After the brief episode in the basement, the castle's reconstruction returned to its proper course and unfolded across the board with greater efficiency and clearer goals.
The stonemason Hans and the newly arrived stonemason Norton led their teams in conducting the strictest and most meticulous inspection of the castle's entire load-bearing structure.
They struck every massive stone pillar with hammers, checked the joints and stability of every section of crucial load-bearing wall, and even ventured into several dangerous corners to assess them.
In the end, they reached a reassuring conclusion. Although the third floor had completely collapsed, the massive falling stones and the sturdy first- and second-floor structures had instead formed a relatively stable slanting configuration. The main load-bearing pillars and critical walls had not suffered catastrophic structural damage, providing a solid foundation for reconstruction.
Once safety had been confirmed, large-scale construction officially began.
The first step was the most crucial: reinforcement.
The workers first erected temporary supports inside the castle with thick logs and sturdy planks, reinforcing the beams, pillars, and ceilings deemed to require additional support and ensuring the safety of the construction process.
Next came the massive cleanup.
Tons of rubble, broken stones, rotten wood, and shattered furniture were continuously carried out of the castle.
The huge dressed stones were carefully selected and transported to the walls to reinforce the defenses, while the smaller fragments were used to pave the main roads within the inner city. Nothing went to waste.
Since Old Morrell had already arranged for preliminary cleanup to be carried out intermittently, the concentrated effort this time was highly efficient. In less than half a day, the ruins in every room of the castle had been cleared, revealing the original floors and walls.
Although they were still covered in stains and damage, the basic outline