OoO( 5 )OoO

Lyle walked over a bridge and past two guards, to the gates of Bowerstone.

"Wait." said one of the guards. Stepping in front of Lyle, he held up a hand. "This is your first time to Bowerstone isn't it?" asked the guard. Lyle nodded, and the guard continued. "Bowerstone is a very peaceful town. It always has been and always will be, so we will ask you to hand over your weapons until you leave the town." Lyle hesitated, but handed over his bow and sword.

"Not a scrath on either of those or I put out a quest card for your head." he said and walked through the now open gates.

He stepped into the large city and looked around in amazement. Everywhere there was joyful laughter and people chatting the day away. To his left, he saw a group of people crowded around a shop waving bags of money around.

He walked further and saw some men carrying crates with a giant apple painted on it, which reminded him that he was thirsty. He would have to visit this tavern. But what captured his attention the most was when he heard the worst song he could imagine being sung by the worst voice. Turning, he looked in disgust at the singer to see a wandering bard trying to impress a woman. But he quickly forgot the bard and his song as he saw the woman. She wore a long purple gown, something usually seen in a ballroom, and had blonde hair down to her shoulders. Saying she was beautiful would be an insult to her beauty.

A man walked up to Lyle and noticed him staring at something. After seeing the target of his eyes, the man smiled and said, "Yeah, I would like to have a drink with that one myself."

Lyle turned to him and shook out of his daze. "Who is that?" he asked curiously.

"That'll be the mayor of this here city. Lady Grey is her name." said the man. "Funny thing, she isn't married yet. You'd think with all that authority and money she would have found someone to suit her."

Lady Grey yawned at the bards attempt to swoon her. She looked around and saw two men looking at her. One was just a peasant, one of the workers of the town that liked to stare once in a while. But the other one, he was a face she hadn't seen before. She found him...dare she say it...attractive. Smiling, she winked at him and turned around, walking back up the stairs to Bowerstone North.

"Oh boy, looks like she took an interest in me." said the man who attempted to slicken his hair back.

Lyle turned and looked at him with amusement. Patting him on the back, he said "Tell me how it turns out." before walking towards the tavern to see Maze standing in front of it.

Maze smiled as Lyle approached. "Took you long enough, I already started a tab inside waiting for you." he said jokingly. Lyle laughed and Maze continued. "So, I see you've gained some popularity since you destroyed the Hornet Queen."

Lyle turned and saw people staring at him and gossiping. Suddenly, they all started waving and he took a step backwards. "I guess so." he said, not used to having the spotlight on him.

"I wouldn't let that kind of thing go to your head. There are dark forces gathering that put your insect to shame. All around Albion, shadows are stirring and evil reveals itself at the worst times." he said staring at the sky. "Tell me something Lyle, do you remember much about the night I brought you to the guild?" Lyle said nothing. "The night that Oakvale was burnt to the ground, I thought that the bandits had killed your whole family. But it seems that there may have been another survivor. Your sister Theresa might be alive."

Lyle's eyes widened and he grabbed Maze by the hem of his cloak. "What? Where did you hear this?" he asked. Maze pulled Lyle off him.

"Don't get too excited, its just a rumor. I heard it from a travelling merchant, he said that a girl was carried away the night of the raid. But that was all the information he had. If your sister is alive Lyle, we will find her." said Maze, and Lyle calmed down. "By the way, where are the others?"

"They took a mission in Hook Coast. Something about a Snow Troll." he said rubbing his forehead.

Suddenly, Maze grabbed Lyle by the shoulders. Lyle looked up at Maze and noticed a look of urgency on his face. "A Snow Troll?" he asked worriedly. Lyle nodded and Maze stepped back almost tripping himself. "I'll see you later Lyle." he said and vanished.

Lyle looked confused, but brushed it off as he walked inside the inn. Ordering a drink, he sat at the bar and chugged the cold cider. A woman walked across the tavern and served drinks, then walked back to the bar. Seeing him, she asked, "Is there anything I can do for you sir?"

"Yeah, get me a room for the night." he said standing up. Laying 100 gold on the bar, he walked upstairs and looked around. "Not exactly home, but it will do." he said, then layed down on the bed.

Lyle's dream disturbed him immensly. There he stood in a forest at dawn, with the sun rising in front of him. Suddenly, a dark shape appeared in front of him and walked towards him. Gripping his sword handle lightly, he watched. As the figure stepped closer, he saw it as Alex. She stopped walking five feet from him and smiled.

"Alex, what are you doing here?" he asked.

"Lyle, promise me you will find me." she said.

He looked confused. "What? What are you talking about?"

"Please, please promise you will find me." she said.

Seeing the worried look on her face, he smiled gently and said, "Sure. I'll find you no matter what." he said. Alex smiled and looked away.

"Now I can sleep. Don't forget, you promised. Now wake up Lyle." she said. He stared at her and she repeated, "Wake up Lyle."

OoOoO

Lyle lay asleep in the bed as Maze shook him. "Wake up Lyle, wake up!" he shouted. Lyle opened his eyes and looked up at Maze's worried face. "Its about time, quickly, you must come with me." he said.

Lyle sat up. "What's wrong?" he asked. Then he saw something that almost made his heart stop. Van lay placid over Maze's shoulder, unconscious and bloody. Jumping to his feet, he turned to Maze. "Where is Alex?" he asked. Maze looked away. "Where is she dammit?" he yelled.

"Witnesses say the Snow Troll got a hold of her and...hurled her out into the ocean." said Maze with an expressionless face. Lyle stood a moment before reacting. Grabbing his guild seal, he vanished, teleporting to Hook Coast. "No Lyle! Dammit you'll only end up like them you fool!" he yelled. Laying Van on the bed, he turned to a woman that had walked up the stairs and said, "Here, take care of him until I get back." She nodded, and he teleported.

OoOoO

When Lyle arrived, he looked around and saw a gateway in front of him. Running through, he saw snow fall to the ground like millions of tiny feathers. Snow was something Lyle hadn't seen in a long time. But, ignoring the natural beauty, he ran into the nearest building and grabbed the person behind the counter by his collar. "Where is the troll?" he bellowed, and was answered with a pointing finger. Running out the door, he dashed west and saw the monstrosity.

It had reached the tavern and was reaching inside the door with a giant arm, trying to pull out its next victim. But, all the citizens were huddled in the back behind the bar and out of the trolls reach. Lyle ran forward with a battle cry and jumped onto the trolls back with his sword drawn. Stabbing the troll in the back, the blade was barely able to pierce its icy hide. But what the attack did do was get the trolls attention.

Reaching behind him, the troll grabbed Lyle's leg and slammed him onto the ground. Lyle jumped back up as if not fazed and slashed at the beast left and right. But the sword was miserably ineffective against the thick ice. Pounding both fists on the ground, the troll sent a shockwave that threw Lyle to the ground. The troll walked over to Lyle and pummeled him with punches until he was nearly unconscious. After a minute, Lyle layed on the ground. His chest armor broken, his gloves torn, and his sword shattered, he lay smiling. "I'm sorry Alex." he said as the troll raised his fist to finish off the new hero.

"You promised." said a voice inside his head. "You promised to find me Lyle." Lyle's eyes opened and he flipped backwards to his feet, barely dodging the punch from the monster. Suddenly, Maze appeared in front of Lyle.

Grabbing Lyle by the shoulder, he said, "Lyle, you must get out of here before this thing kills you!" Lyle knocked his hand away.

"Stay out of the way Maze, or I will go through you." he said in a dark voice. Maze backed off, seeing the fire in his students eyes. Nodding, he stepped back. Lyle turned and faced the troll who was now walking towards him. Lyle held out both hands in front of him and two fiery clouds appeared. Maze thought it smart to use fireballs against an ice monster, but what Lyle did surprised him.

Instead of throwing the fireballs, he grabbed the burning willand held it tightly. But, instead of disappearing, the fire flared and covered his fists.

The troll stopped at seeing the fire, it had never seen anything like it before. It was so interested that it didn't even register Lyle's next move. Running at the beast, Lyle jumped into the air and slammed both feet into the trolls eyes. Startled, it toppled backwards and landed on its back, creating a shockwave. Lyle continued his relentless assault and smashed through the icy armor with his flaming fists.

But his attack was halted when the troll reached up and grabbed him. Using all its strength, it hurled Lyle into the side of the inn, making him smash through the wood work. Lyle stood as if he hadn't even felt the attack. Slowly, he chanted something that only infuriated him. "Alex, Alex, Alex..." he said.

The troll took its time getting to its feet. The assault by Lyle had severly damaged the stomach of the beast, making it slower in everything it did. It saw Lyle and roared angrily in his direction. Lyle glared and roared back. Running at the injured golem, he held both fists back and climbed the front of the troll. Planting a boot on its face, he launched strait up and dodged a punch, making the troll smash its own face in.

Lyle soared back and landed on the trolls shoulders. Already being stunned by its own attack, it was too dazed to notice him until Lyle stuck both flaming arms into its mouth. It angrily bit down with its dull teeth in an attempt to take off Lyle's arms. But he didn't survive long enough to do anything. Flames shot from Lyle's hand and swam down the trolls throat into the very pit of its stomach. Not being able to hold anymore fire, it exploded sending Lyle flying backwards. He landed on his back but quickly flipped back to his feet.

A short silence followed the raining of rocky body parts. Then, a cheering broke out. "Amazing, the Hero defeated the troll single handedly!" shouted an inn patron. More people crowded the streets and started cheering for Lyle, when the effects of the battle hit him. Will drained, arms bloodied, and enough damage to snap any lesser man in half, he collapsed in the snow.