As long as someone involved in the plan remains, it shouldn't be an issue. One person may be returned at any time. Several at once is less likely.

[He pauses for a moment, and then rolls his shoulder with a loud crack. The twitch of a wing under his shirt isn't all that out of the ordinary, but there's another movement to catch Asch's eye: the sharp edge of a shoulderblade, outlined and then hidden again under thick fabric. It's a potent hint at why Van's bringing this up now, and not when he's completely sure of it... and at why the reminder of his childhood hasn't made him discard it completely, for the opinion that the originals deserved to die.

He's simply not in any shape to fight. The Malnosso have achieved what miasma poisoning couldn't, what killing him couldn't.

He needs whatever good will he can get.]