At least they're on the same page about that--Viktor has had to correct more than a few Summoned on the matter, and he doesn't even want to think about how the Thornean mages perceive something like the Singularity.

"I also assumed it was the source. I'm still not sure it wasn't. If it was...provoked into creating the rifts, against its will."

That's his theory, anyway. It would explain the distress without necessarily assigning the rifts to some other power, which he isn't sure exists. What he can agree on is that this is deeply troubling.

"I wish I had better news. But I believe the ongoing tampering is having adverse effects that might compound, as you say."