Hey fellow anime enthusiasts! 👋🏽 With the much-anticipated return of “The Ancient Magus Bride” for its second part to its second season, there’s been a whirlwind of magical events 🌀 and interactions, ones that have kept us all on the edge of our seats. With my personal notes in tow, let me offer you a detailed recap of the first half of Season 2, a magical journey set in the mystical realm of fae 🧚, magical academia 📚, and treacherous plots 🖤. Without further ado, let’s delve into the magical world of Chise and Elias once again.
If you need a video recap check out my youtube! 😉
A New Beginning for Chise Hatori
Our main character, Chise Hatori, has been invited to a school of magic 🪄 specifically for alchemists. Why, you ask? Well, she’s a sleigh beggy, and she holds not one, but two, significant curses: that of the dragon and the curse of 👁️ immortality. The school sees potential in studying her unique composition, with the added bonus that they might even help rid her of these curses. It’s a tantalizing offer, but not without its reservations - Elias, for instance, is rather skeptical. Chise’s motivation to join is noble; she aims to learn how to use her powers without resorting to self-sacrifice and hopes to share this knowledge with others like her.
A Glimpse of the Underground College
Set underground, the college is an architectural marvel with seven distinct towers. The central tower serves administrative purposes, and the surroundings ones create a protective enclave. With alchemy, they’ve even managed to project the sky 🌤️ above!
Chise’s Medical Examination
Upon joining, Chise undergoes a comprehensive medical examination by Alexandra, the school nurse. This session serves as a grim reminder of all the trials and tribulations our Chise has faced:
- The creation of a fairy 🧚🏽 ointment which brought her to death’s door.
- The deadly 🐉 dragon’s curse that, while perilous, also gifted her a strong, blackened left arm.
- An unfortunate encounter with a wandering alchemist that ended with an 👁️ eye exchange, leaving Chise with the curse of immortality and the burden of memories spanning millennia.
A Feline Residence?
One of the more whimsical elements this season introduces is the feline dorm attendants. Students select their spaces based on the cat they resonate with, each cat exuding a distinct vibe. For instance:
- Camelia for those seeking the future,
- Olivia for the historically proud,
- And Rosalyn for the unfettered. Chise opts for the latter.
Chise’s entry into her dormitory is comically memorable. A moment of hesitation outside her 🚪 room builds up to her inadvertently striking her roommate, Lucy Webster, with the door!
Chise’s Compassionate Nature
On her way to meet up with Alice, Chise encounters a distressed Philomela Sergeant on the verge of fainting. True to her caring nature, she aids Philomela, offering her calming remedies like tea and lavender potpourri.
Alchemy, Familiars, and Magic
Alice, as we find out, has struck a pact with the mischievous 😈 Will o’ The Wisp. Although having a familiar is rare and commendable among alchemists, some still mock Alice, questioning her abilities.
We then step into a magic class - not necessarily expected in an alchemy school - helmed by Elias. The day’s task? Partner with magical creatures to light a candle. It’s an enlightening session that showcases the varying magical affinities of the students and the safety measures that must take place when working with fae.
Magic Tuition and Class Dynamics
Rian Scrimgeour, intrigued by magic, seeks lessons from both Chise and Alice. However, Will o’ The Wisp forewarns that Rian’s “rusty” 🩸 nature might be a hindrance.
While navigating this magical educational journey, Chise tries to socialize. She notes Lucy’s aloofness, and Zoe Ivy’s palpable avoidance.
A Familiar Visit
Stella decides to visit Chise, at her home. A casual stroll turns mysterious when a fog envelops them, teleporting only Chise unexpectedly to the home 🏠 of Rehab. This puzzling event unfolds as it’s revealed that Rehab gifted Elias a bow tie that he later gave to Chise for protection. Rehab had sensed someone else with it, which caused the unexpected teleportation.
The intricate ties between Rehab and Elias unravel further. Rehab, it appears, taught Elias about what it truly means to be a ‘bride.’ She painted the beautiful picture that a bride is someone you want by your side—a partner you share your life with. This portrayal resonates deeply with Elias, and Chise is incredibly grateful to Rehab. Without her teachings, Elias wouldn’t have been the being who ⛓️ saved Chise from her tormented past.
New Travel Avenues
In another development, Elias arranges for a back passage with a carrier Centaur, providing a quicker route to the college. However, travel through this channel 🚪comes at a price. Chise must form a pact with the guardian dogs, ensuring her commitment to the established route and refraining from unnecessary magical interventions. Breach of this pact has dire consequences - the guardians would hunt her relentlessly. And to seal this agreement? Swallowing one of the guardian dog’s gems 💎. Talk about a tough deal!
Ivy’s Secret
Chise’s interactions at the college are always interesting. Ivy’s behavior stands out, as he seems to be avoiding Chise. Lucy, mistakenly assuming Ivy’s noise-dampening earmuffs are mere headphones, 🎧 snatches them, leading to a revelation. Ivy’s hair transforms into snakes, revealing his identity as a Demigorgin—a demi-god with Medusa-like attributes.
The secrecy around Ivy’s identity is so vital that Isaac, Rain, Lucy, Chise, and due to her being caught spying; Philomela, form a 📜 magical contract ensuring silence. If anyone speaks or writes about it, they’ll experience physical repercussions—a burning sensation in their throat or hands, respectively.
Lucy’s Trauma and Philomela’s Intrigue
Lucy’s trauma from witnessing her village’s slaughter continues to haunt her. Interestingly, she holds Philomela’s family responsible for this dark chapter in her life.
Philomela herself is caught in the crosshairs of espionage 🕵🏽 due to her family’s involvement in such activities. Whispers around her mention her being the daughter of an airship thief, and her college education is only possible due to the charity of the Veronica Rickenbacker family. This background paints a clearer picture of her obligations to characters like Veronica, April and May.
Elias, Alice, and a Glimpse into Their Pasts
A heartwarming segment unfolds when Chise confronts Elias about his intentions when he first brought her home and expressed his wish for her to be his 👰🏽 bride. Their candid conversation under the moonlight solidifies their bond, with Chise being appreciative of Elias’s candid feelings.
Concurrently, the dynamic between Redford and Alice is explored. Alice grapples with her protector role and her relationship with Redford, especially after an unsolicited visit from the menacing Cartaphilus. This dangerous visitor seeks the corruption in the kingdom of cats for a sinister recipe. Cartaphilus’s confrontation with Redford, where he scars his face and cuts his 💇🏽♂️ magical hair, leaves Alice frustrated and introspective about her place in Redford’s life.
The Great Outdoors… Minus the Magic!
Chise, finds herself facing a school event named Bush Craft, where students are to camp and learn the ways of survival – without any magic – in the beautiful terrains of Scotland. However, there’s a twist! Each student is paired up according to their dorms. Chise felt if Elias, her guardian and familiar, came along, she would be overly reliant on him. But, ingenious Elias came up with a unique solution: he duplicated (halved) himself so that he could be present but not useful to Chise.
During this venture, Chise encounters the mysterious Yakkushka, a fae 🦄 resembling a bewitching horse known to deceive humans, and an encounter with the deadly Knucklelavie. Not all is smooth sailing during the event. Lucy leaves the campsite for a brief moment, only to be found later, completely depleted of magic. Our heroine Chise steps in, and with the help of her friends Ivy, Isaac, and Rian, they fight against the dangers of the wild, including a deadly encounter with the Knucklelavie. Their courageous endeavor is filled with challenges, including Ivy revealing his 🐍 snake hair’s power to use as an escape tactict. As well as Chise and the Yakkushka teaming up in a strategic move against the terrifying sea monster.
Amidst these thrilling adventures, Chise showcases her unparalleled strength, bravery, and intelligence. She is also faced with the dragons curse’s darkness inside her that convinces her to tear the Knucklelavie limb from limb.
A Glimpse Into The Past
This season also delves deep into the characters’ backgrounds, revealing some heart-wrenching truths. A brief view into Rian’s past gives an insight into his traumatic experience that lefty him washing blood off his hands. The bond between the 👫 siblings, Lucy and Seth, is unveiled, unveiling a poignant tale of family, loss, and survival. This backstory builds a strong foundation for understanding the complexities of the characters and their motivations.
The Missing Book
Adding to the enigma, an important grimoire 📔 named the Testament of Carnamagos goes missing from the college, and its adverse effects soon start showing. Lucy and Simeon fall prey to its malevolent power, which saps them of their magical energy. The connection to Lucy’s family 🕷️, the Websters, is intriguing, suggesting deeper conspiracies at play.
Unraveling Mysteries and Building Bonds
Apart from the thrilling adventures, we also see the bond between characters growing. Whether it’s the budding relationship between 💓 Lucy and Ivy or the deepening connection between Chise and Elias, the series leaves no stone unturned in exploring human relationships amidst the backdrop of magic.
There’s a particularly chilling encounter with Fabio Zaccheroni at the Waste Tower. Chise’s brief but haunting 🙀 personality transformation into Cartaphilus when confronting Fabio is both intriguing and spine-chilling, suggesting more mysteries to unravel about her unique nature.
Part 1 Finale: The College’s Peril
The season reaches its climax as the college gets sealed off due to several unfortunate incidents that endangered both students and professors. With Philomela’s potential withdrawal 📜 from the college and her domineering grandmother’s menacing presence, we’re left at the edge of our seats, anticipating what will come next.
Wrapping Up…
With that, we’ve covered the major events of “The Ancient Magus Bride” Season 2 Part 1. It’s a series of highs and lows, with Chise’s journey at the magical school promising numerous adventures ahead. It’s evident this season is setting the stage for intricate storylines and character developments. Can’t wait to see how things unfold!
Happy watching! 🌟📺🍿