Seri whisked her hair back over her shoulders and took the thief's arm, "Shall we?"

"Absolutely!" Neven eagerly took Seri's hand as they walked out of the temple together.

Seri gingerly walked out with Neven and down the hill back into the city. "So, what would you like to do? We could go and get a drink at the Gallows pub, or would you like a tour of Asylum?"

"Give me the grand tour of Asylum!" Neven declared boldly with a smile, "I know so little of this place and I would like to see a lot more of it--" With a sheepish grin the Thief added, "--And a lot more of you as well."

"It would be my pleasure," Seri winked at Neven. "Let's see, I'm sure you've started at the Neverending Story tavern, been to the poor and merchant districts, and the temple of Bahamut. So that leaves the rest of Asylum to see, eh?"

"Indeed it does," Neven agreed, "Indeed it does."

She pointed to where the various other guilds were located throughout Asylum. They passed the fountain and saw a bunch of children there playing around it. "Hide and Seek, they call it. Must be good enough to bring all the little ones out to play, huh?"

"I agree," Neven nodded his head, "I have heard about this game. I wonder who is 'IT'".

"I would guess and say it was that weird female drow friend of yours back at the Temple of Bahamut." Seri told Neven, "I mean, she was the one of whom, Caliaphy pick out to play. Guess we'll have to wait and see."

"Yeah I guess so," Neven smiled to himself, "Although I have to admit that War Scribe never struck me as the kind of person who likes to play games so much as she likes to cheat at them. Believe me, whatever rules Caliaphy may have set for this game, War Scribe is going to break them the first chance she gets."


**********

He closed his eyes in contemplation. Had it not been for Alyson's friends, Sorvor might not have been exposed and found out. The test was a simple one that the young shield maiden had finally admitted to her mistake but her stubbornness will either make or break her. Caliaphy will now get the chance to see the rest of the Realm as it was her wish. The ranger cares not for his heritage or the simple fact, that there are emissaries from his homeland here in Asylum. The other two, the swordsman with two souls and the thief who could find a new life here depending on what he does. Young love is such a precious thing. The swordsman is always cautious, and his human half taking a ride in a body that's not his own. Time would tell....

From the back of the lighthouse, a pair of minstrels began playing their instruments softly. Lazheros liked to listen to them play whenever he visited all the taverns in Asylum. Each of them played something a little different, and the vibration was soothing. Breathing in deeply, he rose from his seat and grabbed both of the cups and returned them to the back room. The elementalist was sleeping soundly this time and wouldn't awake upon entry of her uncle and friends coming to the lighthouse for a visit. At the sound of foot steps approaching, he returned to the lobby and sat back down in his chair.

Armendes rotated forty five degrees to watch as the trio of men entered the lighthouse.

********

The knight led the the group of men to the lighthouse entrance, "This is where I take my leave, sire. Good evening to all." And he returned to patrolling the island once more.

Madeous headed up the stairs towards the doors as they opened by themselves revealing the lights within the building itself. They were greeted by a metallic, somewhat humanoid construct, "Do come in and have a seat please." At the far end of the large room sitting behind a desk lit with candles and a stack of scrolls on it, sat the Bronze Man.

"Thank you!" Willow replied politely to the construct.

"Greetings, Lazheros, I have to say that all of this is somewhat surprising," Irzen quipped upon seeing the Bronze Man, "I was half expecting your domicile to be a dragon's lair full of gold coins, silver chalices, chests strewn with emeralds, rubies and diamonds littered about the cavern floor. Not a lighthouse full of old books and even older scrolls. Or am I seeing only what you want me to see?"

The Bronze Man opened his eyes and leaned forward placing his arms up under his chin as he viewed the three of them. He viewed the swordsman in utter silence. His gaze pierced the swordsman's mind enough to make him recoil as a warning. "The lighthouse is my home. If you're referring to a dragon's lair, you'll find none here. Many have searched for what they believed to be my 'lair,' and only found the remains of broken and ruined ships at the bottom of the sea."

"Fair enough," Irzen acknowledged as he did his best to stand his ground, "Not all treasure is gold and diamonds, some treasure is less tangible than others."

"And some treasure is valued in the measure of friends, and those of whom share a bond." Lazheros breathed deeply with thoughts of the elementalist coming to mind but kept his gaze on the swordsman for a few moments more.

Armendes clamored over with some drinks, "refreshments?" He needed to defuse the situation. He knew all too well, when someone learned about the Bronze Man's true nature, the conversation could go south fast.

"Thank you," Willow took one of the drinks.

"Yes, thank you," Irzen accepted one of the drinks.

Madeous gestured to Armendes, "I'll have one, thanks. Still acting as custodian of the lighthouse?"

"Yes, yes. Still not interested in venturing outside and having salt seize my mechanical parts solid. No thank you!" Armendes metallic voice echoed through the lighthouse.

"Ah, a hot cup of coffee!" Madeous breathed in the aroma of the caffeinated drink. He liked his black with sugar. Unlike, Alyson who liked it with both milk and sugar.

"I have a couple of questions," Irzen asked Lazheros, "Why are you here? And what is your role in Asylum?"

The Bronze Man relaxed a little with the swordsman's questions, "I am here because I founded Asylum six hundred years ago. Once a mere fishing village to a free independent trade city. The people of Asylum are the descendants of those people that once lived a more simple life. Two, I am the Guardian of Asylum. A cleric of Bahamut, and friend of Madeous Khyng and his kin. I do not hold myself above anyone else here in the city. Everyone here is treated equally and fairly unless someone becomes a Disturber of the Peace."

Armendes clamored away with the empty tray and then returned to the lobby. He reached over to the wall on the right and revealed a hidden door, "You are welcome to visit the library and learn more of Asylum's history. This door leads right to the library. The only rule is that you cannot take any with you. All tomes, and books may be read here within the lighthouse."

"It's a good thing War Scribe doesn't know about your library," Willow added, "The Chronicler would do her best to take every tome and scroll you have and add it to the collection of Validor's Great Library if she were given half the chance."

Lazheros sat back in his seat again, "And to whom am I speaking with, Lord Irzen or the other from Earth? You must have come up with sort of accord to allow two souls with one body."

"You're the six hundred year old Bronze Dragon with divine insight, you tell me to whom you are speaking," Irzen grinned mischievously, "And we did arrive at an accord. Its a pact that allows each of us to get what we want yet share this body in relative harmony."

***********

Meanwhile, War Scribe was more than a little perturbed that the rules were so obviously set up so that she would lose. In a huff, she stormed out of the temple, "No magic, indeed! That scheming little Elf and that pest with a shield won't be able to hide from me for long. I'll get them before they can even reach that stupid fountain!"

Caliaphy gestured to Serna to pick a spot near the docks. There were plenty of empty barrels for both to hide in while the chronicler counted down.

The Shield Maiden quickly looked around and selected a row of empty barrels that appeared to be set aside against a warehouse. Meanwhile, War Scribe started her countdown certain in the belief that she will win this little contest.

To make sure War Scribe didn't cheat, there were some among the normal children, those of human, gnome, or halfling that kept an eye out for her mischievousness. Providing an adequate distraction for the crafty drowling should she make an appearance.

When War Scribe finished her count, she whirled around to check the streets, "Come out! Come out! Wherever you are! You little rascals! I'll get each and every one of you sooner or later. So you might as well come out now and save me the trouble of finding you. Muwha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

She could hear multiple giggles of children hiding in places all around her. There were even some who bravely darted out into the well lit streets, taunting her, "Nah! Nah! Nah! Nahna!"

"Come back here you little brat!" The Drowling snapped as she gave chase to a little girl who jumped out from behind a building and taunted her, "I'll get you!"

"Teehehehe!" The little girl squealed excitedly and bolted down the street even faster before jumping over a couple of empty crates and down an alley way.

"Get back here, you little brat!" War Scribe scrambled after the child as her Elven dexterity allowed her to easily leap over some empty crates and barrel after the child, "You're going to be 'IT' when I get my hands on you!"

The little girl was joined by two more. A gnomish boy, and a halfling boy. Both stuck their tongues out teasing and egging the drowling on even more, "Nah! Nah! Nahnanana!"

War Scribe was getting steamed under the collar as she gave chase. However, she saw an opportunity to even the odds and took it. As she ran past a shoppe that sold netting to the fishermen of Asylum, the Drowling grabbed one of the smaller nets and threw it at the three children running ahead of her. War Scribe was able to catch the little girl in the net and confidently strolled towards the child, "I told you I was going to get you, you little brat, and I did! You can't run away now, you're all mine! Muwha! Ha! Ha! "

Caliaphy signed to Serna, "Pssst! Let's go. Watch out for the drowling. We've got to make to the fountain before she does. Come on!"

"Okay!" Serna whispered back to her friend as they made their way to the fountain.