Chapter 53: Noticeable Improvement

Chapter 53: Noticeable ImprovementThe morning sun had barely crested the horizon, casting a pale golden glow over the Academy’s training grounds, when Adrian found himself running again with the rest of the Knights.

His legs burned, each step a grueling effort as sweat dripped down his brow. The air did little to ease the weariness that clung to him like a heavy cloak.

He had just pushed past his seventh lap around the expansive field, a feat that shocked him given how drained he felt the last time.

’My resilience is holding up better than I thought,’ Adrian mused, though the thought brought little comfort. Ahead of him, the other Knights were faring better — many had already hit their fifteenth lap.

But even they were faltering, their breaths ragged, their feet dragging through the dirt with visible exhaustion. Adrian’s own condition was still worse though; his muscles screamed for rest and his chest heaved as he fought to keep pace.

As they rounded the field once more, passing Master Von, he clapped his hands sharply, the sound cutting through the haze of fatigue.

"Enough!"

The Knights stumbled to a halt immediately they heard his voice, many collapsing onto the grass in a heap of exhaustion, their chests rising and falling rapidly.

Adrian dropped to one knee, his hands braced on the ground, gulping air as the world spun around him.

The silence was heavy, broken only by the collective panting of the group.

After a few moments, everyone grabbed a water containers, the cool liquid a balm to Adrian’s parched throat.



He drank deeply, savoring the relief as it washed away the dryness, his breaths slowly steadying.

The Knights rested in silence, while Master Von sat cross-legged a short distance away, meditating as usual.


Many minutes stretched on until Von finally opened his eyes, their sharp gray gaze sweeping over the group.

"To the Dojo."

The Knights groaned but obeyed, dragging themselves to the Dojo.

Master Von stood at the center with his arms crossed, as the Knights filed in and formed a loose semicircle around him.

"You began practicing hand-to-hand combat yesterday. Today, you’ll put that practice to the test."

A ripple of eagerness passed through the group, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten at the prospect of a fight. Von’s lips twitched with a small smile. "I still haven’t learned your names."

A few Knights shifted, ready to introduce themselves, but Von raised a hand. "No need. I’ll learn them with time." His gaze landed on Adrian, who stood near the edge of the group, still catching his breath.

"You," Von said, pointing at him. "What’s your name?"

"Adrian."

Von nodded, then gestured to a girl standing a few paces away —vthe only Knight who wielded a bow. "Pair up with her. Your name, girl?"

"Lyra," she replied.

Von moved on, pairing the rest of the Knights with the same efficiency. There were eighteen of them in total, forming nine pairs, but the numbers left one out. Karl, standing at the edge with a sheepish grin, was the odd one out this time.

Von clapped his hands again, drawing their attention. "The rules are simple," he said. "No intent to harm. This is a test of skill, not a brawl. Each pair fights one after the other. First to pin or force a yield wins. Understood?" The Knights nodded, their anticipation evident. "Adrian, Lyra... begin."

Adrian stepped onto the mat and he adjusted his stance immediately. Lyra faced him, taking some time to adjust the same stance too.

’Let’s see how much this skill has improved me,’ he thought, his eyes narrowing as he studied her movements.

The fight began with a sudden lunge from Lyra, her speed catching him off guard. She aimed a quick jab at his chest, but Adrian had managed to easily anticipate it, and his reflexes kicked in sharply too.

He sidestepped, her fist grazing his clothes, and countered with a swift strike toward her shoulder.

Lyra twisted away, her agility keeping her just out of reach, and retaliated with a low kick aimed at his knee. Adrian blocked with his shin, the impact jarring but manageable, and pushed forward, closing the distance.

They exchanged blows in one after the other, each testing the other’s defenses. Lyra’s strikes were precise, her movements fluid, but Adrian’s reflexes gave him an edge in raw power and reaction speed.

He caught her wrist mid-punch, twisting it to force her off balance, and swept her legs with a quick maneuver.

She hit the mat with a soft thud, but rolled away before he could pin her, springing back to her feet with a determined glint in her eyes.



The other Knights watched in silence, their exhaustion forgotten as they observed the spar.

Lyra darted in again, feinting a strike to his left before aiming a real blow at his ribs. Adrian saw through the feint, the System’s cognitive boost also sharpening his perception, and blocked her attack with his forearm.

He grabbed her shoulder, using her momentum to spin her around, and locked her arm behind her back in a controlled hold. "Yield," he said, his voice calm but firm, applying just enough pressure to make his point without causing pain.

Lyra struggled for a moment, then sighed, her body relaxing. "I yield," she said, tapping the mat. Adrian released her immediately, stepping back as she stood, brushing off her tunic.

She gave him a small nod, a mix of respect and curiosity in her gaze. "You’re good," she said simply, before stepping off the mat.

Master Von nodded approvingly. "Well fought. Next pair." As the next duo stepped forward, Adrian returned to the sidelines.

It was so obvious that he had improved, and many of the skills he had pulled out when fighting seemed like they had always been with him.

The sparring continued, each pair taking their turn on the mat. Some fights were quick, ending in swift pins, while others dragged on, the Knights grappling and rolling across the mat in a tangle of limbs.

Von observed each match with a critical eye, offering curt feedback after every bout. "Keep your guard up," he told one Knight. "Don’t overextend," he advised another. The Knights listened, tempered by the drive to improve.

Karl later got the opportunity to fight a couple of matches, all of which he won. Another person with a hundred percent win rate was Adrian. Although he didn’t fight any of the big ones yet, all three of his fight were very impressive victories.

By the time the bell went, the sun was higher in the sky, its light streaming through the Dojo’s open windows.

Von clapped his hands once more, signaling the end of the session.

"Good work, all of you. You’re dismissed for lunch. Rest, eat, prepare for your Electives."

Minutes later, the Knights began to shuffle out of the Dojo, their bodies heavy with exhaustion but their spirits lifted by the morning’s sparring session.

Adrian’s muscles ached but he was still hopeful for Forge Mastering which came next after the break.

They all walked together to the cafeteria in silence, and by the time they had arrived, Adrian decided to engage Karl in a conversation as they walked inside.

"What Elective did you choose?"

Karl grinned, scratching the back of his neck. "I didn’t really want to pick anything, you know? But it’s compulsory, so I just went with eenie meenie miney mo and landed on Forge Mastering."

He shrugged, as if it were the most natural choice in the world.

Adrian facepalmed, his hand dragging down his face as he sighed inwardly.

’Forge Mastering. It would have even been better for him to go for Alchemy or History,’ he thought, but he kept his mouth shut.

Karl’s carefree attitude was both endearing and exasperating, and Adrian wasn’t in the mood to lecture.

Instead, he moved to the counter, collecting a plate of steaming stew, a chunk of bread, and a cup of water.



Karl followed, grabbing a similar meal, but as they sat at a nearby table, he leaned in with a teasing smirk.

"You’re doing Forge Mastering too, right? Of course you are."

Adrian nodded, dipping his bread into the stew before replying:

"Yeah. I’m taking all the Electives." He took a bite, the warmth of the food soothing his aching body, evidence that it had some mana in it.

Karl’s eyes widened, and he set his spoon down with a clatter. "All of them? That’s a terrible idea, man! Electives aren’t even that important. They’re just extra stuff to fill your schedule. We’ve already got enough on our plates with Combat Training. Why waste your time with a bunch of classes that don’t even matter in the long run?"

He shook his head, his tone a mix of concern and disbelief.

Adrian ignored him, focusing on his meal. He wasn’t about to engage in a pointless argument, especially not with Karl, who clearly didn’t grasp the value of what the Electives offered.

By the time he finished his stew, wiping the last bit of broth with his bread, he glanced at Karl, who was still working through his meal.

Surprising even himself, Adrian decided to wait, leaning back in his chair. "You coming?" he asked, his tone neutral but with a hint of impatience.

Karl looked up, mid-bite, and grinned. "Yes, yes, gimme a minute!"

He shoveled the last of his food into his mouth, gulping down his water, and stood, wiping his hands on his clothes.

Together, they left the cafeteria, the noise of the hall fading behind them as they began walking to the East Wing.