Paper Making (2)

The elders rushed to the Village Chief's house, knowing that Kellan's summons must be important.

"Hello, leader and Alex," Grandma Mara greeted warmly.

Devin and Alex returned the greetings respectfully.

"Elders, please sit down. I have serious matters to discuss with you," Chief Kellan said, his tone conveying the urgency of the situation.

"What's going on?" asked Grandma Mara, concern evident in her voice.

Chief Kellan wasted no time and shared everything Devin had told him, along with the proposed plan.

"Good! Good! The ancestors have finally opened their eyes and sent us good people," said Elder Mattus, his face filled with a sense of relief.

"Not only have we eliminated a ticking bomb, but now we are receiving blessings," added the village priest, Adan, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.

"Elders, let us calm down. This needs to be handled with careful consideration. This is tied to the future of our village. The leader has presented us with a valuable opportunity, and we cannot afford to let him down," Chief Kellan cautioned, his voice filled with determination.

Devin felt a surge of gratitude as he heard the Village Chief's words. Yes, they needed to cherish the opportunity he was providing, and his status in their minds would always remain high.

"Yes, Kellan is right. This needs to be handled with secrecy. We need to appoint trusted and hardworking individuals to carry out the task," agreed the always straightforward Elder Mattus.

Devin decided not to interfere with their decision-making process. He wanted to see how well they would handle the assigned tasks and determine if he could rely on them in his absence. After all, he couldn't always stay in Sun Haven, and it was crucial to have capable individuals to handle any given task.

The Village Chief and the Elders swiftly executed the plan. They first made a proclamation about the Arbor tree, stating that the ancestors had given an oracle urging them to cease logging it. Devin noticed that the children and women were busily gathering seashells in an area far from the village center, close to the forbidden forest. This location provided security and deterred most villagers from venturing there.

In the meantime, Devin didn't remain idle. He worked with the Village Chief to test the kiln, conducting trial and error until they finally achieved the right heat to calcify the shells. It was a delicate process, but with their perseverance, they ultimately succeeded.

The Village Chief then selected twenty strong and agile individuals from the village—fifteen men and five women—for the task at hand. The villagers introduced them to Devin, filled with excitement and anticipation at the prospect of participating in something meaningful for the village and for their esteemed leader.

Devin chose not to mention the Village Chief appointing Kylian as the leader. He recognized Kylian's capabilities and his positive reputation among the villagers. It was clear that he was a capable person deserving of this responsibility.

Devin patiently explained the process of paper-making to Kylian, providing him with illustrations to assist in understanding each step.

"The first step," Devin began, "is to crush the calcified seashells into small pieces. This increases their surface area, making it easier to extract lime. We can use a mortar and pestle for this process. Place the crushed seashells into a large vat and add water. Start with an equal amount of seashells and water, adjusting as needed. Stir the mixture thoroughly to dissolve the lime from the seashells."

He continued, "Allow the seashell mixture to sit for several hours or overnight. This gives enough time for the lime to dissolve, creating an alkaline solution."

Devin pointed to the deep pits that the villagers had prepared. "The villagers have already dug these deep pits where the paper-making process will take place."

"Now, we place the washed Arbor leaves into the pit and pour the alkaline seashell-lime solution over them. Let the leaves soak overnight. This helps to soften the fibers and introduces alkalinity into the pulp."

"After soaking, we remove the Arbor leaves and allow them to drain off excess water," Devin instructed.

"The next step is to pound the leaves with a mortar and pestle, forming pulp," Devin explained.

He gestured towards the pit filled with clean water, where the pulp would be added. "Fill this small pit with clean water and add the pulp for the paper-making process. Afterward, submerge a screen or mesh into the clean water and place it in a flat position. Pour a portion of the seashell-lime pulp mixture onto the screen, spreading it evenly to create a uniform thickness."

"Next, lift the screen out of the water, allowing the water to drain off. Gently press the screen to remove more excess water," Devin demonstrated.

"Transfer the screen with the wet pulp onto a flat surface covered with cloth. Place a sponge on top of the screen and press gently to soak up excess water from the pulp."

Carefully, Devin continued, "Remove the sponge and lift the screen, leaving the wet pulp on the cloth. Use a rolling pin to press the wet pulp further, squeezing out any remaining water and flattening the paper."

He added, "Now, we let the wet paper air dry completely. This process may take a day or two, depending on the paper's thickness."

Devin concluded, "Once dry, peel the paper off the cloth. Smooth out any wrinkles by placing a heavy, flat stone on top of it for a while."

"There are a lot of steps involved, but once we get the process down, it will become easier," Devin reassured Kylian. The future of paper-making in Sun Haven Village was beginning to take shape, and with the determination and diligence of the villagers, success was within reach.

The first batch of paper didn't turn out as well as they had hoped, but it wasn't a complete waste either. The imperfections served as a learning opportunity, which made the Village Chief, the Elders, and the workers even more excited. Devin was also pleased with the diligence and hard work they had shown.

"Good job, everyone. The only thing left is to perfect it," Devin encouraged, a sense of pride evident in his voice.

"Don't worry, leader. We will work harder and not let you down," Kylian promised, his determination shining through.

"Yes, leader! We will produce the best paper," echoed one of the young men, reflecting the enthusiasm of the group.

"All of you continue to work diligently and don't let the leader down," Grandma Mara chimed in, her encouraging words adding to the motivation.

The next batch of paper they produced was a success, bringing joy to everyone involved. Devin tested the paper by writing on it, and it proved to be perfect.

Devin couldn't help but smile, feeling a sense of satisfaction. This was his pot of gold, the realization of his vision for Sun Haven Village.

"Continue production," Devin instructed, "I will take the batch you make with me to show Harrington. I believe he will like it, so you guys can add more people to increase production if needed. Don't worry, I won't let you all work in vain. There will be rewards for your hard work."

He continued, "Also, this isn't the only workshop the village will have in the future. The team leaders for other workshops will be chosen from here, so continue working hard and strive for excellence."

Devin understood the value of providing incentives and rewards for their efforts. As he shared his plans, the villagers' eyes gleamed with ambition and excitement. They knew that their hard work would not go unnoticed, and their dedication could lead to even greater opportunities in the future.

The workers, fueled by determination and a sense of purpose, worked overtime to produce enough paper for Devin to take with him to Serene City. They understood the importance of this opportunity and wanted to ensure that they met the demand.

Devin, accompanied by Alex, prepared to leave the island, carrying with them the batch of paper that showcased their hard work and dedication. Before their departure, they received the blessings of the Elders, who recognized their efforts and wished them success in the endeavor.

[Congratulations to player Devin for teaching the people of Sun village the art of paper making. You have been awarded 1000 Exp]

Devin smiled at the generosity of the system a full one thousand points. Doing practical things gets you to level quickly. This is because this practical things brings civilization and development to Oasis. The rewards should be calculated based on the impact the creation or knowledge you are teaching will have on Oasis world.

With the villagers' hopes and aspirations woven into each sheet of paper, Devin and Alex set off for Serene City, carrying the promise of a brighter future for Sun Haven Village.