112 - Reinforcing

  Nexha stored the barrels in the warehouse so they could begin their fermentation in a minimally suitable place.

  — Unfortunately, the humidity of the sea can't be contained, not even if we built a basement. But this is the best option for now.

  He crossed his arms and sighed before returning to the platform. He started cleaning up the mess he had made. Neblina jumped into the turtle-shell pot and began helping by eating all the leftover rice.

  Nexha chuckled and continued cleaning, but then he noticed a few remaining nails.

  — So few left? Looks like I'll need to make more of these.

  He felt the platform sway slightly with the waves, and another sigh escaped him.

  — This won’t hold up for much longer... I need more nails to make everything more stable.

  He glanced at the only forge on the platform, then at the mill. They were heavy, and expanding the structure would be difficult without first reinforcing the platform.

  Determined to act, Nexha began planning. He lit the forge and placed copper inside to melt while assembling more molds to make several nails at once.

  — I should also find a copper mine. Buying it from the store every time is eating into my savings. It’s nothing compared to what I spent on the wall, but I want to save up for a skill later.

  He soon realized that the process was slow because he only had one forge. He considered that if they built more ovens, they could cook more food and melt more minerals simultaneously. More importantly, reducing the waiting time for meals would lessen the pressure on him and the other cooks in the village.

  — First, I need to reinforce the structure before thinking about building more ovens.

  He poured the molten metal into the molds, watching the intense orange glow spread and fill every detail of the shape. Jasper, wrapped in a warm cloth, watched the process with wide, fascinated eyes, almost hypnotized by the incandescent flow. His tiny hands pressed against his chest, as if trying to contain his urge to get closer.

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  He knew he couldn't touch it—Nexha had told him many times that hot metal was dangerous—but still, the desire to participate burned inside him almost as much as the molten metal itself.

  Meanwhile, on the other side of the platform, Lilay was locked in an epic battle with Neblina over the last bits of rice. The little seagull stretched her neck, trying to snatch the bamboo spoon from Lilay’s hand, while he pulled it back with an irritated grunt. They exchanged pushes and fierce glares, as if it were a matter of honor to determine who had the right to the final scraps.

  Nexha sighed and looked away, deciding that, for the sake of his sanity, he would pretend he didn’t know the hungry fool wrestling with a baby bird over something so trivial. After all, he had more important things to worry about.

  — Now we just need to wait for them to cool.

  While the nails cooled, Nexha intervened in the war between Neblina and Lilay, dragging his brother over to a pile of stones. Lilay protested, but Nexha simply handed him a tool to carve the stones that would be used for the new ovens as punishment for fighting a seagull.

  Neblina, not quite understanding what had happened, spread her wings triumphantly. As if she had conquered new territory, she perched on Lilay’s head, puffing out her chest like a queen on her throne.

  — One day, I swear, I'm going to roast this seagull.

  — Go ahead, I dare you. Let's see how many days you last without cooked food.

  Nexha’s threatening glare made Lilay shudder.

  Finally, the two of them started carving the stones for the ovens while the nails cooled. Later, Nexha turned his attention to the platform structure, reinforcing it with new nails. The sound of hammering echoed through the area, catching Ayla’s curiosity.

  — What are you doing, Nexha?

  — Reinforcing this. It needs to be sturdier.

  — Can I hammer too!?

  Nexha let out a small sigh, but a smile escaped.

  — Sure, but be careful.

  Ayla’s enthusiasm was contagious. She grabbed a hammer and, under Nexha’s guidance, began helping. With each successful strike, she cheered with excitement. When she missed, she made a frustrated face before trying again.

  After a while, Nexha invited her to help with building the ovens. Without hesitation, Ayla agreed, practically bouncing in place with excitement.

  Progress was slow but steady. By the end of the day, the base for the new ovens was ready, and Nexha felt genuine satisfaction seeing the project take shape. Soon, the village would have a much more efficient cooking system, making meal preparation easier.

  — That was so cool!

  Ayla exclaimed while sealing some of the oven’s gaps with clay. Her face was covered in dust, but she was grinning from ear to ear.

  Nexha watched everything with a warm feeling in his chest. Upgrading the village little by little gave him a sense of purpose, and Ayla’s contagious energy made everything more enjoyable.

  — Tomorrow, I think I’ll reinforce more of the platforms. Want to help?

  — Of course! You can count on me for anything you want to build!

  Ayla beamed, excited for another day of construction.