When real Konoha returns to the party, she finds Menoa’s her half-sister berating the poor girl in front of everyone. This seems rather gauche for a noblewoman, but no one around them seems to care. I guess it’s okay to act like a petulant brat if you’re bullying a child born from a sordid dalliance with a mistress. Well, thanks to Reddit, I’m so over step or half-sibling drama. As an only child, I simply can’t understand wasting so much time and energy hating on someone like this. Perhaps real Konoha seems to agree, because Iana suddenly steps in and takes the “blow,” i.e. a glass of red wine to the face. The choice to make it look like she’s bleeding from her eyes must have been deliberate. I guess this makes her look like a villainess? Well, she certainly still has that reputation, so now everyone thinks Iana is out to get the mean half-sibling.
The episode starts with visions of Athanasia’s disastrous past life still haunting her dreams. The next day, she redoubles her effort to practice her dancing even harder than ever. She’s still desperately seeking her father’s love and approval, which is mostly Claude’s fault for being such a deadbeat. Nevertheless, a line of thought occurred to me as I watch the poor girl trip over her feet in practice. It’s funny when you compare this coming-of-age stories with Western ones. When I think about those harrowing teenage years, I’m reminded of grotesque transformations, physically and mentally. I’m reminded of ostracization. Alienation. Experimentation. Struggling to find one’s identity among peers. But none of these are concerns for Athanasia even though she’s about to debut herself at the age of fourteen (still such a baby). Grotesque transformation? Puh-leeze. She’s the spitting image of her mother through and through, so physically, she’s absolutely flawless. No awkwardness. All grace. Athanasia doesn’t trip in dance practice because she’s getting used to her rapidly growing body. She trips because she’s trying too hard. Does Athanasia feel rebellious? Or forlorn? Or like a stranger in her own body? Like someone who doesn’t know what she wants to become when she grows up? Nope. She has a one-track mind and it’s all about father’s love and approval since the day her young self stopped being scared of him. Her raison d’être hasn’t changed one bit over the years. Granted, she’s not a modern teen girl, so we’re comparing apples to oranges a bit here, but are you seeing the picture I’m painting? Growth and change are often interlinked, but does it feel like Athanasia has changed at all? She can cast basic spells now. And she’s taller. But honestly that’s about it. Where’s the growth?
When we last left off, Red Circus terrorists hijacked two Eden College buses full of students. Their demands? Freedom for their captured comrades and safe passage to another country. Eden College has informed the police of the situation, but not the kids’ parents or guardians. I honestly would not know how to handle a situation like this. On the one hand, it feels like the parents have a right to know. It’s their damn kids we’re talking about! But on the other hand, the ensuing panic might do more harm than good. Rash, desperate parents would certainly do something that triggers the terrorists and thus endanger the kids even more than they already are.
First things first, Amaya tries to distance himself from Sanda, and his reasoning makes perfect sense. Sanda is always hanging out with Amaya and Fuyumura, the two people who have crossed Oshibu. So like I’ve said before, anyone with a brain cell or two would come to suspect Sanda. The fact that Oshibu hasn’t gone after Sanda is a bit strange. Maybe the headmaster is just one of those “hot” guys with no brains. Well, Sanda/Santa isn’t going let Amaya ditch their friendship without a fight. I wouldn’t expect anything else from our anime protagonist. Still, I do have to wonder why he thinks he can’t “do this” without Amaya? What exactly has Amaya brought to the table in recent episodes? To be honest, not much. At least Fuyumura can make bombs. Anyway, this little detour with Amaya feels kinda pointless. Santa quickly convinces Amaya to take back his words, so we end up right back where we started. All we’ve accomplished is wasting a third of this week’s episode. I don’t get it.
As you probably remember, Saint Diana has to go on a pilgrimage in order to cleanse the crystals of their corruption. On their way to one of them, Scarlet manages to cheer up a bunch of soldiers struggling through a hike. See? She’s not just a “mad dog” who punches people out. She’s got quite a bit of charisma herself. She can charm the men if she needs to. Eat your heart out, Terenezza. Still, I’m not sure why the group literally needs to hike on their own two feet, though. Probably some nonsense about how physical hardship makes your faith stronger or whatever. Or there’s just no road large enough for horses to this particular crystal (a glaring oversight that maybe the next king should fix).
