The kurori winked once, twice, thrice and everyone was teleported up top cliff side. "Phew! That was fun and now for my last act, *POOF* Teeheehee!" The kurori turned back into the fairy, "I can sit back on Serna's shoulder and enjoy the view."

"Good job, Caliaphy!" Irzen smiled at the Kurori, "War Scribe couldn't have done a better job herself."

"I am so totally better than that silly drowling!" Caliaphy bragged.

"Don't say that too loud," Irzen cautioned the Kurori with a laugh, "War Scribe might hear you. Ha! Ha! Ha!"

The fairy stuck her tongue out at the swordsman.

Irzen laughed all the harder, "I see you've picked up a few of War Scribe's bad habits. Ha! Ha! Ha!"

"I would like that," Serna smiled as she waited for Caliaphy to properly seat herself before they started walking.

Madame Mabel walked through the gate first, "You can all feel the magic 'ere. The mages guild is just to the right and the fighters guild is to the left. They kinda keep each other in check, respectively."

Willow Bark closed his eyes, "I do feel it. There is magic, strong magic, emanating from the Mage's Guildhouse. It is very powerful indeed."

Seri held Neven's hand, "Meh, don't bother trying to pilfer anything out of either guild. You either get sliced and diced or they throw you in the arena as a trial by combat. The mages, well...yeah you get the idea. There was a couple of fools who tried to steal stuff from them and well ended up elsewhere as something else. We did warn them not to do it."

"Good to know," Neven smiled at Seri as he gently squeezed her hand, "And you don't have to worry about me. The only thing I wish to steal here is your heart, Seri."

The teenager brushed her hair back and gave him the thumbs up.

Without warning, Neven yanked Seri into a hug, wrapped his arms around her waist and began to tickle her ribs."Ha! Ha! I got you now!"

"So, Irzen, you ever tested your skills in an arena before?" The old courtesan asked him, "There's a nice bag of gold at the top. You'd get a nice fancy title of champion and respect all around."

"A couple of times I have fought in an arena," Irzen replied to Madame Mabel, "But I only won once. Are there any rules to this arena combat?"

"Not sure to be honest. I watched a couple of matches when I was younger. Well," Madame Mabel scratched her head, "Besides lots of sword play, wrestling, and various other contests, there's no killing. You can incapacitate your opponent if that is what it takes to win just don't do it too much. If you really are interested in competing go over and ask."

"Thanks! I might look into it, but first, I want something to eat, "Irzen rubbed his stomach, "A good meal and good ale is what I would like now.

"Back to the Neverending Story Tavern then," Seri's stomach grumbled.

Neven continued to tickle Seri's ribs though her stomach ached to be filled.

"Hey! Hahaha! Neven, hahaha!" Seri jumped to the side, "There will plenty of time for that later, hahaha!"

"Okay," Neven released Seri with a smile as he took her hand once more, "Later then."

"Ummm," The fairy whispered in Serna's ear. "I'm going to be invisible now. The beholder is really SCARY! He tried to eat me once. And the dwarf lady, she doesn't like the fae anyway. So, only you can see me."

"What?! That mean, scary beholder tried to eat you?!" Serna looked at Caliaphy in pure shock, "Just stay close to me, Caliaphy, whether you're invisible or not, I'll protect you. I promise!"

Madame Mabel lead the group down the path and across town. Some of the streets were thick with people traversing them while others had hardly anyone on them which is the way she took. Pick pockets were always a problem no matter what time of day, one had to be wary. They passed a couple of patrols of militia guards on their rounds when they finally made it to The Neverending Story Tavern. The crowd was light compared to when Irzen and his friends first arrived in Asylum.

"This is nice," Irzen sighed as they entered the tavern, "Less of a throng and more places to sit, relax and eat."