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Contents ( 23)
  1. Arc 1: The Tutorial
  2. Prologue
  3. Chapter 1
  4. Chapter 2
  5. Chapter 3
  6. Chapter 4
  7. Chapter 5
  8. Chapter 6
  9. Chapter 7
  10. Chapter 8
  11. Chapter 9
  12. Chapter 10
  13. Arc 2: The Guild
  14. Chapter 11
  15. Chapter 12
  16. Chapter 13
  17. Chapter 14
  18. Chapter 15
  19. Chapter 16
  20. Chapter 17
  21. Chapter 18
  22. Chapter 19
  23. Chapter 20

"No, you’re too caught up in the Game. You’ll leave charismatic leaders to make those decisions for you, accepting their blind hope and bright lies. My people, the Erudites, paid the price for such beliefs, but enough of this debate, we'll get nowhere.

"You show promise, I’ll grant you that much, but are you really willing to join the Black Rose guild, to follow what the guild tells you to do, not simply your own misguided beliefs? We will not order you to act in such a way that harms your planet, Earth, but what you consider harm may vary, thus I’ll give you the right to veto any mission I assign. But if you veto three missions, after hearing my reasoning for them, you will be expelled from the guild, required to pay back any outstanding debt at standard Khersath rates. Is this acceptable?”

“Can I ask my AI her opinion in this matter?”

“No, this is a decision you should make yourself. What was your other demand?”

“Well, I might need a loan for a million credits, and I was saving ability points for an ability that costs 500 points. This implant it seems will cost 250, so—”

“I can change the bonus you receive from joining the guild to five platinum marks, as befitting the role of my Squire, but you must use those marks in exchange for ability points. I cannot give you a million credits to pay off another loan, however."

"Why not? You said you'd assist me with tuition for an Academy," Alan said.

"The rules governing finance within the Game are overwhelmingly complicated, what you can do with credits you do not personally earn is exceedingly limited within the Game. Otherwise the universe would be ruled by companies. You cannot use credits or marks borrowed from one faction to pay off another. You must earn the credits yourself."

"That's absurd! How am I supposed to pay off my debt then? I have less than a week left."

"You'll have to earn it yourself. If you cannot earn a million credits in a matter of days you don't belong in the position of my squire. Now decide, Alan, are you joining the guild as my squire?”

Alan looked at Phantom, examining him closely, then nodded, and said, “I accept.”

A message popped up:

Guild Trials Complete! Title Change!

You are now a permanent member of the Black Rose Guild, granted the title Black Rose Squire. Guild standings updated. Five platinum marks awarded. Monthly wage: 2500 guild points.

Increased renown for being the first and only squire of the mysterious PhantomGlitch. Normally, as a squire you are expected to follow your master’s commands. Given the eccentricity PhantomGlitch has demonstrated, the Guild Council has ruled you are only expected to try to follow his commands, and only if they make sense. Penalties will still occur for disobeying any other clear order from a superior.

(Superiors are as follows: Enigma: Guild Quartermaster, Elissandra: Guild Leader and the Guild Council. In other circumstances, other guild members may be designated your superior.)