We get another timeskip, so Athanasia is now a teenager on the cusp of turning fourteen. As a result, she’s going to have a grand, ol’ party where she makes her “debut” to society. There’s going to be lots of dancing in front of lots of ass-kissing nobles. I’m not exactly sure what else it means to “debut” other than that it usually signifies that a girl is old enough to be married off. At fourteen? Well, people were pretty weird back then. But hey, say no more. I don’t really care to learn anything else about this antiquated practice. I mean, it’s nonsense that the upper class or aristocracy used to do, right? So enough said.

Athanasia can already levitate small objects like her own teacup. But like most kids, she lacks patience and already has big dreams. I dunno, considering where she started at the beginning of the series, this is pretty crazy progress. Then again, magic isn’t real, so I’m just talking out of my ass.

Athanasia has upgraded to being able to cast spells, but they’re not very effective. She essentially has little to no control over them. Her frustration boils over, and Lucas ends up in her crosshairs. I can’t exactly blame her, because like all the tutors before him, he doesn’t seem like a very effective teacher either. All he ever says over and over is that she needs to figure things out herself. Sure, that could work, but then what exactly is he here for? Anyone could’ve told her that same piece of advice. Moreover, this is why they often say the best athletes typically don’t make the best coaches. I’m not sure if this is true, but you can sorta understand the logic. Things come so easily to them, so they can’t understand their students’ struggle. And right now, Lucas isn’t being very sympathetic to Athanasia. She hits the nail on the head, which somehow riles him up.

Athanasia falls into a coma as a result of her overflowing magic, and the only person who can save her is obviously Lucas, the mysterious wizard who has been showing up lately. But does he really need to do it in his chibi-form? He eventually convinces Claude that he needs to stick around in order to continue monitoring the princess. After all, we have no idea if her magic might go haywire again. And maybe it’s less creepy for a boy wizard to hang around a little girl all day long, eating sweets and pastries with her. But at the end of the day, there’s still a grown man inside that boyish form — a grown man who is centuries old. Look, I just hope he doesn’t become a love interest. We know from the ED that Lucas in his current form will “grow up” with the princess. Just be her tutor and nothing more.

A new guest has arrived, and Claude acknowledges that he’s a “hyena following the scent of blood.” Basically, he knows that this guy is up to no good. So how did it all go so wrong in the other timeline? I guess not forming a connection with Athanasia meant Claude could easily be manipulated. Did he become a shell of a man who proceeded to go through the motions? Well, we’ll probably never find out. That was then, and this is now.