Mahoutsukai no Yome (The Ancient Magus' Bride)

Take Chise to the land of dragons?

Yes.

Lindel-sama heard a rumor that the Robin there has trouble using magic.

So he insists that you make a wand soon.

A wand?

It's a tool for conveying your intentions to the fae.

He would like you to come see him, Robin.

I've been out all the time lately, though.

Oh, don't worry about that.

He wants the Robin to come alone.

Chise? By herself?

"I want to spend time with my granddaughter, not with you," he says.

That old bastard...

Granddaughter?

So Elias is his son?

It seems he wants to talk about your wand, though, so I suppose it's all right.

Take care.

Would you rather not?

No, but by myself?

You have me.

Oh, right.

Are you done talking?

You sure haven't changed at all.

Um...

Come on, have you forgotten me?

We talked, remember?

You wouldn't fly with me, though.

Dragons grow up in various ways.

I wanted to be big enough for you to be able to ride me, so it works out.

Yeah?

Thanks, Silky.

Okay, I'll see you soon.

Take care.

It's cold over there.

Don't freeze.

Okay.

Elias?

Yes?

It's nothing.

Let's go.

Hang on tight, so you don't fall off!

What's that?

It's a cloaking spell.

No one will find us now.

It's a lot quicker than swimming through the sea.

The sea?

I'm a selkie.

I'm a citizen of the great seas, with both a human and seal form.

Are you okay?

We'll be there as soon as we get through the wind.

Hang on a little longer.

Okay.

I'm sure Elias will be fine.

Yeah.

Lindel-sama!

Lindel-sama, I did what you asked me to.

Yes, you did well. Very good.

Hello, Lindel-san.

Chise.

Long time no see.

You look quite well.

And you've put on some weight.

Good, good.

I'm glad to see you've found a good family.

Lindel-san, where did you get those clothes?

Oh, I went shopping in town.

I'm very handsome, aren't I?

He kind of resembles Elias.

Come on, guys, say hi.

I'll be in your care.

I didn't get to explain last time.

The land of dragons was established as a nesting ground by the first administrator,

for the few dragons that remained scattered throughout the world.

So you weren't the one who made it, then?

I used to be a simple nomad.

I didn't even have a name, until my master gave me one.

All right, we're here.

Nevin's tree.

I'll be preparing supper.

Chise.

It's your wand. You've gotta cut it yourself.

Are you okay?

Y-Yeah.

What is wrong with you?!

Who falls without even trying to break their fall?!

Ow.

Sorry.

You're so overprotective.

It wouldn't kill her to get to know the rocks a little.

Shut up!

Should I go?

No, I'm going to be the one using it.

I'll see what I can do.

Thanks, Silver.

Boy, it's quiet.

Even though that girl is not very talkative.

The air feels terribly cold.

Hello, Mr. Ainsworth.

My name is Adolf Stroud. I'm with the College administration.

College?

I'll get straight to business.

I'd like to speak in depth about the future of the human child.

Reindeer soup.

I imagine this is your first time having it.

Yes.

It's good.

You've got scrapes all over.

Let me see.

My hands are what's called healing hands.

As long as you aren't mortally wounded, I can heal you on the spot.

There used to be more of us, before.

But not many have been born in the past few hundred years.

Have long have you been alive, Lindel-san?

Are other mages long-lived, too?

Oh, that's why you were making such a fuss earlier.

That idiot!

He hasn't explained anything!

What does he...

Err, sorry, I should have asked Elias.

Chise, the reason I brought you here alone is because I'm worried.

He seems to want to tame you, as one would a reindeer.

And Chise, you seem to be content with that.

The person who gave birth to me told me that they shouldn't have.

My mother didn't need me, so she ran away. She died.

I think my brother and father ran away from me, too.

Elias is the only who's kept me nearby.

That's why I don't ask him anything he doesn't say.

I want to be complacent.

Though it doesn't appear that way at all.

I'll tell you an interesting bedtime story.

An interesting story?

I suppose I'll answer your question, too.

But, half of it is as punishment for that bastard, for saddening my granddaughter.

Long ago, when the world was still dark,

before the power of steam, and before even the power of the old, earthen oil...