WEBVTT 01:31.860 --> 01:33.750 Now, a question. 01:34.260 --> 01:36.760 How are people able to do magic? 01:34.260 --> 01:39.180 That Which Rejects 01:34.260 --> 01:39.180 Episode 01:36.760 --> 01:38.610 Well... 01:38.610 --> 01:39.430 I know! 01:39.430 --> 01:45.020 Because we have mana, and we've mastered its use through research and effort. 01:45.680 --> 01:49.940 True, research has advanced and the magic-using population has grown, 01:49.940 --> 01:53.440 but the number of people who can cast advanced spells drops year after year. 01:53.850 --> 01:56.830 The ducal houses are synonymous with their supreme spells: 01:57.370 --> 02:01.550 Firebird, Blizzard Wolf, Gale Dragon, and Lightning Lord Tiger, 02:01.550 --> 02:03.450 but almost no one alive can cast them. 02:03.450 --> 02:06.000 Their power is also decreasing. 02:06.280 --> 02:13.300 We've had two centuries of research and reform since the War of the Dark Lord. 02:13.300 --> 02:15.000 Do you mean to say they've been for nothing, sir? 02:15.390 --> 02:17.220 No, not for nothing. 02:17.220 --> 02:20.840 But they have, in effect, sacrificed quality for quantity. 02:21.780 --> 02:25.830 I believe that we mortals are able to do magic 02:25.830 --> 02:28.560 due to the aid of elementals we cannot see. 02:28.560 --> 02:29.970 E-Elementals? 02:29.970 --> 02:33.480 But I thought experiments disproved that theory. 02:34.090 --> 02:40.160 Fire spells are no stronger on volcanoes, where fire elementals should hold sway. 02:40.160 --> 02:44.480 In some cases, water spells actually gained strength instead. 02:45.450 --> 02:47.680 I see you're well-read. 02:47.680 --> 02:53.300 But how can you trust the experiments when you can't verify the elementals' power? 02:53.300 --> 02:55.880 Th-That's not a fair question. 02:56.850 --> 02:57.630 Forgive me. 02:58.150 --> 03:00.060 You're such a good student, I couldn't help myself. 03:00.060 --> 03:03.050 I knew you had a mean streak, sir. 03:03.050 --> 03:05.940 Now, here's what I think. 03:05.940 --> 03:12.260 Perhaps elements have little significance to the elementals. 03:12.260 --> 03:18.730 However, most spell formulae now in use are designed to invoke a single element. 03:19.240 --> 03:21.360 If you were an elemental, 03:21.360 --> 03:28.740 would you be happy to help people who force you to fill one order over and over? 03:28.740 --> 03:30.340 I don't think I would. 03:30.340 --> 03:32.040 N-Neither do I. 03:32.340 --> 03:37.460 That's why I've been trying to improve my formulae by adding "blank space." 03:37.460 --> 03:41.430 I'd like you both to try it as well. 03:42.590 --> 03:48.060 Ellie, you can already cast fire and wind spells, so try another kind of magic. 03:48.340 --> 03:51.640 A-All right! I'll t-try my best. 03:57.460 --> 03:59.100 I-I'm so sorry! 03:59.100 --> 04:01.190 I-It's my fault! I'm just hopeless. 04:01.830 --> 04:03.780 That's not true at all. 04:03.780 --> 04:06.320 Relax and try again. 04:06.900 --> 04:08.240 Y-Yessir! 04:15.080 --> 04:16.990 I... I did it! 04:16.990 --> 04:19.780 O-Only a little, though. 04:19.780 --> 04:21.010 Well done. 04:21.570 --> 04:23.000 Now you try, Tina. 04:23.000 --> 04:23.920 Yes, sir! 04:32.040 --> 04:33.600 It's all right. 04:33.600 --> 04:35.700 Why don't you give it another try? 04:35.700 --> 04:36.690 All right. 04:50.010 --> 04:51.080 Amazing. 04:51.690 --> 04:54.260 Most of these books could be national treasures. 04:56.450 --> 04:59.220 Tina definitely has mana. 04:59.220 --> 05:02.790 But something is stopping her spells from activating. 05:04.400 --> 05:08.050 I only hope that something here will shed some light on what. 05:13.970 --> 05:17.640 Remember, you can't stay long. It's getting late. 05:18.180 --> 05:19.440 I know. 05:22.580 --> 05:24.360 Let me see... 05:24.360 --> 05:26.870 The Compendium of Magical Science... 05:27.760 --> 05:28.570 Here it is! 05:30.710 --> 05:34.840 You certainly take after the mistress, my lady. 05:34.840 --> 05:37.370 She loved to study and always had her nose in a book. 05:37.370 --> 05:41.890 Except Mother could do magic, and I can't. 05:41.890 --> 05:46.350 Tell me about your new tutor. What is he like? 05:46.350 --> 05:49.130 He has a mean streak. 05:49.130 --> 05:50.390 But... 05:51.140 --> 05:52.640 You must be cold wearing that. 05:52.970 --> 05:53.910 Here. 05:55.050 --> 05:57.600 He's very kind. 05:59.960 --> 06:02.900 Come, my lady. Please go without me. 06:02.900 --> 06:05.710 I'll rejoin you after I've locked up. 06:05.710 --> 06:06.460 All right. 06:09.450 --> 06:11.160 I know you're there, sir. 06:11.940 --> 06:13.700 You caught me. 06:13.700 --> 06:17.420 I am the head maid of this household. 06:17.420 --> 06:19.800 Shelley Walker is my name. 06:19.800 --> 06:25.000 If you will pardon the impertinence, sir, I must make a request of you. 06:25.340 --> 06:26.460 I'm Allen. 06:26.460 --> 06:28.220 What can I do for you? 06:28.220 --> 06:30.680 It concerns Lady Tina. 06:32.480 --> 06:36.840 She is a brilliant young lady and a hard worker, 06:36.840 --> 06:41.400 yet all of her previous instructors have dismissed her efforts and left her, 06:41.700 --> 06:44.940 simply because she lacks magical ability. 06:44.940 --> 06:47.870 Each departure wounded her. 06:47.870 --> 06:50.410 She shed tears in secret. 06:50.410 --> 06:54.950 But she has never given up on the Royal Academy. 06:55.420 --> 06:59.400 And now you have come, sir. 06:59.400 --> 07:02.920 I cannot tell you how the news delighted her. 07:03.730 --> 07:05.340 Listen to this, Shelley! 07:05.690 --> 07:09.690 The Allen, the Brain of the Lady of the Sword, is coming here! 07:12.450 --> 07:13.550 Mr. Allen, 07:14.090 --> 07:19.280 my lady idolizes you and Lady Lydia. 07:19.280 --> 07:21.980 Please help her. 07:22.590 --> 07:25.140 Rest assured that I will, Mrs. Walker. 07:25.140 --> 07:28.190 That's why I'm here, after all. 07:28.800 --> 07:30.650 Thank you, sir. 07:30.650 --> 07:31.760 And... 07:33.030 --> 07:35.680 I have a request for you as well. 07:38.040 --> 07:40.290 I will not stand for this! 07:40.580 --> 07:42.540 I demand an explanation! 07:42.540 --> 07:46.210 Um... What would you like explained? 07:46.530 --> 07:50.590 The stroll the two of you went on this morning! 07:50.590 --> 07:53.180 Oh, no. You see... 07:56.730 --> 07:59.530 I was only helping Ellie harvest vegetables. 07:59.530 --> 08:02.350 Lady Tina, you're scaring me. 08:02.350 --> 08:06.890 Ellie, what do you think of Mr. Allen? 08:06.890 --> 08:07.520 Huh? 08:07.890 --> 08:12.990 H-How could you go out alone in the early morning with a man you don't even like? 08:12.990 --> 08:16.910 But I do like Mr. Allen. 08:16.910 --> 08:17.870 Huh? 08:19.330 --> 08:21.340 You d-d-do? 08:21.340 --> 08:22.000 Yes. 08:22.500 --> 08:26.620 I like him next best to Grandpa, Grandma, and you, my lady! 08:26.620 --> 08:28.620 O-Oh, I... 08:30.090 --> 08:31.550 Wh-What did we do, sir? 08:32.060 --> 08:34.520 You get along so well, you could be sisters. 08:34.520 --> 08:37.110 Wh-Which of us looks like the older sister to you? 08:37.110 --> 08:38.440 Well... 08:38.440 --> 08:39.600 Tina, I suppose. 08:41.060 --> 08:42.740 W-Well, you're wrong! 08:42.740 --> 08:45.630 I'm a year older than she is. 08:45.630 --> 08:49.610 Not that I can recall you ever acting older. 08:49.610 --> 08:50.980 Lady Tina! 08:51.650 --> 08:53.240 H-Hmph! 08:53.240 --> 08:55.850 If that's what you think, 08:55.850 --> 08:58.990 then I won't let you sleep with me next time it thunders. 08:58.990 --> 09:01.110 What?! That's playing dirty, Ellie! 09:01.110 --> 09:03.150 I know you get scared, too! 09:05.200 --> 09:07.170 It's not a laughing matter! 09:07.460 --> 09:09.050 Forgive me. 09:09.050 --> 09:11.580 Let's continue this after our lesson. 09:15.650 --> 09:18.220 Well? Do you feel it? 09:18.540 --> 09:21.370 I didn't think it would be so warm. 09:21.370 --> 09:24.020 And I can feel the mana coursing through it. 09:24.720 --> 09:26.230 Well done. 09:26.670 --> 09:31.400 Now, you've just experienced Anko's dark mana firsthand. 09:31.940 --> 09:33.040 Ellie, you first. 09:33.040 --> 09:34.260 Y-Yessir! 09:44.120 --> 09:45.750 It's all right. 09:45.750 --> 09:49.100 You wouldn't need me if you could do it on your first try. 09:49.100 --> 09:51.500 You next, Tina. Give it a try. 09:52.000 --> 09:53.010 Yes, sir. 09:57.610 --> 09:58.720 I will. 10:08.130 --> 10:10.020 Don't let it get to you. 10:10.400 --> 10:12.380 We have plenty more to try. 10:13.130 --> 10:14.190 Yes, sir. 10:14.530 --> 10:16.880 Now, allow me to demonstrate. 10:18.610 --> 10:22.030 POOF 10:22.030 --> 10:25.310 May I please hold it, Allen, sir?! 10:25.310 --> 10:27.470 No fair, Ellie! What about me?! 10:27.470 --> 10:29.480 Please don't fight. 10:29.480 --> 10:30.620 Look, I made another. 10:31.090 --> 10:31.800 Here, 10:32.750 --> 10:34.310 one for each of you. 10:35.170 --> 10:37.710 Wow. They're just like real kittens. 10:38.100 --> 10:42.390 They only came out so well because I have Anko here for reference. 10:43.540 --> 10:45.000 They're so fluffy. 10:45.970 --> 10:48.060 How adorable! 10:49.130 --> 10:52.510 Mr. Allen. A letter for you, sir. 10:55.610 --> 10:58.850 From Lydia? That was fast. 10:58.850 --> 11:01.350 Dear fugitive, 11:01.990 --> 11:05.160 I got your letter. 11:05.590 --> 11:08.830 Why in the world did you go to the Howards?! 11:09.300 --> 11:12.260 If you needed work, you should have come here! 11:13.250 --> 11:18.300 I've met Tina a few times, and I know about her situation. 11:18.300 --> 11:21.380 This will be a tough nut to crack, even for you. 11:21.890 --> 11:26.160 Of course, it might work out if you did you-know-what... 11:27.220 --> 11:29.040 But that's out of the question. 11:29.040 --> 11:31.730 Don't even think about trying it with anyone but me. 11:32.330 --> 11:38.450 And I know there's something you're not telling me about your court sorcerer exam. 11:38.450 --> 11:43.980 Since when have you been in any position to keep secrets from your mistress? 11:44.720 --> 11:46.120 Well, never mind. 11:46.120 --> 11:49.460 I'll see you at the Royal Academy entrance exam. 11:49.460 --> 11:51.840 If you run, I'll track you to the ends of the earth, 11:51.840 --> 11:54.670 slice you up, and burn what's left—and don't you forget it. 11:55.580 --> 11:59.320 Your pursuer and mistress, Lydia. 11:59.320 --> 12:00.210 PS: 12:00.510 --> 12:04.040 I won't insist on daily letters, but write at least once a week. 12:04.040 --> 12:05.290 Is that clear?! 12:07.480 --> 12:09.850 What did Lady Lydia want, sir? 12:10.220 --> 12:13.520 Nothing. She's just upset that I don't write often enough. 12:13.520 --> 12:16.600 She must really care for you, sir! 12:16.600 --> 12:20.230 I'm sure she can't bear to be apart from you. 12:20.230 --> 12:24.910 No, I don't think her reasons are quite so endearing. 12:31.790 --> 12:35.040 The new spell formulae are getting results, 12:35.040 --> 12:36.830 although mostly for Ellie. 12:48.580 --> 12:49.790 Are those... 12:51.100 --> 12:53.120 Slivers of ice? 12:56.450 --> 12:57.600 I'm certain of it. 12:58.170 --> 13:01.270 Her spells are getting just one step shy of activating. 13:01.940 --> 13:07.720 If modern magical theory can't explain why, I'll look in older records. 13:10.210 --> 13:11.380 What's this? 13:13.050 --> 13:14.530 Allen, sir. 13:14.530 --> 13:15.540 Good evening. 13:17.200 --> 13:18.290 Y-You see... 13:21.680 --> 13:22.840 Thank you for waiting. 13:23.820 --> 13:25.260 No, thank you, Miss Walker. 13:25.770 --> 13:27.180 However— 13:27.180 --> 13:28.970 Wait, sir! 13:29.620 --> 13:32.350 Why did you call me "Miss Walker"? 13:33.020 --> 13:34.770 You always call me "Ellie." 13:35.110 --> 13:38.160 Don't tell me that was only for the lesson?! 13:38.160 --> 13:41.230 Well, I wouldn't say... 13:41.230 --> 13:43.980 Liar! You're lying! How could you?! 13:43.980 --> 13:47.780 Is that all I mean to you, Allen, sir?! 13:47.780 --> 13:49.410 Very well. "Ellie" it is. 13:51.430 --> 13:54.750 Thank you, sir! Please never call me anything else. 13:56.260 --> 14:01.500 Be that as it may, you shouldn't invite men into your room this late at night. 14:01.850 --> 14:05.670 Please save that for someone you've set your heart on. 14:05.670 --> 14:07.170 Then what's the problem? 14:07.510 --> 14:09.180 I'm sorry. Did you say something? 14:09.180 --> 14:11.350 N-No, nothing. I understand. 14:11.350 --> 14:13.630 Now tell me, what can I do for you? 14:13.630 --> 14:14.810 Y-Yessir! 14:15.350 --> 14:17.860 Allen, sir, um... 14:17.860 --> 14:19.680 thank you very much. 14:21.020 --> 14:25.400 You see, Grandma and Grandpa called me to see them earlier, and... 14:26.120 --> 14:29.730 Ellie, we love you more than anyone else in the world. 14:29.730 --> 14:33.690 And not only because you remind us of our late daughter and son-in-law. 14:33.690 --> 14:35.760 We love you as family. 14:36.290 --> 14:40.370 And then they hugged me ever so tight. 14:40.370 --> 14:43.090 It was all so sudden that I wanted to know why, 14:43.090 --> 14:46.170 and they said they'd had a talk about me with you. 14:46.580 --> 14:48.210 I'm happy for you. 14:48.210 --> 14:50.340 And I only offered a bit of advice. 14:51.090 --> 14:54.220 And... I have a request for you as well. 14:54.220 --> 14:55.760 What can I do for you, sir? 14:56.460 --> 14:57.930 It's about Miss Walker. 14:58.330 --> 15:00.520 Has she done something to offend you, sir?! 15:00.520 --> 15:02.540 No, nothing of the sort. 15:02.540 --> 15:07.060 She has plenty of talent, but she has trouble making the most of it. 15:07.060 --> 15:09.190 To help her face forward with confidence, 15:09.190 --> 15:13.250 I'd like you to tell her how much she means to you. 15:13.250 --> 15:16.700 A loving family can be a great comfort. 15:18.660 --> 15:21.540 My own family has helped me through a great deal. 15:22.960 --> 15:25.920 Both my parents passed away when I was little. 15:26.430 --> 15:31.300 I came to live here because the Howards took me in. 15:31.690 --> 15:33.420 I had no idea. 15:33.420 --> 15:37.350 I still remember the day I arrived at this house. 15:38.350 --> 15:40.690 I remember the cold, white snow 15:40.690 --> 15:45.900 and a little girl who did her best to follow me everywhere. 15:46.570 --> 15:49.840 Lady Tina had only just lost her own mother. 15:49.840 --> 15:51.440 She must have felt anxious. 15:52.050 --> 15:54.140 We're birds of a feather, my lady and I. 15:55.130 --> 15:57.610 I was frightened. 15:57.610 --> 16:01.790 I'm the heir to the Walker name, but nothing I do goes right. 16:01.790 --> 16:05.000 Before I knew it, Lady Tina had left me in the dust academically. 16:05.500 --> 16:09.800 I worried that there might not be any place left for me. 16:09.800 --> 16:14.790 So I gathered my courage and asked the master 16:14.790 --> 16:18.220 to let me go to the Royal Academy, too. 16:18.690 --> 16:20.280 I'm impressed. 16:20.280 --> 16:24.100 You chose to forge your own path. 16:24.100 --> 16:26.070 You seem like a brave girl. 16:26.070 --> 16:27.610 N-Not really. 16:28.340 --> 16:32.740 You have all the talent you need, Ellie, and you're not alone. 16:33.380 --> 16:34.970 Have faith in yourself. 16:35.420 --> 16:36.440 Yes, sir! 16:37.760 --> 16:38.870 Here goes nothing! 16:43.370 --> 16:44.780 Splendid work. 16:44.780 --> 16:46.540 Th-Thank you very much! 16:47.140 --> 16:49.110 What about the other elements? 16:50.210 --> 16:54.970 Well, lightning and light scare me a little. 16:54.970 --> 16:58.090 Anko is helping me with darkness, 16:58.820 --> 17:00.800 so I think I'll get the hang of it soon. 17:03.020 --> 17:04.800 Ellie's making good progress. 17:04.800 --> 17:08.410 She may be ready to start magical sparring soon. 17:05.440 --> 17:08.410 I'd appreciate your help again, Anko. 17:09.350 --> 17:10.520 But first... 17:11.060 --> 17:14.010 Come on, Tina. It's your turn. 17:14.010 --> 17:14.940 Yes, sir. 17:24.180 --> 17:27.750 Why? Why won't it work? 17:28.120 --> 17:29.440 My lady... 17:30.430 --> 17:32.290 We still have time. 17:32.290 --> 17:34.820 Let's try a different spell formula. 17:34.820 --> 17:35.970 Yes, sir. 17:36.430 --> 17:39.600 Continuing to test hypotheses is the only way through this. 17:39.600 --> 17:44.270 But when I see her struggling, my resolve wavers. 17:44.910 --> 17:46.490 If all else fails... 17:47.780 --> 17:49.770 So, what do you think? 17:50.190 --> 17:52.420 Her Highness's mana reserves are immense. 17:52.420 --> 17:56.020 But I can't promise that she'll be ready for the entrance exam. 17:56.020 --> 17:59.700 Then you'll talk her out of attempting it? 18:00.020 --> 18:05.120 No. I believe that she should be allowed to enroll if she wishes to. 18:07.300 --> 18:09.050 Even if she can't do magic, 18:09.050 --> 18:14.590 the academy will make an exception in light of her academic brilliance. 18:15.130 --> 18:17.050 I know that. 18:17.050 --> 18:20.180 But aristocratic society never makes things easy. 18:20.180 --> 18:23.260 You must have experienced that yourself. 18:24.260 --> 18:31.200 A Howard girl without magic will become a target for every fool in the Academy. 18:31.200 --> 18:34.440 I don't want Tina to suffer any more than she already has. 18:35.610 --> 18:39.630 If her condition doesn't change, do as I've asked. 18:39.630 --> 18:40.610 But— 18:41.610 --> 18:44.280 Please. I beg of you. 18:47.840 --> 18:48.880 As you wish. 18:57.430 --> 18:58.560 One more try. 19:02.100 --> 19:04.050 Practicing? Allow me to join you. 19:05.220 --> 19:06.350 Sir. 19:06.660 --> 19:07.980 You wouldn't mind? 19:07.980 --> 19:10.480 Of course not. Please continue. 19:13.350 --> 19:15.570 I can't make heads or tails of it. 19:15.570 --> 19:19.360 Her formulae have started vanishing too fast for me to check them. 19:19.710 --> 19:23.020 I could almost believe that something is rejecting them. 19:25.680 --> 19:28.910 I can't find any flaws in her formulae, 19:29.410 --> 19:32.370 so why won't they activate? 19:32.370 --> 19:35.390 There must be some way to help her. 19:47.680 --> 19:49.350 Morning already?! 19:50.100 --> 19:52.640 I guess the late nights have been taking a toll. 19:53.300 --> 19:57.570 This won't do. I'll be no use to the girls like this. 20:03.960 --> 20:05.450 Good morning. 20:09.620 --> 20:12.000 She must've stayed up late practicing. 20:17.820 --> 20:19.770 Sir? 20:19.770 --> 20:22.920 Did I wake you? Please forgive me. 20:23.500 --> 20:24.450 No. 20:26.050 --> 20:29.410 Are you reading that book for me? 20:29.410 --> 20:32.330 No. I merely take an interest in— 20:32.330 --> 20:33.180 You're lying! 20:33.930 --> 20:37.860 I know you've been staying up late reading! 20:37.860 --> 20:41.300 You didn't even come to breakfast this morning. 20:41.300 --> 20:42.190 Well... 20:42.490 --> 20:46.430 How many hundreds of books have you read this past month? 20:46.430 --> 20:52.040 You think up new spell formulae for me every single day, 20:52.040 --> 20:54.250 and you even help me practice at night. 20:54.250 --> 20:56.300 Please, think nothing of it. 20:56.300 --> 21:00.990 I like reading, and I enjoy tweaking formulae as well. 21:00.990 --> 21:03.550 I merely happened to oversleep this morning. 21:04.010 --> 21:05.190 Embarrassing, really. 21:06.220 --> 21:08.100 You should be angry! 21:08.100 --> 21:10.070 You ought to blame me! 21:10.070 --> 21:13.770 I can't cast a single spell because I... 21:14.190 --> 21:17.250 I have no talent for it! 21:18.180 --> 21:19.240 Forgive me. 21:19.240 --> 21:23.080 If I've driven you to say such things, I've failed as your tutor. 21:23.080 --> 21:23.650 However— 21:29.120 --> 21:32.490 I... I can't take any more. 21:32.920 --> 21:36.710 I respect you, sir, and I like you a lot. 21:36.710 --> 21:39.000 And I love Ellie, too. 21:39.000 --> 21:39.630 What in the...? 21:40.080 --> 21:43.050 But every time you praise her... 21:43.050 --> 21:46.660 Every time I see her improving... 21:46.660 --> 21:49.990 foul feelings well up inside me! 21:49.990 --> 21:51.140 So I...! 21:54.980 --> 21:55.940 Tina! 21:59.540 --> 22:00.830 Allen, sir?! 22:01.780 --> 22:03.110 Stay back, Ellie! 22:04.030 --> 22:04.980 Tina!