Sage's journal. It had taken several attempts, but he had adjusted for impurities in the materials and achieved a stable result. "This is almost perfect," he remarked. "Once we improve the purity of the raw materials, we can tweak the proportions to exactly match my earlier calculations."
A'Vei observed the flash with curiosity, never having seen such an effect produced purely through material means. "This... it's not just for weapons, is it?" she asked.
Wenzian smiled. "No, we can make some interesting little toys with this too. I'll show you later."
A'Vei pouted, "You always treat me like a child, but I'm an adult now."
"Adults need to have fun too," Wenzian chuckled, tidying up the experiment notes and clearing the table.
"Black powder has its limits, and it's very unstable," Li Xian commented while working on his observation notes.
"We haven't found potassium salt deposits yet, and electricity isn't widespread. Forget picric acid explosives, and even more stable nitroglycerin is out of reach. We have no capacity for acid or alkali production," Wenzian sighed, spreading his hands in resignation.
"Actually, we don't necessarily have to rely on chemistry. Arcane techniques could solve some of these technical issues," Li Xian proposed. "For example, the energy needed for electrolysis could be supplied by an arcanist skilled in using Chain Lightning."
"Chain Lightning is a third-level arcane spell. Anyone able to perform it would need to be at least an intermediate-level arcanist. Even a novice arcane master wouldn't be able to maintain it for long. Such talent won't just sit in a factory helping with electrolysis. I do intend to combine arcane and physical sciences eventually, but for now, let's keep arcane matters in the arcane domain and physics in the physical realm. Even if they merge, it should be the scholars we've recruited to solve that problem," Wenzian explained before sharing his biggest concern. "I don't want to increase reliance on the arcane any further. No matter how difficult the technological tree is to climb, every ordinary person should be able to master it. But when it comes to arcane power, even we, who wield it, don't fully understand its essence. It would be even harder for ordinary people. Ultimately, this could lead to a world where the arcanists control everything. I don't want that future. Before that happens, I want regular people to have the courage and strength to overthrow anyone who tries to enslave them."
"Your words almost betray every position you hold. You are a ruler, an arcanist, yet you don't seem to view the world through their lens," Li Xian observed, studying Wenzian's expression. But Wenzian's face remained neutral, as if he had said something entirely ordinary. "I'm planning to add basic arcane knowledge to the literacy curriculum as well. With enough understanding, there won't be blind reverence or fear."
"Oh, by the way, the first batch of recruited scholars is arriving soon," A'Vei interjected after waiting for a chance to speak.
"Excellent, I'll interview them one by one and assign their roles accordingly," Wenzian responded, smiling awkwardly as he adjusted the imaginary glasses that interrupted his thoughts once again.