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."

Seri stopped and looked directly into his eyes, "I may be a thief and so are you but cheating won't get you anywhere here in Asylum. War Scribe as you call her, is gonna find out the hard way not to mess with Caliaphy. You know the phrase 'tar and feather?' Yeah, cheaters always meet a rather interesting defeat at the hands of a Kurori elf."

"No kidding," Neven looked completely surprised at Seri's remark, "And how do you know this? Through personal experience perhaps?"

Seri shrugged and confessed, "Yeah, I tried to cheat my way in a similar game. I was totally humiliated in the process but I learned from my mistake. Sometimes its worth it to play the game as it should be not as you would like it to go."

She leaned against his shoulder, "So, anyway, do you want to see more of Asylum, or watch who wins?"

"Nah!" Neven grinned at Seri as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze, "Let's see more of Asylum. I'll hear about who won the game later."

She laughed, "Ha ha ha ha! I bet!" Leading him back down towards the Neverending Story Tavern, she pointed to the Alchemists guild hall which was supported by massive steam engines and strange mechanical automatons and constructs working on the exterior of the building. "The alchemists came up with a way to create the airships to keep up with the times. Some say, that the founders came from the same world as Alyson. The industrial age they called it with all the machines and tinkering. Dwarves and gnomes flocked to its halls to learn more of crafting metals in ways that magic could only dream of."

"WOW!" Neven gasped at the sight of the building, "I can say that until I reached the Black City, I had never seen anything such as an airship as you call it. The Half-Orc Bruno had one and we used it to escape that place. As far as I know, there are no other places in the Realm that even have these things."

Seri had heard horror stories of the Black City from travelers who were fortunate enough to come back alive. The dreaded city of Venger's war machine gave her the chills. "You escaped the Black City?!?"

"Yes, but it wasn't easy," Neven replied, "My friends and I had to fight our way into the city to rescue High Lady Alyson and Serna and we had to fight our way out of the city as well. We barely escaped with our lives but escape we did. How about you? Have you had any narrow escapes during your time as a Thief?"

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

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."

Armendes lurched backward suddenly, "A chronicler of Validor? Here in Asylum? Been a long time since the last one visited, or was it when the Torque Armada invaded? My memory is a bit sketchy on the subject. My spells prevent any uninvited beings such as the Chronicler's of Validor from entering. Best she not be told of this library. Some collections are even above her pay grade."

"For War Scribe nothing is beyond her pay grade," Willow concluded.

Armendes rotated around to face the ranger, "You are mistaken, high born prince. There are a few places within the Realm that are beyond the reach of any chronicler of Validor. And yes, I know who you are. I know by how you walk and handle yourself. It's in your blood. So, my question to you, what will you do to convince me not to mention you to the Embassy of Northhaven?"

"I will do nothing," Willow replied evenly, "You may alert them to my presence if you wish. By the time they learn that I am here my companions and I will be gone from Asylum. I assure you that our stay here is a temporary one."

Madeous nearly choked on his coffee upon hearing Armendes's reply to Willow. He was stunned but then again, he knew the wizard was also a diplomat and would use every advantage possible.

"HMPH! You are supposed to be a high born elven prince, and you would rather just cast it aside? What are you afraid of? Are you the type that would cast aside tradition only to make your own path?" Armendes's construct body flared up in an attempt to intimidate the ranger.

Willow replied calmly with no visible reaction upon his face, "I am a high born Elven Prince. I am Prince Willow of the House of Bark, fourth in line to The Oaken Throne, son of King Sunrider tenth of his name, High Lord of the Kingdom of Northaven. The only thing I fear is a loveless marriage and I embrace both my own path and my traditions as ranger and prince."

Madeous stood up in Armendes helmed face, "Back off! Leave him be. He has chosen his path, wizard! Whatever it is, he wants nothing to do with it. This is something he has to figure out for himself, not you!"

Willow gently reproached Madeous, "M'alesh! M'alesh! Madeous, calm yourself. There is no need for anger here. We are just talking nothing more."

The wrath in the platinum knight surfaced a bit, he suffered from it here and there. He was Venger's sworn enemy and sometimes lost sight of who was friend and who was foe. "I..I am sorry. Where are my manners."

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."

"You presume much, swordsman. Insight I have from centuries of experience. Divine insight is reserved for true threats towards Asylum and its people." The Bronze Man said as he adjusted the pile of scrolls off to the side, so he could see better.

"And what is that you want? It's obvious that the drow half got the better end of the deal. What does the human half get out it?" He asked Irzen again.

"Revenge!" The Swordsman smiled with an evil grin, "Revenge against the Dark Lord and all of his minions! Everytime his friends and I have gone against Venger we have beaten him. And every time we defeat him my desire for vengeance is satisfied until he appears again and then we beat him again. My revenge against Venger will continue so long as Dungeon Master calls upon his pupils to challenge the Dark Lord."

Irzen calmed a little, "And my human half gets to survive in this world. My swordsmanship, my leadership, my tactics, my strategy and my lifetimes worth of experiences on and off the battlefield are at his disposal. His odds of surviving the Realm are quite high so long as he is with me and I am with him. We are one!"

"I see." The Bronze Man was slightly impressed by the display of the two separate souls. He decided to not press further.

The room became tense with the ranger not caring about if his people discover his presence in Asylum. Madeous and Armendes shouting at each other about it like children. Even in a deep sleep a certain elementalist began to stir on the second floor, the constant bickering was waking a time bomb and the Bronze Man could sense it. On normal circumstances he would save the COMMAND spell for encounters with enemies but this was different. "ENOUGH! Armendes return to your Arcanum! Madeous, my friend, go and get some sleep at the Mertul's tavern this evening. I would ask that the swordsman and the ranger go as well. Things have been tense of late and I ask that it not escalate any further. I bid you all good evening."

"Why do you wish for us to leave so soon, Lazheros?" Irzen deadpanned, "We just got here."

Armendes immediately stopped arguing and clamored back up the spiral stairs behind Lazheros.

Madeous agreed with the Bronze Man, "You're right. Too much excitement and sound advice. I thank you."

From his chair the Bronze Man waved his hand and the door of the lighthouse opened for the platinum knight as he exited. He was greeted by the same knight from earlier. The knight remained for Irzen and Willow to exit also. "This way, my lords. The ferry is already waiting for you at the dock."

"I bid you good eventide, my lords," Willow bowed before he departed.

"And I bid you good eventide as well," Irzen smiled before he too departed, "I hope Alyson continues to warm your heart as much as she is warming your bed, Lazheros. Please tell her that when she awakens her presence is sorely missed by her friends. Thank you!"

The Bronze Man narrowed his eyes at the swordsman, "Tell me, swordsman, what are you like when sleep has been denied to you? When it is denied to the elementalist, people die, and buildings are melted into slag by the Primordial fire that resides within her. Even now, I know that the lack of sleep in you makes you more blunt and vicious especially with each question that I have asked you of late."

"Sleep deprived I may be," Irzen admitted reluctantly, "But I am no fool! All that has transpired today has been a test. I know when I am being tested and I despise being tested, especially by someone as smug and self-righteous as you."

Lazheros stood up and walked around the desk. He stood not more than a few feet from Irzen. His gaze once more pierced the swordsman mind, "You should leave now. For Alyson's wrath is the least of your concerns if you continue to push the subject."

Irzen willed himself to take a step forward towards Lazheros as his hand drifted to the pommel of his sword, "I will depart. But know this, I hold many titles to my name but there is one that I would not mind having: the title of Dragon Slayer!"

"Lord Irzen, it is time for us to go." Willow seized Irzen by the arm and proceeded to drag him out of the room.

"Test me again, dragon, and I might just earn that title," The Swordsman concluded before he was forced to depart.

"And we are leaving, good eventide, my lords," Willow finally dragged Irzen out of the lighthouse and did his best to steadily push the Drow down the path towards the boat.

**********

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.

Caliaphy led the shield maiden down a well lit street then turned to the left and up a side street. The sounds of children laughing and cheering up ahead indicated they were almost home safe.

Serna was on the lookout for the Drowling knowing full well that War Scribe could sneak up on them at any time.

War Scribe freed herself from the net and snapped, "That's it! No more Miss Nice Drowling! Muwha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" The Chronicler neatly wrapped the net around her arm and moved towards the fountain believing she could cut off any stragglers on the way there.

Caliaphy motioned to Serna, "Faster! She's gaining on us! We need to make it to the fountain! It's one hundred feet ahead. One last sprint to the finish!"

"Alright!" Serna took off at a full sprint which drew the attention of The Chronicler.

"Aha! You two, wretches, I have you right where I want you!" The Drowling gave chase to Caliaphy and Serna as they ran towards the fountain.

Caliaphy sprinkled fairy dust on the shield maiden as they came ever closer. Serna was hastened by the dust and it gave her the much needed advantage against War Scribe. "RUN! She's got a net! I'll handle the cheater! Run, Serna! Run for the safe zone!"

"Whoa!" When the fairy dust hit Serna, the Shield Maiden ran so fast that she nearly ran out of her boots. But she reached the safe zone well ahead of War Scribe.

The kurori elf whistled again and the rest of the children that were not at the fountain swarmed the chronicler as a whole making it harder for her get to the shield maiden. "I figured you would cheat, silly drowling! So, my friends and I always have a plan B to deal with the likes of you!"

"I did not cheat!" War Scribe stammered, "You said that I could use no magic! And I did not use any magic. This is a perfectly normal net! It is not made of magic nor does it have any magical properties. You never said that I could not use any non-magical items to catch you or any of your friends. YOU were the one who cheated when you used your fairy dust to hasten Serna's escape! So if you're going to use Plan B on anyone, then you should use it on yourself, cheater! Muwha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

"Oh no! Silly drowling. I said that the person who was IT could not use any MAGIC! I did not say that we couldn't use magic. Besides, from your current disposition, you would of eventually cheated because you hate to lose. Sorry, you don't like the rules of the game! Even Alyson didn't use any magic, and yeah she lost some of the matches but she had fun!" Caliaphy cheered the drowling for effort. "However, you did make an attempt not to cheat, so...I guess. Fair is fair. Not everyone made it to the safe spot, and I would be glad to be it this time. It's only fair."

"Wow! That was easy," The Drowling admitted with a surprised look on her face, "I thought I was going to spend half the day arguing with you. You know what, you're pretty cool, you little wretch!"

A bunch of the children gasped in shocked but most laughed. The kurori elf smirked, "The Commons will be the area for the next round. No going outside the limits, and no hiding in the buildings as before. So, War Scribe, are you up for another run of Hide and Seek?"

"Sure, why not!" The Drowling smiled, "It was fun! Different without any death or killing involved, but fun. I like this game. I like this game a lot."