The rest of the week, Dylan just sat on the sidelines. He had done plenty to pass the exam and wasn't required to participate anymore.
It bothered him to give up on essentially, free EXP, but he had already managed to level up and qualify to graduate.
Looking at his stats, he wasn't worried about it to much.
-SYSTEM DATA-
Name: Dylan/Grain Wolf Silver
Age: 15 years and 2 months(post-Gate)
Race: Human/???
Level: 11
Skills: Focus Burst(lv.5) Darkness(lv.3) Lightning(lv.2)
Strength: 35
Agility: 32
Intelligence: 38
Dexterity: 30
Faith: 10
EXP: 0/5500
After learning Inspect, he had been able to compare his stats to others.
He had basically, the same stats as people multiple levels above him, while still not having the natural boost he would get from his next growth spurt.
He was only fifteen after all.
His stats will naturally grow with his age, and he was many leagues higher than anyone even ten years his senior.
Most Silver graduates, would be around level five to eight, depending on when they enrolled. Averaging a level a year, after turning ten.
And that was the geniuses!
The average soldier maybe grew a level every two years. Not to mention, that these soldiers wouldn't have access to recourses and techniques, so they wouldn't be able to expand their battle strength.
Leaving them, to only get stronger from their bodies growing naturally, or their own invented skills.
-
The week passed uneventfully, and Dylan returned to Silver Academy.
The graduation ceremony would happen in a few days. He wanted to speak with Thomas before hand.
Over the years he had taken on tutors for swordsmanship, darkness, lightning, and inscriptions.
Inscriptions were a specific type of magic compatible with any element.
This would allow the user to set traps, make barriers, and teleport from one place to another. They could essentially, put their mana into physical objects and manipulate them.
This reminded Dylan of his weapon-intent, so he decided to study it.
It turns out that his own headmaster, Thomas was a prolific inscriptionist. He chose to tutor Dylan himself.
They grew quite close in the recent years.
Dylan didn't feel the same, but Thomas viewed him as a disciple.
To Dylan, he was just another stepping stone, but that didn't mean he wouldn't acknowledge his contribution. If he could, he would repay Thomas, for all he had done.
-
A light knock was heard at the door of the headmasters office.
"Come in."
Dylan entered the room he had been in countless times, over the past five years. The expensive furniture still took him by surprise every time. It was the only room he had seen with so much wealth, even after being in the capital this long.
"Awh, Grain!' Thomas resounded. "Congratulations on your performance against the Kingdom of Seacrest!"
"Once again breaking a record, and being the only student to defeat an opposing hero-level soldier, on top of defeating a captain. I've said it before but your skills never cease to amaze me."
"Thank you headmaster," Dylan replied plainly. "I only want to serve the kingdom to my utmost ability."
"Well said my disciple!" Thomas continued. "In a few days you'll be leaving the halls of this academy and join the special forces."
"Feels like only yesterday you were a un-kempt ten year old monster. Now you're a fine tuned warrior, and will do this kingdom a great service going forward."
"I have a present for you Grain, not as your headmaster, but as your teacher."
Thomas brandished a pendant made of gold, with a green gem in the center.
Dylan's eyes glowed as he stared at the pendant.
'Inspect'
-SYSTEM DATA-
Name: Jewel of Honor
Category: major-item
Skill: Judgement
Passive: mana regeneration
Description: A pendent passed down for generations. It is connected to the God of Honor. This pendant gives the host the ability to tell truth from fiction. Judgment can also reveal secrets based on the host's intelligence stat. The jewel will passively regenerate the hosts mana.
"This jewel was passed down in my family." Thomas said. "I was the last one, that's why i joined the academy."
"I could never figure out how to activate it, so it has just been a good luck charm. Even so, i feel like you should have it.
Harbinger was from the academy, and this is from me."
Dylan accepted the pendant and put it around his neck.
'Judgement'
(Jewel of Honor detects no falsehood or secrets near the host)
'Wonder if it actually works,' Dylan thought. 'I'll have to test the mana regen later.'
"I humbly accept this gift Master," He said. "I will never forget all that you, and the academy, have done for me."
"I know you wont Grain," Thomas responded. "I think you'll be the one who brings this continent together."
Dylan smiled warmly.
-
A carriage pulled by a powerful griffin, flew towards the Silver Academy.
Inside was the captain of the special forces, Michael Silver.
He was one of the graduates, some thirty odd years ago. Now, he was an old man, and lead the Kingdom of Crane's most elite soldiers. Each member of his force was a genius in their own right.
Usually Michael would send one of his lieutenants to receive a new member.
Most came from other branches of the military or of course, the academy.
Today however marked a special occasion however, today his old friend Thomas had informed him of a special new recruit.
'A fifteen year old monster as he put it,' Michael recalled. 'Thomas has never shown such interest in a student, let alone ask for me to personally retrieve him.'
As they arrived at the academy, a lone figure was seen near the landing grounds.
A huge sword hung from it's back, and light, black leather armor covered his whole body. His hair was recently shaven on the sides, while the top donned a large knot of pitch-black hair.
This was Dylan.
He had been briefed on his transport, and Thomas said expect to get the best treatment. He wasn't sure what that meant, but he was prepared for anything.
Michael exited the carriage and approached.
"Grain Wolf Silver, I presume?" he said in a respectful manner.
With a slight bow Dylan responded.
"Yes sir, that is I. Master Thomas informed me that my superior would be here to escort me to my new position."
Dylan came to attention and continued.
"I look forward to performing well under your supervision."
"I'm told you have an amazing amount of potential young man, no need to be so formal." Michael responded.
"My name is Michael Silver, I am the captain of the Dawn Guard, the most elite fighting force on the entire continent."
"Our main objective is to deploy and nurture the strongest members of the kingdom. These soldiers will perform special missions, ranging from taking out high profile targets, and protecting members of the nobility."
Dylan soaked up the information, he was sure he could garner plenty of recourses and knowledge, being apart of this group.
"If you don't have any questions, we best be going," Michael continued. "It's not often I leave HQ, so we should head back."
With introductions out of the way, Michael led Dylan to the carriage and they both boarded.
The griffin let out a prideful cry, as it took off in to the sky. They quickly reached a speed of fifty kilometers and hour, as the griffin took its stride. The carriage was designed to accommodate the flight so it felt no different than being on the ground, for the passengers.
The headquarters for the Dawn Guard was around three hundred kilometers away, meaning they arrived within six hours. The griffin maintained its pace for most of the trip, but would often speed up to avoid staying in unsafe areas for too long.
Over the journey, Dylan became more acquainted with the captain and the other passenger.
Turns out the captain was given his position from the king himself. Michael was a war hero, and had single handedly, turned the tide of the war multiple times. He was highly decorated, and was set to retire a legend within the next decade.
He was accompanied on this trip by his secretary, a beautiful red-haired woman named Sandra.
Sandra was in her early thirties, and had served Michael since she was a teenager. She was a gifted fighter, but was more talented in politics and espionage. This made her the perfect right hand man for the captain.
Many of the missions would require under-handed tactics, and Sandra excelled at things of that nature.
Dylan learned he would receive most of his assignments from Sandra, due to Michael being busy, dealing with the higher ups and nobles.
The nobles often complained of their taxes being used to employ the Dawn Guard.
Most believed their own personal guard should be representing the kingdom, which caused strife amongst the different parties. Michael often had to appease the nobles, by attending meetings and being present for gatherings, of the different political parties.
Dylan would have to show his skills by completing a recruitment mission. This mission would pit him against an entire enemy base. He would be tasked with infiltrating and either, extracting a high-level prisoner, or placing a tracker on the caravan tasked with moving said prisoner.
He could kill indiscriminately and expect no support whatsoever.
His position amongst the guard, would be decided on how well he preformed. If he rescued the prisoner and caused many enemy casualties, he could essentially skip through the ranks, and potentially become a officer upon entry.
Dylan would have three days to prepare for the mission. During those days, he will be introduced to his superiors and shown his living quarters. He could also purchase any gear or items from the Dawn Shop.
This was a place where any Dawn Guard can purchase recourses, gear or techniques, with the mana stones they earn on the job.
The store is funded by government led taxes, and any recourses acquired from raids or other missions. This all worked very similarly to the academy, explaining why standing prefects were perfect candidates.
The Dawn Guard HQ was even built like the Academy.
It had a large castle at it's center, while being surrounded by large buildings varying in shape and structure. Some of these were living quarters, while others where facilities, workshops and training grounds.
After arriving, Dylan was shown to his single room living space, it held a few containers for personal items and a bed.
The soldiers would share a washroom, divided based on gender. There where better living quarters, but those were designated for higher-ranking members. Not to mention, Dylan had technically not joined the guard.
He wasn't concerned however, the past five years had shown him just how over-powered his abilities as a Gear and his blessings were. The combined strength of the blessing of Valor and the flames of want essentially, gave him an unlimited power ceiling, and Dylan was known for over grinding in his past life.
He was basically the same shut-in, only now, he was steadily gaining power, status and wealth.