Chapter 30: Adrian the Teacher
Adrian woke up to the soft glow of dawn filtering through his window, the Borin estate quiet except for the distant chirp of morning birds.
He stretched his limbs, his body refreshed after a deep, dreamless sleep.
He rose next, took his bath with a bucket filled with water, and dressed in a clean tunic.
A knock soon came, and a maid delivered a tray of warm bread, cheese, and spiced tea for his breakfast. Adrian ate quickly, savoring the solitude.
When he was done with the food, he reached into his [Inventory], retrieving the clock he’d crafted in Tulia. Its gears ticked reliably, but its size was a nuisance.
"Still no portable timepiece," he muttered, shaking his head. "Maybe I’ll tackle that next." He noted the time — 10:05 a.m.— and returned the clock to his [Inventory], satisfied he wasn’t running late.
Determined to start his work, Adrian left his room to find Torren. A maid polishing a hallway mirror pointed him toward the stables, where Torren was overseeing a horse’s shoeing.
The messenger’s lean frame straightened as Adrian approached. "Master Adrian," Torren said, bowing slightly. "Slept well, I trust?"
"Well enough," Adrian replied with a neutral but friendly tone. "Ready to take me to the workshop?"
"Of course," Torren said, gesturing toward the estate’s eastern wing. They walked through manicured gardens, the air crisp with dew, and entered a stone building marked by a heavy iron door.
The Eastern Workshop was vast, its high ceiling supported by wooden beams. Forges glowed at one end, their heat mingling with the scent of molten metal.