"Old Maid"

"Is that mentor really an elf?"

Annan asked as he descended the Spiral Staircase.

"Yes. Mentor Yi Irilanze joined the Mage Tower before this tower was even built." A resonant young voice came from behind them.

Michael stopped and turned to frown at the figure on the Steps. "City Lord, eavesdropping is rude."

"Sorry. I was curious about this young King of the North." The young City Lord dismissed his attendants and stepped down until he was level with them. After apologizing, he looked at Annan. "And you came because you were curious about me, didn't you?"

Annan sensed neither malice nor smugness from the usurper, so he resisted the urge to declare that fortunes could change. "What do you mean, before this Mage Tower was built?"

Olmedo looked to Michael first.

Michael gestured for him to continue.

"Thank you." Olmedo nodded slightly, then descended the spiral staircase with Annan. "The Mage Tower was rebuilt. The current tower stands on the ruins of the old one."

"Why haven't I heard about that?"

Before his first visit to Breeze City, Annan had pestered Mr. Victor with questions about the Mage Tower.

"Because only members of the Mage Tower are entitled to know." Olmedo rested a hand on the Steps and looked down at the busy hall below. "I found it in an ancient text myself."

"What's the story with Mentor Iri... Irila... the Elf Mentor?"

It was only natural that Annan, who had studied the Common Tongue for less than three months, couldn't remember a complicated elven name.

"What do you like?" the young City Lord asked suddenly. "An animal or something else you find cute and want to get close to, for example."

Annan used to like dogs and dislike Cats. Then he unexpectedly got a Cat, and that changed.