The researcher's skeletal fingers waved animatedly as he explained,"The compost we acquired from the farmers was just enough to saturate the nitrate, dissolving the salts. The next process involved mixing it with potassium carbonate from wood ash. After boiling and cooling a few batches, the potassium nitrate crystallized. We ground each component into a fine powder—75% potassium nitrate, 15% charcoal, and 10% sulfur. We thought we had it."
Karl leaned back, one brow raised. "The burn was too slow."
The skeleton froze. "…Exactly, my lord! How did—"
Karl smirked. "Black powder history, Dolrik. The Chinese figured that problem out centuries ago. Slow powder won't shoot musket balls, just makes smoke."
The researcher rattled nervously before continuing. "So, we tried ball milling. The first attempt with steel balls… sparked."
Dolrik groaned. "You mean it exploded?"
The skeleton scratched the side of his skull. "Half the lab had to reassemble themselves… but yes."
