Sharff and Ciel

A Blood Moon? Now?

The moon's phases usually followed a regular cycle, with roughly a month between full moons. But the Blood Moon followed no such pattern. Sometimes it appeared once a year; sometimes five or six times.

Only half a month had passed since the last Blood Moon, so another was unlikely. Yet just as they discussed Sharff's dream and the "alluring blood moon" he had seen, the light outside the window changed. It was hard not to read something into that.

Alger, the Hanged Man, was closest to the window. He went over and looked out, then shook his head. "It's just the ordinary moon."

Angel did not relax at his answer. Instead, she frowned.

If the Crimson Moon hasn't become a Blood Moon, there's only one other possibility... This was a warning from our spiritual intuition, and everyone here felt it!

Would probing further into Sharff's strange dream harm us, or at least him? Could it draw the attention of that evil god, or bring a Demigod—or even an Angel—from the Rose School?

With that thought, Angel stopped questioning Sharff about his faith. He had already become a believer in the Primordial Moon. Unless an Angel who worshipped an orthodox god blessed him, or a Sealed Artifact shielded him from the evil god's influence, he would have to spend the rest of his life under strict watch behind Chanis Gate or within The Tribunal. Otherwise, he was unlikely to live another three years.

Alger seemed to have reached a similar conclusion. He glanced at Sharff with a hint of pity, then turned to Angel. "What do we do with him now?"

Even if he had only three years left, an Artisan would be immensely useful. Given a steady supply of Beyonder Characteristics, he could make a Mystical