Well-Laid Plans ｢
Synopsis
Frieren and her new teammates hatch a plan to capture a Stille - but are the other teams just going to stand by and let it happen?[1]
Plot
After Frieren and Kanne return to the campsite, Kanne goes to sleep while Frieren remains awake, watching the fire. Frieren recalls how Kanne described Lawine as someone that would drag her in the right direction despite how hard she is on her, and this reminds Frieren of a similar occurrence during the Hero Party's journey. As the Hero Party was about to fight a dragon, both Eisen and Himmel admitted they were scared, and Himmel apologized for not being able to encourage them like other adventurers could with each other. Eisen refuted this, as thanks to Himmel's words, he no longer felt tense. Heiter added that Himmel should just be himself since different parties do things differently, and Himmel agreed. In the present, Frieren also agrees with Heiter's words.
Elsewhere during the night, Fern's party manages to catch a Stille. Fern is relieved at their success, but Übel and the male mage remind her that they still need to defend the bird from other parties. Übel excitedly declares that it is time for them to fight other mages.
The next morning, Frieren, Kanne, and Lawine review what they have learned from observing the Stille birds. Kanne brings up that the birds can fly faster than the speed of sound, which they cannot keep up with. She adds that they are also as tough as dragons, which means that regular spells have no effect and they cannot be easily restrained. Lawine pitches in that the Stille are sensitive to mana, so even if they approach one while surpressing their mana, it will still flee. Finally, their main problem is that the Stille have practically no mana themselves, which prevents them from detecting them and pinpointing where they're located. As a result, they are uncertain how many Stille there are. Kanne notes that they saw three the previous day, and the birds are likely acting cautious due to the presence of the examinees searching for them. In the worst case, the Stille may not show themselves again, and even if they find one, they are still uncertain how to catch it.
Frieren tells Kanne and Lawine not to worry about catching the Stille, as she has been experimenting with a spell that might enable them to catch one. She refers to the spell as a spell that captures a bird, which was previously a form of folk magic used by hunters back when magic was more commonplace. Frieren points out that Kanne has already seen this spell, and Kanne recalls the binding spell that Frieren used the previous night to save her from the bird monster. She asks why the spell worked, as the target was a monster and not a bird, and Frieren guesses that because the spell is folk magic, it can capture anything that resembles a bird. Lawine questions why Frieren did not bring up the spell earlier as they could have used it to catch the Stille they previously saw, but Frieren reveals the spell is limited to a range of fifty centimeters, which is a much shorter distance than the closest they have gotten to one of the birds, a distance of three meters. Kanne adds that the Stille was also already aware of them when they got within twenty meters of it.
With this information, Frieren figures that they still need to find a way to get close to a Stille. She checks that Kanne and Lawine are unable to restrain it with their magic, and Lawine states that although it may be possible if she manages to freeze one, the Stille are still sensitive to mana and resistant to freezing, which would prevent them from keeping one in place. Kanne supposes that if she had access to a large amount of water, she could keep a Stille in place, but she is unable to produce water and can only control existing water. Additionally, it is difficult to penetrate a large body of water with mana, so she would have to infuse water with her mana beforehand, and if the body of water is scattered like rain, she can easily manipulate it. However, the Stille would be sensitive to the water if she infused it and stay away. Kanne's last point interests Frieren, and she comes up with a plan and shares it with her teammates.
After hearing Frieren's plan, Lawine considers that while it has potential, it would be risky to carry out, as they would be antagonizing the other examinees. Kanne underscores the fact that this might be their only way to catch a Stille, and she asks Lawine if she is scared. This prompts Lawine to once again sit on top of Kanne and pull her pigtails as a bewildered Frieren watches. After she calms down, Lawine agrees to follow along with Frieren's plan.
Meanwhile, the fourth party takes shelter in a cave. The male mage, Land, a second-class mage, suggests that the three of them hide until the end of the exam. Übel disagrees, stating that hiding would be boring and mages should fight with dignity, but Land counters that mages should also avoid unnecessary fights. Übel does not respond and instead goes to take a sip of water from her canteen, only to find it empty. Land notices this and concedes, suggesting that they should first replenish their water at the lake at the center of the testing grounds.
As the fourth party walks towards the lake, Übel carries the cage with the Stille while Land expresses relief that they managed to catch a Stille early on, and if they avoid conflict until sunset, they will pass. Übel chuckles at this and reveals it might not go that smoothly. She points out that they were walking on what she thought was a road, but in actuality, it is a dried-up riverbed. With this, Fern and Land deduce that the barrier erected around the examination ground is also blocking the flow of water. Übel notes that based on how dry the ground is, the barrier must have been erected over a week ago, and Fern realizes that most of the water within the exam grounds would have gathered in the lake at the center of the Grobe Basin. As the Stille cannot carry their own water, they will likely congregate at the lake. Thus, Land concludes that the lake is the most probable place to find a Stille, and other examinees that have realized this are likely lying in wait around the lake. Land decides that they should give up on retrieving water from the lake, but Übel protests. They begin walking back as Land and Übel discuss other options, but suddenly, multiple spells are cast towards them.
Fern manages to defend her team from the initial ambush. The three mages making up the eighth party appear: Wirbel, Scharf, and Ehre, and they face off one-on-one against Übel, Land, and Fern, respectively. Wirbel remarks that he attacked with the intent to kill and expresses his surprise that Fern was able to defend against it. He commands the fourth party to leave their Stille behind; when Übel asks him what will happen if they refuse, Wirbel replies that they have no need to say anything else. However, the fight is abruptly interrupted by a resounding cracking sound and a giant, skyward beam of light erupting from the lake.
At the middle of the lake, Lawine casts her ice magic and freezes the entirety of the lake while the parties hiding nearby watch in shock. Wirbel senses the mana and identifies the culprit of the commotion as a member of the second party, and he questions if the second party intends to make an enemy out of all of the other teams. Back at the lake, Lawine sprints away, and the parties surrounding the lake attempt to melt the ice with fire magic.
The thirteenth party, consisting of Denken, Richter, and Laufen, watch the chaos. Richter asks Denken what they should do, and Denken concludes that it is not worth attempting to melt the ice, as the Stille will not return to the lake after the previous display of magic. He decides that they will steal the second party's Stille, as such a showy act would mean they have a method to capture a Stille. As the second party searches around the exam site, Fern wonders what Frieren is planning. To deal with their confrontation with the eighth party, Land calls for his teammates to split up.
Denken continues observing the other parties that are trying to melt the ice and calls them foolish for using up so much mana in the attempt to do so. He sees another party, who has taken to the skies instead to search for Stille, and he comments that some parties are electing to search for other sources of water, but their inexperience and inadequate mana detection will leave them vulnerable to airborne threats. Another party runs past the thirteenth party, and they complain that the second party froze the lake and wonder if they are trying to ruin the exam. Denken hears this and explains that on the contrary, the freezing of the lake must be part of a well-laid plan by the second party, vowing to dismantle it.
As the thirteenth party heads away from the lake, they comes across the bodies of one of the teams that had taken the aerial approach to search for the Stille. Based on their injuries and the way they have been strung up in a tree, Denken concludes that the party must have been attacked by monsters and confirms that they are dead. Laufen requests that they at least take the bodies down, but Denken directs her attention skywards, where a flock of bird monsters circle above. Denken explains that these monsters, the Geisel, cast magic on the corpses and use them as lures to hunt those that attempt to move the bodies. Hearing this, Laufen points out that it is strange the exam is being administered in such a dangerous area and with no care towards the examinees' safety, prompting Richter to wonder if this is Laufen's first time taking the First-Class Mage Exam. He explains to her that any mage that would die from the exam is not qualified to become a first-class mage in the first place. He adds that the Continental Magic Association is very mindful of maintaining the quality of their first-class mages, and their high standards are in part from glorifying the powerful mages that fought against the Demon King's Army.
Denken voices his distaste of the Continental Magic Association's views, which surprises Richter, who expected Denken to agree with the association's ideology. Denken argues that first-class mages exist solely to be symbols of power and thus, the quality of the mages is irrelevant, as those that lack the ability to connect with and win the hearts of the people are effectively powerless, no matter how strong they are. He reflects back to his time as an Imperial Mage, where he saw many mages more skilled than him fall from power and be persecuted, and he concludes that those who are powerful may have authority because they are feared, but this authority does not last. Additionally, Denken states that magic is not something to be proud of anyways. Hearing this, Richter queries if being as weak as Denken would be ideal then, to which Denken replies that he could beat Richter with his eyes closed.
As the second party continues laying out their plan, the thirteenth party attempts to find them without success. Denken reveals that he has detected traces of mana in all of the watering holes they have come across. Although the mana's presence is extremely faint and undetectable to Richter and Laufen, Denken realizes the Stille is able to sense it. Laufen grasps that the intent of the second party is to isolate a watering hole without mana, which would be where the second party waits for a Stille. Denken confirms this, and when Laufen questions how they will find the second party, Denken responds that the second party will eventually reveal their location.
The second party rendezvous at a watering hole, where Kanne reports that she has poured her mana into all sources of water she could find. Frieren tells her and Lawine that she will wait for a Stille, and she proceeds to sit down and fully conceal her mana. Lawine expresses shock that Frieren is able to make her mana completely disappear, but Frieren points out that she must maintain complete stillness or else mana will end up leaking out. The two girls head into the forest to stand guard, bickering along the way.
As the day passes, Frieren patiently waits for a Stille to arrive. Various forms of wildlife approach the pool, including a Geisel, which does not seem to perceive the presence of Frieren. Finally, after much time has elapsed, a Stille lands on Frieren's shoulder. She smiles at it before restraining it with her spell that captures a bird. Seeing this, Kanne and Lawine approach and ask if Frieren was able to capture a Stille, and Frieren shows them the cage with the Stille inside. An excited Kanne believes that they will now pass the first stage of the exam, but Frieren senses something and denies her statement.
Elsewhere in the testing grounds, Denken senses Frieren's mana when she uses magic to capture the Stille, and he states that no matter how skilled a mage is, they will always utilize magic in the end, which is impossible to conceal. Laufen subsequently disappears. At the water hole, Frieren notices that another party has detected them and tells Kanne and Lawine that they should hurry and relocate, but Laufen suddenly appears in front of the second party and blocks off their escape route. Frieren retracts her statement and states that it is too late for them to depart.
In the meantime, the confrontation between the fourth and eighth parties intensify. Scharf stands among a field of flowers and casts his Jubelade spell, which converts flower petals into needles that he sends flying towards Land, grazing him on the face. Ehre flies into the air above Fern while surrounded by rocks, and she casts Doragate, which enables her to use the rocks as swift projectiles that rain down on Fern. Fern blocks the projectiles with defensive magic and proceeds to cast multiple blasts of Zoltraak around Ehre. Ehre is forced to evade the attacks, and she comments that her adversary is showing no opening. She adds that the technique Fern uses is refined but old, and she compares it to fighting her grandfather. Ehre questions if Fern is incapable of using spells other than ordinary offensive and defensive magic, and Fern replies that her master taught her to strictly use only basic magic in combat. Ehre asks if that is her master's philosophy, and Fern responds that she was told it was enough to defeat mages of this era.
Ehre unleashes another array of stone bullets, which are once again blocked by Fern's defensive magic. Ehre feels uneasiness, as fighting Fern feels like she is facing off against a seasoned mage. She lands and remarks that Fern would struggle if she were facing off against Wirbel, and with the technique she is using, she would already be dead. Fern rebuttals the notion as nonsense and questions Ehre that she is of the impression that Ehre is the strongest among both the fourth and eighth parties. Ehre does not respond to her observation, instead pointing out that Wirbel is the captain of the Northern Magic Corps that fought against the remnants of the forces of the Demon King, and as a result, his experience eclipses everyone else's. She labels Wirbel's magic as magic that is underhanded, devoid of character, and used for the sole purpose of winning. Ehre supposes that Übel will be killed by Wirbel, but Fern expresses doubt towards her claim.
Characters in Order of Appearance
Locations in Order of Appearance
- Äußerst (flashback)
- Continental Magic Association Northern Branch (flashback)
- Grobe Basin
Episode Notes
- The flashback Frieren has of the Hero Party occurs when Frieren sits by the fire at the campsite in the anime. However, in the manga, this flashback occurs during the conversation between Frieren and Kanne while they walk back to camp and before Kanne reveals her observation of the Stille to Frieren.
- In the manga, Frieren thinks of the tribe of hunters who developed the original spell that captures a bird. This tribe is not shown in the anime.
- In the anime, Fern, Übel, and Land discuss hiding and getting water while taking shelter within a cave. In the manga, the group is already walking over the dried riverbed when they have the discussion.
- The confrontation between the fourth and eighth parties depicts the group members of each party facing off one-one-one in the anime. In the manga, the parties confront each other as a group.
- When Wirbel, Scharf, and Ehre ambush the fourth party, they are introduced as the eighth party in a similar manner to other parties introduced in the episode. However, in the manga, the eighth party is not introduced until the one-on-one battles begin in Chapter 41, and each member is introduced separately rather than altogether like other parties were.
- When the thirteenth party sees the bodies of the party killed by the Geisel, Denken touches the tree trunk and retracts his hand to find blood from the corpses on it. This scene is original to the anime.
References
- ↑ Crunchyroll: Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Episode 19.
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| Blu-ray&DVD | Volume 1 • Volume 2 • Volume 3 • Volume 4 • Volume 5 • Volume 6 • Volume 7 | |
| Music | The Brave • Sunny • Anytime Anywhere • bliss • Original Soundtrack | |
| Spin-offs | Mini Anime | |