When Dauntless joined the Protectorate, they showed him a graph marked with capes, sliced through with a line representing his potential. Towards the end, years out: "Alexandria."
They told him he was going to be amazing.
But the progress was never his. While Armsmaster tinkered for hours, adapting within days to new threats, all Dauntless could do was wait. He had no input, no great ideas, no ability to improve himself outside of tightly specified parameters.
The line wasn't a promise, he realized. It was a trap.
What they really meant was "your power is going to be amazing."