“I-i-it’s you!”
“Yes, it’s me. Who’s in charge around here nowadays?”
“Y-you are!”
“Get up. I never wanted any of your obeisance. Who was in charge before I showed up just now?”
“I’ll take you to her.”
…
“You’re back! My Lord—”
“None of that now. Tell me: what knowledge has been gained about the founding spells?”
“Too much to summarize. Come with me to the library, and I’ll—”
“There’s no time.”
“What do you mean? O-of course there’s no time here. There never has been. You aren’t in a hurry to leave again, are you?”
He stared hard. “If I’m right, and I plead against the founding forces I’m not, something is deeply, terribly wrong.”
“What could possibly be so wrong that even you and your matchless power could not right it?”
“I have become mortal.”