“Ah, and our fourth and final new squire joins us! I was telling our other new squires that you will all leave for the Academy in a week. I trust that you’ll take good care of my daughter. Make sure she doesn’t get into too much trouble, as you’ll both be enrolled in the Rogue program, with different sub-classes and programs, of course.”

Aurora rolled her eyes, glaring at her mother.

“Um, yes, of course," Alan said. "Also, I hope that you don’t think this is too forward, but can I ask you a question, Guild Leader?”

“Please, call me Elissandra, and go ahead.”

“Uh, well, I was wondering, what is the Black Rose’s main objective in the Game, anyway? I know it’s a mercenary guild, but well I guess it should be more than that, and you saying that we should think about not just what we can do for the guild but what the guild can do for us sort of started me thinking… So, uh, yeah…” Alan finally sort of sputtered out. He looked at his feet, blushing, sure that he had embarrassed himself fully.

Elissandra simply laughed, and replied, “Well, as you noted, the guild’s main objective is profit. I like to think that we can do some good with that profit. I hope to make a better future, for the next generation of players.” She glanced at her daughter, who scowled.

“Well, I’m glad that someone actually listens to my speeches, but I must go and talk with the other recruits as well. Wouldn’t want anyone to think that I’m too biased,” Elissandra said, as she waved goodbye. Alan watched her depart.

“What happened to you Alan?" Sidestep asked. "Whose squire are you? I didn’t see you at the final assessment, and I was hoping to get my revenge for the duel yesterday.”

”Um, I ended up Phantom’s squire," Alan said. "He had an additional test that took some time. What happened during the final assessment?”

”Well, Kitana and I kicked some ass,” Sidestep said, gesturing at Kitana. “We beat all the other groups at a sort of capture the flag and managed to impress Arms Master Mason enough that he took us both on as squires.”

“Hmph,” Aurora muttered. Then, more loudly, she said, “The only reason you two beat me was because it was two vs one. I was practically all by myself, the partner I was assigned was useless.”

Kitana murmured her own agreement. “Yes, it was quite dishonorable, though I suppose the examiners knew what they were doing when they formed the teams. I would be glad to have a one on one duel with you, Aurora.”

“Perhaps later, though I would like to have a duel with you too,” Aurora said, smiling at Kitana. She then turned to face Alan. “Of course, I ended up as my mother’s squire, though I doubt it’ll be much different than before I joined the Game. Probably training, and more training. Though maybe I’ll finally be able to go on a few actual missions. Knowing her though they’ll be boring ones, like guarding some merchant. Who knows. Do you know what you’ll be doing under Phantom? I never could quite figure out what he does in the guild.”