Claude has come all the way out to the countryside for the annual harvest festival. He also gives Athy an opportunity to carry out an important tradition with him. Basically, they’re going to hit up the magical wellspring and perform a sacred offering. I assume this is how the kingdom overcame the drought and famine all those years ago? Oh yeah, Lucas’s tower just happens to be the same tower that houses said magical wellspring. First, what a small world. Second, I honestly can’t remember if Claude recognized the wizard when the latter casually offered up his assistance to save Athy from her affliction at the start of the series. I’m also too lazy to go back and rewatch whatever episode that was.
According to Athy, this magical wellspring is “the source of all life.” Claude then adds that it’s “the source of the magic that ties all things together.” And the empire just has this place all to itself? I also love how we’re being introduced to something this amazing with no build-up whatsoever. Oh yeah, here you go: here’s the source of literally everything important! In that case, it almost feels underprotected since we rarely ever see Lucas here.
The trap laid in Athy’s ribbon triggers as soon as she offers up a fancy bundle of wheat to the wellspring. I’d say the timing is oddly perfect, but it’s magic so whatever. The princess ends up falling underwater. When Claude goes to retrieve her, a bunch of dream lotuses attack them. Why do we keep these things around again? Well, Athy soon finds herself back on dry land, but her father is now trapped. The magical wellspring is also all gnarled and twisted now. Nevertheless, according to Lucas, it has started the purification process. Basically, if someone doesn’t save the emperor soon, he will be erased. And guess what? Only someone whom Claude loves and trust the most can reach him now. Gosh, who could that be?
Normally, I would say that we’ve come full circle. The series started with Athy trying to break through Claude’s emotional barrier, and now she has to break through his magical barrier. This would’ve been a neat narrative journey to cap off the series, i.e. “the triumphant protagonist returns home!” But Athy never left in the first place. The vast majority of the show is already about their relationship, and as such, I can’t help but think, “Damn, again? Everything is about Claude, Claude, Claude (and a dash of Lucas)!” It’s practically daddy issues all the way down.
Athy ends up having to beg Lucas to lend his assistance. I don’t know why the dude even bothers to argue otherwise. C’mon, man, you really think Athy would abandon her father? Fine, tell her the dangers that she’ll face — that she risks getting herself erased along with her father if she takes too long — but don’t actually try and stop her. That’s ridiculous. Then again, this guy is a jackass, so I’m not surprised. After all, this is the same man who had no qualms about stiffing the working class. Some people will naturally jump to his defense, i.e. “oh, he had such a terrible upbringing, he’s never known true friendship or pure love, blah blah blah.” A sad backstory might explain his actions, but it doesn’t excuse it.
And just like that, it’s Inception time. We proceed to invade Claude’s privacy and see all of his precious memories. I had to laugh when the first thing Athy glimpsed were her mother’s gyrating hips. Welp, they’re one of the main reasons why she exists, I suppose. Unfortunately, down here in the depths of her father’s soul, Athy also learns the cause of her mother’s death: carrying her to term. Shortly afterwards — y’know, after burning all of his wife’s belongings and vowing to be a deadbeat — Claude would seal his emotions away. Sheesh, men will literally do anything but go to therapy. It’s a cool-looking scene, though. Unfortunately, that’s where the episode ends, so we’ll have to return to this show for yet another week.
Do I expect Athy to save her father? Of course. Do I expect both of them to escape from this predicament unscathed? Probably not. I feel like this story will forever tied to Athy’s oh-so-fragile relationship to her father. Someone or something will always threaten to break it.
Stray thoughts & observations:
- Do you those armored men in the back? So there are soldiers in this kingdom. Wonder what they were up to when that magical beast was rampaging through the streets a couple of episodes ago?
- As I watch Claude scold Athy for doing her daily reports, I’m surprised there isn’t some sort of magical Life360 spell that he can cast on his daughter to keep track of her whereabouts at all times.
- Sigh, all these episodes devoted to developing their relationship, but Claude still can’t hug his daughter back. But hey, at least he has sort of learned how to smile.
- This is the fanciest bundle of wheat you’ll ever see.
- I understand adding a dash of color in an otherwise monochrome scene, but why the hair? Why is hair important? Or did we just pick it because we had to pick something?
