Zaramias patted his shoulders, "Tomorrow, come to the Western Guard Camp, we're staying at that place for this month," He said a satisfied smile crept on his face, placing the book on his desk back at the shelf. He stood up and returned to his room.
The next morning, Dan woke up at daybreak, after taking his breakfast, he sped towards the Western Gate and asked the guards for the directions to the Western Guard Camp. The guards stared at him with a dumbfounded expression, 'What the hell is this black sheep of a young master, gonna do at that Camp where there are no girls to be found?' But of course, they still answered him respectfully and even bowed as they watched his disappearing figure.
After walking for an hour, Dan finally caught a glimpse of the so-called, Western Guard Camp. He wanted to ride a horse, but his father took the only horse on the Estate as a result, he didn't have any other choice but to walk at his destination.
Arriving at the gate, two soldiers clad in reddish armor blocked his way. Their expression solemn as they demanded, "Please show your pass!" Dan awkwardly scratched his head, "Sir, my father summoned me here and it seems like I don't have my Clan Token, can you fetch him up for me?" One of the guards, named as Clyde, stared at Dan with an exasperated expression.
"If the Battalion Commander can easily be summoned by anyone, then he won't have any time to rest!"
Dan scratched his cheek in annoyance, 'Goddamned it that old bag, why didn't he tell me that I need a pass to get inside?' Smiling wryly, 'Now, I'm stuck in here...'
"Well, just tell him that his son is here, waiting for him," Dan replied. Clyde stared at him with a dubious expression, turning towards his comrade at the side, the latter shrugged and he replied at Dan with an angrier tone than before, "What son are you talking about? The Commander is a rugged and cold man! He won't have a son that looks like a boy-toy like you!"
"That's enough, Clyde. Stand down." A familiar voice echoed behind. Dan's expression brightened while Clyde's visage turned pale. Turning around, he quickly saluted, "Greetings to the Battalion Commander!" Zaramias nodded his head, and Clyde retracted his salute.
"Clyde Barthos, lead Dan Longinus to his quarters," Zaramias said these words as he stared directly into the eyes of Dan, looking for any wavering. But when he found nothing, a smile crept on his lips as he turned around, leaving these words as he walked away, "Your training will start today at lunch, the troops will also gather at noon, you'll train along with them."
By this time, Clyde's expression looked pale as he stared at Dan with an apologetic visage. The latter shrugged, tapped his shoulders as he said, "Don't be bothered about that, I know that you're just following the protocol," Clyde heaved a sigh of relief, although he didn't understand why a person like him would act so kind towards him, he still accepted his words as he patiently guided Dan to his quarters.
When Dan walked into his temporary residence, he found that it was void of other people. Instead, he was given the special treatment for being the Battalion Commander's son. The room contained all basic furniture, a cabinet and a personal bathroom were even present for himself.
Satisfied with this arrangement, Dan started unpacking his luggage. Afterward, he walked outside, enjoyed the glory of sunlight as he arrived before a huge square where soldiers practiced their archery, swordplay, or movement techniques.
Staring at these hot-blooded men, working for the sake of their country, Dan had a strange feeling in his heart. He couldn't help but also become hot-blooded along with their dignified shouts and movements that trembled the earth itself.
The soldiers around noticed his presence and they couldn't help but whisper to each other.
"Hey, look, just who is that boy-toy?"
"Could it be that he's in here to snag some men?"
"Oh shit, no, he's looking at me..."
Dan rolled his eyes towards their actions. Soon, noon came and Zaramias arrived on the training grounds. Seeing their commander, all soldiers neatly lined up, raising their hands, they greeted the latter in a proper salute. Dan could also Clyde at the formation of soldiers, noticing the badge on the latter's armor, Dan knew that he must be an infantry commander.
"Today, I gathered you guys in here to train as usual. But there's a special twist. My son, Dan Longinus will be joining the Fiery Blood Army..." His dignified voice resonated across the entire training ground as literally, all the soldiers stared at each other in bewilderment. Their eyes shining in expectations, imagining that the son of someone as fierce as Commander Zaramias should also be as fierce, or fiercer than the father himself.
But they were bound to be disappointed.
"Dan, come here, present yourself before the brave soldiers of the Fiery Blood Army!" Zaramias gestured and Dan who leaned on the wall abruptly stood up. His actions made him the focus of the soldier's attention as all of them stared wide-eyed at the man whom they mocked earlier as a boy-toy.
However, Dan couldn't really blame them. For the previous owner of this body was a timid man, he spent all of his life as a sheltered spoiled brat and had never experienced bloodshed nor the hard work of labor.
As Dan arrived before the soldiers, Zaramias dropped another bombshell which shook the body and mind of all soldiers present.
"From now on, he will be the Vice Battalion Commander of the Fiery Blood Army!"