[Once they’re all done with their videoconference item conference in Ish’s greenhouse, they return to their own – though most of the greenhouse has been moved outside by now. I’m going to say they’re gathered in the gardener’s cottage for this, because I imagine there was a lot of whispering on this side in between items doing their thing.

Anyway, after a bit of a pause to get their bearings again in their own forms – and perhaps to look at some very unfortunately-timed new arrivals – Yamanbagiri will clear his throat again, like he did back there. He picks himself up and shuffles over to the fireplace, careful to keep his cloak out of it. It’s been roaring during their wintertime week, but now it’s down to a mild crackle with spring literally in the air.

He pulls his cloak a little closer around himself, but straightens up.]

We’ll need to move soon. I can feel it in the spiritual energy here.

[Indeed, it’s obvious enough that they all can too: there’s an oppressiveness even here in the cottage now, the sky half-dark and half-light outside, plunging them all into a strange twilight not unlike the one Caroline was in.

They probably saw the aftermath of that spectacle too, coming out of their conference as items.]

So I’ll explain. And I wanted to apologize. [he doesn’t do a full bow, but he does lower his head, hand rising halfway to tug his hood down and then stopping] If we’re going to face what I believe is out there, then – this should be my responsibility in the first place. And my citadel’s, and the other swords. The seals and the curses that we’ve been talking about are the result of measures taken by the Time Government, that I work for.

Normally, I’d contact them, and do the cleanup with my master and our formation. But I’ve been cut off here, and this… shouldn’t happen.

[He’s straightened, but he hasn’t met anyone’s eyes yet.]

I think what I arrived through was a time gate that wasn’t properly closed. It should lead to an abandoned timeline in the city of Edo, at the start of the Keiou era. There are… were at least a million people in that city, and more elsewhere, who were driven mad by distorted time. You’ve seen them, in the memories in the hedge maze and when Caroline Sharp was killed. They will try to come through that gate. We have to stop them, and close the gate completely.

[There are probably Questions at this point but he goes on, somehow quiet and relentless at once.]

We can’t face a million people. But as long as the gate isn’t fully open, we won’t have to. And you’re tsukumogami now – you might not have noticed yet, but on this side, you’re stronger than average humans and stronger than you were at the castle. You’ll keep getting stronger, so you should be a match for anything coming through that gate.

And as long as your items are on the other side, in the castle, there shouldn’t be any permanent danger. You should still watch yourself – I’ve mentioned it before, but damage to your item will reflect on you, and the other way around. As far as I can tell, the connection isn’t perfect here. That’s why you’re safer on this side.

So… if you can fight, fight with me. If you can’t, then help bring the enemy to those of us who can.