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.

"Good!" Irzen nodded before he turned to their guide, "By all means, please lead on."

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.

The Adventurers just gawked and stared as they went. They were completely overwhelmed by their surroundings and did their best to take in all that they saw.

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 a fix?" The Bronze Man asked Irzen and company, "As well as two younglings all too eager to help, hmmm?"

"I am Dy'var Irzen, Swordsman," The Dark Elf replied simply.

"A Drow swordsman in the service for good. A rare one, that you are, Irzen," The Bronze Man noted.

"I am Willow the Ranger," The Wood Elf added with a brief nod.

"Just a ranger or someone in exile, willingly or otherwise?" The Bronze Man questioned Willow.

"My name is Neven," The Thief responded without batting an eyelash, "And I am a Pilgrim."

"Since when does a pilgrim don on a Cloak of Shadows, young man? More like a thief with a specialized skill set." Said the Bronze Man raising an eye brow.

"Hi! My name is Serna," The Shield Maiden beamed from ear to ear, "And I am a Shield Maiden."

"Aren't you a bit young to be a Shield Maiden of Deeping Dale, young lady? Where are your elders? Are you sure you are prepared for what awaits to challenge in the Realm entire?" The Bronze Man replied.

"And who, pray tell, are you?" Irzen asked with a raised eyebrow, "Doc Savage?"

"Ah-hah! As I thought! Two souls sharing one vessel." The Bronze Man chuckled at the swordsman sarcastic reply, "One soul of the Realm and one of Earth, correct?"

The Bronze Man's posture straighten as he addressed the party, "I am a cleric of Bahamut. Known to the residents of Asylum, as the Bronze Man but known as--" He paused as sensing someone waking from a dream.

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

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.

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

The elementalist awoke from the deep sleep that the Bronze Man placed her in to silence the darkness. She felt completely refreshed and better than she in a month. Stretching she heard the voices of her companions echoing throughout the temple and went to investigate.

Alyson entered the main chamber and saw Irzen, Willow, Serna, and Neven with one of the militia guardsmen their as well as The Bronze Man. Walking over and standing next to the cleric, "Oh, hey guys. This is Lazheros, he's an old friend of my Uncle Madeous."

Lazheros was glad to see Alyson revived and sensed the darkness sealed away once more. Just as it should be. "Your friends have found themselves in a bit of a fix."

"Really? What happened? Who did it? And why?" She looked kind of confused at the cleric then at the party.