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.

Seri lead Neven back down the narrow steps on the eastern wall down to street level and headed due west. She insisted on jogging there instead of walking, "Race ya!" She took off running with the thief in tow as she passed the Neverending Story Tavern and the barracks. She was very adept at avoiding obstacles and people. She had to be especially when dodging the militia. "Hurry up, slow poke!"

Neven initially took off at a trot before she egged him on and then the Thief was a full sprint. As Neven ran, he came up with a dastardly idea. Slipping his cloak over his head, The Thief disappeared into the Shadow Realm and ran ahead of Seri expecting her to stop once she noticed that he was nowhere behind him.

********

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."

"Drink? No, I don't drink in the morning only after too much stress or a battle." Madeous got up from seat and saw the blur of Seri and Neven racing past the entrance of the tavern. "Looks like the thief and his new friend are gonna beat us there."

Irzen laughed, "That's okay! Let them! We can talk while we walk. Besides, I expect The Bronze Man is going to probably have quite a feast laid out for us so I doubt anyone is going to eat us out of our rightful portions."

*******

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.

"All Kurori can teleport, Serna, three times per day." Caliaphy smiled at the shield maiden.

"Neat!" Serna chirped.

*****

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?"

"It was a gift from the Bronze Man." Alyson told Serna.

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.

Alyson turned around and shook her head at The Bronze Man. "Perhaps, our guests would like to hear about the true story behind this gift of yours?"

Lazheros narrowed his eyes at her comment, "You wouldn't dare."

"Challenge accepted." The elementalist leaned towards him closely, "Oh, I dare and *wux daratrix.* You will have to wait and see."

She left him standing at the base of spiral stairs and walked into the dining room where the others went.

Lazheros sighed. Somehow he knew this memory would surface in the form a silly story more in the benefit of his guests than himself. ~ Alysiane...please don't.~

In the dining hall, the elementalist had a plate of food for herself and a glass of citrus juice in hand. She sat down at the far end of the table next the large end chair that belonged to The Bronze Man. ~ You could of told me the real reason why but you did not so, you'll just have to grin and bear like everyone else.~

Caliaphy sat down with a plate of fruit next to Alyson. "Sorry, I didn't have a chance to say hi earlier, Alyson. Was kinda busy helping the Bronze Man out."

"And you've made a new friend too, I see Caliaphy." The elementalist smiled at the fairy. "Although, I don't remember seeing you in a small size so to speak."

"Ahahahaha!" Caliaphy burst out laughing, "You're funny, Alyson! Oh so funny! Ahahaha! I really missed you. We all did and we are so glad that you're back!"

"It's good to be back, Caliaphy," Alyson slowly sipped her juice.

Quake walked over with a huge plate of food and a entire pitcher of fire water and sat down across from Alyson and Caliaphy. "Lady! This food is awesome! So many choices to pick from! Can you believe it."

"Believe what, Quake?" The elementalist gave her creation an odd look.

"War Scribe actually played Hide and Seek last night with Serna and Caliaphy!" Quake grinned.

Alyson nearly spit out her drink onto the table and caught herself just in time with a napkin. "What?!?"

"Oh, yes. That silly drowling did play with us and she amazingly did not cheat. It was great! We had lots of fun, right Serna?"

"Yeah, we really did," Serna agreed as she dived into her meal, "War Scribe didn't cheat at all! She played fair and square. But you know what, Lady Alyson, you offered to tell us about how you got your gift. I would love to hear it, if you don't mind."