A Matter of Rhythm

I set my blade into its rack and turned away from the sparring post. Nearby on the wooden shelf stood an open-faced mechanical clock. Its brass gears turned with unwavering cadence. I stepped closer, pacing my strides to match the rhythmic swing of the pendulum. Reaching out with my left gauntlet, I lightly touched the cool frame, observing the interplay of interlocking teeth and balanced weights. Each tooth advanced by a single, precise notch. I stood alongside it, calibrating my internal count until both tempos struck the same quiet beat.