Month 1, Day 4, 1:40:00; Arvium, High Council Great Hall

Kennick bowed to the High Council, then he and his guards disappeared.

"Please, sit," Prince said, his hand indicating one of the tables.

Her legs moved slowly underneath her as she made her way over to the table, sitting down in one of the empty seats.

"Aella," Garron's voice said in her ear. "I understand you felt this would protect us. But you will only be safe so long as you never ally yourself with either Invictus or Mortia—and they have short tempers. Soon you may find yourself facing both of the strongest guilds in the Game. Do you understand how dangerous that is?"

Aella nodded. She glanced at the players at the end of the table who were looking over a series of maps, discussing something among themselves. "I'm just going to have to keep on winning," she said softly. "Make them want me even more, and thus, not wish to push me to the other side."

"It's a dangerous game, Aella. It's near impossible to play both sides without inciting the anger of both."

She took a deep breath as Kennick appeared in the center of the walkway that led toward the platform. She turned her attention to Nike, watching as the women's arm moved several inches higher and her fingers closed around the hilt of the sword at her side. She felt her heart begin to beat faster, and her hands began to sweat. "It is better than hiding—it was hard enough already and we haven't even started."

She flinched as a wraith appeared next to her, laying it's hand on her shoulder. She glanced up into the visor of the closed helmet, taking a deep breath.

Was it Garron or Ender?

He leaned closer, and she heard Garron's voice in her earpiece, "Don't be afraid."

She nodded, a lump forming in her throat.

She turned her attention to the High Council as Garron moved away from her and stood in front of the Council. Her eyes widened as she realized the empty seat was his, part of his reward for becoming the Legend of the Game.

She then turned her attention to Nike, seeing the woman stand up and storm down a side set of stairs and through a doorway.

"Ender Dragon Rider," Prince called out to the wraith.

Garron moved into a rest position, bowing his head to Prince. "Legend," he said, his voice distorted because of the helmet.

"Still not willing to reveal your identity?"

Garron shook his head from side to side.

"It is no matter," Prince said. "You have been called before the High Council today, to be evaluated for a confirmation of mentorship to one Aella Rynnex, and to prove your willingness in the creation of the Sapphire Phoenix Guild. Are you ready?"

Garron nodded his head once. "I am." He paused for a moment then added, "Legend."

Prince narrowed his eyes but continued. "With every confirmation of Apprenticeship, the Mentor must be evaluated in order that the player receive the full benefits of the education they need before they enter the Graduate Academy and be given the ability to play on their own. Aella Rynnex has been recommended for the Light-affiliated Elite Profession, and she has shown ability as a Healer. While she does not have to pursue this profession, you are a Dark-affiliated Merchant. How do you plan to teach Aella what she will need to know so that she will succeed at the Academy?"

Garron stepped closer to the platform, making his way up the steps. He stood before the Council and opened his arms. "It is true that I am of a different affiliation and Profession than Aella has been recommended for. However, I propose that she stay with her current team until she reaches the Graduate Games, but that she will live at my residence, and I will act as one of her mentors. She will be free to learn from other mentors more suited to her Profession as well. I started as a light-affiliated player, and I will teach her all that I know, and things that I learned from the Second Legend of the Game, Bringer of Death."

Prince's forehead creased and he frowned as he shifted in his seat, glancing toward the empty seat next to him.

"I also propose," Garron said, "that Aella be admitted into the Alpha Quadrant for advanced training through the use of an amulet."

Aella frowned, glancing down at the ring on her finger.

Garron turned around to face the rest of the Council, then smiled, before reaching up and pulling something on a chain from around his neck. A black crystal hung from a silver chain, the inside of the crystal glowing with a vibrant scarlet light.

"How will she learn the Elie Rank?" Prince asked.

Garron turned back to the Council. "It is my intention that she take specialized tutoring from an Elite Ranked player of a different guild at a later time, of her own choosing."

Prince stood, looking beyond Garron to Aella.

She straightened, meeting his gaze.

He held it for a moment, then shifted his attention to the Council. "We shall bring it to a vote if there are no other questions?" He waited a moment then continued, "Are we in agreement?"

The ayes filled the room, and Aella swallowed the lump in her throat, feeling some of the tension in her body drain away.

"With a majority of the High Council's votes, you, Ender Dragon Rider, are hereby instated as Beta player Aella Rynnex's mentor with the following conditions."

Aella half-stood, her hands clenched into fists before she caught Garron's slight shake of the head and she slowly sat back down.

"Aella will still be required to fulfill her duties to the Chronicle, and she will be required to come to the High Council once a week for a briefing. If at any point, we find your mentorship to be harmful to her safety, her education, or her emotional well-being, she will return to her general mentor and team."

Prince turned his head toward Aella, and she shuddered. "Do you agree to the terms as they were laid out?"

She swallowed, then glanced around the High Council Hall. Giescul and other Invictus players sat or stood in a clump at a table on the other side of the hall, their silver armor glittering in the soft light of the room. At the back of the room were the Mortia players, and she met Thanatos's gaze, and quickly turned her attention back to Prince. "I agree to all terms."

Prince stood and nodded to her, then turned his head to Garron. "Do you agree to the terms as they were laid out?"

Garron nodded. "I agree to all terms."

Prince raised his hand to the ceiling, then said "Congratulations, Ender Dragon Rider. You have a great responsibility on you now, and we will be watching to ensure that you uphold this great responsibility."

Garron bowed his head to Prince, then vanished, appearing next to Aella.

"Now," Prince said, his voice loud and carrying throughout the room. "We have a ceremony to plan. We will have a festival to celebrate the finding of the first keypiece of Terra. Aella, you will need to update the Chronicle before you leave here."

She nodded to the Council.

"Ready to go?" Garron asked, holding out his hand to her.

She smiled and took his hand. "Yes." She felt the warmth of his hand and gripped it tighter, feeling the lump in her throat grow larger. "You'll have to teach me everything you know," she said.

"I plan to," he said.

Aella closed her eyes, letting a soft smile show, her eyelids crinkling. She chuckled, then took a deep breath as she felt the familiar tug in her stomach as they teleported.