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 may 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."
The relic now hovered above the shield maiden. Flashing bright blue before returning to the plaque of which it was originally placed.
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!"
"Only you would have the gall to be a pest out of the nest, Scribe!" Quake had been watching the whole scene unfold and stepped out from behind her. "Sheesh! We would show respect if we were in the presence of Validor or at least in one of the libraries of the Realm. You want to speak your mind do it elsewhere but here! That's your majesty to you, Scribe, or my lord. By no means are you or would you be considered family."
The platinum knight rubbed his chin thoughtfully and seemed totally oblivious to the chronicler's blatant question. Then gave a reply to War Scribe, "You're half right. But only half. You see, Alyson spent a couple of summers here when school was out. She was seven when she asked to stay here in Asylum and it lasted for three years. She learned a lot from the Bronze Man and made other friends too. It also allowed me to conduct business within my own kingdom when we returned to the Realm. They also share a powerful bond, one that can be felt anywhere in the Realm. A bond formed when she was born. A Bond of Companionship."
Madeous turned to the ranger, "Willow of the house of Bark. I know of your father and of his vast kingdom. Did you know there are emissaries here from your homeland?"
************
High in the sky above Asylum, Lazheros soared through the clouds banking occasionally to avoid too much wind sheer. He flew higher still until the clouds were beneath him, the early night sky produced the aurora of blue, green, purple, and various colors against the stars that soon followed.
Alyson was in complete awe once more bearing witness to such a spectacular sight. -This is amazing! I mean, even I've never been this high myself. Except back on Earth in a mechanical plane.-
-The aurora is always here before the night sky settles in for the evening. I've waited for a long time to show you this and nearly did all those years ago but your uncle forbade it. "Not old enough" he said but perhaps there was wisdom in his words.- The dragon started to slowly descend back down through the clouds as the night air was turning cold and neither he or the elementalist cared for the cold temperatures of the night.
Alyson held on tightly and lost her stomach when the bronze dragon dipped downward to fast. -Gah! Still takes me awhile to get used going down too fast. Like on a ride at the fair whipping around to and fro! Whoaaaaaaaaaa!-
-Hahaha!- The dragon chuckled to himself. He was amused by her child like whims that he missed when she visited him all those years back. He glided ever lower to just above the city limits, gliding past the floating embassy tower to their left and finally down towards the ocean. Banking hard left just past the cliffs, he circled around into a lagoon. The waters were crystal clear. One could see the reefs with all the sea life swimming about. The water here in the lagoon was always the temperature of eighty degrees fehrenheight. Bath water. He slowed down even more as his wings buffeted his water landing.
****WHOOSH!!****
"I," Alyson looked around the alcove and started to remember the place, "went swimming here a lot with the other children of Asylum at the time. It..it was a daily thing. Going to the lagoon and have fun and cooling off. And....whoa--"
Settling in the warm waters of the lagoon, Lazheros rolled back and forth just enough to jettison the elementalist off of his back and into the water.
***SPLOOOSH!***
"Hahaha!" The Bronze Dragon laughed aloud this time. His laughter on that scale caused all the water to vibrate and churn about him. He settled down into the depths of the lagoon and for a dragon of his size on half of him was above the surface.
Alyson swam up to the surface clearing her hair out of her face and spat water back at him. "Very funny." Treading water in the same spot where she was dumped in.
"Indeed, child. It was rather amusing, hahahaha!" He lowered a wing in the water and lifted her out just above the surface. "Indeed."
**********
Caliaphy took notice of the chronicler arguing with Quake and walked up to Serna, "Want to see something funny?"
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