Several weeks had passed since Ryu's departure. Ashwind Post had not stood still. The sounds of hammers and enthusiastic chatter echoed daily, indicating a steadily growing spark of revitalization.
In the village's central square, the "water-powered rice mill" designed by Leonardo da Vinci was operating efficiently. Water flow from the newly improved irrigation system turned wooden blades, powering a millstone that quickly husked wild grains, much to the delight of the villagers.
"Truly astonishing, Sage!" Bacchus exclaimed. "Your wisdom is deeper than anyone's. Or is it common for people in your land to build such things?"
Da Vinci smiled. "It's merely the principles of mechanics and energy transfer. If we understand the 'laws' of nature, we can always apply them." In his mind, he was pondering the "rules" that might be linked to the power of the golden brush.
After the success of the water-powered rice mill, which significantly eased the village's food preparation, a new problem arose: the long-term storage of those grains. Due to the erratic weather and humidity at certain times of the year, the husked rice often became moldy and spoiled easily, causing great concern for Eldrin and the villagers.
One day, in a small meeting area in the village center, Eldrin was discussing this problem with a few villagers. "We finally have more rice to eat, but if it doesn't last long, it's a waste," an elderly man said with a worried expression. "Our old granary is damp and musty. No matter how we seal it, insects always get in."
Da Vinci, who had been listening quietly in a corner after days of observing and gathering data on the weather, humidity, and local insect types, spoke up, his voice gentle yet confident. "I believe I have a way to solve this problem, Elder."
All eyes turned to him. "What is your method, Sage?" Eldrin asked hopefully.
Da Vinci picked up a piece of charcoal and quickly yet precisely sketched a design on a nearby wooden plank. "We need to build a simple 'climate-controlled granary,'" he began to explain. "The key is to prevent moisture from the ground, ensure good ventilation to reduce accumulated heat, and protect against insects and rodents."
He pointed to the sketch. "First, we must raise the granary floor at least one cubit off the ground, using stone pillars or moisture-resistant hardwood. The granary floor should be made of tightly fitted wooden planks, coated with tar (if available, or other water-repellent substances we can extract from local plants) to prevent ground moisture from seeping up. For the walls, we will make them double-layered, with a gap in between to act as insulation against external heat. There should also be small ventilation holes covered with insect mesh installed at the upper and lower parts of the walls to allow for air circulation. Accumulated heat and moisture inside will then be expelled."
He continued drawing. "The roof should have an appropriate slope for rainwater to drain easily, and the eaves should extend further than usual to prevent rain from splashing in. Regarding insects, I've noticed some plants in the nearby forest have a particularly pungent smell that most insects seem to avoid. We could place leaves or branches of those plants in the corners of the granary, or crush them and sprinkle them around the base of the granary as another layer of insect repellent. And importantly, the granary door must close tightly, using sturdy wooden wedges or a latch mechanism to prevent rodents."
The villagers listened to Da Vinci's explanation with awe at his detailed knowledge. It wasn't just building a simple storage space, but a clever application of scientific principles (even if they didn't understand those terms).
Taurus, who was also listening, frowned slightly. "And that double wall and ventilation, will it really help reduce heat, Sage? I think it will just make the granary look bulkier and harder to build."
Da Vinci smiled. "That's a good question, Taurus. The principle is similar to wearing multiple layers of clothing on a cold day. The air gap between the wall layers acts as an insulator, reducing heat transfer from the outside sun into the interior. And as the hot air inside rises, it will be expelled through the upper vents, while cooler air from outside will flow in through the lower vents, creating air circulation that helps reduce temperature and accumulated moisture. Although it may seem a bit more difficult to build, the long-term results will definitely be worth it."
Da Vinci's clear and illustrative explanation convinced everyone. Bacchus slapped his knee. "I get it! It's like when we dry clothes in the shade with a strong breeze! They dry faster than in the scorching sun with no wind at all! You're a true genius!"
The construction of the "climate-controlled granary" according to Da Vinci's design began the next day. Although it took more time and effort than building a traditional granary, with good planning and the villagers' cooperation, the new, sturdy granary with excellent ventilation and superior protection against moisture and insects was finally completed. The result was that the stored grains maintained their quality for much longer, reducing food loss and greatly enhancing the village's food security. This event further deepened the villagers' respect and faith in Da Vinci's intellect. They saw him not just as a knowledgeable sage, but as a "restorer" who genuinely brought hope and positive change to their lives.
During this time, besides helping the village, Da Vinci continued to study the golden brush. Where did the power to "draw" anything into reality come from, and how could he restore it? These were questions he still sought answers to.
In the hut he used as his workshop, his table was covered with sketches and equations. The golden brush lay beside him, sometimes looking dull, other times with a faint golden glow flickering, especially when he was deeply engrossed in understanding some "principle."
A few days ago, while Taurus was worried about the strength of the earthen walls, Da Vinci had proposed the concept of a "honeycomb structure" and the "principle of stress distribution in composite materials." He explained how to use clay bricks mixed with sand and rice straw, molded into special shapes with internal porosity, which would make the walls more resistant to impact. Taurus experimented and found them much stronger than expected. At that moment, Da Vinci had secretly tried using the brush to "draw" faint golden energy lines to reinforce the brick structure. The result was less energy consumed than before, and the bricks seemed even stronger.
"Could it be... I'm starting to understand it..." Da Vinci murmured to himself in the hut, his eyes fixed on a sketch of "ornithopter wings." "The power of this 'Artificer'... it doesn't depend solely on 'will' or 'mental energy'... but it also requires... 'knowledge' and 'thorough understanding' of what is about to be created!"
He picked up the golden brush, closed his eyes, and thought of the bird wing structure and aerodynamic principles he had studied in detail. He slowly swished the brush in the air...
Faint golden ink, brighter and more stable than before, flowed out, forming a small, perfect "three-dimensional model" of a bird's wing skeleton in mid-air, emitting a soft golden glow. Importantly, Da Vinci felt that the energy consumed was significantly less than when he had created the light shields previously!
"Yes! I understand!" The eyes of the Florentine genius sparkled brightly. "The more I understand the 'laws' of all things... the more efficient the power to 'create' them with this brush becomes! It's like deciphering nature's secret code!"
New hope ignited in his heart. This could be the way to restore the brush's power and perhaps lead to even greater creations. Maybe... the dream of "drawing" an ideal world might not just be a dream anymore.
As he was excited about his discovery, a soft knock came at the door. Kiana entered with a tray of food. "You seem... particularly cheerful today, Da Vinci."
Da Vinci smiled broadly. "I just... discovered something interesting, Kiana. Perhaps... our future might not be as bleak as we thought."
Kiana raised an eyebrow slightly before speaking in a serious tone. "Elder Eldrin is calling an important meeting this evening. I think you should attend."
"Is there something urgent?" Da Vinci asked.
"It's not clear yet," Kiana replied, her expression tinged with worry. "But the Elder has seemed uneasy for several days. And this morning... a carrier pigeon arrived. It came from the direction Ryu traveled... and it didn't bring good news."
Da Vinci's smile faded. Concern for Ryu's fate replaced it. His discovery might be important, but the safety of his companion in fate was paramount.
Ashwind Post might be progressing thanks to his intellect, but the external threat still cast a long shadow. And the news the little pigeon brought... could be the sign of a new storm approaching.
[End of Chapter 20]