As the party ventured upwards towards the surface, a series of shrieks and screams could be heard followed by bursts of fire.

"Sounds like someone's throwing a party up top!" The Swordman quipped to no one in particular.

A few vampire stragglers flew down towards the party only to be impaled, shot, or cut down by Madeous, Quake, or Captain Lion.

"LADY!" Quake barged past Birch and hugged the elementalist at the top of the old steps.

In the grip of the elementalist, the last vampire was reduced to ash, "Gently. Quake, gently."

Madeous walked up to them with a look of relief, "Glad to have you back, Alyson."

Captain Lion holstered his side arms, "I am glad that you persevered. How are things up top?"

"Good to have you back, Alyson," The Swordsman looked over his shoulder at the passageway they had just came, "Uh, can anybody close that?"

"Lady Alyson, it is good to see you are well. How fare things in East Port?" Prince Birch asked the Elementalist.

"Ah, about that," Alyson shook her head, "Between the sage, Sudestren, and Grand Cleric, Sylvus, who almost aged Lazheros into the beyond had not Dungeon Master showed up. I'd say things are better, I think."

"Sage Sudestren and Grand Cleric Sylvus BOTH paid us a social call? And at this hour?!" Prince Birch shook his head in disbelief, "Did they not know that we had a vampire scourge in East Port?"

"Sudestren didn't believe us, so I teleported down at the cavern entrance where a massive boulder was supposed to block the hole. It was off to one side, smashed to pieces. Lazheros asked to speak to the grand cleric here, and Sylvus freaked out, doubting why we were here, and spouting racism. When things got to be too much, that's when Dungeon Master appeared. As for the vampire threat, those two were avoided entirely by the undead."

"WHAT?!" Prince Birch roared as he stormed past them, through the rift, and towards Grand Cleric of East Port, "Sylvus, are you mad?! What goes on here? Insulting MY guests! Ignoring the vampire threat! Explain yourself!"

"A thousand pardons, my liege!" Sylvus bowed before the prince, "I did not know that they were allies of Dungeonmaster--"

"--But you did know that they were allies of the Crown!" Birch corrected him, "I have no doubt that my wife said to you that this was so."

Princess Cauladra and Sylvus nodded in agreement silently.

"Then begone from my sight, Grand Cleric," Birch dismissed him, "I have no kind words for you this eventide. Mayhaps by morningtide my ire will cool and I will accept you once again into my court. Until then, begone!"

Sylvus cast his gaze downward and replied quietly, "Yes, my liege." Before he departed the room, the Grand Cleric of Labelas Enoreth cast a nasty glance at the Grand Cleric of Bahamut and silently cursed his name.

******

"You can take a nap if you want, Serna. I will keep watch." Spencer got up, grabbed a book and sat back down, "Besides, you look like you need to sleep."

"That's not a bad idea, Spencer," Serna yawned, "And it has been a long day. I think I will." It did not take long for the Shield Maiden to fall asleep with the Kurori still in her lap.

Serna began to snore peacefully.

******

Time stopped as Dungeon Master walked out of from behind the throne, "Sylvus, Grand Cleric of Labelos Enoreth, stay your hand and return the Guardian of Asylum to his original state, or it is you that shall suffer the fate of all."

A look of abject horror came over Sylvus Kiltani's face when he saw Dungeon Master before him, "O, Great Dungeon Master, are these interlopers allied with you? I--I--I did not know. I merely thought them to be interlopers of Bahamut trying to worm their way into my diocese and lead Enoreth's faithful away by gaining favor with the crown."

"You are letting your vanity over ride your judgement, Sylvus." Dungeon Master shook a finger at him warningly, "Do not presume that you are in the right here. Do not forsake the freedom of your people because you deemed these heroes and allies of your kin, a threat. You were summoned by the princess because they sought your insight on the veiled menace."

"I--I understand!" Sylvus Kiltani responded in pure defeat, "And I am sorry for any harm that I have caused." The Grand Cleric of East Port raised his staff and fired off a blast of energy that coursed its way into Lazheros' body restoring him back to his original youthful age."

The Bronze Man feeling himself again joined Princess Cauladra's side with his shield in one hand and his warhammer in the other. There was the matter of the pride demon to deal with still.

"What must I do now, Great Dungeon Master?" The High Elf turned back towards the Gnome.

"Face the truth of what stands before you, Sylvus and confront the danger that lies beneath the city." Dungeon Master walked towards the throne again and vanished.

Sylvus nodded to himself as he turned towards the Pride Demon.

***RRRAAAAAUUGGGGHHH!!!***

The pride demon roared, charging straight for the princess when Lazheros instinctively raised his shield and held the creature at bay.

Princess Cauladra quickly drew forth her sword, assumed a battle crouch and waited for the creature to try and strike her.

The elementalist invoked both pieces of the crimson dragon armor and unleashed a barrage of fire bolts into the backside of the demon. Then followed up with razor sharp dragon slashes dropping it one knee.

By this time, the royal guards entered and engaged the demon. Their long spears piercing the tough hide of it and then unleashed a barrage of arrows.

Sylvus aimed his quarterstaff at the pride demon and cut loose with another energy blast that slammed into the creature regressing it in age by a thousand years thus making it not only younger but also weaker.

With a bellowing shriek the pride demon fell under the combined strikes of magic and metal and was no more. Its body withered and turned into a pool of blood that seeped back through the rift that Alyson and Lazheros created. Now everyone including Sylvus could see the remains of the massive boulder off to one side of the cavern entrance.

"I'm going back through. There's still more vampires down there. No blood mages or demons just lots of undead to burn." The elementalist turned towards the rift and stepped through.

"Your Grace, please forgive me for my earlier hubris!" Sylvus turned towards Princess Cauladra, "I did not know these interlopers--I mean outsiders--were your allies and I acted in rash haste and poor judgement."

"All is forgiven, Grand Cleric," The princess lowered her guard, "However, I am not the only one from who you should seek forgiveness." She pointed to Lazheros.

Sylvus Kiltani cleared his throat before he spoke, "Grand Cleric of Asylum, please forgive me for my earlier zealotry! I thought you to be more foe than friend and I found your presence here to be a threat to the rule of my god. I was wrong! You are clearly a friend of the Crown and you and your allies are most welcome in East Port!"

Lazheros holstered his war hammer but kept his shield out in full view of Sylvus. His stern expression clearly indicated his own contempt towards him. "Even I know enough not to attract the attention of Dungeon Master as you have, Grand Cleric Sylvus. You should count yourself fortunate that he was in a forgiving mood, for I have seen him when he is not. Your actions were callous instead of being one of counsel. I clearly stated as to why I was here, nor was I going about imposing my beliefs on anyone. That is your failing, however, I will forgive you this time."

"Thank you, Grand Cleric Lazheros," The High Elf replied with a firm nod, "Your forgiveness is appreciated."

The Bronze Man turned towards the main entrance of the throne to see a very wary and out of breath sage, "Sudestren?"

"Demons! Dragons! And dastardly deeds are afoot!" The haggard Sudestren cried out before he passed out in front of everyone and collapsed to the floor in a heap.

"My goodness! The poor man has fainted!" The princess sheathed her sword and ran to the sage's side to aid him, "He is exhausted! Can either of you aid him?" The Princess turned to both The Grand Clerics.

Lazheros turned to Sylvus, "He is of your kin, I will let you revive him."

"Nay!" Sylvus retreated from the room, "Please show my lieges the wondrous power of The Lord of The North Wind. I shall tarry here no longer."

Alyson, Quake, Madeous, and the rest of the party quickly followed Birch through the rift back into the throne room.

The bronze man sighed heavily and went over to help the sage back to his feet, "Drink this, Sudestren, to recover your strength."

Captain Lion stepped through taking note of the irate elven cleric before he left. "It seems things have changed since we last were here."

Alyson walked over to rulers of East Port, "It really bothers me that he didn't send runners or messengers regarding the vampire threat. Like he didn't want to admit that there were outsiders here helping out."

Madeous came over, "We still have to shut the black gate down below. It still remains open and to honest, I'd rather the keys to that forbidden place be held by true guardians of East Port. You two, or someone of whom you'd trust your very lives with."