The councillor of magic consulted another page.
"Corruption density near the reported emergence sites is elevated... Significantly elevated."
Atheline asked quietly, "Enough to sustain new outbreaks?"
The Manipulator looked uncomfortable.
"Potentially."
The chamber fell silent. Atheline stared at the map. Everything being said was slowly connecting itself in this weird convoluted way.
The Blood Ocean incident, corrupted clusters, and the coordinated attacks, something was linking them together, or several unrelated problems appearing at exactly the wrong time. Neither possibility was comforting.
Lilith turned slightly toward him.
"You have a theory," she said as though she was completely sure he would respond.
Atheline hesitated. Every eye in the chamber shifted toward him, he disliked that feeling. Especially when he wasn't sure his assumptions were correct.
Atheline took a breath.
"I have a concern."
Lilith nodded.
"Speak."
He looked at the map.
