Eli shifted in his seat, his pupils trembled.
"…What? Are you saying this is their doing?"
Joanne sighed.
"The Devil Star Formation is more of a ritual than a technique. It is fed by blood and souls. The purer the offering, the stronger the barrier."
His forehead creased.
"What do you mean, stronger?"
"The barrier's primary purpose is to empower the cultists inside, pushing their demonic traits beyond the limits of their inherent capacity; while weakening those "unblessed" by the Red Moon."
She let her hand settle flat against the map. The amber of her eyes had gone darker.
"These movements over the past six months suggest foundational sacrifices to anchor the barrier. They were careful enough to spare Sienne's citizens; otherwise, we would have noticed far sooner and eradicated those damned cultists."
Eli pressed a hand against his chest, attempting to look as serious as possible.
"…Madame. Are you saying the Red Moon… has returned?"
"…No."
