Any substance capable of covering an object's surface and forming a solid continuous film can be referred to as a coating. Coatings themselves may exist in gaseous, liquid, or solid states, with diverse applications. From their initial role in aesthetic decoration to later applications in enhancing object durability, all fall under the category of coatings.
Roland then proceeded with a series of tests.
The test results delighted him immensely. Perhaps influenced by the belief that 'the longer a painting can be preserved, the better,' her previous photos were nearly impossible to erase completely without damaging the medium. The evolved capability has now elevated this characteristic to an entirely new level.
First, this high-adhesion, lightweight "paint" exhibits two distinct physical properties: its material flexibility adapts to different subjects. When painting skies or clouds, it becomes as soft as cotton candy, with exceptional resistance to stretching and shearing. When applied to iron or glass, it turns hard and brittle, easily shattered by a hammer. In other words, due to its mass limitations, its flexibility far surpasses rigidity—a characteristic that aligns with Soraya's understanding of paint.
Secondly, regardless of its exhibited properties, this substance demonstrates remarkable chemical stability. It not only fails to react with dilute sulfuric or nitric acids but also exhibits repulsion toward both water and oil. When a paper box coated with pigment is filled with clean water, the thin bottom shows no signs of water seepage. After draining the water, the clear liquid beads roll around inside the box like dewdrops on lotus leaves. Even when touched with a finger, the bottom remains dry.
During the high-temperature resistance test, Anna dripped molten iron into the cardboard box. The paper substrate immediately caught fire, while the coating itself remained largely unchanged except for slight expansion caused by the molten metal. As Anna's black-hot flames continued to heat the coating, it began to melt and deform, emitting white smoke before ultimately dissolving into a black, gel-like substance.
What thrilled Roland most was that the coating also had insulating properties. When applied to copper wires, it could be used as a precursor to later enameled wire. He demonstrated this by using the simple DC generator in his yard.
By this point, Roland had gained a full understanding of Soroya's new abilities.
Unlike Blackfire, who completely outshone Green Flame in every aspect, her evolved abilities are more like an extension of her original painting skills. Now she can create both hyper-realistic 'oil paintings' and the earlier thin 'photo paintings' —the choice depends entirely on her mental vision. These two abilities can be used simultaneously.
When painting thick scrolls, Soroya could work continuously for hours if the thickness stayed under one centimeter. But beyond three centimeters, her Magic Power drained rapidly. At ten centimeters, she reached a critical point—her entire Magic Power would barely sustain a couple of strokes. Yet paradoxically, this became her quickest way to purge the energy drain when facing its devouring effects.
This remains a summoning-type ability. Within the effective range of God's Stone of Punishment, the Magic Power Pen vanishes abruptly, and Soraya can no longer draw new patterns. However, the existing coating remains unaffected by God's Stone of Punishment. Under Nightingale's observation, there are no traces of Magic Power residue on it—meaning the substance generated by the Magic Power Pen is genuinely real.
As for the coating's applications... the possibilities are endless. Soloya could never have imagined how her newfound ability would transform the town. It meant Roland could swiftly acquire rust-proof water pipes, large bundles of enameled wire, and even heat-resistant fireproof bricks. The once-impossible three-way infrastructure project (water, electricity, and roads) suddenly saw a glimmer of hope.
At the same time, it served as a reminder to him: firsthand experience yields far deeper understanding than textbook axioms.
If witches could gain a more intuitive understanding of the microscopic world, would this accelerate their acceptance of the particle theory, thereby triggering a new wave of evolution? For instance... microscopes capable of observing cellular structures and microorganisms.
Roland felt it was necessary to give it a try.
...
The North Slope Furnace Group.
"Blow! Let the fire burn a little more!" Losia shouted.
Though the scene inside the shaft furnace was invisible, the iron and stone must have been glowing red-hot as three carts of charcoal were poured in.
When Karl Vanburt summoned him to Border Town by letter, he had assumed it to be a desolate wasteland. Had the letter not mentioned the stonemason's guild offering a chance at redemption, he would never have ventured beyond the kingdom's borders to resume his old trade.
After temporarily leaving his family and packing his bags, he was already prepared to eat thin porridge and live in a tent. As for whether he would have people or money, these were common issues encountered during the construction period.
Losya had no intention of lingering in Border Town. He was content to observe his longtime friend Karl and the exiled or reclusive members of the Stone Masons' Guild.
But reality is always so incredible.
After arriving by boat in the small town, he met Karl Vanburt at the dock—the renowned stonemason from Graycastle's royal capital and a strong contender for the guild's next leadership. Unlike his remembered appearance, Karl now sported silver hair at the temples and a few more wrinkles, yet his body had grown more robust rather than gaunt, with even a hint of oiliness on his face.
After exchanging pleasantries, Karl didn't take him to the noisy construction site. Instead, he led him to a newly built residential building and handed him a key, saying, "This room is yours. Put your luggage down first, then we'll go to the tavern for a good drink."... Then Losia heard a string of unbelievable stories from the other person.
As a commoner, Karl was recruited by the Lord into the town hall, becoming an official with a fixed monthly salary—and even the head of the construction department!
If you stay, you can also work at the town hall!
Get a free home!
After ten years of service, you can receive a retirement allowance! What is a retirement allowance? It means you can get money without working!
At first, Losya thought Karl was drunk, but to his surprise... everything he said was true.
"Sir, the ore is melting, I see molten iron flowing!" shouted the worker at the top of the furnace.
"Open the slag discharge port and clear the slag!" After starting work, none of the problems Lo Sia had anticipated materialized. The authorities not only provided personnel and funds promptly but also acted with remarkable efficiency—applications were often approved the very next day. Moreover, the site produced a unique alchemical material called cement, which rapidly bonded bricks and stones, dramatically accelerating construction. He found himself experiencing an unprecedented sense of fulfillment in this environment.
Within just one month, Losya had constructed five blast furnace kilns with blast bags and three shaft furnaces for iron smelting.
The vertical furnace before him was the culmination of his years of contemplation after leaving the stonemasons' guild, drawing on his accumulated experience. He had assumed it would only survive as blueprints, never imagining it would ever materialize into a finished product.
This upgraded shaft furnace stands nearly two meters tall with an inner diameter of 75 centimeters. Its lower section features multiple air nozzles for both blowing and suction, while the base includes slag discharge ports and iron melt outlets. Adjacent to the furnace is a sand-and-gravel-built slope, providing workers with easy access to feed materials and monitor internal conditions.
Today marks the official commissioning of the first shaft furnace. As per standard practice, a smelting test must be conducted prior to its operation.
After repeatedly opening the slag discharge port over ten times and adding two truckloads of charcoal to the furnace, the inspection was essentially deemed qualified—the molten iron had settled at the bottom, the slag discharge port remained unobstructed, and the current temperature met smelting requirements, making further charcoal consumption unnecessary. To minimize waste, the initial furnace inspection used scrap ore from the storage yard's corners.
After opening the tapping hole to discharge the molten iron, Losya announced the shutdown of the furnace.
...
Two days later, the townspeople cleaning the furnace unearthed several darkened stones. Under the intense heat, all other waste ores had shrunk considerably, but these few remained unchanged from their initial state—instead, their surfaces became even more glossy, black as ink.
Losya couldn't identify the mineral either, calling it useless scrap. Its shape and appearance were genuinely appealing, not entirely useless. But if it was useful, how could it be forged into objects if it couldn't be melted? After some thought, he picked the most square-shaped stone, wrapped it in cloth, and sent his men to the castle to deliver it to Lord Roland Wimbledon of Border Town.
Perhaps the Lord, with his extensive knowledge, knows the answer.