"Soon the owner of the tower enters the room – a tall elf with silver hair, wearing simple gray clothes. He lo

"Soon the owner of the tower enters the room – a tall elf with silver hair, wearing simple gray clothes. He looks at me and shakes his head, 'Couldn't even make it past the third floor? What's happened to you, Stubborn? Are you getting old?' I flash him an obscene gesture that backstreet dwellers use. The elf laughs, then flutters his fingers, lifting the spell. The circle of petals blows away, and I arise. The tower's owner embraces me warmly."