Chapter 9: First Creation (3)
Adrian carefully approached the workbench where he'd placed all the cooled parts.
Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, he began meticulously assembling the components of his clock.
He started by carefully placing the iron frame he'd forged, checking its sturdiness one more time. It was essential for the structural integrity of the entire clock, and Adrian knew he couldn't afford any mistakes.
He gently laid the finely crafted brass gears within the iron casing, each gear fitting perfectly into place.
Adrian had spent hours ensuring every tooth was precisely aligned, measuring and re-measuring each step.
Eli stood quietly in the corner with his arms crossed, watching intently. His curiosity and amazement grew as the small, intricate parts started coming together in Adrian's careful hands.
Adrian worked slowly, placing the mithril alloy springs in strategic locations to ensure the accurate movement of the hands.
Mithril, he had earlier discovered, possessed incredible elasticity, perfect for the delicate balance he needed.
His hands moved with patience, adjusting and readjusting until everything sat just right.
After the internal mechanism was assembled, he added the copper faceplate he'd fashioned, delicately marking it with twelve clear lines to indicate hours, and shorter, less brighter lines for the minutes.
He fixed the two thin metal hands securely in place — the longer one for minutes and the shorter one for hours.
Finally, Adrian took the carefully balanced pendulum he'd created earlier, attaching it to the mechanism within.
As soon as it was secured, Adrian gave it a gentle push.
~Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.~
A soft, rhythmic ticking sound filled the silent workshop and the long metal strip began to move in harmony with it.
Adrian's heart swelled with pride as he watched the smooth, steady motion of the clock hands begin their measured dance. Everything worked flawlessly!
Exhaustion finally washed over Adrian, his body finally reacted to the hours of precise labor he's been through.
Just as he was about to sit down and catch his breath, a familiar chime rang out in his head.
[Congratulations! You've successfully created your first invention!]
The system interface quickly appeared, providing an evaluation of his work:
[Invention: Unnamed]
[Type: Tool]
[Function: Tells precise time using mechanical gears and pendulum mechanism.]
[Grade Evaluation: Function: B | Practical Utility: B | Complexity: C | Originality: A | Integrity: D]
[Final Grade: C]
[Remark: A nice tool to make sure you never lose track of time]
Adrian didn't know what made the system determine those grades, but he didn't care too much and was satisfied... For now.
He looked forward to the rewards more and the system's next notification answered him.
[Calculating rewards...]
[Reward: 10 TP | 10 EXP]
A smile broke across Adrian's face, but it grew even wider when another notification popped up:
[Quest Complete: Forge Your First Invention. System Store Unlocked!]
Adrian's excitement surged as he had accomplished the primary goal he sought when he began creating this clock, but before he could explore it further, Eli's curious voice snapped him back to reality.
"Adrian, what in the world is that?" Eli asked, stepping closer to examine the softly ticking clock.
Adrian smiled tiredly. "I'll explain when we get home, to you and Mara together."
Eli suddenly remembered Mara and how late it had become. His face paled slightly, knowing he'd face her wrath upon returning.
"Alright then, let's get going," Eli said nervously, swallowing hard.
When they finally reached home, Mara was anxiously pacing by the door. Seeing them approach, relief, and frustration both found their way to her face.
"Where have you two been?! Do you know how worried I was? Eli, he's just a child!" Mara scolded.
"I'm really sorry, Mara," Eli apologized sincerely, looking sheepish.
Mara immediately turned her attention to Adrian, kneeling beside him. Her eyes softened as she gently brushed his hair.
"Are you okay, Adrian? You must be exhausted."
Adrian felt genuine warmth radiating from Mara's care, and he couldn't help but smile faintly. "I'm fine, ma'am."
"Come, both of you, I've kept dinner warm," Mara insisted, ushering them to the table.
As they ate, Eli recounted the events of the day. Mara listened attentively, her reactions alternating between panic, amusement, and sheer astonishment. Her eyes widened when Eli finally produced Adrian's carefully wrapped clock.
"Look what our boy made," Eli said proudly, setting the clock carefully on the table.
Adrian stood, eager to explain his invention. "It's called a clock. It measures the passage of time accurately, without relying on sunlight or guesswork."
"Time?" Mara repeated, confused.
"Yes," Adrian nodded, patiently explaining. "Each tick represents one second. The shorthand indicates hours, and the long hand indicates minutes. With this, you can schedule activities more precisely, know exactly how much time passes between tasks, and better plan your day."
Although Mara and Eli didn't immediately see its significance in their simpler lives, they showed appreciation and pride for Adrian's achievement.
After dinner, Adrian took a quick bath and retired to his room, but sleep was the furthest thing from his mind. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he whispered excitedly,
"Tech Core, show me the System Store!"
The interface flashed brilliantly, and Adrian's eyes widened as he took in the System Store. It was far more impressive than he'd imagined, filled with neatly categorized sections containing everything he might ever dream of as an inventor.
There were hundreds of blueprints available, ranging from simple mechanical devices like locks and pumps to incredible and complex magical inventions that immediately captured his imagination.
Just a quick glance showed items like mana-powered guns, enchanted armor, energy-absorbing shields, and even mechanical constructs powered by magic crystals, each with astronomical Tech Point prices that made Adrian's heart pound and mouth water.
Even more intriguing was a section labeled [Knowledge], offering instant comprehension of advanced skills and techniques.
Yet, even the cheapest knowledge he could buy still cost a staggering 100 TP, and even though that was far beyond his reach, Adrian knew how worthy it was.
Adrian sighed as reality sank in.
'I can't afford anything with just 10 TP, but I'll farm more inventions, gather more TP, and soon enough, I'll turn this store into my personal treasure trove.'
A faint smile crossed his lips.
'Maybe then, I'll even be more powerful than the magic users.'