Chapter 3

Sara quickly gathered her gear and bolted down the hall. Sythe hadn't returned and now Guildmaster Ixion was summoning her to the Grand Hall. Turning the corner Sara and SK both slide into each other. Luckily both managed to keep their balance.

"Excuse me Lady Sara, but I have a meeting with Guildmaster Ixion," said SK pushing Sara aside.

"Wait you too," questioned Sara?

"Yes, Sythe didn't come back and now I thikn he wants me to go and look for him. It is such an honor taht he would ask a lowly rank member like me to go after him. You have to excuse my rudeness Lady Sara, but I don't think it is wise to keep such and exhalted man waiting. We should really get going. Ehh, I forgot where I was suppose to meet him," babbled SK.

"Grand Hall," said Sara.

"No I mean the Guildmaster," shouted SK.
"Oh! Grand Hall is where I'm suppose to meet him."

Sara watched SK run down the hall. She could understand his nervousness. It was an honor to receive orders directly from him. She was nervous herself.

Sara and SK stood before Guildmaster Ixion. Sara tried her best to contain her nervousness. In the worst way she wanted to move from side to side, but she new that it wouldn't reflect well on her presentation. Glancing to her side, Sara felt sorry for SK. For along side of her stood a Bronze guild member with a terrified expression and clanking armor. He was not presenting well.

Master Ixion stood before them looking them over. He was the toughest instructor the school had. He had no problems raking you over the coals if you didn't live up to the guild's standards.

"Sara I just want to congradulate you on passing yoru exam," spoke Master Ixion in a quiet tone.

"Thank you Master," Sara answered bowing to Master Ixion.

Master Ixion glanced turned towards SK. His glance harden. SK whinced and his clanking became louder.

"SK the next time you are in my presence make sure you're more presentable. I don't expect Bronze level Knights to clank in my presence. Further more, I know of you childish prank with Myoky last night. If these continue you shall face very harsh consequences," growled Master Ixion.

"Forgive me Sir, speaked SK over his clanking armor.

"As you two know Sythe has not returned from his quest. Tn face he is 48 hours past his arrival time. Now his quest wasn't a dangerous one. He was commissioned by the guild to look for treasure in Tyrrant's Castle," spoke Master Ixion.

"Isn't that suppose to be haunted," questioned Sara?

"Crap and Sythe might of angered the residence of the Castle," grumbled SK.

Sara and SK approached Tyrrants Castle. On a sunny day the old Castle looked scarey. Now with the pouring rain adn flashes of lightening the Castle looked down right terrifying. The closer they got to the Castle the more nervous Sara got. She had never dealt with ghosts or spirits before. She wasn't sure what they were capable of if Sythe had angered them.

Standing in front of the old wooden doors SK turned towards Sara.
"Well Ladys first," he shouted about the storm.

"Oh no," replied Sara!

"What aren't you impressed by my new found manners," questioned SK.

"Nope and besides higher rank members go first'" returned Sara.

After several minutes of standing in the rain, "Shoot ya for it," questioned SK?

"Might as well," mumbled Sara.

"Rock papers sissors shoot," shouted SK and Sara.

"Awww crap," moaned Sara!

"Hehehe, not me my Lady," laughed SK.

Sara didn't know whether to be more annoyed at the fact taht she lost or the fact that she joined the guild stood looking at the doors. She really didn't want to open them. Glancing to her right she saw SK was happily humming. Taking a deep breahtthe Sara pushed openned the doors. She cautiously peered around teh flooded courtyard. Once she was sure no one was around she and SK entered. Sara looked around. The only things that remained was an old executioner's post and some graves. Sara couldn't understand why the old wooden post still stood unscathed after all these years.

"They say that where an innocent person is murdered the area remains unchanged as a reminder to all who come after," spoke SK respectfully.

" I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to be executed wrongly," answered Sara.

SK turned and looked at teh near by graves.

"Lady Sara I would be more concerned about the families of the victims. To be buried in unmark graves must be agonizing for them," replied SK sadly.

Cautiously walking away from the graves Sara and SK entered the old stone Castle. Niether could belive what they saw. Despite being abondoned fro 10 years, the insides remained untouch. Sara and SK carefully searched the wind swept enterance, and then the corridor until they came to a small hallway.

" Well apparently the spirts fell wer aren't a threat. The wind is them continueing their lives," whispered SK.

Sara looked at the two doors. One lead to the throne room and the other went down to the dungeon.

"I'll take the dungeon," announced Sara.

"You're just hoping to find treasure down there. Sythe has probably already taken it all, but I'll amuse you," shot back SK.

Sara headed towards the door with a slight grin on her face.

"SK," she called?

"Yes Lady Sara," answsered SK.

"I just don't want to meet the Ghost King and Queen," whispered Sara before she bolted down the stairs.

Sara ventured into the small dungeon. Nothing in it was disturbed. Knowing Sythe's style he would of trashed the place. Sara couldn't help but to get an errie feeling. Had something happened to Sythe.

The beams creaked above her. Sara grabbed her bow and fired. Dust fell on top of her. Moving quickly Sara followed a shadowy figure. She screamed fro SK. She knew whoever it was could easily take her out from above. It seemed the boards above were all creaking. SK charged down the stairs with his blade drawn. A loud explosion filled the room with smoke. Sara's skills were now useless. She could release an arrow for the fear of hitting SK. Trying to dodge for cover a knee landing into her chest senidng her flying. Ske struggled with teh person until he let out a yell.

" You two are pathetic," shouted the figure squatting on a table.

Sara fired an arrow an the figure. Reaching out he grabbed the shaft or the arrow and with a crack the arrow fell into pieces. His eyes narrowed in on her. Sara rose quickly to her feet taking aim. SK came up from behind slamming the blunt end of his sword into the figure. Knocking the attacker forward SK moved to subdue him. Sara moved to cover him. A red powder flew from the attacker's hand and into SK's eyes. Staggering back SK fell to the floor. Sara charged towards the attacker swinging her bow. She managed to get him away from SK. But now she was in trouble. She was no match for his fighing skills. Retreating towards SK, Sara held her breath trying to locate her adversary.

By now the smoke began to lighten up. Sara slowly moved away from SK. She had to make sure he had left for good.

"SK are you okay," questioned Sara.

"Not sure, my eyes are really burning," answered SK.

"Heh, an archer and a Bronze Knight are no match for me," chuckled the attacker.

"Sythe," demanded Sara!

"Man what did you do to my eyes." shouted SK!

"You're such a baby. It is just red pepper," counter SK.

"You could of killed us. What is wrong with you," shouted Sara!

" Nah, you aren't worth wasting my skills on," replied Sythe.
"Oh you can have this teapot," spoke Sythe as he left the dungeon.

Sara put the teapot in her bag. Taking SK's arm they began to head out. They both limped towards the exit of the the Castle. It wasn't the first time Sythe had taunted her.

Sythe was the guilds best student. So a fair amount of leeway was given to him with the rules. Sara really wanted to get back at him, but she knew her skills weren't good enough. She was only an archer and he was a Silver Rank Ninja. She could only hope that Grandmaster Ixion would take action on Sythe unprovoced attack on them.

I think that would be the one instance in which adhering to the "ladies first" rule would not be considered good manners. O_o