"We need them to fight," Rita says, matter-of-factly. "To protect their freedom and ours against those who'll try to take it."

Her gaze drifts upwards, to the ceiling. "This world used to be protected by a barrier... a spell just like the Severing, that kept outside threats away from us. We could try to recreate it instead, but... if we did, we wouldn't be able to meet like this anymore, so..." Her voice grows quieter, seemingly out of embarrassment at admitting she'd like to continue seeing her Carnival friends.

But she does. And the only way to make sure she still can, while preserving the safety of her world, is to defeat their enemies for good.