OoO( 13 )OoO

Lyle awoke, extemely happy to be sleeping in his own bed again. He rolled over and looked out the window, noticing that the sun was high in the sky. Closing his eyes again, he attempted to go back to sleep. But, a familiar and friendly voice stopped him from completing his goal.

"Hey farmboy, wake up! Its almost noon!" shouted Whisper. Lyle groaned and put the pillow over his head. Whisper smiled again and reached to Lyle, placing one finger an inch above his rear end. A small bolt of electricity shot from her finger and zapped Lyle, instantly making him jump out of the bed.

He shouted in pain and turned to Whisper. "What was that for?" he shouted.

But Whisper smiled broadly as she stared at Lyle and said one word. "Wow..."

Lyle looked at the odd stare, then looked down and realized he was completely nude. Grabbing the blanket from his bed he covered himself up and glared at her. "Keep those eyes to yourself before you lose them." he said.

"Alright alright...take it easy farmboy. I was just browsing." she said sarcastically.

"Get out!" he shouted.

OoOoO

After Lyle had gotten into his liesure clothes, a white cloth shirt and loose pants, he walked out the door and stared at Whisper. He knew she got a full shot of him, and knew she had a big mouth as well. By the end of the day, everybody in the guild will have heard the rumor of Lyle flashing Whisper. Lyle was sure that Thunder would have something to say about that, and that was one argument he wanted to avoid.

As he walked out the door, Whisper smiled and looked at him. "Listen Whisper, you can't tell anybody about what happened in there." he said.

"Oh come on, you should take it as a compliment! I mean, the apprentice girls of the guild already swoon before you. Who knows, this may get you a girlfriend." she said. Lyle glared at her darkly, and she sighed with a smile. "Alright, but know this. You are the only one who can make a dark girl blush." she said.

"Well put. By the way, have you seen my sister?" he asked.

"Oh, she is wandering around somewhere, no offense to her." said Whisper. "Oh by the way, the reason I came up here in the first place was to give you some good news. I have been selected to enter the Witchwood Arena in a few days."

"Congratulations, I will be cheering for you." he said.

She frowned. "Well I would certainly hope not..." she said and a look of confusion crossed over his face. "Because you are going to be fighting right beside me." Lyle's eyebrows rose as she said this.

"So I was invited as well?" he asked. Whisper nodded and patted him on the shoulder. "Time to show Albion what you are really made of farmboy." she said, and her eyes widened. "Oh, I almost forgot! The guildmaster wanted me to tell you that the Hook Coast Cullis Gate is running again!" she said.

Lyle's eyes widened and he grabbed her by the shoulders. "Are you serious?" she nodded and he ran back into the room. After changing into his armor and grabbing his weapons, he ran down the stairs and into the map room. But, as he slid down the post, he crashed into someone that was headed up the stairs. "Ah! Damn, not again!" said Lyle rubbing his forehead.

"I could say the same thing!" said Van as he slowly rose from the ground. They both stood up and looked at each other. "Lyle..."

"Van..."

"Oh stop it you two!" shouted Whisper as she followed Lyle down the stairs. "You two have been friends for over three years now and you both act as if you don't know each other because of some stupid argument!" Lyle and Van looked at her. "I don't know what you two are angry at each other for, but stop it. Life is too short to treat your friends this way!" she said fuming.

Lyle and Van looked from her to one another, niether moving nor saying anything. They just stood there and stared at each other. Van held out his hand first with a small smile. Lyle slowly took his hand and began shaking it...when Van nailed him with a lightning attack through his arm. Lyle flew back and landed on his rear as Van started laughing. "Sorry, couldn't help it." he said and held his hand out to help Lyle up.

Lyle smiled and took Van's hand. "I probably deserved that." he said as he stood up. But, he did the same thing and sent electricity through Van's arm and sending him sprawling.

Van coughed and got to his feet. "I know I deserved that one..." he said and stood staring at Lyle. "But don't think for a second that I'm going to allow you to get away with that!" he yelled and chased a laughing Lyle out the building and into the guild grounds.

Whisper shook her head and said, "Boys..."

OoOoO

Several apprentices stood surrounding the melee circle cheering at the two competitors. Though the match style wasn't the usual, it was still an entertaining match between the two. Maze walked into the guild grounds and tapped a nearby apprentice on the shoulder. "Excuse me, have you seen Lyle?" he asked. The apprentice pointed to the melee circle and Maze thanked him, then left. Upon arriving at the circle, he was surprised at what he saw.

Lyle lay face down in the dirt with Van standing over him, bending Lyle's leg backwards over his back. "Say it!" shouted Van as Lyle pummeled the ground with his fists. "Say it!"

"Never!" shouted Lyle, and he spun to where he now lie face up. Pulling with his leg, he flipped Van off of him and jumped on his friend, putting him in a headlock.

"Thats hardly what I call a regulation fight..." said Maze.

Lyle looked up and saw Maze, then let go of Van. "Oh cummon Maze, even you have to have fun sometimes." he said. Suddenly, he was tackled from behind by Van and forced into an ankle lock.

"Say it!" shouted Van as Lyle struggled again.

Several apprentices began exchanging gold as to who would win the battle. Maze stared at them and said, "You know gambling is illegal in the guild..." he said. The apprentices looked at him and sighed. "Give me five hundred gold on Van." he said with a small smile.

OoOoO

After the inevitable beating by Van, Maze brought Lyle into his chamber and and sat him down in a cushy arm chair. Pacing back and forth, Maze stared at the floor trying to force words into his mouth. But no matter what, he couldn't figure out what to say to the boy.

Eventually, Lyle got impatient. "Maze?" he said. The wizard looked down at Lyle questioningly. "You're starting to wear a hole in the floor." he said.

Maze smiled and turned to Lyle. "Lyle, I need you to do me a favor."

"I'm starting to feel like a kid again." said Lyle sarcastically. Ignoring Maze's confused look, he said, "What is it?"

"A very good friend of mine has recently disappeared. Last he was seen, he was going into Witchwood Forest alone. I fear for his life and I would like you to find him for me. It's urgent that I find him as soon as possible." he said.

"How come?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't speak of that at this time..." said Maze.

Lyle thought for a second, then said. "I'll tell you what. I am about to head to Hook Coast for a little bit. But as soon as I get back, I'll head to Witchwood to find your friend." he said.

Maze frowned. "Lyle, this is top priority." said Maze.

"Not in my book. The next time I leave this guild will be through the cullis gate headed to Hook Coast. Now, I can either go to Hook Coast, then head to Witchwood when I am done. Or I can go to Hook Coast and not have anything to do with your friend." said Lyle in a serious tone.

Maze sighed and rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Alright, but make it quick." he said. "His name is unknown, but everybody just calls him the Archeologist. He is very wise, so please try not to offend him."

Lyle nodded, then stood up from the chair. "I won't leave a leaf unturned." he said.

OoOoO

Lyle, Van, and Elizabeth arrived at Hook Coast, feeling a cold blast of air swept across their skin making them shiver slightly. They all walked through the small valley that led to the town and exited into the snow covered grounds of the city.

The first person to notice them was a nearby guard. He walked up to them and smiled. "Welcome to Hook Coast. Is this your first time?" he asked.

Lyle turned and looked at the man. "It isn't for me." he said. "I was here once before and it wasn't a very pleasant visit." Lyle remarked.

The guard frowned at him. "Why not, did you lose all your money at the tables? I have a suspicion that the table owners are cheating you know."

"You don't know who I am?" asked Lyle.

"Sorry, but I'm afraid I don't." said the guard.

Lyle smiled and said, "Good, I prefer it that way." he said. "How long have you been here?"

"I just got here three days ago from the far east. My village was named Salem." he said rather cheerfully.

"Good to know." Lyle said and walked away. Van and Elizabeth followed him into the tavern at the far end of the stone street. Only too late did he realize that it was a bad idea to enter, for as soon as his foot touched the wooden floor, his ears exploded with the sound of thunder. Everybody in the inn stood and clapped loudly for their savior. Lyle looked around and a young woman grabbed his arm.

"Will you have a drink with me?" she asked.

"Uh...I have buisiness to take care of..." he said.

"Please?" she asked, giving him a look that he despised. After standing up to the innocent pleading look for a second, he broke down.

"Alright, just for a minute." he said. The girl squealed and pulled him to her table.

Van and Elizabeth smiled. "He has become quite popular here hasn't he?" asked Elizabeth.

"What do you expect? He saved everybody in the town from possible death. From what Lyle read, the snow trolls can only live outside their habitat for twenty-four hours. But that would have been more than enough time to take this entire town with him." he said.

Suddenly, a large man walked up to Elizabeth and said, "Excuse me miss, could I buy you a drink?"

"Sorry, but we are busy." said Van rather sternly.

The man looked at Van and he could instantly tell the man was drunk by the smell that slapped him in the face. "Nobody asked you brat! I was talking to the lady, so go shake your rattle somewhere else!" said the man. He angrily grabbed Van's shoulder and tried to push him out of the way, only to get blown back on his rear end. Van smiled as electricity caressed his dark armor.

"It would be wise not to anger me." he said. Walking over to a table, he and Elizabeth sat down and ordered drinks. Elizabeth, who had gotten rid of her guild uniform was now wearing a long black sleevless dress with many symbols upon it, depicting her trophies from when she was a hero. Though she was only twenty-two, she decided that she would rather help to train students than go around killing as a hero.

Then, a young boy...younger than Van walked up to Van and said, "Umm...is it okay if I buy the lady a drink?" he asked nervously.

Van smiled. "Why are you asking me?"

Nodding, the kid turned and asked Elizabeth the same question. She nodded and said, "Of course you can. But nothing too strong, I prefer wine if they have it." The kid nodded excitedly and ran off to the bar. Elizabeth turned to Van, who was smiling at her. "Why did you let him buy me one and not that other man?" she asked curiously.

"Because, I know that kid has good intentions...if any at all. That 'man' as you call him was drunk and would have fed you alcohol til he had you in his bed." said Van. He smiled again as he saw the dawning look on her face. "And yes, he really would have done that."

Suddenly, Lyle walked up to them and said, "I haven't got anything so far on sightings of Alex."

Frowning, Van asked, "Now what do we do?"

"Maybe we could look around for someone that has seen her." suggested Elizabeth. They all looked at each other and nodded.

"It seems thats all we can do." said Lyle. The others stood and he continued. "We should split up, if you find anybody who has seen her, toss a fireball into the air and we will come to you." Nodding, they all went in opposite directions of the city, scowering it up and down for any trace of their lost friend and comrade. But, unknown to the others, she was much more than that to Lyle.

There hadn't been a single night that he didn't think about her before he slept, and prayed to Avo that she was still alive somewhere. He even travelled to the Temple of Avo a few times in secret to pray for her. And though he never really believed in Avo, and highly disapproved of the priests at the temple, he still came back once a week to pray for her safety.

Eventually, both Lyle and Van saw the flare fly into the air and instantly ran to where Elizabeth was waiting. She stood next to a shop with the shopkeeper next to her. As he approached, Lyle said, "What is it?"

"I found someone who says that they saw someone who resembled Alex." she said turning to the shopkeeper.

"Yep, sure did. Around here she is called the Angel of Death." said the man.

Lyle looked at him darkly. "Why?" he asked murderously.

The man cowered slightly, but stood his ground. "There is an assassin from the bandit camp across the mountain range that comes here on occasional missions. She kills so lethaly that she seems like the grim reaper. But, on the other hand, she wears white armor over her breasts and shoulders and wears white revealing clothing. She seems like a goddess, but the way she kills is unbelievable." said the man.

"No way..." said Lyle. "There is now way she would be an assassin by choice." he said angrily.

"Still...its the only lead we have." said Van.

Lyle sighed and turned around. He knew Van was right, but he just couldn't accept that Alex was a killer. "I have to go for now. I told Maze I would do something for him." said Lyle.

"But, we are close to finding her..." said Elizabeth.

"Its not her!" he yelled. "Alex isn't a killer, she would never kill someone for any reason unless they were evil. And she wouldn't work for bandits...no matter what." he said lowering his head.

"What do you mean?" asked Van.

"When I told her what happened to my village when I was young, she couldn't believe her ears. She swore to me that she would help me find out who had killed my family and destroy them." he said. Van and Elizabeth stayed silent. "Their Angel of Death isn't Alex. She would have come back to the village and waited if she were alive." he said with a tear rolling down his cheek. "I have to go now." he said, then headed for the cullis gate.