Lazheros raised his arms and the entire group disappeared and reappeared within the main hall of the Temple. The Bronze Man walked away from the party and stood upon the dais. To his right and left stood a row of paladins and knights. Talos ushered the wizard up in front of the party and stopped him just twenty feet before the Bronze Man.

Alyson and Madeous stepped away from the others to await the arrival of some familiar faces. Walking up behind was Gabe and the thieves guild entire. Sarafina and Jasper came forward with the Relic. They stopped and faced the group. "Who among you was chosen to claim the Relic?"

"We all were," Irzen stepped forward bravely, "It was a group effort to reclaim it. Our success would not have been possible had we not acted as a team."

Sarafina approached the party and held out the relic. It was exactly as The Bronze Man had described it hours earlier. "Who among you is Pure of Heart? Who was tasked to read the scroll? Who among you has not Taken a life?"

"Count me out!" Irzen took a step back, "I have taken more than my fair share of lives."

Willow took a step back as well, "Though I am not proud of it, I have dealt more Death in my long days than I care to recall."

Caliaphy darted in and out of the party members before once again settling on Serna's shoulder. "Serna, you must answer the question. By staying quiet, you appear guilty in the eyes of the Bronze Man. Don't you want to be free? What are you afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid of anything," Serna whispered back to Caliaphy, "I haven't killed anyone but I wasn't tasked to read the scroll either. And who can be really Pure of Heart? I don't know, Caliaphy, I really don't know what to say."

The fairy left Serna's shoulder and hovered in front of her for a moment before her form changed into that of a child of about seven years of age. "Serna, this is a form that I can only take in certain instances like this one. I am of the Kurori Elves. We do not grow up. We remain children forever. I admit I envy your kind to be able to grow up, experience life, and pass on to the next life. Just take the scroll and see what happens."

"WOW! No way!" Serna gasped, "You're a kid just like me! Okay, I'll take the scroll and see what happens."

The Bronze Man silently watched all their reactions as to how they would answer.

Neven stepped forward, "I have been a Thief all my life. I know not if I am Pure of Heart. But I do know this: I have killed. When we were trapped in Lankhmar, I killed a demon that would have killed me. I have taken a life but I was also tasked to read the scroll. Does that count?"

"To take a life means that of this plane. To willing take the life of someone you may or may not know. To spill the blood, the life force of a human or humanoid. Killing demons doesn't not count in this matter. They are fiends and outsiders of the Nine Hells and are deserving of being vanquished. However, it was not you that initially interfered at the tavern. It was the shield maiden, who again remains silent instead of defending her actions in what she believed coming to the aid of others that did not concern her. So, child are you the one who is Pure of Heart? Or is the young thief who came forward confessing his actions unafraid? Your response shall determine the fate of the Netherese wizard, Sorvor." The Bronze Man explained to Neven and Serna from the dais. His gaze was focused on Serna and her response.

Serna stepped forward with the scroll in hand, "I honestly don't know if I am Pure of Heart. I guess I was tasked to read this scroll. But all I was trying to do was to help someone that I thought was in need. The Realm is full of bullies and I don't like bullies. When I saw those kids being chased, I thought the Guards were bullying them. So, I did what I thought was right and I tried to protect them. Granted, things did not turn out as I thought they would but I did do the wrong thing for all of the right reasons. My intentions were good though my actions were bad. I don't know if that makes me Pure of Heart, but I am sorry for all the trouble I caused."

When Serna finally admitted that she was at fault, the magical writing appeared on the scroll in her hand with the words of those who are in service of the dragon king, the platinum dragon, Bahamut.

'Justice and Good above all.
Honor and Fealty to the King.
Honor and Respect to Righteous Innocence.
Honor and Duty to the Balancer (Lendys), to Her Mercy (Tamara), and to the Justicemaker (Bahamut).
Honor and Protection to the Lesser Races.
Honor and Correction to the Enemies of Justice and Good.
Honor and Forbearance for oneself.'

'Praying through ones deeds.'

The Bronze Man nodded, "It is hard to admit the truth because most people are afraid of it. Your stubbornness is your greatest weakness, child. Be wary for it may be the cause of your downfall. No one here is infallible. All here are afraid of something or someone and to admit to it takes courage."

The paladins and knights started to back away from the wizard. Sergeant Talos remained behind Sorvor while Alyson and Madeous also backed up leaving Serna with the relic and scroll and the party where they were. The Bronze Man's form started to change and grew to huge proportions from what once stood a man stood the gargantuan very old bronze dragon that Irzen and company had seen earlier that day.

"WWWWOOOOOWWWWW!!!" Serna gasped.

"NO WAY!!!" Neven stared in shock.

"Impressive, most impressive," Willow added.

"What a big, fat, juicy wyrm!" War Scribe cooed as she continued to record everything that transpired, "Muwha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

The platinum knight turned to the chronicler, "A-hem! Mind your manners here. Keep your unsavory comments to yourself."

"I am minding my manners," War Scribe snapped back at Madeous, "As best I can. Muwha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

The elementalist was in complete awe as she watched Lazheros polymorph into his true form. -I see you.-

"Yep, it's definitely one of those days," Irzen shook his head, "Outgunned, outmatched and outpowered in every way."

"Thirty years ago, Sorvor, you were pardoned and released never to return to Asylum. You failed, seeking ruin and destruction from within by consorting with fiends of the Nine Hells. Death is too merciful a fate for you and with your path set in Necromancy, it would be only a matter of time for you to return. Therefore, you are banished from the Prime Material plane. The Sidhe will be your jailers for all time." The very old Bronze Dragon's voice boomed throughout the temple's main hall.

"WHAT?! NOOOOOO! NOT THAT! ANYTHING BUT THAT!" The wizard shrieked to no avail.

The paladins unsheathed their swords and raised them high above them while the knights unsheathed theirs and drove theirs into the floor. The magical runes on the temple floor glowed all around the wizard and a portal to the Sidhe realm appeared.

Alyson motioned to the party to keep silent. Watch and observe.

Sorvor panicked and desperately as the chains that bound him rattled loudly. A handful of ancient elf like figures appeared and stood next to the wizard. Each one grabbed an arm and dragged him into the mists of the Veil and disappeared. The portal itself shimmered slightly and then it was gone. The runes on the floor where the Netherese wizard once stood no longer glowed. The knights and paladins sheathed their weapons and returned to their original positions.

"Okay?" Irzen asked Lazerhos, "Now, where do we stand with you? Hopefully in a better position than THAT guy!"

The bronze dragon peered down at the swordsman breathing in deeply, "You and your friends are cleared and all did as one would expect in aiding allies. Loyalty, friendship, trust, and belief in each other allowed all of you to do what was right. All are welcome here in Asylum. You come and go as you please."

"Thank you!" Irzen nodded as the Willow, Neven and Serna verbally expressed their gratitude as well.

Sergeant Talos turned around to face the party and bowed, "Well done. Especially you, Serna. You did it. Perhaps someday, you could make a fine knight or paladin of Bahamut. For the platinum dragon awards those who truly believe in themselves and in each other."

Serna smiled, "Thank you, Sergeant Talos. And thank you for your kind words as well. Though I might make a Knight or Paladin one day, I think I'll just stay with my friends and work on being the best possible Shield Maiden that I can be for now."

High above the dragon the sound of the ceiling opened up being drawn down by four massive chains linked each to winch with three individuals turning them. The Bronze dragon looked at the elementalist silently, -Now I will take you into the clouds, Alysiane.-

Alyson immediately walked towards the dragon and climbed on his back. She firmly took hold of the sail spine on his lower neck and readied herself for flying on dragon skies. "We'll be back in awhile. Enjoy the rest of Asylum."

Lazheros, the Bronze Dragon jumped up through the ceiling of the temple like a cat with the utmost grace for a creature of his size. His wings unfurled and spread to allow the winds to carry him and his guest high in the sky.

"Well, I guess that raps that!" War Scribe slammed her book shut as she turned her attention to Madeous, "However, I have some good news for you, Platinum Knight, and some bad news. The good news is that Alyson has got a new boyfriend. The bad news is that he's older than dirt, he's got scales for skin and he's self-righteous to the point of stupidity. How does that make you feel, UNCLE Madeous? Do you think Alyson traded up or traded down this time in selecting her newest mate? Muwha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"