The vortex addressed him. "I'm glad I found you."
"You are?"
"Yes. Just walk through this portal and I will explain everything."
Tegryn started to walk towards it, then stopped. "Hang on a minute. How do I know this isn't just those witches pulling another trick?"
The vortex tutted indignantly. "Are you daring to suggest that I'm in league with those three? How preposterous."
"Well, after everything that's happened so far today, I wouldn't put anything past them. So? How do I know you've nothing to do with them?"
"You'll just have to trust me. After all, do you have any better ideas for getting out of there?"
"Hmmm... I suppose you're right - it's not as if I have many options open right now. Okay, you've convinced me - I'm coming through."
With that, Tegryn tentatively stepped through the portal. Almost immediately, he found himself in a large, intimidating room lit by a row of torches that cast flickering shadows onto the stone walls. It certainly wasn't the most welcoming of places, but it was a darn sight better than where he'd just been.
"Well?" said Tegryn, his voice echoing across the room. "Where am I?"
"You are in Cloud Tower."
"Cloud Tower? You mean the school for witches? Oh great - out of the frying pan and into the same smegging frying pan." he said, quoting one of his favourite Sci-Fi comedy books (albeit incorrectly).
A chuckle echoed from the darkness of the far corner. "You needn't worry... no harm will come to you here, not whilst you're with me."
"And who are you exactly?" he asked as he walked in the direction of the voice.
"Very well, allow me to introduce myself." A few tiny steps came closer to him, and a tiny, bizarrely-dressed figure stepped out of the shadows.
"I am Discorda."