So what did you want to talk about, Caren?
Well, it's about Stella.
Right after your fight with Prince Gerard,
she fainted right away.
What? Then...
Is Lady Stella in poor health?
There's nothing wrong with her physically.
But mentally, well...
Meaning?
She's been pretty depressed after seeing Tina and Lynne do supreme magic.
Stella's earnest, and she's always worked hard,
but she hasn't gotten there yet.
I see.
And she seemed hung up on supreme magic to begin with.
She's strong, so I think she'll get over it, but still...
Let me know the moment there's trouble.
I will.
Prince Gerard is suspended indefinitely.
A Lightless Road
Episode
None of you are to be penalized.
An impartial verdict. I am most grateful.
Now, about that voice I heard during the battle...
Annihilate the imitation.
I believe it was indeed the lost Great Spell, Frigid Crane.
Unfortunately, it seems that only you heard this voice.
But it is no thing of evil, unless I am much mistaken.
Still, what could it mean by "imitation"?
And does Tina know of this?
Not yet.
I had planned to tell her once I found a way to control it, but—
Enter.
By your leave.
Mr. Allen.
Pardon my intrusion at such a busy time.
One of my classmates will soon return to school.
For your approval, sir.
Of course.
Felicia Fosse, is it?
Has her health improved?
Yes. She seems well enough for school life.
Caren and I will help her to make up the lessons she's missed.
Very well. It won't be easy, but do what you can.
Yes, sir! Thank you very much.
Stella is performing admirably as president of our student council.
Though by all rights, the post should have gone to your sister.
Beastfolk still face deep-rooted prejudice and discrimination,
but Caren is happy to assist Lady Stella as vice president.
Her Highness works hard and the students trust her.
She's fully qualified to lead the student council.
I've never once felt confident in myself.
The fact is, Father opposed my enrollment in this academy.
Father, would you repeat that?
I said that you need not attend the Royal Academy.
Generations of Howards have served the kingdom with our hereditary supreme magic.
But you, Stella, have no chance of mastering it.
I mean to apply myself earnestly to doing so.
Diligent study at the Royal Academy will surely bear fruit.
You've done enough.
Mana capacity is fixed at birth.
You lack the mana,
while your sister Tina has it in spades but cannot cast even elementary spells.
Our magical inheritance will end with my generation.
We must seek a new way forward as—
No!
I will attend the Royal Academy, and the university as well.
I will prove that I have talents befitting the future Duchess Howard!
Stella!
Wait!
Mother believed in me, and so will I.
I worked like my life depended on it.
As a result, I became president of the student council
and earned better grades than most of my peers.
What little pride I got from that sustained me.
Or it did until recently.
And so...
Felicia! Congratulations on your return to school!
Congratulations!
Th-Thank you.
It's good to see you again after so long.
We last met at the hot spring, didn't we?
I wouldn't have gotten to use the baths there if not for your magic.
It took all three of us working together!
Rumor has it you defeated Prince Gerard with magic, too.
Oh, Tina deserves the credit for that.
She sent him packing with a supreme spell.
You can use supreme magic? That's incredible.
Oh, no!
I couldn't have done it without Mr. Allen and Lydia.
Tina, why not accept the compliment and say thank you?
You learned supreme magic in no time at all.
I couldn't be more proud of you.
That means a lot coming from you.
But Mr. Allen was even more incredible, don't you think?!
Yes. He was practically...
Stella?
Mother must be delighted up in the heavens as well.
Yes!
That was fun, wasn't it?
And I'm glad Felicia seemed to hit it off with the new girls.
Yes.
Stella,
what would you say to an after-party in our room?
We haven't gotten to sit down and talk much lately.
Huh?
Oh.
Forgive me.
I have an errand to take care of, so I must decline today.
Student council work?
I could help.
No, it's not that.
Don't tell me you're going to study.
You'll collapse if you push yourself too hard.
Oh, are you thinking of the other day?
That only happened because I felt so relieved the fighting was over.
I'm fine. You have nothing to worry about.
I'll head back now, okay?
Liar.
I'm telling lies.
That time,
when the fighting stopped, I collapsed from envy and despair.
Tina couldn't even cast elementary spells,
and there she was, doing supreme magic like a master.
Ellie and Lynne held their own against Gerard, too.
But I lost my nerve and couldn't move a step.
It was so frustrating. So pathetic.
Y-You're wrong! I did try to join the fight!
But I gave up when I heard what Gerard said.
I've heard all about you and how you'll never master supreme magic!
At first, it was Caren.
When I met her at the academy,
her talent made me feel jealous and hopeless.
I... I'll admit she's impressive,
but I've worked hard to catch up to her!
But Caren is the better practical sorceress.
I've never come close to beating her.
I still think I only became president because Caren stepped aside for me.
See? I knew it.
Tina?!
This is why I was able to breeze past you.
Tell me, how do you feel now?
How does it feel to get overtaken out of the blue
by "the Howards' cursed child" who couldn't even do magic?
You're wrong!
Wrong! All wrong!
You felt so secure, didn't you?
As long as I couldn't do magic, you had to be the heir.
No!
Tina wouldn't say that.
My...
My sister learning to do magic....
made me happy.
And jealous.
A dream?
You know, Allen, I've been wondering. Are you one of those guys?
The type who goes out of his way to make things harder for himself?
Do I look like someone who would do that?
Do you ever!
I mean, you're still tutoring while you teach at the Royal Academy.
And keeping Lydia happy, obviously.
And on top of all that,
you're even helping the Howards and Leinsters with a business venture!
It's important to select the right trading partners.
Of course it is. But that doesn't mean you have to—
Don't tell me you've decided to move up in the world?
Don't be silly.
I'm only helping out in my spare time.
Simply impeccable, Mr. Allen!
Well, I guess when all's said and done, you got played like a fiddle.
The professor's firm friends with both dukes,
and Duchess Lisa used to be his student.
What did you come here first thing in the morning for, anyway?
If Your Highness is bored, I'd welcome a helping hand, Lord Gil Algren.
Or would you prefer I call you "Duke Algren's likely heir"?
No way. I'm just the fourth son, and—
Hey!
Why do you have to make fun of me like that?!
I mean every word.
Now, why don't you try teasing Lydia instead of me?
I'd be throwing my life away if I messed with her!
Reckless is one thing, but don't ask me to commit suicide!
A video orb?
Don't tell me you recorded that.
I'll show Lydia.
Live strong, Gil.
H-Have a heart, man!
You can't do this to me!
Well, I have a class to teach.
Don't slack off at the university, now.
I'll try.
But you ought to give yourself a break.
I'd like to, but it's just so exciting to see my students grow.
That look on your face screams "teacher."
People are talking about you at home and abroad after that mess.
Some of the conservatives have it in for you. They say you'll "bring disaster."
Watch your back.
Thank you. I'll be careful.
Let's talk things over another time.
Sure thing.
It's fine.
All I have to do is work harder than ever.
Harder.
And harder.
And therefore,
to construct a multi-elemental spell...
Come on, relax.
I can shorten this part, so...
Work backwards from that to get the activation timing.
You'd better lengthen this a little.
I see.
I'm exhausted!
But you made it through your first day back.
Hey, hey,
want to swing by the café with the sky-blue roof?
Count me in!
I'm sorry. I have other plans.
You two have fun.
Is it me, or does Stella seem off?
You think so, too?
She's the type to bottle things up.
Yeah.
Maybe we'd better leave her be for now.
I think so.
Only...
Sir,
what did you want to talk about?
You look awfully expectant.
How could I not when you called me here specially?
It's a very important, serious matter.
Meaning?
Do you remember you once told me that you'd like to cast a Great Spell?
Yes.
I'll get straight to the point.
Tina, you have something connected to Great Magic inside you.
Inside... me?
Yes.
I've heard its voice three times now.
And seen it, albeit indistinctly.
But for some reason, it seems to be inaudible and invisible to everyone else.
Wait, um, do you mean...?
I believe it's one of the lost Great Spells: Frigid Crane.
Huh?
What?!
But that can't be!
I mean, people in legends did that spell! It's in my picture book!
I realize it's hard to believe,
but the headmaster shares my opinion.
There's so much we still don't know,
but I believe we'll have to search for answers one question at a time.
Sir! Um...
What should I do?
It's all right.
The Frigid Crane within you means no harm.
Try to relax.
And remember, I'm with you.
The first step is to master controlling your mana.
Let's keep working on that together.
Yes, sir!
Now, for today's practical lesson...
Tina and Lynne, continue practicing ways to control the force of your spells.
Ellie...
A-Allen, sir!
Would you, um, p-please teach me an advanced spell?!
An advanced spell?
I can teach you formulae, but I don't have enough mana to demonstrate them.
Um...
You could if you linked mana with me, couldn't you?
Huh?
L-Like you did with Lady Tina and Lady Lydia that time!
Oh, that's right!
It's not just our secret anymore.
Oh dear. What a shame!
I want to help you when it really matters!
As do I, Dear Brother!
I'm glad you both feel that way,
but please, give more thought to your own safety.
Dear Brother! I don't think it's fair to give Miss First Place special treatment!
Isn't that right, Ellie?!
Y-Yes'm!
I think only Lady Tina getting to do it is n-no fair!
It is too fair!
It is not!
Not fair at all!
It's terribly dangerous!
Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
Um... Girls?
Would you stop horsing around and focus on—
Oh, would you keep it down?
You want to demonstrate an advanced spell?
Fine. I'll help.
You heard that?
Well then, if you don't mind...
But we don't need to link mana to—
All right. I'll borrow a little.
Now, allow me to demonstrate elemental camouflage with advanced magic.
That's amazing!
It's not a bad way to catch an opponent off guard.
What next? Let me think...
That's i-incredible!
How beautiful!
I just cast spells of multiple elements at once.
Remember what we practiced with the eight candles?
This is a practical application.
You mean it's...
The same principle?
You three will get the hang of it in no time.
Finally, Ellie,
give me the name of an animal.
Huh?
Um... A horsie?
All right.
Now, here goes nothing.
Th-That tickles.
I tried combining compound activation with a magical creature.
Did that help you?
Y-Yessir!
I memorized the formulae... I think.
I'm sure you'll have it down in time for end-of-term exams.
Let's work at it together.
M-Me and you, Allen, sir?
I'll t-try my best!
Now, I think it's time we broke for tea.
The maids have kindly prepared it for us.
Yes!
What are we waiting for?
No.
I need to hold it steadier.
Why can't I do it?
Why?!
Thank you.
That tastes lovely.
On nights when you can't sleep,
watch the moon and stars like this, and don't make a sound.
If you do that,
the elementals will show you the way.
Tell me, Mother, will the elementals visit me, too?
Yes. Never fear.
They'll visit you, Stella.
Mother...
I'll keep working at it,
harder than ever.
Translator: Timer: Editor: Quality Control: Final Quality Control:
William Varteresian Henry Lin Meagan Smith Gabriella Ramirez Elizabeth Ellis