I took out the flint from my belt and struck it against the spine of my knife. Sparks scattered onto the dry moss and fine bark fibers. After a few attempts, smoke began to rise. I gently blew air to ignite the spark and carefully added thicker twigs. As the fire grew, I placed sturdier branches inside to maintain a steady warmth.
I needed to set up a simple structure to cook the fish. I arranged some smooth stones I found into a triangular shape. Creating a small space over the fire, I sharpened a few sturdy branches and made fork-like structures. I drove two forked branches into the ground and placed a long branch between them, forming an improvised grill. After cleaning the fish and washing them with salted water, I skewered them onto the wooden sticks. As I placed the fish over the fire, they slowly began to sizzle; the crackling of their skin reassured me that I was on the right track.
While waiting for the fish to cook, I examined the cave. If I were to stay here longer, I would need to establish a basic blacksmithing workshop. First, I had to build a furnace—using stones to concentrate the fire. I needed large stones capable of retaining heat. I could use the natural openings in the cave to allow smoke to escape.
To generate charcoal or a more intense heat source, I had to stockpile dry wood. To craft a hammer, I needed durable stones and logs; if I found iron ore, I would also need a flat stone to serve as an anvil. Additionally, I could use my [Examine] ability to determine whether the cave's depths contained any ore.
My first task was to build a small charcoal pit and produce controlled-burning wood to obtain charcoal. Charcoal was essential for reaching the heat required to process metal. If I could craft a small bellows, maintaining the fire would be easier.
For now, making use of the resources at hand and setting up basic structures would be enough.
I placed my bag on the ground and examined its contents. A hammer, a few nails, rope, a knife, and other essential materials were there. I needed to choose a spot close to the cave entrance but protected from the wind. Managing the controlled burning process properly was crucial—if there was too much airflow, the wood would burn completely, leaving behind a useless pile of ash. If there was too little airflow, the wood would extinguish before turning into charcoal.
To build the charcoal pit, I first needed to find a suitable area. I located a slightly sloped spot near the entrance of my cave—far enough to prevent smoke from filling the interior, yet close enough for safety. It was not at risk of flooding, and I could position it in a way that kept the wind at my back. After clearing the area of stones and shrubs, I needed primary building materials: thick tree trunks and soil for a mud coating. However, I lacked the proper tools to cut or shape these materials. First, I had to make an axe.
To craft an axe, I needed a hard stone, a sturdy branch, and rope for binding. I had enough rope in my bag, but I needed to find a suitable stone. I headed toward the nearby riverbed. As I searched for sharp, durable stones shaped by the water’s erosion, I found exactly what I needed—a solid, flat rock. Using the handle of my knife, I lightly struck the stone, refining its edges and sharpening it as much as possible.
Next, I searched for a branch strong enough to serve as a handle. Among the broken branches, I found one about as thick as my arm. To test its durability, I struck it against the ground several times. It did not break—a good sign.
The binding process required precision. I secured the stone to the top of the handle, wrapping the rope tightly around it in multiple layers to reinforce the hold. Then, I tested its sturdiness by striking a log. It worked—the axe was functional.
I decided to build the charcoal pit near the cave, in a wind-sheltered spot. I did not want to venture too deep into the forest; the silence concealed unknown dangers. Staying close to the cave entrance was a safer option.
First, I leveled the ground with stones and soil. I arranged large, flat stones side by side to form the base—this would prevent heat loss from the ground. Then, I began stacking stones in a cylindrical shape, using wooden branches nailed together as additional support. At the top, I left a small gap to allow smoke to escape.
Once the charcoal pit was ready, I started gathering wood. I cut dry branches and small trees near the forest’s edge. Instead of thick logs, I used medium-sized ones—they would turn into charcoal more quickly.
I carefully arranged the wood inside the pit, ensuring there were no large gaps. Then, I sealed the entrance with stones, leaving only a small air intake. Using my flint and dried moss, I started the fire. As the flames reached the wood, I narrowed the opening and sealed it with more stones.
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This method would create a low-oxygen environment inside, causing the wood to slowly transform into charcoal. I felt the heat from the fire—the process would take several hours. The faint smoke rising from the pit indicated that the transformation had begun.
As the charcoal-making process continued, I returned to the cave. I washed my hands with water and ventured deeper inside. The cave was vast, and if properly organized, it could become the perfect workshop.
Plans started swirling in my head:
- Forge: I should build a stone forge in the most ventilated part of the cave. I’ll need high heat to melt iron, so I must craft a bellows to control airflow.
- Workbench: I can find a flat stone slab to create a working surface. I don’t have basic tools like a hammer or anvil for now, but I can make primitive versions from stones.
- Storage Area: I need to build simple shelves to store the materials I collect. I should also control the cave’s humidity, or everything will rot.
- Defense: I should block the cave entrance with a simple barricade. Maybe sharpened tree branches would work. Even though there don't seem to be any dangerous monsters around, I’d rather be safe than sorry.
It would take time to achieve all this with my limited resources, but if I turned this place into a fully functional smithy, I could produce everything I needed to earn my way to the tower.
My thoughts were interrupted by the smell of fish. The fish sizzling over the fire had started to crisp up. I carefully lifted the skewer and placed the fish on a stone to cool. I cracked the crispy skin and ate the hot, tender flesh. A faint smile appeared on my face with the first bite.
This was just the beginning. But the hope inside me grew so strong that it made me forget my hunger.
Towards the night, I returned to the charcoal pit. The smoke had lessened. I carefully removed the stones and checked the wood inside. Black, hard, and dry pieces of charcoal emerged. Seeing my success motivated me even more.
Now I had charcoal. The next step was to grow the fire and build a proper forge where I could work metal. But that was a task for tomorrow.
I closed my eyes and leaned my back against the cool cave wall. This place was now my workshop. And I was going to build it from scratch.
My back throbbed at every point against the hard stone floor. When I woke up, it felt like my spine had been beaten with rocks all night. As I half-opened my eyes, I saw the dim glow of the dying fire dancing on the cave ceiling.
I tried to get up, holding my waist; even standing up felt like torture.
"I won’t last long like this," I muttered to myself. I rubbed my lower back, stretched a few times, but the pain didn’t subside. It felt like I had slept like a corpse sprawled on the stone floor, only to resurrect in agony at dawn.
I glanced at the small charcoal pit filled with charred wood pieces. The leftover charcoal from yesterday had cooled, but it would still be useful. Yet, after all this effort, I realized I needed to give myself some comfort.
While massaging my back, I looked at the flat stones in the corner of the cave and took a deep breath. "This cave shouldn’t just be a workshop," I murmured. "It should be a home too."
If I was really going to stay here for a long time, I needed a proper bed. The stone floor, no matter how sturdy, was pure torture for my body.
My first task was to choose a relatively dry corner of the cave. That spot caught less wind and didn’t seem likely to flood, even if it rained. My goal while making the bed was simple: to create a platform that would keep me off the cold stone and offer as much comfort as possible.
I grabbed my axe and cut down small trees outside the cave. I decided to use thick, straight branches as the frame. I carefully worked with the axe to cut the branches to equal lengths; every strike burned my muscles, but the thought of better sleep kept me going.
I carried the cut branches back to the cave and laid them out on the flat ground. I took out the remaining nails from my bag and hammered the branches together. Since my supply of nails was limited, I tightly bound some sections with rope. By arranging the branches parallel to each other and placing thinner branches in between, I created a simple lattice structure.
The platform was ready, but sleeping on bare wood wouldn’t be much better. So, I went outside the cave and searched the area. I gathered soft moss growing in the damp soil — a natural stuffing material. I also collected dry leaves, pressed them with stones, and made small pouch-like bundles. I stuffed the moss into these leaf pouches and layered them over the bed platform.
In the end, I had crafted a makeshift bed raised above the stone floor. It was still a bit hard, but at least I was free from the cold, bone-crushing rocks.
I also set up a small fire next to my bed to keep warm. Thankfully, the cave entrance was wide open, so the smoke wouldn’t accumulate enough to poison me.
Balancing Workshop and Home
After making a place to sleep, I started paying more attention to other parts of the cave. This wasn’t just a workshop — it had to be my refuge too.
I mentally divided the cave into sections:
- Working Area: The place where I would forge metal and craft equipment. I’d need to build a large forge here.
- Storage Section: A spot to keep materials. I could create stone shelves or expand my bag’s capacity to carry more items.
- Rest Corner: The section where I made my bed. I could improve it over time. Maybe I could dry animal skins and make a proper blanket.
- Cooking Area: I could make the fire setup more stable. Perhaps I could build a simple stone oven.
A small wave of hope swelled inside me. This place could be more than a temporary shelter — it could become my little fortress.
"Step by step," I told myself. "I’ll build everything, piece by piece."
Despite my tired muscles, I felt a little more at peace. At least tonight, I would sleep in a bed I made with my own hands instead of on cold stone. And maybe in my dreams, I would see a fully functional blacksmith’s workshop.
But when morning came, the ringing sound of a hammer striking metal would echo through the cave, turning dreams into reality.