The wind?
Are you awake?
I hailed us a Pegasus Carriage.
Huh?
Flying so high must've been cold in your pajamas.
We're almost there.
There, can you see it?
That's my atelier and the school you'll be learning at.
The School of the Grassland
I planted Guard Briar seeds around your house.
They'll grow in no time and act as a barrier.
Your house was petrified by an unknown spell,
so it'll keep people from getting too close to it.
So...
Coco?
What's the matter?
I promised my mom I wouldn't leave her by herself.
But I...
Coco...
Don't be hard on yourself. You didn't know what you were doing.
Here, let's wash your face.
Let all your tears out, then look ahead.
Because this is going to be your new home starting today.
Um, what is this?
Hmm? Water, of course.
Ah. I totally forgot! You need a change of clothes.
It feels too round and floaty to be called water.
Huh?
How am I supposed to use this?
Mister Qifrey?
I'm scared of touching magic I don't understand.
There's nothing to be afraid of!
It's not a difficult kind of magic to handle.
Want me to teach you?
That's a Vapor Bubble.
It's magic that pulls water out of the moisture in the air.
Here, hold out your hands.
Tilt the lower tray, and the water pours out.
Wow, that's amazing. Thank you.
Thank you!
Huh?
I love being told "Thank you."
So thank you!
Oh, um... I see.
Thanks.
Thank you for thanking me again!
Thank you for thanking me, and thank you again...
Just ignore her if she's too much.
She'll stop eventually if you just don't respond.
How mean, Richeh! I was just helping her.
The pen and ink.
Are you both witches?
Just apprentices. We're students of Master Qifrey.
Wait, so you're not?
I totally thought you were a fellow student like us.
Are we the same age? Which atelier did you come from?
Uh...
I don't think I can call myself a student just yet.
I mean, yesterday was the first time I ever drew a spell.
But I'm going to live here as of today.
What?
Huh?
Wait, so you're the one who did it?
Did what?
There's a rumor going around
about an Outsider who used forbidden magic...
That they were allowed to become an apprentice with their memories intact...
Coco.
Are you okay?
Mr. Qifrey...
Looks like you all introduced yourselves.
Richeh and Tetia, will you go study in your rooms
after helping with the morning chores?
Okay!
Here are your new clothes. This is what my students wear.
Don't be afraid. I'll explain everything.
Looks like it fits you perfectly.
Now then, let us begin the story of magic.
Long ago, magic wasn't something special.
All you needed was a combination of known patterns and specially made ink.
It was a familiar tool that anyone could use.
However, it sparked conflict time and time again.
When humans are given the power to do anything,
"anything" is what they will do.
And so, many horrific spells were created.
The few people who still had a conscience
turned away from conflict and unified as witches
to take other people's memories of magic,
entrusting the secret only to disciples sworn to protect it.
That was the Day of the Pact.
Ever since then, people have been made to believe
that magic is a power only a chosen few can wield.
If the truth were to spread,
the world would collapse into lawlessness once again.
Everyone's being careful to keep the secret.
That's why they started talking about you.
I'm sorry you had to hear that.
No, I brought this on myself.
Um, what's "forbidden magic"?
Magic that was drawn during the age of conflict
and banned when the Day of the Pact came—
magic for hurting others.
Please teach me!
Teach me all about the magic that I'm not supposed to use!
I want to know!
I'll be too scared to do anything if I don't know what it is.
This is where I usually tell my students not to rush things,
but that's harder with you.
Come with me.
There are countless forbidden spells,
but it's simple when you boil it down.
Any spell cast directly upon the human body
is prohibited under all circumstances.
This includes transformation, age alteration,
teleportation without doors or conveyances,
as well as the manipulation of thoughts or emotion,
the harming of others, or even healing them.
There is, however, a single exception.
Erasing memories?
Exactly.
Most spells are cast on tools.
Like carriages or lamps.
Or windows like this one.
A lake?!
But we were surrounded by hills just a minute ago.
It's called a Windowway.
It connects two round windows that bear the same pattern.
Can you see that building over there?
That's the Tower of Tomes.
To preserve knowledge, all books related to magic
are duplicated there the moment they're written.
The picture book...
Let's go there right now! I won't sleep until I find it!
Hold your horses.
That was the Librarians' Trial.
The Tower of Tomes is protected by four librarians,
and only witches who overcome it are allowed to enter.
So you need to study if you want to go inside.
Coco.
It made me happy earlier when you expressed how eager you are to learn.
It's natural to feel fear.
But...
The spells that are not forbidden
are those that bring happiness to all of us.
So why not learn about the gentler sort of spell?
That's how I feel.
What do you say?
Yes. Of course, Master Qifrey.
This'll be your room.
Looks like Agott's not around.
Who's Agott?
Your roommate.
The two of you will share a workspace.
You'll have your own bedroom, though.
Go down the stairs in the back. Don't worry, the doors can be locked.
You should get some rest.
I have some things to take care of, so call if you need anything.
It's me, Qifrey.
Thank you for allowing me to take in Coco as my apprentice.
Yes. No, nothing about the picture book.
She's overwhelmed right now.
So this is what a witch's room looks like?
That's my side of the desk.
Move so I can land.
Oh, sorry.
You're Agott, right? I'm Coco—
I know who you are.
You're the Outsider everyone's talking about.
I heard you'll be joining as a new peer.
I'm sorry about your mother.
Th-Thanks.
Because of what you've done,
she'll never return to being human.
I came here to save her.
By becoming a witch—
Our whole lives, we've been drawing Casting Seals
until our fingertips turned black.
We worked and worked until we passed the tests,
and were only then allowed to become apprentices.
You're an ordinary girl who knows nothing.
There's no way an Outsider such as yourself can become a witch.
I... I've drawn spells already!
I won't know until I try it!
Then prove yourself.
Your tests start tomorrow—
Agott! Coco!
Food is ready!
Let's eat!
I'm starving.
Me, too! We're having Coco's welcome party today!
Lots of food.
Same as usual.
Master, what happened to the welcome party?
It was so last-minute. We'll do it another time.
Where's Agott?
She said she's eating in her room.
She should join us once in a while.
Okay, let's eat.
Would you do the honors, Coco?
Huh? Uh, sure.
Let's eat.
It's so good.
I know, right? We bake it ourselves.
Master is a great chef.
That's amazing.
It's thanks to the locally grown wheat.
We get great veggies around here.
Thank you for the food.
Mom...
I need to take tests in order to become an apprentice.
But it doesn't go into detail about what you need to do.
Need to do about what?
There are lots of things books don't tell you when it comes to magic.
You'll learn more from doing than from reading.
What are these?
Your Components— tools used to draw magic.
Wow!
They look so cool!
The Ink Wand. A pen.
I still feel a bit scared touching this. But...
Mom, I'm going to save you no matter what it takes!
Master Qifrey, I look forward to our lessons.
Okay, let's get started.
Are you okay, Coco? Shall we take a break?
I-I'm fine.
Okay, try explaining to me what you learned.
O-Okay.
Um... A spell is composed of three elements.
The sigil is in the center.
It's surrounded by lines that are called signs.
The outer circle that completes it is called the ring.
The types of sigil—fire,
water,
light,
and wind.
They determine what kind of magic it becomes.
The signs determine what form the magic takes,
as well as its size and direction.
Lastly, when the outer ring is completed,
that locks the seal in place and activates the spell.
I'm barely keeping up just memorizing everything.
But you were able to explain it!
I'm going to try drawing one!
I like it! That's the spirit.
Huh?
Don't throw it away.
No! Please don't look at it!
It's not something I can show you!
It's sloppy, and the lines are all wobbly and messy...
Of course it is. You're just learning.
But there's something else you should pay attention to.
Look right here. See how your ring is not connected?
A spell won't activate unless it's a complete circle.
It's natural to have unsteady hands when you're learning to use a new tool.
You're like a newborn foal just learning to stand.
You'll get used to it and be running around freely in no time.
Now, connect the lines and activate the spell.
I-I'm sorry! Very sorry! It was an accident!
Sorry! I'll dry it! I'll dry it off!
Calm down, Coco!
Has it dried?!
Sorry, Agott. Are you okay?
Not yet?!
It's fine, Master. I'm not bothered by it at all.
But may I see the Casting Seal she drew?
Huh? Sure.
Ah, I found the problem.
Look.
This sign is longer than the rest.
It amplified pressure in this direction and caused the water to gush out.
As always, your observation is on point, Agott.
I think I can leave her in your care.
Huh?
For the next two or three days, I'll be out visiting the Great Hall.
Please look after her while I'm gone, Agott.
Absolutely, Master.
Wait!
There's a lot you can learn from your peers.
Watch her closely and learn, Coco.
M-Master...
Um, I'm really sorry about that. I—
You don't have to keep apologizing.
I said I wasn't bothered by it, didn't I?
Now then, Coco.
Yesterday, I told you to prove yourself.
No more cushy little lessons.
Your tests start now.
What?
Episode 3:
The Dadah Range Test