Be brave, investigate the voice.

Aaralon paused for a second as he considered. "Hold on," he said, taking just one step forward. It wasn't that he doubted Sareth's power, far from it; he could sense powerful magic everywhere. It oozed out of every atom in the air. Aaralon was sure he had seen a woman's face.

The shadows flickered around him. It was as if there was a fire burning and the dancing flames were causing the shadows to shift and twist against the walls. There was no fire. The shadows pooled thickly in the corners of the chamber, impregnable voids which no natural sight could penetrate. These shadows were too dark.

Why had Sareth never addressed the college? Aaralon mulled that thought briefly. What secrets could the "headmaster" be hiding? Could Sareth be a woman? A pretty woman? A young woman? That didn't seem likely. A powerful mage could slow aging though.

What's the worst that could happen? Banishment from the College? That would be pretty bad... but perhaps he had learnt enough to find himself a renegade teacher. A new teacher might teach him more about demonology.

"GO NOW!" boomed the voice again.