Enter the tower.

After a few minutes, the door opens once again. The catfolk maid, now with her hands empty, curtsies politely.

"My myaster will see you nyow," she says, and then gestures you inside. She closes the doors behind you.

The inside of the tower is just as large as it seemed. This appears to be the entry hall, and a passage to the left leads to a staircase that spirals upwards. It would make sense if it continued in a similar manner through several floors up to the top. Your guide walks in front of you--long brown tail wagging left and right. She moves through the passageway and starts up the steps. The stairs are long, and you just keep going, past the door of a floor an onto the next. As she walks, her short skirt bounces, and given the angle, you can almost make out what she's wearing beneath.

Maybe I should get a cat girl maid for the estate one day.

After a couple more, she stops at a door, and turns it open. It leads down a hall, to yet another door. "Here we are, meow," she says as she finally reveals to you her master's office.

A lush, purple carpet covers the floor of the room. Many shelves of different magical reagents, decorations, books, and more line the walls. You have no idea what most of it is, but the room is packed full of random items. Across the room and in front of the window is a wooden desk with a man sitting behind it.

He's bald and has a long white beard. His eyebrows are bushy, and he's wearing a golden robe with black trimming. There are several open tomes on his desk, and countless scraps of paper. As he watches you all enter his office, he strokes a hand through his beard and ponders audibly beneath his breath. His eyes watch you all closely, and you're not certain if you're meant to speak first, or wait for him.

The maid gently closes the door behind you and stands inside, waiting.

You speak up first. "Hi--"

"Welcome," speaks the elderly but wise voice that could only come from a great sage. "You all seem tired and worn. Did you come this far just to speak with me?"

"No, sir. We came to clear a dungeon nearby. It's actually very close to your home here, in the hills to the south. Though, the only thing we left in there was a bunch of slime."

"Ah. I see. For such a thing to evade me is rather embarrassing. Thank you then, for the warning. I am the archmage, Lord Barkis. And you?"

An archmage? This is perfect!

"Kyle Warren," you reply.

"Niki. Good to meet'cha."

"Amara Tedrilui." She curtsies. "A pleasure."

"My name is Eva Beela, Lord Barkis. I'm a mage too."

He ponders again, stroking his beard. "So what is it I can do for you? Or were you only here to tell me of the dungeon?"

"Actually..." You look to the maid and then back to him. "Can I talk to you about something private?"

"Whatever it is you wish to tell me, Reko may know as well."

You turn back to the maid once again. She smiles and waves.