Major Zilc handed the swordsman a wanted poster of the two street kids. The description was simple but accurate enough for the adventurers to follow.

WANTED:

Jasper: Male human teen with ginger hair. Green eyes. Wears a brown tunic and pants. Known for pilfering expensive gems and jewels of great worth out from under the noses of the merchant and nobility of Asylum.

Sarafina: Female human teen with auburn hair and grey eyes. Wears a blue-black outfit. Known to be very charming and distracting while keeping the target fixated on her while the heist is happening.

Any information regarding these two fugitives must be reported to either the Militia or the Temple of Bahamut!

"Thank you," Irzen studied the wanted poster for a minute before he rolled it up and offered it to Willow.

Major Zilc added, "We've asked the Thieves guild master and got nowhere. Someone of Asylum or a visitor may of seen them of late. Also, Sergeant Talos will be accompanying you as a guide and as a witness. Standard protocol especially with new comers to Asylum."

"Are Jasper and Sarafina siblings?" Willow asked as he accepted the poster, "The lad seems to be older than the lass but not by much."

Major Zilc shook his head, "Some say they are. Some they are not. Either way, if you encounter them, they will without a doubt make every attempt to get out of or away from you while robbing you blind. My men know enough to keep their money well secured while on patrol."

"Hit and runners," Neven nodded firmly, "I've known they're kind before. One distracts while the other goes for the steal. It's an old tactic for robbing someone but it works."

"Guide and witness?" Serna turned towards the Sergeant, "Or guide and keeper? Are you coming with us to keep us on a leash or are you coming with us to actually help us find these thieves?"

The Sergeant saluted Major Zilc before ushering the party out the barracks. "We will make for the Temple of Bahamut to get the rest of the details. The clerics like to keep things low key. To answer your question, both and how we all get along."

"That's good to know," The Shield Maiden smiled, "At least you're honest about your intentions."

Irzen turned back to Major Zilc, "Before we go, I want your word that after we bring these two in, you'll drop all charges against our friends. And I do mean ALL charges. Understand?"

"All charges WILL be dropped when the relic has been found and returned to the temple. You have my word." Major Zilc answered firmly.

Sergeant Talos took the lead, "Follow me." He lead the party outside of the barracks and took the street north for about a block before opening up to the large gardens that surrounded the base of the hill. The temple could be seen anywhere within Asylum, or by sailors coming into port. Paladins and knights patrolled the outer perimeter while normal folk traversed the grounds. The Temple itself could easily compare with the cathedrals of Earth in sheer size. White marble, granite, quartz made up of the exterior. Fine cloths draped the walls in and around the entrance. The crest of Bahamut was a shield with blue outlaying a Platinum dragon head. Some of the paladins, though, were dragon born. Mostly metallic. The rest were human or dwarven. Even fewer were elven.

Upon entering, the adventurers saw the large dais that the elementalist had seen only an hour before. Once again, stood the cleric in Bronze robes, his arms tucked into his long sleeves quietly observing them as they approached.

Sergeant Talos stopped about fifteen feet and bowed out of respect for the Bronze Man, "Major Zilc has sent these adventurers per your request."

The Bronze Man reached up and removed his hood again and in a calm voice, "Well done, Sergeant. I see you are assigned to see this task through?"

"Yes sir."

"Ah. So, who are these fine people that found themselves in a bit of fix?" The Bronze Man asked Irzen and company, "As well as two younglings all too eager to help, hmmm?"

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

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 Bahamut, 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.