[It’s not quite time yet for the execution to be broadcast in their tree – that said, those who look closely now that the carnival of a facsimile of a trial is over will notice that something is growing on the tree, nearer to the crown of it. It’s hard to tell what it is exactly, but with the snow lightening up and the sky brightening, it seems like the weather too is calming for the beginning of another week.

What will the next week bring?

You may have to get through what’s to come first – instead of the hedge maze opening peacefully, withdrawing its branches and parting its thorns as it did before, this time there’s somewhat more fanfare. Stormclouds have gathered deeper in the maze, as though the blizzard they’ve been dealing with all week has retreated into the depths; darkness piles up among the cumulonimbus clouds, lying in wait like a large and rumbling something. Venturing into the hedge maze allows you to go further now than before and the branches in the garden have withdrawn entirely, but while the headache and unpleasantness recedes before you, a sense of foreboding grows. Something at the heart of this maze isn’t pleased with you or anyone or anything else here. It’s still distant rather than oppressive but nevertheless, you feel it all through with a pure instinct.

Yamanbagiri sees everyone off, as though nothing’s happened. He’s busily moving plants out of the cottages and back into the yard, removing tarps and dusting off gardening tools despite the still-chilly air.]

Go take a look. Don’t try to go too far in, but there might be something else for you there. There was, last time.

[He doesn’t look at the maze.]

It’s not the worst place to take a stroll, after everything.

[They’re going to be busy with the newcomers pretty soon.]