Adrian stopped and held the bridge of his nose. "No. That's not happening. I'm about to sleep, and you should too."
"Sleep?!" Karl's voice rose. "Bro, it's still morning!"
Adrian ignored him, taking off his footwear and collapsing onto his bed. He pulled the sheets over himself, shutting out Karl's complaints.
With a mental command, he activated the [System Factory] and the world began to dissolve, leaving Karl's voice fading.
Karl, seeing no response, sighed dramatically.
"Fine! I'll go to sleep. Hmph."
He flopped onto his own bed, muttering under his breath, but exhaustion soon overtook him. Within moments, he was snoring softly, the dorm falling into a rare, peaceful quiet.
***
Adrian stood before his workshop table in the [System Factory] and before him lay a half-assembled device, its sleek, metallic form glinting under the workshop's bright lights.
It wasn't a traditional cauldron, though its rounded base gave it a similar aesthetic.
