-- James --

There I was standing before the mask owl guild. My guild. I had been too afraid since we escaped to come here. Too afraid to find out the truth, but my heart had become heavy. I did not know if I could face them after failing my team so horribly. How could I look Praeceptor in the eye, but I still needed to talk to her. I couldn't let it happen again. Maybe there was something I missed or could do to keep my team safe.

I forced one foot in front of the other walking into the guild, right up to the man in full plate armor working the desk.

I knocked on the desk to get his attention as I asked, "Where is the Praeceptor today?"

The man lifted his visor, "Oh hey James. Saw your interview. I could not go through something like that myself. I can't believe you actually made it out."

I winced at him bringing up my failure but at least he wasn't berating me, "Yeah..." I didn't want to remember my failure right now so I asked again, "Where is the Praeceptor today?"

The man picked up on my mood and answered, "She should be by the gardens right now. Everything alright?" I was touched by the man's concern but this was a discussion for the Praeceptor.

I tried to give him a smile, but failed, "I don't know, but I'm going to find out."

I made my way through the guild, my heart seemed to beat harder with every step. Butterflies flew in my stomach. I found my mind wandering, remembering the guilds halls, and all the training I received here. I remembered what they taught and their motto, strike fast and hard but remain elegant. Throw the enemy off, and enrage by never showing how hurt you were.

"Still working on that." I chided myself.

It was all to help distract me from the conversation ahead.

All too soon I had found my way to the gardens and found the Praeceptor. I stood in the hall not knowing how to start. Then she turned to me and smiled.

I let out a long sigh, "Praeceptor"

"James, I am glad to see you." She said waving me over, "I just watched your interview you've been through a lot." She said consoling. Then she paused and began to scrutinize me closed, "And by the look in your eyes it appears you've got questions."

I always wondered how she could see right through me, "I've had some time to reflect, and I don't know what to do."

She let out a small chuckle, "Well maybe tell me, and I might be able to help."

I didn't know what to say so I just blurted it out, "I failed my team. I led them to a place of no escape and, I don't know how to make sure it doesn't happen again?

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"Oh, you don't ask small questions." Her smile faded slightly as she looked at me softly.

"I'm sorry." My mouth began to talk faster than my brain stuttering out, "I just don't know what I could do. And...And"

Praeceptor put a hand on my shoulder, "Calm James. You will not like my answer."

I stopped and took in a deep breath, "I still need to hear it."

"Simply I don't know."

I stared incredulously at her. They always had some nugget of wisdom. Some little critique or phrase, but to straight out saying that they didn't know. I could only stare dumbly.

"Sometimes James there is no way to know. You ask a big question with no real answer."

I searched for anything, "But there has to be something. My leadership skill is seventeen. It has to mean something."

Praeceptor shook her head, "Skill levels aren't everything, and leadership isn't what most think it is, as we told you in training."

"But...but?

"The leadership skill measure how well you can guide others. How well, and how many. How well you can inspire them. Even the system can't always judge it accurately."

"But how can I use that to help keep what happened to us from happening again?" I pleaded almost begging.

Praeceptor gave me a sad little smile, "You can't predict the unpredictable that leads to madness and paranoia."

My gaze hardened, "But maybe I could prepare."

"But what about the next unpredictable thing?"

"I could learn." I was determined to figure something out.

"Yes learn." Her voice grew in passion, "Always learn. Take from your failings and learn."

"But how do I keep my team safe?" She hadn't given me anything I could use to help them.

She shrugged, "Keep them home. That's the only way. Even then nothing is guaranteed."

I looked up at her eyes rolled, "You know what I mean.

"And I gave you the answer. The only thing you can truly do is to work with your team. Prepare the best you can and keep your eyes open for dangers."

"What should I do, carry a bag with everything?" I asked trying to understand.

She tapped her temple, "Knowledge James, go to the library. Research learn. You will be able to carry all the knowledge in your mind use that."

"Doesn't feel like enough."

"It might not be but, knowledge will provide you so much more than you realize." Ah, there is one of their little phrases.

Suddenly a blue screen appeared in front of me, along with an indistinct voice

"I step from the shadows to challenge this city, come catch me. In the light. Before I return to the shadows"

The city will have 5 minutes to gather its forces in the center of the city, to catch the shadow who has initiated this challenge.

The city will have twenty-four hours to catch the shadow and foil its objectives.

Succeed and you will be rewarded, fail and stew in the knowledge an entire city couldn't stop a single shadow.

I read the message confused and looked up to Praeceptor to ask what it meant. When I saw her snarl with her lip curled back to show her teeth. "How dare a shadow challenge my city. We will catch him and break him." She declared standing and reaching for her sword.

"Praeceptor?" I just looked up confused, I had never seen her like this before. She was always infuriatingly calm.

She looked down seeing my confusion passionately said, "We can't allow this a front to our city. A shadow dares to test our city. We can not let this pass."

"What do we do?" I asked.

"Grab your sword we have 5 minutes before the protection fades." She said as she rushed off.

"What?" How could we possibly make it to the city center in 5 minutes the district is ten miles from the center.

One of the other guild members saw me frozen in confusion and decided to take pity, "Hey it means a shadow is trying to rank up. This is his test."

"Oh, thanks." I was surprised at the level of difficulty for a shadow. They would have to fight a city.

Over the intercom, I suddenly heard the loud voice of the Praeceptor, "EVERYONE TO ARMS WE HAVE A SHADOW TO CRUSH."

Like that, an entire guild mobilized.