Adrian walked into homeroom with Karl at his side, his body feeling good to him despite the long night in the [System Factory].
The previous night had yielded progress, though not without its frustrations.
He had nailed the Mana Gun’s modification, integrating a training mode that fired soft, luminescent mana patches, like he had wished.
He had also managed a few hours of sleep, waking refreshed, and a hearty breakfast at the cafeteria had him feeling at his peak.
The Magic Heater, however, was a different story. Adrian had underestimated the task, expecting a quick tweak to the existing design.
His vision was ambitious. He wanted to create a cauldron-like heater with intensity adjustable to 1-degree Celsius precision, allowing him to handle any kind of Alchemy challenge he would face.
But achieving that, and changing the set up to a cauldron required a mana regulator so finely tuned it demanded a complete redesign.
Without a tool to measure heat output, he had to derive a calibration system from scratch, diving into complex calculations.
His knowledge of thermodynamics spared him from trial and error; yet, the process was still grueling, and he’d only laid the groundwork for a new core design.
’It’s not easy, but it’ll be worth it,’ Adrian had thought the moment he decided to continue later.
The Factory was going into cooldown for the second time that night so he had decided to sleep instead of waiting for it.
The Dojo was already alive with students as he entered, with most Knights seated cross-legged on their mats, their eyes fixed on Master Von, who meditated at the front.
A few others were still arriving, while the ones there silently cultivated as they waited.
Adrian took his mat, but an attempt to join the others in cultivation proved futile as his dantian still wasn’t accepting mana.
Adrian could only sit idly in silence before Master Von’s eyes finally snapped open.
"Good morning, all," Von said and the Knights rose as one to bow in response. "You’re complete. Well done."
Von didn’t rise to start drills as usual as his posture remained relax.
"I hope you’re training and fighting as hard as you cultivate," he said. "And that you’re taking your weapon classes seriously."
The Knights nodded with confidence. Most had been grinding since their dreams of Magehood shattered but replaced by a fierce drive to excel as Knights.
Some had even endured the Academy’s brutal entrance exam many times, each failure forging them harder.
Von knew this. He knew none of them could be slacking, as they were all giving it their all. Well, most of them were.
"Good, good. There will be no drills this morning. I have an announcement."
A murmur of disappointment passed through the room almost immediately.
Adrian expected to feel relieved, since he never liked drills, but found himself oddly neutral.
’Maybe it’s not a hassle anymore.’
Von’s voice reclaimed their attention. "Next Friday is a critical day. It’s the day of the class exchange."
"The Class Exchange is your chance to face the Mages and to show how far you’ve come as Knights."
The room buzzed with enthusiasm.
"We’ll crush ’em!" one called out, earning a chorus of agreement. But Von shook his head and his expression darkened.
"Over the years, the Exchange has been less a competition and more a stage for the Mages to flaunt their superiority," he said bluntly.
The room quieted, the weight of his words sinking in. Adrian’s brow furrowed, sensing the challenge ahead.
Von continued, "Each side sends one fighter at a time. They battle until one falls, then another steps up. It ends when one side has no fighters left. The Mages outnumber us, so they’ll hold an internal contest to match our 19."
The Knights exchanged glances, unfazed by the format. It sounded straightforward, and it was a test of grit and skill.
But Von’s voice grew heavier. "The Mages’ spells give them an edge; range, versatility, power. But don’t let that make you feel lesser. Prepare well, and you might just surprise them."
’Why’s he selling us short?’
The Knights around him didn’t seem discouraged, their murmurs filled with defiance.
"We’ll show those spell-chuckers!" Karl whispered with a grin.
Von raised a hand, silencing the chatter. "From tomorrow, we’ll train for the Exchange. I’ll teach you counters to fighting against magic and strategies. Today, you’re dismissed early. Train on your own if you choose."
The Knights erupted, scrambling to their feet with excited chatter. Von’s warning hadn’t dimmed their fire in any way, as they were already plotting to teach the Mages a lesson.
Karl grabbed Adrian’s arm, tugging him toward the door. "Let’s hit the yard, man! We can train there b ."
But Von’s voice cut through the noise. "Except you, Adrian. Stay back."
Adrian’s lips curved into a wry smile as Von’s voice singled him out.
’Here we go again,’ he thought, already getting ready for another grueling training session.
He waved Karl off, who shot him a curious glance before joining the stream of Knights pouring out of the dojo, their excited chatter fading.
The room grew quiet, leaving Adrian alone with Master Von, whose steady gaze felt like it could pierce stone.
Adrian approached, stopping a respectful distance from his instructor’s mat, hands clasped behind his back.
Von’s eyes narrowed, assessing him.
"Adrian, you’re a 2-Star now. You have every chance to lead us to victory in the Exchange. I’m counting on you."
Adrian nodded casually, though Von’s words didn’t stir much in him. He knew his 2-Star strength was an edge, but his skills still lagged behind.
"You can’t do that as you are. I need you to push yourself... harder than ever. I want you to learn the Phantom Flow Technique by Friday. To master its movements, and how to channel mana through it as well. That’s only possible if you give everything. I’m asking for your effort, Adrian."
Adrian considered Von’s words. He always wanted to learn the technique, and it remained worth learning as long as he didn’t burn out.
Von nodded back with approval. "Good. We’ll train every school day. Be ready, and practice on your own too." He stood afterwards.