Christine frowns and shakes her head. "I didn't know much. Once you left, I really didn't hear about you from others. And when I did... well, you didn't leave on the best of terms, and you know how petty academics can be. What they did say I thought were exaggerations."

But now it appears those people at university weren't spreading vicious rumors after all, but some version of the truth.

"The presence is really here, for all that that eases your mind. Our animal friends here are more aware of it, and I have seen through Azoth's eyes. You needn't fear going mad."