01x09 - A Nightmare Stained in Black

[bunniefuu]

Oh, welcome!

A] Nightmare Stained in Black

Here to pick up that order you placed?

Yes, the Conjuring Ink
I asked for the other day...

And there's a crack in my wand.

Do you think you could fix it?

That flash of light was so bright...

There's no way Grandpa didn't see it.

Maybe Mister Qifrey
knows something about it?

Or could he be the reason?

S-S-S-Sorry!

Looks like that Grasping Wind seal

was a bit too big to just
grab a mountain apple.

Right.

The first time, the seal was too small,
and it just made them wobble,

so I thought I should make it stronger...

How about angling the Sign of
Pulling so it makes a twist?

See? You twist an apple
when you pick it, right?

That's a good alteration.

Changing up signs to suit your goal is
what makes spells infinitely adaptable.

When something doesn't work,
figure out why you failed.

And when you succeed,
ask, "Why did that work?"

The purpose of repeating lessons
is trial and error!

It's important not to just act
out of habit. Right, Master?

Exactly right.

You're an excellent teacher, Master Tetia.

Master Tetia?!

That's so sweet! I'm blushing!

Do go on, now!

Do you really have time
to be looking after others?

If you're aware of your shortcomings,

why not spend it on practice of your own?

Okay, then! Show me how to do it!

Hey, I wasn't telling you
to come over here!

Let's go! Tetia Attack!

I'm busy studying for my test,
so I don't have time to—

So there are tests besides the Consent
of the Crown in the Dadah Range?

Yes.

Five of the stupid things
that don't matter.

Like I need that garbage
to know how to draw...

The point of the tests is to challenge
and learn about yourself.

Whether or not they matter depends
on the attitude of the taker.

Still, it's hard to enjoy things
you haven't chosen to take part in.

The witches of old struggled
with that same problem.

"Magic exists to make people happy.

Making our apprentices suffer
would be missing the whole point."

And so the Three Wise Ones thought it over

and decided that the tests should
be adventures in the outside world

that everyone would want to take.

"Earn the permission to
become an apprentice."

The first test, the Consent of the Crown.

"Display your devotion and
walk beside your master."

The second test,
the Sincerity of the Shield.

"Prove your path worthy
and take up the key."

The third test, the Query of the Qui Vive.

"Grant a wish and stand alone."

The fourth test,
the Goodwill of Her Grace.

"Now, you become the teacher."

The fifth test, the Words of the Wise.

This is the Pentacle of Proving.

With each step you take,
you're allowed to do more with your magic.

If you pass the fourth test,
you become a full-fledged witch

and no longer need tutelage.

You're allowed to take on
the Tower of Tomes

after passing the third test.

The last test is for taking
your own apprentices,

so you don't have to think about
that until after you graduate.

Aw...

But I'm always thinking about what
I'm gonna do after I graduate!

Traveling to faraway places,

helping all kinds of people with magic,

hearing "thank you" from
people all over the world...

One person says thank you,
and one person gets thanked!

One little spell makes two people happy!

What could be better than that?!

Two birds with one stone!

Two needs with one deed!

Happiness comes in twos, like pigtails!

Y'know?

I can't wait to grow up and
design a cap with two points!

Your hairstyle is actually symbolic?!

You do get to choose your own cap
when you become a full-fledged witch.

I hate tests.

They're annoying.

I hate people telling me what to do

and making me draw spells
I don't want to draw.

If you only draw the spells
you want to draw...

you'll never learn anything new.

Fine by me.

If being an adult means having
to do things I don't want to do,

I'll stay just as I am now.

I'm leaving.

Richeh...

I refuse to stay as I am now.

There are too many things I can't do yet.

I want to take all the tests
as soon as possible.

Then, someday, I'll become a
librarian in the Tower of Tomes.

I wish I could grow up faster, even!

Agott's family is descended from
an apprentice to the Three Wise Ones.

They have librarians in every generation.

I think it was... House Arklaum?

So Agott is also trying to get
to the Tower of Tomes...

What about you?

What kind of witch do you want to be?

I came from a different
starting point than you guys,

so my path is pretty well laid out for me.

For now, I just have to increase
the number of spells I can cast!

Okay! I'll try that Grasping Wind
spell one more time!

Yeah!

By drawing spells, you remember them.

Coco! Give me your hand!

By remembering them,
you become able to use them.

Okay!

The power you acquire that
way will never betray you.

One, two... upsy-daisy!

What? Where is everyone?

It's so dark... When did it become night?

Coco? Coco!

Coco.

Mom!

Mom! I'm sorry!

It's all my fault.
I'm the one who did it.

I didn't mean any harm, but I couldn't
give up on magic like you wanted...

This is why I warned you, though.

Normal people can't do magic.

Mom...

You ignorant Outsider.

This is all your fault, Coco.

Turning your mother to stone...

Putting us all in danger...

You're saying you didn't mean any of it?

I don't want anything to do
with the Brimmed Caps.

There are things that
some people just can't do.

No exceptions can be made.

It was kept a secret so
nothing like this would happen.

This all happened
because you wanted magic.

This is all your fault.

And it'll be your fault
when the world falls apart!

Master...

You're still awake?

I wanted more time to work, so...

Stop that. Respect your limits.

Yes, sir. I'll go back to bed.

You're still awake, too?

Yeah. I couldn't sleep.

By drawing, you remember.

By remembering, you become able.

How much more will I have to draw
before I can save my mom?

I've been waiting so long...
so very long...

for this day to come...

The Righteous Witches of Healingcraft,
who used magic to heal,

fought the Three Wise Ones' edict

forbidding spells cast on
the body to the very end.

The Twinned Bottles spell—

a spell that allowed them to
share medicine among them—

was lost when their memories were taken.

No matter how far away one vial might be,

its contents could be shared through
the seal-inscribed medal within,

and they would never run
out of what they needed.

A delicate spell of healing,
lost since the Day of the Pact...

Ironic that only the Brimmed Caps
can create it now.

You're a beautiful spell,
but I'll have to dissect you.

You're the only connection I have to them.

I won't touch the Conjuring Ink yet.

Its unknown power is too
dangerous to tamper with.

All I need is the inscribed
medal hidden within.

Can I remove it without being detected?

The medal within is tied to them.

If I were to place it in a Guidance Orb,

its components, its owner,
where it was made...

Every trace of its existence
will point me toward them.

I'll have a more concrete indication
of their location than any faint hints.

A lightning spell?!

They caught on!

Water? Not good...

I let my guard down.
I can't use spells underwater...

You're... the eyeball...

W-Wait...

Wait...

I still have... to...

Damn it. I won't give up.

I will get back what was taken from me.

After all the trouble to give it to her...

What a waste.

Synchronized yawns!

You've been at it all day.

Were you both up all night?

I know!

Night after night,
you transform into magic knights

and fight off enemies with
your dazzling swordplay!

Transformation spells are forbidden.

Spending the day yawning is a sign
that you need to get more sleep.

You've been up late practicing
these last few nights, right?

Night's just when I feel
most inspired, I guess...

You can't do that, Coco!

I understand how you feel,
but it's not good to push yourself!

Good magic demands good sleep.

And food.

Master Olly says it, too!

If you don't get good sleep as a child,
you'll pay for it in your old age.

Right?

I'll make erbe tea to help you sleep!

You want some, Master?

Master?!

Sorry, what were we talking about?

I'm really sorry.

I got so sleepy after just a few bites...

I'll handle the tea.

Hot!

Master, are you sure you're all right?

Yes, I'm fine.

I'm still numb from the lightning.

What a mess-up, huh?

I ruined the last of our erbe tea.

I'll go out and pick more leaves.

Work on your Primers, everyone.

I'll tidy up later,
so don't worry about it!

Master's acting weird today!

The effects of sleep deprivation
are not to be denied.

I'll make him drink that erbe tea tonight.

That's right. Agott...

He needs to get some sleep!

We'll get Master Olruggio to help, too.

Can we talk for a minute?

These are yours.

My Sylph Shoes...

I'm sorry it took so long to return them.

It took a long time to
get the seal just right.

Is this what you were
working on last night?

I'm sure the seal's not as good
as what you guys could do...

If it's hard to fly with them,
feel free to redraw them.

What's this all about?

Just what are you plotting?

I can't stop wondering.

After the Consent of the Crown...
the first test...

You never told Master Qifrey
that I forced you into it.

You could have told Mister Olruggio, too.

But...

You never said a word against me,
and you even fixed my Sylph Shoes.

Why? I just don't understand
what goes through your head.

That day...

You did force me,

and the test was scary,
and I felt afraid all on my own.

I could have just sat there and
waited for someone to get me.

But...

That day, as I stood at the
base of the Dadah Range,

it was me who decided to try it.

I'm the one who wanted to prove that
it was okay, and that I could do it.

I wanted to overcome
the trial with my own magic

and feel like things
weren't totally hopeless.

Because, otherwise...

What are you saying, then?

I'm the only one who's been
dwelling on it all this time?

That's...

Coco!

Good, the feeling's come back.

I wonder if they noticed
something was wrong.

They're smart children, so maybe they did.

If this gets out, it's over.

I have to keep the secret.

You won't tell anyone, right, Puffpuff?

I guess you don't like that name.

I thought it was cute, though... Puffpuff.

So that's a no, huh?

Master!

You scared me, Agott!

You were going so fast!

The signs are too long,
so the Casting Seal is off-balance!

Really? I'd love to have a look at it.

No time for that! This is an emergency!

It's Coco!

I'll take her to the hospital in Kalhn.

Sure. I'll watch the atelier.

Thanks.

If any of you need anything, talk to Olly.

Hang in there.
We're almost at the hospital.

The fever's getting worse.

She needs to see a doctor soon!

Okay, I'm next!

You better get it right!

Okay! Here I go!

I've got you... There!

You're supposed to catch it!

Huh? Tartah, you're going already?

Sorry, it's time for the ferry.

Oh, yeah. You live on that sandbar, right?

That's weird.

If you're from a witch family,
why don't you just fly home?

Yeah.

There are rules to these things!

Lame.

Okay! See you tomorrow!

Later!

People who don't know anything
sure love to mouth off.

I would love to...

Huh? Mister Qifrey?

What are you doing he—

Tartah, the hospital
is this way, isn't it?

I don't know this area well.

Oh, you want the hospital?

This way. I know a shortcut.

Thanks.

Look after her.

Yes, we will.

Please wait.

I hope she'll be all right.

Thank you, Tartah.

I'm so glad you knew the way.

It's not that big a deal.

No, it's quite impressive.

You seem to be an observant person.

I suppose you must look
at things very carefully.

Hey, Mister Qifrey...

There's a question I wanted to ask you.

Episode 10:

A Promise in Silver