"Then East Port is a rare place to grow and learn without having to worry of troubles. Asylum isn't much different in that regard," The bronze man replied.

"Asylum?" The princess raised an eyebrow, "I have heard tales of this land but I have never visited it. Tell me, Grand Cleric, is it true what they say of your land? That you serve as the sole Guardian of Asylum? That Asylum is a refuge for all regardless of their alignment? That The Lord of The North Wind himself walks its streets by day? And that his father, Io, walks its streets by night?"

"Mmmhm. Asylum can only be found by those who wish to start over in life. As for the Lord of the North Wind, he does wander Asylum and Alyson quite frequently saw him as a child. Io, has too many duties to bother with Asylum since his domain is the Realm entire and beyond." Lazheros pulled out his holy symbol of Bahamut and began to mutter in draconic.

Spirit guardians appeared and surrounded Princess Cauladra. They looked like miniature dragons, all seven of them.

The Elven Princess stared at the spirit guardians before she reached her hand out to touch one of them. "Are these fairy dragons which you have summoned, Grand Cleric?"

"They are Spirit Guardians that represent an aspect of the platinum dragon. It is what I chose for them to look like. Any vampire that comes near you, they will defend and attack." He told her.

"Thank you, Grand Cleric," Princess Cauladra seemed a little concerned, "But do these guardians which you have summoned to my aid mean that you plan to abandon me?"

He gave her a look of surprise, "Why would you even consider that, your highness? I did say that I would protect you, did I not."

"Oh, poor, poor Princess Cauladra. What will you ever do if he was going to abandon you?" Came a sultry feminine voice from one of her close servants. A elven handmaiden walked in smiling. A series of sharp fangs protruded from her mouth dripping with fresh blood.

"Elf blood is sweet tasting, so full of long life and magic, don't you think?" The handmaiden gestured with a flick of her hand as her royal guards came in charging. The nearest guard was paralyzed and the one nearest to him hit the hard stone floor with a thud.

The Bronze Man summoned his spiritual weapon behind the vampire. It struck with such fervor and zeal that the handmaiden's arm was seared off. "Enough of this idle nonsense, fiend!"

*****

A screech from a swarm of bats came blasting out the darkness of the cavern followed by a half dozen vampires. Sir Gonagle and his kin took up defensive positions armed with crossbows, while Quake readied her net gun and fired it over the opening.

Curses and screeches came from the vamps caught in the net. They were almost free of it until the gnomes unloaded their weapons on them.

Quake gasped, "There's something big and fangy coming, lady!"

"Step back away from the entrance," Alyson commanded as her form shifted into the red dragon this time.

The gnomes took cover as the scorching breath of the red dragon obliterated the huge creature. Some kind of giant vampire bat and the rest of the vampires leaving only ash littering the floor of the cavern.

******

The platinum knight held up his hand suddenly and motioned two of the slayers to scout out a potential sighting. Suddenly a handful of vamps came out fangs and claws swinging. Madeous brought his greats word up and in one fluid motion smited the closest vamp leaving only ash behind. The other two vampires closed in on the slayers and met the business end of multiple wooden stakes.

"Only three vampires." One of the slayers said.

"Usually there are more," Another added.

Just then one of the smaller homes exploded with vampires. At least a dozen more.

"You just had to open your big mouth didn't you!" A third slayer grumbled.

The platinum knight charged head on towards the vampires and took three down with a great cleave of his sword.

Between the slayers and the platinum knight, they dropped every single one the vamps and chased down the ones that ran. They also checked the citizens for bite marks and took inquiries from witnesses of a possible lair.

*****

Irzen bore the suspicious eyes of both the Clerics and Paladins with grace as they blessed his weapons. After the Clerics and Paladins paired off, the Swordsman began to lead his team as they began to spread out in an effort to flush out the vampires and drive them into the ambush points.

Maxim took notice of the swordsman contempt towards the holy warriors and walked over, "Not a fan of the Ones up top? Neither am I, however, its better to believe in something than nothing at all."

"Maxim, methinks they are not a fan of me more than I am not a fan of them!" Irzen replied with an evil grin, "The breach between Surface Elves and Dark Elves has never been sealed. Their anointing me as a "temporary" holy warrior must chafe them quite a bit. Still, I agree with you. It is better to believe in something than nothing at all."

Maxim nodded, "That too. They weren't exactly thrilled to see a bunch of humans with our strange flying ship either."

The Swordsman drew forth Evenflow, "And it's good to have a friend to watch your back."

Irzen spied something in the gloom right behind Maxim, "Look out!" The Swordsman shoved Maxim aside just as a vampire stepped forward to try and bite him. The only thing the vampire received for its trouble was a vorpal sword that sliced its head from its shoulders.

The Swordsman stretched his hand out to Maxim, "Are you alright?"

Before Maxim could answer he jabbed forward catching another vampire in the chest. His next attack dropped one directly above the swordsman as it fell from the wall. "Just fine. Watch your back."

A pair of vamps closed in on the prince flanking him, while another two kept a paladin busy.

******

"There's food and drink and I have a small library if you're interested in my cabin." Captain Lion walked the perimeter of his ship.

"A library?" Serna beamed from ear to ear, "Thank you, Captain Lion. I'm quite full from dinner but I would love to see your library. I love to read."

Captain Lion walked the shield maiden to the door of his cabin and opened it for her. To the left was the library or rather a series of shelves containing the history of where he came from, the crew and his journey's across the Fire Sea. He himself sat down in a plush chair next to a table keeping his attention to both her and the open door to the outside.

Serna took one of the books about the history of nineteenth century Earth and began to read it in earnest. After a few minutes, she looked up at Captain Lion and asked, "Where are the dragons and elves and dwarves on your world? There is mention of Humans aplenty but not one word about the others."

"Elves and dragons are little more than fairy tales of myth and legend on Earth. As for dwarves, well, my dear there are some humans born incapable of looking like normal people. It's called dwarfism, or little people as they like to be called." He stood up from his chair and reached up on the higher shelves. There he pulled a photo album down for her to look through.

"No Elves? No dragons? No REAL dwarves?" Serna shook her head in disbelief, "You must come from a very sad and boring world, Captain Lion. I can see why you came to The Realm. No doubt to spruce up your life. Hey! How did you come to The Realm anyway?"

"True magic is frowned upon and feared by many who don't want to understand it. My wife and I had become wary of our time on Earth since the days of the vampire slayer waned and the threat of a great world war was on the horizon. So, we took a leap of faith and hoped that Lady Luck would allow us to find safe haven elsewhere. On this ship's maiden voyage we sailed through the clouds and came out to a world with three moons and two suns. Although I am told there are four suns." He sat back down in his chair.

"AAAAWWWW!" Serna sadly shook her head, "That's a shame. I'm sorry that your world has no true magic. And I'm sorrier still that you and your wife felt compelled to flee your homeworld. But you are right about one thing. The Realm does have three moons and four suns. Back where I am from, in Deeping Dale, we see them all the time. Have you ever been to Deeping Dale? It's very nice. Also, how do you and your wife like Asylum? Was that the first place you found when you came to the Realm? Or did you wander anywhere else before that?"

"We settled in quite nicely and started a family. All boys. We tried for a girl but no luck which is why I had asked you in Arbor Haven if you wanted to be adopted since you were an orphan. The offer is open to you, young lady. No, I have not been to Deeping Dale. The farthest I've been west was Arbor Haven, and I do not wish to venture beyond that. For I miss my lovely wife and my sons. I pledged my service to the Guardian of Asylum and it has been that way every since." He stood up suddenly when a shot went off outside.

****BANNGGG!!****

A screech was heard briefly and then nothing. The Englishman came out with his rifle, "Only one?"

"Aye sir. We spotted some off to the left near the tower entrance." The gunner replied.