Chapter 160: Floor Orb
The first light of the morning shone over the Eldertree, causing several howls and screams to come from the forests.
While the darkness began to disappear, the strange monsters in the forests started to retreat back to their caves and hidden lairs, almost like they were allergic to the sunlight.
Eldertree Institute also woke up, doors banging open as the staff members of the facility stumbled out of their quarters and started their day.
At the dormitory for the students, the doors stayed closed and the light was dim there. Most of the students were still sleeping as it was two hours before their classes started.
However, there were a few early risers who left the dormitory to do either their running routine or to grab breakfast before the cafeteria got too crowded.
Inside a room, Adam pushed himself up and down in a series of push-ups, the sweat glistening against his relatively pale skin.
"Argh..." Adam grunted as he strained to finish his set.
Then, after doing the last push-up, he stood up and suddenly formed fists with his hands, then started shadowboxing against empty air in front of him.Cheêck out latest novels at novelhall.com
Swish, swish, swish.
Before he could finish his shadowboxing set, the door opened, and a hunched man slowly walked in, holding a cane to assist him in walking.
"Young Adam, if you don't mind, can you follow me?" Mr. Caretaker said.
Adam stopped throwing punches, nodded while breathing heavily, then used a towel to wipe his sweat and then put a t-shirt on.
'I didn't hear him come in. I didn't even hear the door being unlocked.' Adam thought to himself.
He thought it was because he was so focused on his own training that he didn't even notice. They headed out of the room, and Adam thought he would meet other students already, but every other door was still closed and the dormitory seemed empty.
After leaving the dormitory behind, they started walking up the spiraling stairs, and this time, Adam was the place being more alive as staff members were bustling around.
As the Mr. Caretaker and Adam walked past several staff members, their gazes lingered in Adam's direction for a beat longer than usual.
"It's him..." A female staff member said to her friend and pulled out a piece of paper.
The paper had a picture drawn, and it was shockingly accurate compared to the real one. "S-ranker..."
While Adam couldn't hear their whispers, he could feel the stares stabbing into the back of his head like a thousand tiny needles.
'How far are we walking?' Adam wondered as they just kept walking longer and longer up the spiraling stairs.
Strangely enough, he didn't even have to slow down his walking pace, as Mr. Caretaker's pace was surprisingly good.
It didn't matter that he was walking with a cane and had hunched back, looking like he wouldn't be able to move, let alone walk at the same pace as Adam.
Adam tested a theory and picked up his pace slightly. His feet started moving faster and faster.
Still, Mr. Caretaker stayed ahead of him, and his legs didn't seem to move any quicker either. It was as if he was effortlessly gliding along the steps of the stairs.
He was slightly paler than usual, but the color slowly returned to his face.
"Good." Mr. Caretaker said and knocked on the door.
"Enter." A voice came from inside.
Mr. Caretaker opened the door, and stayed outside, not planning to enter the room. Instead,
he was motioning for Adam to enter it instead.
Adam nodded and stepped through the door into the cozy-looking office, ornate with a large mahogany desk in the center.
This was his first time seeing Renard, a stern-looking man with hazel-brown hair and scarry
fingers formed into a steeple as he observed Adam.
"Please, take a seat." Renard's mouth formed a smile, somewhat.
Adam bowed and took a seat on the other side of the mahogany desk.
He couldn't help but look out of the window that was behind Renard and saw the clouds
forming below the window and stretching out into the distance.
It was a spectacular sight.
"Adam Palestar, isn't that right?" Renard put on glasses and read through some papers.
"Correct." Adam nodded.
"I, honestly, didn't expect to see you that soon." Renard said. "I thought it would take longer
in the Culling."
Renard paused for a moment before continuing, "But I suppose congratulations are in order
for passing the test so quickly."
"Thank you." Adam nodded. "I couldn't do it without Terry; he was of good help."
"No need to lie to me." Renard said. "He cried to you about probably being expelled, didn't
he? You're a strong one, Adam; don't let these weaklings bring you down while you try to help
them."
Adam hid his frown, but he wasn't pleased with his words.
'Pro-Strong, indeed.'