01x10 - A Promise in Silver

[bunniefuu]

You seem to be an observant person.

I suppose you must look
at things very carefully.

Mister Qifrey might know something
about that flash of light.

Hey, Mister Qifrey...

There's a question I wanted to ask you.

Well...

That's fantastic!

I'm happy to answer
whatever questions you have!

I just love talking to
people about magic!

Go on, Tartah! What do you want to know?!

I can't tell him it's not
that kind of question...

The sparkles make it especially awkward!

Excuse me.

You dropped off the girl?
Please, come inside.

It's a cold brought on by exhaustion.

It appears she hasn't
slept for quite a while.

She should be fine with good
meals and sufficient rest.

Let's keep her here tonight,
just to be safe.

Thank you.

Honestly...

I don't know what kind of training
you witches put yourselves through,

but she's still just a child.

The adults in her life
need to be more attentive.

She's right.

I'm sorry, Coco.

I hope that eases the fever a bit.

Why would she work herself
so hard she collapses?

There are times when our bodies,
minds, and best efforts fail us.

Coco didn't know anything
about witches until recently.

Even if she acts cheerful, she may
have been racked with fear deep down.

I didn't realize...

The Outsider everyone's
been talking about...

Maybe she's—

Tartah.

You said you had a question for me,

but could we discuss it another day?

This isn't the best time.

Right.

I understand. Don't worry about it.

I'd better head home, then.

Thanks.

Take care.

For a second there,
his gaze was like ice...

Maybe it was just my imagination?

No way!

This ferry is for witches only.

If you live on the island,
where's your pointed cap?

A] Promise in Silver

You can't pass unless you
can prove you're a witch.

I have it right here...

Huh? It's gone!

I-I crossed this morning, I swear—

Yeah, right!

Tons of little brats try to
sneak on with that excuse!

Hey, get back here!

I can't get back without my hat.

I have to find it!

Her breathing has settled.

She should feel better if
she can rest well like this.

I'm glad.

And I must say...

You've made this room so nice and cool.

Isn't magic amazing?

You doctors are amazing, too.

Magic can't cure disease,
so this is the best I can do.

But it still helps with recovery, right?

I wish we could have this in our toolbox.

I'm sure.

Is there a doctor here?!

The bar to the north caught fire!

We're trying to save the injured,

but they're all so drunk,
it's hard to move them...

Are you a witch?! And you use water?

Perfect!

Come and help us put out the fire!

You witches help people
in trouble, don't you?!

E-Excuse me! I can't!

I have to stay here!

It's okay.

You can leave.
That's a witch's job, right?

All right. I'll be back soon.

Get some good rest.

I'm on my way.

Thank you!

How bad is the fire?

It was still small when I left,
but we'd better hurry!

I was putting on a brave front.

I'm actually scared to be alone.

I searched everywhere
and couldn't find it.

This is the only place left—

Let's go!

Excuse me...

Is my hat...

There it is!

Thank goodness. Now I can get back.

She's sleeping fitfully...

H-Hey. You okay?

Tartah?

You startled me. What are you—

You okay?

Looks like your cold's gotten worse.

Isn't anyone here?

There's got to be a
doctor somewhere, right?

Where's Mister Qifrey?

There was a fire up north,
so they all went to help.

So that's why they were
running around out there...

When are they gonna be back?

I could go get someone...

There must be something I can do.

Medicine to bring the fever down?

Remember tranquileaf?

The stuff I used before.

It helps with fever and cough, too.

It's gotta be somewhere nearby...

There aren't any labels...

No way! Who doesn't
label their medicines?!

What if you mixed them up? Why?!

I think some are darker than others...

Can other people just tell them
all apart by their color?

Here I go again.

People assume everyone sees
the world the same way they do.

Silverwash, eh?

He won't be able to use complex
spells with magic dyes, then.

He'll never make it far
as a magic stationer, either.

It's not so bad when he's a child, but...

Good thing he's good at carving pens.

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

So just stick with the things you can do.

Damn it.

Components in magic dyes are
often used in medicine, as well.

If I knew what was what,
I'd know just what they can do...

But when push comes
to shove, I'm helpless.

In this world where
everything's silver...

I can't even see a way forward.

Tartah...

Sorry. I can't help you.

I know, you're the one
who's really suffering...

Right. I'll get you some water.

You're thirsty, right?

Here.

Thanks.

A Vapor Bubble...

That's right. Grandpa always
uses one when he's making ink...

Of course! I can use this to channel
out the liquid from the medicine!

If I extract the water
it's been dissolved in...

Maybe I can identify
the original components!

Tranquileaf is used as a powder.

They dry it out and crush it.

So if I look for a powder...

It's not these crystals.

It's not this stuff that
shines in the moonlight...

It's not this stuff that's still liquid.

It doesn't have a distinct smell,
so I can rule out the pungent ones...

That leaves...

It leaves three.

Damn it. Damn it!

I came this far, but I can't...
I can't do anything more.

No... more.

I'm sorry, Coco.

I tried my best, but it's just beyond me.

I don't know why I even got my hopes up.

I knew I couldn't do it.
I knew that all along.

That's not true.

If you want to do something
you can't otherwise do,

that's where magic comes in.

You have ink and a pen?

Y-Yeah! There's one I've been carving...

You okay?

Yeah.

What kind of spell are you drawing?

Will it make you feel better?

Not me. Not just me.

It's a spell that will help us both.

Me, too?

A spell that will help me, too?

What kind of spell is it?

This is the Sigil of Earth.

It's a spell that's helped me a lot...

digging tunnels,
turning rocks into sand...

What good will it do now?

Changing the signs changes the spell.

I drew the Signs of Crushing in
the inverse of their usual position.

It's usually a spell for turning
solid things into powder.

So if you invert it...

A spell to turn powdered
things solid again!

Yes.

So, since you're here...

Since you know what
the originals all look like...

You can use this to find the answer.

What?

I really can't do it like this.

It's all wobbly and uneven...

Okay, so...

You just need these shapes
drawn more precisely?

W-With better balance, if possible...

Drawing aside, I'm good at
seeing the balance in things.

It's what I do all the time.

Hey.

This sign here...

Instead of just top and bottom,
could I draw it on the sides, too?

A three-dimensional object needs
to be shaped from all angles.

With the spell as it is,

it's probably losing information
and failing to form right.

So... I mean, sorry.

I didn't mean to alter your spell for you.

No, that's okay.

It's a basic spell.

And...

If you adjust a spell in
a way that makes it work,

it becomes your spell, Tartah.

Try it.

Sure. I'll try.

I did it.

I did it!

It was just for a second, but I did it!

I did it!

Yay!

Sorry. Right, the medicine...

Man, close call.

None of these were tranquileaf.

I was so sure it had to be one of them...

Okay!

I'll use this spell to search
the medicine storage room.

It'll be my key to finding it!

It's like my house.

Thornbark.

Milliflower.

Seabriar.

Sleeping Willow.

Drizzlebee Hive.

I know all these shapes.

It's just like how they're
drawn in the books!

Amazing!

When I hold this seal up to things,
it's like the world comes into focus.

Everything I've learned
is showing me the answer.

Learning to do new things feels so...

so amazingly...

I found it.

This is the tranquileaf.

I've gotta get it back and...

Excuse me! What are you doing in there?

You thought nobody was here?

Ridiculous.

We would never leave
a hospital abandoned.

And the reason the
medicines aren't labeled

is so that people
can't fiddle with them.

You could have given her
a dangerous medicine.

I'm sorry. I was just so panicked...

It's a good thing to
care about a friend,

but medicine can be poison
in the wrong circumstances.

You need the proper knowledge.

Though in this case,
tranquileaf was the correct choice.

Do you know much about medicines?

Any interest in becoming a doctor?

Actually, I...

Oh, that hat.

You're a witch apprentice, then?

We've gotten all the injured out.

Thank goodness.

I appreciate your support.

The fire's mostly out,
so can I leave the rest to you?

I'm worried about my apprentice...

Hey, you're not going anywhere!

We still need to clean up the site!

You witches can go "presto, change!"
and have it done in a flash, right?

I need you leading the work!

Please, mister!

Um, it's really not that easy...

Outsiders don't understand that.

Do not worry. My apprentice
and I will handle the rest.

Thank you.

It's not easy or simple.

Not a bit.

If it were, we wouldn't have
to worry or suffer as we do.

My breathing's so much easier!

I'm so glad.

I guess the medicine worked.

Thanks, Tartah.

Well...

Actually, you're the one who helped me.

Witches are amazing, huh?

Witches are amazing, yeah.

I was worried. You were out all night.

Sorry, Grandpa.

Thanks for letting me know, Qifrey.

I'm sure you'd do the same for me.

Oh, right.

Um, I wanted to ask about
that flash of light I saw...

Flash of light?

Never mind.

You push yourself too hard, you know.

Watch your health, now.

You, too, Mister Nolnoa.
Look after yourself.

Maybe I imagined it.

I'll have to look into that
powerful light again on my own.

Goodbye, then.

Tartah.

The ferry's leaving.

Master! I'm sorry to keep you waiting.

Boat's heading out.

Tartah!

See you later!

We should head home, too.

Okay!

Coco!

I'm going to make a pen for you!

Then I'll use my own magic
to cross this river

and deliver it right to you! I promise!

Okay!

I can't wait to see it!

You two have become close friends, eh?

Yeah. She's amazing.

And I bet she'll become more amazing.

You'll become amazing, too.

I see.

You've been tormented
by nightmares all this time?

Dreams are difficult to deal with,

and sleeping spells are
considered forbidden...

Still, let's try to find
a way to help you.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

Thank you very much.

But I think I'll be okay now.

You're not just being brave?

I'm not.

Because...

I found a ray of hope.

Drawing the signs backwards
inverts their effect.

Forbidden spells must be the same way.

If I draw inverse signs
of the seal in that book,

maybe I can reverse the spell
that turned my mom to stone, too!

Coco!

Hey!

I was so worried!

Is your fever all gone?

Yeah.

I'm so glad!

So very glad!

It seems your gift
didn't work out very well.

The Pointed Caps aren't all fools
gone soft from days of peace.

We cannot sit idly by.

We must take further action.

You'll be going next, then?

As an embodiment of forbidden magic...

I certainly intend to.

When an apprentice leaves their
master's protection during a test...

That is when we must strike.

Episode 11:

The Test in Serpentback Cave