In the Earth Tower, Lakshmi figures out the puzzle with the discs, stacking them one atop the other, corresponding to the levels of the tower itself. Once this is done, the discs transform into a model of the tower … and the tower itself shifts, the tree growing in size and a new chamber appearing above, with a staircase leading to it. The group heads up the stairs, and finds the mage's laboratory, complete with many more stone creatures … and the obsidian form of the mage himself!

The statue holds a scroll in one hand, and another hand is held palm up. While Lochinvar deciphers the scroll, Lakshmi goes ahead and puts her hand on the upraised palm, wondering out loud if it was painful to live in the mage's body. Lochinvar reveals that the mage used the last of his powers to create a spell whereby his 'successor' could ask him three questions by placing a hand upon his upraised palm and asking it. And Lakshmi appears to have used up one of those answers inadvertently.

The explorers are far more careful with the rest of their examination of the laboratory, and of the library and bedroom which they unlock with keys found in the upper chamber. For the time being, they refrain from asking the two remaining questions.