Land nearby.

It takes a moment for everybody to steady themselves after such a dizzying experience, and you're the one more used to it than the rest. But still, you managed to get extremely close this time around. The tower is just up ahead--blue roof, several windows, and a large wooden double door up a few steps at the base. A rainbow of flowers bloom all around it. It feels like it's been an eternity since your first time here, after your party narrowly escaped a dungeon.

You drum your knuckles on the front doorway. "Let's be on our best behaviour. I'd rather not make enemies of the Circle."

"Everybody loves us!" Niki exclaims.

"I'm looking at you, Niki."

"What does that mean?"

Slowly, the door creaks open. The dimly lit entrance pours full of sunlight as a cute catfolk comes into view. Just like last time, she wears what you'd describe as a French maid outfit, not unlike Yin, and she has neck-length brown hair and vibrant blue eyes. She holds a duster in her hand as well. Upon seeing your party, she tilts her head, and her tail begins to sway left and right. "Greetings, meow," she says. "Nyou are nyot who I expected to see."

"Why does she talk like that?" Vivi whispers to you.

"We came to speak with Lord Barkis," you say. "Is he home?"

Reko--loyal housekeeper of the mage in question. It's been some time, but you recognize her without issue. The way she speaks, her mischievous kitty face, an adorable outfit. Though she couldn't light a candle to Yin, of course.

"Follow behind me, meow," she says with a twirl. "Given what nyou've all been up to, I think that my myaster will be interested in conversing. Come. Follow me, meow."

So you do. Your party proceeds through the doors and into the entry hall. Just like before, you're brought through a passage to the left, which leads to a spiral staircase. She leads the way up several floors as her short skirt bounces with each long step. Though finally, she stops as a door. After turning it open, she continues to tour you down a hallway, and then to another door. It's through here that you remember speaking to the man before. And when she opens it up, you can see that it looks exactly the same as well--a lush purple carpet, shelves of reagents, books, and decorations, and a window behind a wooden desk at the far end.

That's where Barkis sits. Without a hair on his head, but many hairs on his chin, he appears as a white bushy man with a golden robe trimmed with black. In front of him are many tomes and scraps of paper. As you enter, he strokes his long beard as his eyes--barely visible beneath his wild brows--watch you closely.

"Why have you come?" he finally asks. "Kyle Warren."