Silas woke up when light finally came through the heavy curtains. The bed beneath him was more comfortable than anything he'd ever experienced, a far cry from the modest cot he'd been used to. Diog lay curled beside him, his fur warm and soft against Silas's leg. The Fenrir cub's steady breathing was a small comfort in this vast, unfamiliar world.
He stretched, feeling his muscles protest slightly before settling into a relaxed state. As he swung his legs over the side of the bed, he noticed Bonereghard standing by the door, his skeletal frame impossibly still, yet exuding an air of readiness.
"Good morning, my lord," Bonereghard intoned, his voice breaking the quiet serenity of the room. "Before we begin today's training, it is time to introduce you to the system that you, as a tamer, and your creature, Diog, will now operate under."
Silas blinked, still shaking off the remnants of sleep. "System?"
Bonereghard extended a hand.
A glowing panel materialized in midair, filled with lines of text and numbers that made Silas's head spin.
Diog stirred beside him, yawning wide as his sharp blue eyes focused on the display.
He looked at Silas with an expression that seemed almost curious.
"This," Bonereghard continued with a hint of satisfaction in his voice, "is your interface. Here you will find detailed information about your own abilities as well as Diog's. It will also track your progress and achievements."
"I see…" Silas muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Bonereghard nodded approvingly. "Indeed. As you engage in battles and complete various tasks around the estate and beyond, these stats will increase. You must keep an eye on them and make strategic decisions based on your strengths and weaknesses."
Silas ran a hand through his tousled hair. "So this is how I'll keep track of everything?"
"Precisely," Bonereghard confirmed. "This interface will be your guide in managing both your personal growth and Diog's development."
Diog let out a small bark of approval, seemingly eager to get started.
"Alright then," Silas said with newfound determination. "Let's see what we're capable of."
《System Status Activated!》
《Tamer Status:》
《Name: 《Silas Beckham》》
《Title: 《Lord of the Beckham Estate, Tamer Initiate》》
《Level: 《1》》
《Experience: 《0/100》》
《Class: 《Beast Tamer (Potential: Mythic)》》
《Gold: 《39*》 (Gold calculated based on estate reserves and what Bohregard considers "available" for use though much more is in reserves.)》
《Current Gold Available: 《39*》》 《Estate Mana Output: 《30 Mana/Week》 (Allocated: 《20 Mana》 to 《Bonereghard》, 《10 Mana》 to 《The Gemini》)》
Bonereghard's hollow eyes gleamed as he continued. "With what you currently have available, supplemented by what I feel the Arch Magus would approve of, you currently possess 39 gold. This will be necessary for acquiring resources, paying for training, and maintaining the estate."
Silas nodded, trying to take it all in. "Alright, and what about Diog?"
The panel shifted, now showing the details for his newly summoned companion, Diog. The stats were laid out in a neat, concise format.
《Summoned Beast Status:》
《Name: 《Diog》》
《Species: 《Fenrir (Mythic Rank)》》
《Form: 《Cub》》
《Level: 《1》》
《Experience: 《0/100》》
《Bond: 《Strong》》
《Abilities (Current Form):》
《Frost Fang (Basic): 《Gnaws at enemies, inflicting minor frostbite.》》
《Howl of Ice (Dormant): 《A powerful ability locked until later forms.》》
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《Stats:》
《Strength: 《3》》
《Agility: 《5》》
《Endurance: 《4》》
《Intelligence: 《2》》
《Mana Affinity: 《7》》
《Growth Potential: 《Mythic (Final Form: Primordial Fenrir)》》
Bonereghard nodded approvingly as Silas examined the stats. "Diog is in his cub form, but as you can see, his potential is… vast. His Mana Affinity is high for a creature his size, and his growth into later forms will unlock powers beyond imagination. But we must start with the basics."
With a wave of his hand, Bonereghard conjured a list of training options. "Now, my lord, your days will be structured around training Diog. Each training session takes the full day, and some may cost gold. However, the investment will return tenfold in both gold and experience once you begin battling."
《Training Menu - Day-by-Day Options:》
《Strength Training》
《Location: 《The Estate Barracks》》
《Details: 《Diog will engage in rigorous physical training, including sparring against enchanted dummies. This will improve Strength and Endurance.》》
《Cost: 《3 Gold》》
《Time: 《1 Day》》
《Effect: 《+2 Strength》, 《+1 Endurance》, minor experience gain.》
《Agility Course》
《Location: 《The Estate Gardens》》
《Details: 《Diog will undergo obstacle and agility courses set up across the estate, enhancing his speed and reflexes.》》
《Cost: 《2 Gold》》
《Time: 《1 Day》》
《Effect: 《+3 Agility》, minor experience gain.》
《Mana Control Meditation》
《Location: 《The Estate Summoning Chamber》》
《Details: 《Diog will meditate in the presence of mana crystals, focusing on refining his Mana Affinity and unlocking latent powers.》》
《Cost: 《4 Gold》》
《Time: 《1 Day》》
《Effect: 《+2 Mana Affinity》, 《+1 Intelligence》, minor experience gain.》
《Combat Training (Basic Sparring)》
《Location: 《The Estate Training Grounds》》
《Details: 《Diog will engage in direct combat sparring with summoned creatures, honing his battle instincts and improving overall combat performance.》》
《Cost: 《5 Gold》》
《Time: 《1 Day》》
《Effect: 《+1 Strength》, 《+1 Agility》, 《+1 Endurance》, experience gain.》
《Frostbite Skill Enhancement》
《Location: 《Frost Shrine (off-site location, requires travel)》》
《Details: 《Diog will undergo specialized training to enhance his Frost Fang ability, increasing its power and effectiveness.》》
《Cost: 《8 Gold》》
《Time: 《2 Days (1 Day of travel, 1 Day of training)》》
《Effect: 《Frost Fang skill power +2》, moderate experience gain.》
Bonereghard clasped his hands behind his back, looking at Silas expectantly. "Each training session will push Diog toward his next form. While gold is necessary, it is but a small price compared to the strength and glory your beast will attain."
Silas studied the options, feeling the weight of the decisions. He knew that every day counted. Diog was strong, but the battles ahead would only get harder.
Bonereghard nodded toward the glowing menu. "Choose wisely, my lord. The path of the tamer is one of patience, strategy, and growth. With each day, Diog will become closer to realizing his true power."
Silas stared at the glowing panel.
"If it was you, Bonereghard, what would you pick?" Silas asked, half-expecting a straightforward answer.
Bonereghard's skeletal face somehow managed an amused expression. "Ah, my lord, if it were up to me, I would choose a path that combines immediate necessity with long-term gain."
Silas frowned, unsure if that was an answer or another one of Bonereghard's roundabout lectures.
"You see," Bonereghard continued, "were I in your shoes, I'd likely start with Combat Training. After all, what use is an agile or mana-affined beast if it crumbles under the first blow it receives?"
Silas raised an eyebrow. "So you're saying Diog needs to toughen up?"
Bonereghard's monocle glinted as he tilted his head slightly. "Precisely. While Agility and Mana Control are valuable, they mean little if your creature cannot endure the rigors of battle. And combat training offers a balanced improvement across several attributes."
Silas considered this for a moment. "Alright, but what about after that? What's next?"
Bonereghard's tone took on a hard edge. "My dear lord, I'm not here to hold your hand through every decision. But should you desire my continued guidance, perhaps an investment in Mana Control Meditation would be prudent. Diog's Mana Affinity is his greatest asset; refining it will unlock abilities crucial for tougher battles."
Silas nodded slowly. It made sense—balance combat readiness with enhancing Diog's inherent strengths.
"And if I wanted to focus purely on making Diog faster?" Silas pressed.
Bonereghard's bony shoulders shifted in what might have been a shrug. "Then by all means, indulge in the Agility Course. Though do remember, speed alone will not save you from a foe who can outlast your every dodge."
Diog barked softly beside him, seeming to approve of any plan that involved action.
"Thanks," Silas said finally, making his decision.
Bonereghard inclined his head ever so slightly. "As always, my lord. The estate's prosperity hinges on your decisions."
"Actually," Silas asked, "speaking of prosperity, if the training is here, why do I need to pay gold for it?"
Bonereghard snorted, or at least as close to it as a skeletal butler could get. "Training requires supplies, equipment, food, and fuel for growth, my lord. Additionally, we must occasionally procure external mana since we don't produce enough here to power the training fully."
Silas frowned. "Any status increases Diog enjoys will require food?"
"Precisely," Bonereghard confirmed. "And not just any food. Diog's growth will necessitate high quality sustenance, rich in mana and nutrients, and DioG being mythic will require even more."
Silas ran a hand through his hair, absorbing the information. "So how much gold do we have currently? Including the stash in the back room."
Bonereghard thought for a moment, his bony fingers tapping against his monocle. "With the gold tucked away in the secret storage, I would estimate around 3000 gold coins. I do not have an accurate count, but you need not worry about exhausting funds on training anytime soon."
Silas exhaled in relief. "That's more than I expected. We can make this work."
"That should be the case," Bonereghard agreed with a slight nod. "However, while you have a decent reserve, prudent management is still essential until you have secured a way to secure both power and an inflow of coinage."
Silas turned back to the glowing panel displaying the training options. The idea of using up his resources so quickly made him uneasy, but he knew that Diog's strength was crucial.
"Alright," Silas said decisively. "We'll start with Combat Training today and see how it goes from there."
Bonereghard's skeletal face managed a semblance of approval. "An excellent choice, my lord."
Diog barked softly beside him.
"Let's get to it then," Silas said with renewed determination.
Bonereghard gestured toward the door. "Follow me to the Estate Training Grounds."
Silas nodded and knelt beside Diog, meeting his loyal companion's eyes. "Ready to get stronger?"
Diog howled in agreement.