"The two street kids are wanted for stealing a priceless artifact. Rather a relic from the Temple of Bahumut. All to make some coin of course but the true matter is is the fact that there are certain individuals who would pay a mighty price for it. We have no quarrel with the clerics of the Dragon god, however, they do not take kindly when one of their sacred relics comes up missing. You can aid my men in tracking down the two in question. Do this and all charges in this sensitive matter will be dropped."

"And what charges are those?" Willow asked with a raised eyebrow, "Our friends did not attack your guards. They only fought to protect themselves. And they did not know that those children were thieves. They only knew that they were being chased."

One of two guards that were present back at the tavern pointed out, "Protect themselves? More like interfering with the justice system! They were being chased because they stole something that doesn't belong to them! Let us do our job and don't interfere or I will be more than happy to throw the whole lot of you in jail!"

"What charges are you planning to levy against them?" Irzen added.

"In other words, you are saying that they are guilty by association?" Major Zilc raised his hand condoning his subordinate, "That is enough, Sergeant." Turning back to the swordsman and the ranger, "They can make amends by retrieving the relic and returning it back to the temple."

He then turned to Serna and studied her for a moment, "And you, young lady, don't strike me as the type to have much insight on how things are run in the rest of Realm. But your type, I am afraid, I know all too well. A sheltered life breeds restlessness. You meet new friends and decide to travel with them, learning to the best of your abilities as you go. Instead of watching and observing, you jump to conclusions and get into trouble. So, my advice to you is learn from your mistakes or they will haunt you to rest of your days."

"And I know your type too, Major Zilc," Serna shot back, "You're used to being in charge. You're used to being in control. And when something slips out of your control or doesn't go the way you want, you point the finger at others and blame them for what has happened. And when you try to solve the problem you look to others to solve the problem for you."

Major Zilc corrected the shield maiden sternly, "I am and still in charge, young lady. What happened, happened and you and your friends were in the right place at the wrong time. Two, this is but one of many tasks that my men and I must deal with a daily basis. The current issue is the missing relic."

"If you wanted us to solve your problem, sir, all you had to do was ask," Neven added simply.

"The lads right," Irzen nodded in agreement, "We're Dungeon Master's problem solvers! You're good at what you do and we're good at what we do. All you have to do is ask."

"Just ask nicely," Willow concluded honestly.

Major Zilc sighed, "Will you and your friends assist the sergeant in finding and retrieving the relic?"

************

Reaching the top of the hill, Alyson took in the enormity of the Temple itself. -Okay.- She entered the massive twenty foot high archway and gazed upon the spender of the temple. She compared it to one of the many cathedrals back on Earth admiring the intricate details of the various statues and colors, all metallic that lined the walls. At the center of the chamber sat the dais. Large enough for an adult metallic dragon to sit upon and ahead of stood an altar surrounded by candles on either side. One of clerics wearing all bronze robes turned about and greeted the elementalist, "Welcome to the Temple of Bahumut, Alyson Khyng."

The elementalist wasn't quite sure how to respond but she didn't feel threatened either. The cleric seemed somehow, familiar.

"Hmmm. Your uncle speaks highly of you, child." The Bronze cleric lowered his hood to reveal a greek man with bronze skin and curly greenish hair and beard. His eyes, lavender.

Then the name came to mind. One of which she was told growing up on stories of the Realm by her uncle, "Lazheros?"

Lazheros nodded, "Well spoken and excellent memory. You now know that the stories are true but yours is a much different one. The Darkness has been awakened within you and now you seek to make it slumber once more?"

"Yes."

"Come then and we shall silence it for now. Remember this, it will awaken again and you much decide whether to embrace or confront it."

The cleric walked over to the elementalist placing both hands on her shoulders gently, "Embrace the Light! Let it flow through you. Around you. Above and below. Within you. Drive back the Darkness. Push it back to the Void. For it has no power here!" A light filled the elementalist entire sealing the Black Witch within the Void once more. The ritual took all of Alyson's remaining strength sending her into a deep sleep. She passed out. Lazheros caught her, and carried her off to a recovery room to sleep.