01x08 - The Misgivings of the Knights Moralis

[bunniefuu]

There is no need to be afraid.

Once your memories of magic are gone,

even that fear will be
a thing of the past.

You will merely become an Outsider.

We told you it's not what you think!
Why won't you listen?!

No...

Please, no!

What is this?

Serpent's Bed of Sand?

They're trying to explain things to you!

It's awful that you won't listen!

Who are they?

They're children.

They burned the pennants.

I really...

hate adults who think children are
inhuman creatures called "children."

The circumstances of
the situation don't matter.

The law has been broken.

Peace and order in this world

are maintained only because
witches strictly adhere to the law.

A single crack in the wall
brings instant collapse.

No exceptions can be made.

You've talked a lot for someone
who so adamantly refuses to listen.

Please do not touch my
apprentices, Easthies.

I see. So they're your students.

They're just as insolent as their master.

If a "good student" would be someone
like you, then I'm glad they are.

That goes double if this is
how the Knights Moralis work.

We merely wish to protect order.

Spells powerful enough
to change the terrain itself—

as in the Dadah Range or the
Shadow Forest of Thristas—

are spells of w*r that
predate the Day of the Pact.

Usage of them, such as this,
must be dealt with accordingly.

Even so,

it's wrong to take someone's memory
without even asking the circumstances.

And I've never given my apprentices
the technique or tools

to complete a spell of this scale.

Even if you didn't, is it possible
the Brimmed Caps did?

Hey, you two!

A healthy debate's all well and good,

but I hope you haven't forgotten
what witches are for:

spreading the blessings of magic to all.

Looks like the girls have
that down better than you.

So quit floating around and help!

Those pennants look like
they could do a little good!

W-Will that heal him?

No, it's only stopped the bleeding.

I'll take him to Kalhn.

If we can get him to a
doctor soon, he should pull—

I saw it.

I saw you fix your pennants with magic!

You can fix his wounds, too, can't you?!

Magic has to be capable of that!

No, it is not.

No! That can't be true!

Release me.

Or would you rather I leave him here?

Fine.

Look after him for me.

Let's seal off the site to
keep all non-witches out.

Once the Outsiders are gone,
we'll resume the investigation.

The] Misgivings of the Knights Moralis

A completely unremarkable basic spell.

She's clearly incapable of destroying
the land all up and down a river.

Agreed.

Show me your hands.

The Brimmed Caps sometimes
tattoo seals onto themselves.

Forbidden spells to enhance
or alter the physical form,

or make their casting more powerful...

Hands stained with ink,
and the calluses of a beginner...

I think you've seen enough.

I'm going to report this to the
Great Hall and open an investigation.

If your atelier does prove to be
the source of the problem,

I won't show any mercy.

Take care that you do not lose
what you've only begun to learn.

What a close call!

I'm glad we all made
it through unscathed.

I guess we shouldn't have
left you girls behind.

I really am sorry!

It's not your fault, Master!

Still, Agott, Coco...

Good thing we all came, huh?

I want you to recognize that what
you did was extremely dangerous.

If anyone were to learn
the secrets of magic,

all the people we saved would
have had their memories erased.

Memories are what make up a person's life.

Your actions nearly robbed
them of a portion of that.

I'm sorry.

I'll be more careful.

I guess I won't be taking
that test for a while.

But you still made it through.
Therefore...

I'll arrange for you to take
the second test, Agott.

If you pass, you'll be qualified to
accompany me on outside work.

Can you promise not to use magic
in front of people until then?

Yes!

Aw, just Agott?!

Master, what about us?!

You haven't completed the
Basics of Casting Primer, remember?

Fine. I hate tests anyway.

There are more tests?!

Hey, Qifrey.

You sure about this?

Weren't you worried about
Agott getting ahead of herself?

Yes.

Good luck, Agott!

But...

That's not what she's doing here.

I think she's earned herself some trust.

You spoil them.

When my students are too hard
on themselves, I have no choice.

Master Qifrey!

I want to get back and start practicing!

Wait just a minute.

There's one other thing we should do.

Qifrey's new apprentice
was that girl, right?

If the rumors are true...

Can you prove that they are?

Nah, it's not possible to find
evidence in that petrified house.

Then we'll have to make her confess.

Look.

That spell dried up the
entire area downriver.

A single fallen rock
can bring down the bank,

divert the river's flow, and
alter the environment beyond.

The once-beautiful scenery,
once lost, can never be restored.

That girl could be the first rock.

I must pluck her out before
she gets the chance to fall.

Olruggio's got a special pen.

It's called a Searwire Wand,

and it lets him burn
Casting Seals into rocks and trees.

Though it's just a stopgap measure.

The river has begun to return, as well.

The rending spell's effects
must be wearing off.

Coco.

Here, you dropped these.

Be careful.

You don't want to leave
your cap or ink behind.

I'm sorry. And thank you.

Huh? That's odd...

The vial's still totally full.

Is it a magic vial or something?!

Does it continuously refill?!

Coco, do you mind if
I have a look at that?

Master?

Magic is a lie that fills
the world with color.

Though these hands may
draw beautiful spells,

look at how stained with ink they become!

The nature of a lie...

is that they are outed
with close scrutiny.

How long can the truth remain hidden?

This Conjuring Ink...

This is the pot that Nolnoa
in Kalhn gave you, right?

Yes.

Olruggio, take the girls back
to the atelier, would you?

Huh?

So where are you going, then?

Well...

in all the chaos before,
I never bought Coco a pen.

It's close by, so we'll make
a stop in Kalhn first.

Mind picking me up
some Silvernectar Wine?

One bottle of first flush
and one bottle of aged!

Yes. Excellent!

Sorry.

There's something
I really have to look into.

Huh? The door's gone!

Oh, drat.

They're closed today.

What?! The whole shop
disappears when it's closed?!

Mister Qifrey!

And that girl.

Oh, Tartah! Thank goodness.

I have to speak to Mister Nolnoa.

Oh, hang on just a minute.

Go on in.

This is a totally different
place than before!

Yeah, different doorknobs
mean different rooms.

Everyone knows that.

Grandpa should be on the third floor.

Thank you. Excuse us.

Wait a minute...

Um, what's your name again?

Coco.

I'm Coco!

Coco, you should get that cut
on your right leg cleaned up.

Come back with me.

I've got some tranquileaf
to disinfect it.

So many unfamiliar components!

It's so beautiful!

What are all these glittery powders?

Don't mess with those, please.

I don't want you putting
them out of order.

They're magic dyes.

You mix them into the ink
to alter its effects.

Mister Nolnoa.

Qifrey? We're closed today, you know.

I know, but...

Just kidding.

I know just what you're here for.

The Casting Seal drawn
on those paving tiles, right?

I haven't figured it out yet.

I've tried a spell to
separate out the magic dyes,

but they're blended together
quite thoroughly.

Any clues on your end?

Well, I've acquired something.

It looks just like it!

No, that faint blue hue...
it's identical!

Where did you get—

Wait a minute. Isn't this my vial?

It happened that day.

The Brimmed Cap cast a spell on the vial.

What are you doing?!

You shouldn't draw with
that ink until I analyze it!

Qifrey!

Hey, what's that one
that looks like aquamarine?

The big one dangling from the ceiling!

That's azuremoon flower.

Adding it to ink makes
your spells last longer.

And the sparkly white one in the
small bottle on the shelf across from it?

Scales from the blushing bride butterfly.

Mixing it in makes
the casting ink invisible,

so the casting seal's lines can't be seen.

And next to it?

The narrow bottle is
powdered roaming scallop.

The squat, round one just beyond is
powdered golden blaze wyrm scale.

It's amazing!

You're amazing, Tartah!

You've memorized the
names of all these dyes?!

Well, we do have to sell 'em.

You're so lucky.
You get to live in a magic stationer's!

Just seeing all these shelves
and bottles sets my heart racing!

I wish I could live here!

It's way better to live in an atelier.

Not sure why a witch would
say the stuff you say.

You're not an apprentice witch?

I'm...

Hey, what does that red powder do?

Which?

That one! On that shelf!

Between the aquamarine one
and the rusty brown one!

Just tell me where on the shelf it is!

It's a really bright red...
It's easy to see, right?

What made that light?

That was scary!

Are you okay?

Oh, thank goodness none
of the bottles were broken!

This is awful.

It's a disaster!

The labels came off,
and they're all mixed up...

Grandpa told me not to touch them,
and now it's all a mess.

I'm sorry. I'll help you put them
back where they belong!

Do you know what these are?

Which color is which—

I don't know!

B-But earlier...

I remember them based on
where they are on the shelf.

I can't tell them apart from the color!

I'm sorry. Please leave.

But...

I'm sorry,

but there's nothing you can do to help.

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

With my Silverwash eyes...

No matter how hard I study,
I'll never become a witch.

See? I warned you!

Qifrey, are you all right?

Qifrey!

For a Casting Seal that small
to pack a punch like that...

I think it's a twinned bottle spell.

Two vessels sharing the same contents.

There should be a small medal inscribed
with a Casting Seal in the fluid.

They made Coco use this...

It was still full because they
refilled it with that mystery additive.

This bottle is a link to them.

At last... At last I have it!

What is all this?

You're saying the ink in that bottle

can unleash power like that
even from small, scribbled seals?

Something like that shouldn't exist!

I-It's too much for me to handle!

I must inform the Great Hall!

No!

Neither the Knights Moralis nor the
Great Hall can be allowed to have this.

It's best if nobody even
realizes that we know.

Qifrey...

What are you saying?

You...

Do you realize what you're saying?!

What are you going to do?

What are you going to do with that ink?!

I'm sorry, Mister Nolnoa.

Coco.

Sorry for the wait.

About that ink of yours...

It looks like he accidentally gave you
some extremely expensive stuff.

I bought you a bag to
make up for it. Here.

Thanks so much!

Master.

What is Silverwash?

Silverwash syndrome...

A congenital condition of the eye

that makes you see the
entire world in silver.

Witches tend to value good eyesight,

so life is probably difficult
for those with that condition.

One problem with witches is how
unaccommodating we are of exceptions.

Coco.

Don't look so worried.

You'll be fine.

As long as you're a student at my atelier,
I'll do everything I can to protect you.

There's nothing for you to worry about.

Nothing at all.

Grandpa.

Sorry about this.

That light earlier startled me,
and the jars all got knocked down...

Where'd that flash of light
come from, anyway?

Did Mister Qifrey cast a spell?

What's this? Flash of light?

I don't remember any flash of light.

Grandpa?

Episode 9:

A Nightmare Stained in Black