Chapter 89: Wrist Clock

Chapter 89: Wrist ClockAdrian pushed open the door to his dorm room and silence greeted him as he stepped inside.

He immediately noticed Karl’s absence as he glanced through the room.

’11:43 AM,’ he noted the time from the System.

The cafeteria bell had rung at around 8:30 AM and after that was meant to an Orientation, which was set to begin with the next bell.

Adrian had no intention of attending as he had long decided to skip non-essential activities, especially after he had learned enough from the Academy.

Time was a precious resource, and he refused to waste it on things that didn’t serve his goals. Still, he remained curious to what it was all about, and he made a mental note to ask Karl about the Orientation later.

Crossing the room, Adrian shed his tailored coat and trousers, swapping them for a simple pair of loose pants and a sleeveless tank top that we’re perfect for training.

As he ran his hand through his white hair, he caught his reflection in the mirror he’d recently installed.

His growth was undeniable. At ten years old, he’d hit a spurt that seemed almost unnatural.

His height had shot up and his shoulders broadened slightly, and his once fitted clothes now felt tight. Karl, too, had grown, still towering over him as always, which proved that he wasn’t the only one.

Adrian wondered if their Ascension was the cause, but the thought didn’t hold. Not all Ascended humans experienced such rapid changes.



Shrugging it off, he left the room and headed to the training yard; a place he had never visited since he entered the Academy.

***

The training yard was a vast expanse, its sandy surface stretching wide under the midday sun.

Encircled by low stone walls, it was free of obstacles, designed to accommodate dozens of students with ample space for drills, sparring, or weapon practice.

Wooden racks lined one side, holding practice swords, spears, and shields, while a few shaded benches sat along the perimeter for rest.

The sand was raked smooth, though patches bore the scuffs and footprints of recent activity, hinting that some knights still trained in the morning.

Grunts and the sharp whistle of a weapon cutting the air drew Adrian’s attention.

A boy with brown hair was training alone, his spear twisting in fluid arcs.

He leaped, suspending himself midair with practiced grace and then he shifted his stance with precision.

At times, he froze in unnatural poses, teetering before catching himself, but most moves landed flawlessly.

Despite the fact the boy was sweat soaked, he still had a wide smile that never left his face, as if the exertion was pure joy.

Adrian recognized him instantly. Karl.

As Adrian approached, Karl’s eyes flicked toward him, and his grin widened. "Adrian!" he called, planting his spear in the sand and wiping his brow.

Adrian kept walking with a steady pace. As he passed, he said, "You’re the only one here? I guess the Orientation just ended."

Karl’s grin grew, and he flicked his wrist, drawing Adrian’s eye to something glinting there. "Yep. It finished around 11:30 AM, about twenty minutes ago."

Adrian froze mid-step, turning slowly to face Karl. His gaze locked onto Karl’s wrist, where a bulky device sat strapped in place... a watch!

It was crude compared to Earth’s modern designs as its face was large and clunky and it was secured not with leather but with woven metal mesh, likely crafted for durability.

Still, it was unmistakably a timekeeping device.



Karl caught his surprise and laughed. "I told you not to miss the Orientation! We learned about timekeeping, and the Academy introduced us to clocks. This," he said, tapping the device,

"This is called a wrist clock. You missed your chance to get yours."

Adrian didn’t bother correcting Karl’s blunder with the name, but was more surprised by how quickly the Academy had adapted the clock’s timekeeping concept into a compact design.

It made sense, though. The Academy’s craftsmen had access to superior tools, enhanced strength, and magic for precision work... far beyond the crude forge Adrian had once used.

With his [System Factory]’s Workshop though, crafting a good watch would be trivial now, but he hadn’t prioritized it. Still, the innovation impressed him.

"Okay, nice," Adrian said with a neutral tone as he resumed walking.

Karl jogged to catch up, undeterred. "Don’t you want to learn more? You can get yours from Master Von on Monday. I can explain how it works!"

Adrian stopped, shifting into a warm-up stance. One leg stretched forward, his body low, arms drawn back with palms open, muscles taut as he prepared for the Phantom Flow Technique’s drills.

"That’d be cool," he said, "but I’m fine."

Karl watched him in surprise. "Huh. I would’ve expected someone like you to be all over this kind of thing. But I guess there’s a reason."

Adrian hummed in response, moving through his poses with deliberate grace. His body flowed from one stance to the next, each motion a step toward mastering the technique’s elusive rhythm.

Karl’s voice broke through again, laced with realization. "Ohh!" He nodded exaggeratedly.

"Now I see what’s going on. You’re training so I don’t whip your ass tomorrow. Don’t think I’ve forgotten, Adrian!"

Adrian’s lips twitched, but he didn’t reply, focusing on his movements. Karl laughed, stepping back to give him space.

"Well, I’m not slacking either!" He pulled his spear out of the ground and tossed it skyward, catching it mid-spin, and resumed his own training at a distance.

The yard was filled with the sounds of their efforts with Karl’s spear slicing the air, Adrian’s steady breaths as he cycled through poses.

***

Adrian had planned to train for only a few hours before retreating to rest or something else. Yet, as the afternoon wore on, neither showed signs of stopping.



The rhythm of their training became a silent challenge as each one pushed the other further.

The dinner bell rang at 6:30 PM but none of them budged.

They trained into the evening and the yard eventually got cloaked in darkness.

Their breaks were scarce, though Karl, as a 1-Star Knight, took more of them to catch his breath. Still, the breaks did nothing to diminish the sheer hours they poured into their drills.

Finally, under the pale glow of the moon, they reached a silent agreement to stop.

Sweat dripped from Adrian’s brow and his muscles screamed but he felt a surge of satisfaction. He had gone further to learning the Phantom Flow Technique, mastering all movements save for the final set in the 45% he learned.

That was good progress, and he it made the goal of achieving full mastery before Friday more realistic.

Karl leaned on his spear as he panted. The exhaustion he felt did not soften his usual grin.

Adrian glanced at him, wondering what fueled Karl’s relentless training. The boy’s passion was undeniable, and in some ways, Adrian admired it.

Karl trained similarly on many days, and Adrian knew he couldn’t do such without a valid reason. Even the hours he had spent toiling here only happened because of an unexpected benefit.


Yes, the progress with the technique was worth it, but a notification that hovered in Adrian’s vision made the training more fulfilling for him.

[Quest Completed: ...]