The kitchen staff were glad to see her. "Little Alyson? You've grown into quite the young lady." The head cook smiled heartily, "Come to help out again?"

"Yes, I have. What do you need help with, Chef Hallas?" Alyson looked at the various trays of food that covered on the counters.

Chef Hallas was a half elven man who had an exceptional talent for making exquisite meals. After he traveled to the Realm's various city states and learned different cuisines. He pointed over to the breads, fruit platters. "You can take either one of them out to the dining area, Alyson. You'll be able to see where they need to be at."

The elementalist walked over to the fruit plate and grabbed it by the handles carefully taking it out to the dining area. She found the spot where Chef Hallas mentioned and placed it on the table. This place brought back memories, memories of her trying like hell to hide from a certain someone wanting her to be fitted for a dress and she wasn't having any of it that day. She snickered to herself, it was crazy with staff scrambling everywhere to find an eight year old child who just rather go swimming or play with the other kids in the city that day.

"Alyson! Is that really you?" Came the voice of a man, who she remembered a teen in training to be as as an acolyte of Bahamut. "It's me, Jonas. Wow! Are you sure that you and I can't be more than just friends?"

Alyson turned around with a raised eye brow, "Still trying to hit on me? I was a kid and you were a teenager. Two, The Bronze Man always kept you in check with those over active hormones of yours. Have you not found someone who's like you or similar?"

"Sort of! But no one compares to you, Alyson. I mean absolutely no one. You're hot as hell!" Jonas grinned walking over to her.

The elementalist moved around to the opposite side of the large banquet table and kept him at a distance. "You can't handle me, Jonas. You simply don't have the right skill set, and besides, I doubt you would able to stand your ground against, Venger."

"Venger? The dark lord." He boasted confidently trying to get near her again, "He would tremble before the might of Bahamut!"

Alyson rolled her eyes at him and moved to the far side of the table near the kitchen entrance, "And at the first sign of danger, you would tuck your 'tail' between your legs and run away like last time. You're all talk and no action."

Chef Hallas heard the tale end of the conversation between Alyson and Jonas. He walked over to see what was going on, "Oy! Jonas, get moving with your errands, boy! That was not a request. Leave Alyson alone, or I will be glad to have Captain Martuk come down and remind you again what it means to be a true follower of Bahamut! Now get!"

Jonas scowled as he left the lighthouse but the chef was right and he didn't want to hear another lecture from Knight-captain Martuk again.

Alyson let out a sigh of relief to Chef Hallas, "Thank you. I thought he'd never leave. Is it me or is he just a bit creepier than before?"

"If you mean he's gotten to be more of a pest, then yes. And it's not just you he makes advances on either." Chef Hallas shrugged, "come on, I've got more food platters that need to be brought out."

Alyson went into the kitchen grabbing the bread bin with utensils and brought it out to the dining area placing it where it needed to when she heard multiple familiar voices pop in the lobby.

********

Seri enjoyed her evening with Neven very much as the sound of falling blanketed the city. The light of the morning suns peaked through the window slits of the tower on the eastern wall of Asylum. The sun beams pushed out the cold dampness that the storm brought in with it and warmed the tower interior. Seri opened her eyes still enveloped in the thief's arms. She had a magical time with him and hoped that there would be plenty more together. "Neven," caressing his face, "are you awake? Shall we get up and go to the lighthouse for breakfast. I confess, I am quite hungry, how about you?"

Neven opened his eyes, stretched and yawned before he said, "Excuse me! Good morning, Seri, yes I'm awake and I'm hungry too. Uh, which way to the lighthouse?"

Seri got up and helped him to his feet after grabbing her cloak and handed his back to him. "The lighthouse is on the western side of the city just out in the bay. If we're lucky we can walk all the way there. If not, we'll have to take the boat there. Should take no longer than ten-fifteen minutes to get there from here."

"Lead the way," chirped Neven as he followed Seri out of the tower.

********

Madeous brought the stein up to the bar and headed up to his room for the evening. There was a lot on his mind or was it the alcohol talking. He was glad to see Alyson again and how far she had come in the Realm thus far. Her choice of company was somewhat questionable but more so, he figured that she might actually stay in Asylum to be with Lazheros. He couldn't say no anymore, she was a grown woman quite capable of making her own decisions. In the morning, he would head back to the lighthouse for the breakfast buffet one last time before he would depart.

"Blunt, direct and to the point," Irzen turned to Willow, "In spite of my best nature, I am beginning to like this man."

Willow nodded as he followed Madeous' example, "But he does have a point. Rest would be most welcome right now. How about you?"

"I agree," Irzen pulled himself up from the table and walked with Willow back to the bar, "A good night's rest would do me a world of good."

Madeous awoke from a good night's sleep. He stretched a bit before reciting the dogma of Bahamut quietly facing north. When he was finished, he exited the room and waited downstairs for Irzen and Willow to join him.

Both Irzen and Willow joined the Platinum Knight in the commons area of the tavern. Both of the Elves looked completely refreshed and renewed. Irzen even had a smile on his face, "Good morning, Madeous, I hope you slept well. I know I did."

"Rest was what I truly needed," Willow confessed, "And I'm glad I got it last night."

Madeous looked up from his table and chuckled, "You look much better after a good rest. Both of you considering where I heard you escaped from on your way here. Especially you, Irzen. Off to the lighthouse for breakfast then, or have you decided to get your meal here?"

"I say let's build up an appetite, Willow," The Swordsman announced, "Let's head back to the lighthouse and have our meal there."

"I have no objections," The Ranger added, "We can wait until you are finished with your drink, Madeous."

***********


Madame Mabel placed both hands on her hips, "Are ye daft, little drowling? I am not in the mood to show ye how the ladies and I soften up men tonight. If ye want to get some rough loving go to Horzion's Crest I mentioned earlier. You can get whipped by plenty of folks who'd be more than happy to oblige ye!"

"Humph!" The Chronicler snapped back at the Washer Woman as she put her hands on her own hips, "Then, next time, don't start a conversation unless you're going to follow through on it. You seem less the courtesan to me and more the cock tease!"

With that said, she left the chronicler there and headed back down to where Serna, Quake and Caliaphy were. "Oy! That 'ere friend of yours, Serna is a real piece of work. Hammocks are over there to the right. See you all in the morning."

"Thank you!" Serna ran over to one of the hammocks and dived right in before she said to Calliaphy, "Good night!"

****

The storm lasted most of the evening and into the wee hours of the morning before tapering off. The light of the suns shown down upon Madame Mabel's place and warmed up the city limits once more. Some of the citizens woke up early to ply their wares, and trades for the new day.

Quake was already awake standing in the open window soaking up the morning sun like a cat recharging itself. Caliaphy woke before Serna and fluttered about happily when Madame Mabel came out with Alyson's freshly cleaned robe and gear.

Caliaphy grinned excitedly, "I can't wait for Serna to wake up, so we can go and get some food. Hey where's that silly drowling? Did she..?"

Madame Mabel shook her head, "I cut her off at the pass last night. I am ready to see Alyson again. It's been awhile since I last saw 'er. You say she's all grown now?"

Quake nodded, "Yup, the lady is as you say, is all grown up Madame Mabel but I'll let you be the judge of that."

Serna awoke with a yawn, "Good morning, Calliaphy, Madame Mabel, how are you doing today? Boy, I am hungry. How about you? And where is War Scribe?"

"Maybe she took your advice, Madame Mabel?" Quake rocked back and forth on her stony tail like a kangaroo.

"Maybe." Madame Mabel sighed, "No use worrying about it now. Caliaphy if you would do the honors of teleporting us to the lighthouse."

"OKAY! Everyone hold hands! Here we go!" The kurori mass teleported all them inside the lighthouse to see Alyson walking out from a room near the back of the main lobby.

"I didnt know you could teleport," Serna looked at Caliaphy as she took her hand and Madame Mabel's hand.

Alyson stood there smiling as the ladies were the first to arrive, well most of them. "Hello Serna, did you have fun with Caliaphy?"

"Madame Mabel, its so good to see you again," the elementalist walked up to the red haired Irish woman of whom she had become good friends with as a child, giving her a hug. She looked up to Madame Mabel as a adoptive mom when spending her summers here.

"Alyson? You have grown up! And into a fine young woman, strong and proud!" The Irish woman hugged her in return and stepped back in awe, "So, that's what the bronze man wanted you to be fitted for."

Alyson raised an eye brow, "Oh? He and I are gonna have a nice little conversation about this robe later."

"Hahaha! I bet! Can't wait to see the look on his face either!" Madame Mabel laughed out loud.

"Lady, here's your robe and gear...?" Quake did a double take at Alyson's current outfit, "umm, is that what I think it is?"

Without uttering a single world, the elementalist merely nodded to Quake. ~ A nice long conversation about this robe, Lazheros. ~

"WOW!" Serna gasped when she saw the robe, "It's beautiful, Lady Alyson, when did you have it made?"

Coming down the stairs behind her was the Bronze Man who came in at the end of the conversation with a look of confusion, "And what conversation would that be, Alyson?"

Looking past the elementalist over to Quake, Madame Mabel, Caliaphy, and the shield maiden, "Welcome to the lighthouse, Serna. Please make yourself comfortable. The breakfast buffet is through the doors next to Alyson on the left."

"Thank you!" Serna curtsied before she looked around the room and followed the others through the doors.

He didn't have to ask Quake as she lead the group of hungry people past the elementalist and into the dining area. Every food known to the group was laid out in a magnificent display before.