Chapter 9: Firing

With all safety precautions in place, Owen immediately activated the visual data display function and selected temperature as the indicator.

It was as if a beam of light shot from the center of his vision. A small red dot appeared on the outer wall of the furnace—visible only to him—with the temperature value displayed next to it.

Owen understood both the Arabic numerals and the unit of temperature, since he had studied them in his dreams.

He also planned to promote these convenient numerical notations and standardized physical units in the future. He could simply transplant them directly—they were extremely practical to use.

Now that he could see the data, the next question was: how to measure the temperature?

Suddenly recalling the method he had used to collect soil data at the test field, Owen furrowed his brow and quickly asked in his mind:

[Winston, wait—do I have to touch the raw slurry to measure the temperature?]

[No, you don’t. Dimensional Unit No. 3 is equipped with an infrared temperature measurement system. All you have to do is move the red dot in your vision over the raw slurry—it will automatically display the surface temperature.]

[Infrared? You mean that invisible heat-based electromagnetic wave?]

Owen had learned this from Winston before. He remembered it was a kind of electromagnetic wave that carried thermal energy.

[That’s right. I’m impressed you remembered.]

Winston then gave a brief explanation of how infrared thermometry worked. Once Owen had a general understanding, he was finally able to relax.

“Mapel, hand me my staff.” 

Owen said, extending his hand toward her.

“Yes, sir.”

She nodded, took the staff from her back, and placed it in Owen’s hand.

It was a dark red wooden staff, a little over a meter long, with a high-quality Scorching Magic Stone embedded at the top. The staff had been a gift from his father before Owen had traveled to the magic academy in Dongsheng Fortress as a child.

Holding it now, Owen couldn’t help but recall his father’s gentle smile. He missed him dearly.

His days at the academy were equally unforgettable—though it was a shame he hadn’t qualified to attend the advanced magic academy in the royal capital.

Shaking off those memories, Owen exhaled deeply and prepared to cast fire magic to fire the cement.

He poured his magic power into the staff, causing the magic stone at its tip to glow red. Raising the staff, he chanted a short incantation and cast the fire-type spell—Flame Pillar.

With a whoosh, the bottom of the staff pointed toward the furnace opening, and flames flared up inside. The fire gathered at the center of the furnace and quickly formed a pillar of flame.

Now came the precision part—controlling the output of his magic. Owen carefully adjusted the flame, lowering its height and spreading its range until it could cover all the areas where raw slurry had been laid.

He had practiced this control method many times during the workshop’s construction, so he was already quite adept.

With the furnace now blazing, it was time to take a temperature reading. Owen locked his eyes on the furnace’s interior and moved the red dot over the raw slurry. The display showed the temperature quickly rising to about 100°C, then stopping there.

Seeing this, Owen began to feel anxious.

[Why won’t the temperature go any higher?]

[Relax. This is the drying phase. The raw slurry still contains a lot of water. You need to evaporate the free water first, so the flame doesn’t need to be too intense at this point. I’m already timing it—once this is over, I’ll provide you with a detailed firing schedule.]

So that’s what it was. Owen recalled that Winston had told him: under standard atmospheric pressure, the boiling point of water was approximately 100°C.

Owen reduced the output of his magic, causing the flames to die down a bit, though it didn’t interfere with the drying process.

After some time, the temperature value began to rise again, gradually climbing to 450°C. Winston explained that this was the dehydration stage.

When it reached 500°C, the temperature stopped increasing.

[The flame itself isn’t hot enough now. You’ll need to increase your magic output.] 

Winston reminded.

[Got it.]

Owen gradually increased his magic output. The flames in the furnace grew fiercer, and the temperature resumed its upward climb.

Fortunately, he had brought his staff. The Scorching Magic Stone embedded in it greatly boosted the flame’s temperature and significantly reduced his magical energy consumption.

Once the temperature hit 600°C, the rate of increase slowed again. Winston explained that this was the carbonate decomposition phase, the stage that consumed the most heat in the formation of clinker.

At this point, Viru couldn’t bear the heat any longer and had to step outside the kiln room to wait.

Loyal knight that she was, Mapel remained by Owen’s side. Seeing him drenched in sweat, she hesitated for a while before finally deciding to pull out her handkerchief and wipe his forehead.

She was rather embarrassed, as she had used that same handkerchief during her training earlier that morning.

Next time, I’ll bring a clean spare one, she thought to herself.

Luckily, the cloth Owen had given her covered most of her face, so no one could see how red she had turned.

As she wiped, a faint, delicate scent lingered in the air. But Owen didn’t notice—his full concentration was locked onto regulating his magical output.

After she finished, Mapel tucked the handkerchief away and softly chanted a water-type spell, Soothing Mist.

It was a simple spell that released water elements into the air. It helped clear the mind for those nearby and slightly reduced the surrounding temperature.

That’s right—Mapel could use magic too. Her element was water.

Knights who could use elemental magic were generally called Magic Knights, a rank above ordinary knights. Even more advanced were Templar Knights, who could wield both elemental and faith-based magic.

If she had wanted, Mapel could’ve become a full-fledged mage. But she chose to become a knight—to better protect the ones she cared about.

“Thanks.” 

Owen said, sensing the coolness in the air around him.

Being of help to Owen filled Mapel with joy, and she couldn’t help but smile.

Once the temperature passed 900°C, it began rising faster, soon reaching the target temperature of 1450°C. The flames turned intensely white.

[This is the clinker sintering stage. Maintain a stable output of magic and keep this temperature for a while] 

Winston instructed.

During this time, Winston was secretly nervous for Owen. Can he really maintain such a high temperature? Does he have enough magic left?

But to his surprise, Owen continued with steady magic output, a calm and confident expression on his face as he observed the situation inside the furnace. Only when Winston gave the go-ahead did Owen release the spell.

The firing was complete. Owen was drenched in sweat, his mage’s robe soaked through. Yet he had only used a portion of his magic reserves.

It became clear that Winston had greatly underestimated Owen’s total mana capacity—his understanding of magic was still incomplete.

Winston had been so worried about mana consumption that Owen himself had believed that cement firing would require massive magic effort. In reality, it was more a test of mental endurance than anything.

Standing near the furnace for an extended time under extreme heat was what truly pushed one’s limits.

Next came the cooling phase for the clinker. Owen and Mapel left the firing room and brushed the dust off their clothes. Laborers outside opened all the ventilation shafts to help the kiln cool down faster.

Before long, Owen, unable to wait, went back in to scoop out a small bucket of clinker. After adding the right amount of gypsum and having it finely ground by the stoneworkers…

The magic cement was complete.

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