You fell for it, sir!
Today, victory is mine at last!
Lady Tina! I think you mean "ours"!
Oh! Sorry!
I'm delighted to see you're such good friends,
but never take your eyes off your opponent.
Wh-What just happened?!
I can't see a thing!
Right above you.
You both lose.
That was a good trap, Tina. You pass.
O-Of course I do.
Ellie, you close distance faster and fiercer by the day.
Thank you very much.
But you both still have much to learn.
You'll be facing Duke Walter's hand-picked sorcerer in your final exam.
He may even use advanced magic against you.
You'll have to fight back with everything you've got.
Yes, sir!
Tina, keep working on controlling your strength.
Yes, sir...
We have precious little time before your exam.
I'll spend it teaching you everything you need to know.
Yes, sir!
Now, that's enough for today.
Episode
The Final Exam
Nothing beats a bath after training!
Nothing at all.
Our final exam's almost here.
Do you think we'll really get our act together in time?
I... I'm not sure.
You'll do fine, Ellie.
Graham and Shelley teach you martial arts, for one thing.
Any Howard maid ought to know some!
And, um, Grandma and Grandpa are always saying
how amazing you are, my lady.
Mr. Allen is the amazing one.
I can't let him down!
M-Me neither!
We'll go to the Royal Academy. Both of us.
Yes! Together!
Hey! Ellie?!
What's wrong?!
Honestly. How could you stay in so long you got dizzy?
I'm sho shorry...
This spell is good for drying hair, too, you know?
I used to do this all the time.
Who for?!
For whom, sir?!
For my sister, Caren.
I know I'm biased, but she's a great kid.
And she's at the academy now, so she'll be your upperclassman.
I... I'll do by mest!
Oh.
So, um, once we've finished our exams, will you...
Yes?
No, forget I said anything.
As before, you win if you can land even one hit on me.
Yes, sir!
Now, shall we begin?
I haven't lost yet!
She's firing wildly.
A diversion, I suppose.
Today is the day we beat you!
Well done, both of you.
Yes!
We did it!
Again! I want to keep going, sir!
S-So do I!
You've done enough. Let's call it a day.
But, sir!
Your final exam is tomorrow.
You need to conserve your strength for it.
Yes, sir.
Another book that brings me no closer to identifying what I saw back then.
At last, I meet a key.
What on earth could it be?
Oh?
What brings you here at this hour of the night?
I couldn't get to sleep,
so I thought I'd come to my plants for encouragement.
Then I saw a light on.
Is that so?
Um... Sir?
Yes?
Tomorrow...
If I fail, does that mean I can't go to the royal capital?
I'm certain it won't come to that.
You and Ellie will do fine.
I'm glad to hear that. Very glad.
Would you mind listening to me for a bit?
No.
When I was little,
I told you how my mother used to read me picture books, right?
And how I admired the Great Spells that the people in the legends used to cast...
I saw them drawn in a book.
The flame-wreathed lion, Blazing Qilin.
The little jade-green bird of healing, Tempest Kingfisher.
And the bird of ice that freezes everything there is, Frigid Crane.
"Frigid Crane"?
It's supposed to take the form of a crane, a kind of extinct bird.
I think the Great Spells really exist.
That's why I want to go to the royal capital.
It's a story that my mother left me.
I want to prove it's true.
You're the first person I've ever told this to, sir.
Sir?
Thank you for telling me that.
Would you mind taking a look at these?
Huh?
Aren't these...?
I've taken the liberty of reading the books here over the past few months.
A number of them have bookmarks between their pages,
always at basic formulae for ice magic.
And the last page of each one bears the same owner's mark.
But this is...!
I don't know your mother personally.
But looking at all the notes she left behind,
I can see her concern for the children who would survive her clear as day.
As a matter of fact, the formulae I've been teaching you come from these notes,
with a few tweaks of my own.
Mother...
Sir!
Sir, I swear I'll win tomorrow.
I'll win and go to the Royal Academy!
You have nothing to worry about.
Sir...
I know that the two of you can win.
We've been expecting you.
Mr. Allen, the stands are this way.
You are not to interfere.
I understand.
Lady Tina, Ellie.
We're ready.
My lady, please take this.
All right.
Isn't this...?
That rod belonged to the mistress—to Duchess Rosa.
She left it in my care and asked me to give it to you when you learned magic.
I beg your pardon... for not delivering it sooner.
This was mother's?
Thank you. Now I've got nothing to fear.
At long last, I've managed to do my duty.
Grandma!
Ellie...
Believe in yourself and all your hard work.
I will!
Come on, Ellie!
Yes, my lady!
You'd better watch us, sir.
We'll hit him with everything you taught us!
Give it your best, girls!
Yes, sir!
This gentleman will be your opponent today.
There's a perception-blocking spell on that mask.
If you want to take the Royal Academy exam, you must defeat me.
Challenge me with all the strength you can muster!
Very well! I promise we'll beat you!
I have erected a barrier. You need hold nothing back.
Now...
begin!
Water, earth, and even ice!
Oh, Ellie!
Good. Those were nice, neat formulae.
You can't afford to take your eyes off me!
My lady!
Over here!
He noticed. No surprise there.
Are you hurt?!
You should be...
proud of your skill.
What freezing cold.
That's an advanced spell: Twin Icicle Pillars.
Um... Um...!
Keep calm, Ellie!
Just like Mr. Allen taught us.
Right.
Tina! Ellie!
Go get him!
Yes, sir!
Block this if you can!
Tina...
I'm amazed. She's casting spells I never taught her.
Her Highness has always been most studious.
She has come into her own.
That ought to prove we're ready for the Royal Academy exams!
Be gracious and admit defeat!
I never dreamed they'd come this far.
Th-There's no sense trying to fight it!
Please surrender right away, and unconditionally!
I can't respond with less than my best!
I recognize this spell!
The barrier won't hold!
Everyone! You're in danger here!
Please evacuate!
You, too, Mrs. Walker! Hurry!
O-Of course.
But what about you, sir?
I'll be right back!
Mr. Allen!
Let me relieve you as referee.
It will be most unsafe, sir.
I know.
For better or worse, I'm used to it.
What fools you girls are.
Didn't your teacher tell you to strike when you have an opening?
I don't believe it.
I thought only Father could cast that spell.
My lady...
Oh, how are we supposed to fight that?
But... But we will find a way!
Or what did we learn from Mr. Allen for?!
You're right! He won't beat us!
We'll win this and go to the Royal Academy!
When the white wolf runs,
it leaves only a world of ice and snow in its wake.
That's the supreme spell of the Ducal House of Howard: Blizzard Wolf.
Mr. Walker, use these.
They're military barriers the Professor sent me.
Erect a second barrier outside as well, just to be safe!
Certainly, sir.
Tina! Ellie!
Please stay out of this!
Stand back and watch, sir!
Here it comes.
You have a bright future ahead of you if you can use two kinds of magic already.
No!
All your hard work paid off.
I'm proud of you.
You're an amazing girl, Tina.
Not bad.
But not good enough.
If you want a fighting chance,
you'd better cast a supreme spell of your own!
Ellie! Are you hurt?!
I'm fine.
Tina!
Sir...
You got a good look at the formula for Blizzard Wolf, didn't you?
Y-Yes, I did.
Now's your chance!
I know you haven't practiced, but give it your best shot!
Wh-What?! But I couldn't possibly...
Don't worry!
You can do it!
Ellie, support her, if you please!
Huh?
Oh, y-yessir!
Interesting.
Do it, if you can!
Okay, now, um...
I think you can condense that part!
I'm through waiting!
It worked!
Incredible.
But you're still green!
What's wrong? Is that the best you can do?!
Their formula's still rough.
At this rate...
No! We haven't lost yet!
My lady?
One of the fairy tales Mother told me was about the Lady of Ice,
who tied her ribbon to her staff when she really meant business!
Mother, give me strength.
Ellie! Put your back into it!
Yes, my lady!
Use my power.
Take this!
Lady Tina...
Dear Lydia,
We're about to depart for the royal capital.
I feel a little sad to bid this world of gleaming snow farewell.
Listen to Mr. Allen, now.
I will, Grandpa!
Father!
Duke Walter! How are your wounds?
Oh, I'm fine.
So, um...
Your final exam left me speechless.
I could almost have mistaken you for Rosa.
And... I'm sorry. For everything.
I was afraid.
I couldn't bear the thought of losing you too.
Father...
I'm so sorry!
I'm going now, Father.
Look after the plants while I'm gone.
Yes, I will.
Lady Tina!
The train will leave any moment!
Okay!
You didn't forget anything, did you?
I've learned that our greenhouse is too small for a growing young tree.
I'm all set. What about you?
In which case, it's a father's duty
I have everything.
to send her into a wider world.
My wife would want that for her.
Allen, I trust you.
Huh?
Oh, thank you very much.
Ow!
However! If you ever lay a finger on my little girl...
Ow, ow, ow!
If you should ever lay a finger on my granddaughter...
There must be some misunderstanding! I wouldn't dream of it!
Well then, I'll await you in the royal capital.
Yes.
We're going, Father!
Goodbye!
A lot has happened, but I'm glad I got the chance to tutor these girls.
As for what comes next,
I'll think of that after I get back.
You have no reason to worry.
In any case, I'll see you in the royal capital.