Here she comes.
I'd like you to come to the College, Chise.
I believe I've spoken about it before.
You mentioned that it's a school for sorcerers and a mutual aid organization.
I'm not convinced.
Why should Chise go to such a place, when she is a mage?
In addition to being a Sleigh Beggy,
Chise carries two curses with her.
The curse of the dragon, and the curse of immortality.
I apologize if this comes across as insensitive,
but as a researcher, she's too great an opportunity to pass up.
Might we ask for your cooperation?
Of course, we would support you to the best of our ability, as well.
If you'd like, we can arrange for you to take classes with the other students.
We won't burden you overmuch,
and I'll ensure you receive the maximum compensation we can offer.
Maybe we'll even find a way to lift the curses.
Chise.
I'll step out for the time being.
Please, talk it out.
What do you think, Elias?
I absolutely hate it.
I don't want them prodding at you.
But...
What about you?
I've been thinking for a while now...
About how I don't know anything.
It's why I default to sacrificing myself whenever there's a need.
Even though people tell me that's a bad thing.
I told you not to try to do everything by yourself.
You think that by destroying yourself, you can earn the right to be here.
I don't understand why that's bad.
What's the difference between what you tried to earn
by sacrificing yourself, and what I want?!
But if there are things I can learn
in order not to have to sacrifice myself to solve problems...
If I can accomplish what I want without hurting anyone...
I want to learn that.
It might be of help to me or someone else someday.
They might dissect you.
You'll help me if they try, right?
I understand your point of view.
I have a lot to say, but, well...
I'll attend the College with you, then.
Huh?
Pleased to meet you. I'm Liza.
Liza Quillyn.
I'm the president of the English College.
Thank you sincerely for your cooperation, Chise Hatori.
We intend to repay you properly.
Here you are.
As a token of welcome.
Thank you.
This place exists to protect and nurture not just you, but everyone here.
Try not to become too complacent, but make yourself at home and enjoy your time here.
Okay.
Good day.
As of today, you'll be a special student here.
Ainsworth will be a visiting instructor in the Magic Department.
I'll take you there next.
How was she?
Promising.
She may be a bit lacking in confidence, but she seems to have a strong will.
Meaning?
She steers her own ship.
A sky underground?
We're using sorcery to project the sky from another location.
Now, this way, please.
This is a view of the entire College.
It's comprised of several underground towers.
The administration tower is here in the center.
The training tower,
book management tower,
dormitory tower,
classroom tower,
laboratory tower,
and waste disposal facility tower, making seven in total.
Each tower then is separated into different floors.
You don't have to remember all of this now.
Uh-huh...
Now, I'd like to show you around each of the towers right away...
But, there's someone waiting eagerly to meet you first. My apologies.
Welcome!
Th-Thanks.
I'm Alexandra Heath.
I'm in charge of the medical room.
Chise Hatori.
Follow me.
We'll get your examination done in the other room.
You won't have to worry about any prying eyes.
No observers, please.
I'm her guardian.
There are things that are difficult to say, especially to friends,
especially to family, and especially to guardians.
U-Um...
I'm sorry.
I still haven't finished giving these two a tour of the College yet.
So...
Then you two have fun together!
Well... I'll show you around the staff room, then.
I don't need a room.
I see.
You made a fairy medicine and nearly died.
You took in a dragon's curse and nearly died.
You were gutted by a wandering sorcerer and nearly died.
And then you swapped eyeballs and were given his curse of immortality.
Quite the troublemaker, hmm?
You seem quite reckless, but you've done well.
You must think about the people around you, too, though.
Yes.
Well, is there anything else that you'd like to discuss?
Actually...
I was a little surprised earlier.
In the medical room, I mean.
I thought you might refuse to leave her side.
I mean, you can hide in the shadows, can't you?
I don't have any biological organs inside my body.
Yet, when I think about the time Chise caught me hiding near her...
I feel something like my organs tensing.
So I won't do it.
You mean, you're afraid?
Afraid?
Oh, um...
I'm just saying I might personally describe that as the sensation of being afraid.
Afraid...
I see.
It's not a sensation I'd like to experience for too long.
Why did you come to the College with her?
What changed?
I had no choice.
You could say I'm here as a guard.
I see.
The Seven Shields are not a monolith.
The current absence is significant.
It's somewhat unstable.
Please do keep a good eye on her.
Right.
He's right, though.
To think I'd be doing such a thing, in such a populous place...
I wonder what she's doing right now.
Would she be surprised if she learned about me now?
Ainsworth.
Ever since you swapped left eyes with the sorcerer,
you have frequent flashbacks to memories that aren't yours.
And you've become sensitive to malice, the gazes of others, and other presences.
But you're feeling well otherwise, at least physically?
If anything, I've been even better since the wound on my stomach healed.
I can lift heavy things now.
How heavy, specifically?
Yoink
About two people's worth?
Fantastic!
How many years' worth of memories would you say you've seen?
Not all of it is clear.
But about a thousand years, I think.
That's more than enough to dwarf your own awareness.
Do people ever tell you that your personality's changed?
Or do you ever consider options that you certainly never would have in the past?
Not yet.
Who's that?
Chise?!
I'm sorry.
I felt like someone was watching me.
No, it's all right.
Let's just keep an eye on you for a while.
Okay.
This is the staff room.
You're going to live here?
No, I'm commuting.
Commuting?
It'd take at least three hours each way.
I know a shortcut.
Are you commuting, too?
The same as us, then.
I'm not the same as you.
You hate me, don't you?
Have I done something to you?
You aren't the only one I hate.
I'm sure his hatred isn't personal.
He's been notoriously misanthropic since his student days.
I'm certain I am hated, just not that intensely.
I don't feel the need to kill him, after all.
By the way...
What exactly should I do for class?
I figured you'd ask, so I brought a manual.
I followed Alexandra's directions, but...
Are these the dorms she was talking about?
Don't ask me.
She said there's dorm matron here.
My, oh my!
What a wonderful scent.
An unusual smell.
The smell of magic.
Cats.
I'm Olivia.
Camellia.
Rose Lyn.
And our mother, Florence.
They're cats...
But not the kind of cats I know.
You're the new girl.
Do you know what grade you're in yet?
Um...
I'm a first-year in junior high school.
Uh...
Are you the dorm matrons?
Yes, that's us.
You can ask us anything you'd like.
You can trust us with any of your worries.
You can tell us anything you'd like.
However, if you do any bad-mouthing, we'll scratch and bite you until you're crying.
So, which of us would you like for your home?
Oh, wait.
This way.
Over here.
Here, you'll find children who love their homes, children who hate their homes,
children who don't want their homes, children who have no homes...
All kinds of children.
We're here for the children who live here.
If you're honest and proud of your history, choose Olivia.
If you love the future and seek it out, choose Camellia.
If you have freedom in your heart, choose Rose Lyn.
Who do you want for your home?
I already have a home, but...
Someone once told me that I'm free.
I leave myself in your care, Rose Lyn.
Likewise, Hatori Chise.
Stay out of trouble, child of Rose Lyn.
Well, nice to meet you.
This is your room here.
You can read all the rules in the book in the desk drawer.
Communicate well with your roommate.
Don't hold back when you need to laugh or cry.
And enjoy every day.
Understood?
Yes.
Come to me if you ever need anything.
Thank you.
I hope I won't be interrupting if someone's trying to sleep.
Should I knock to avoid being rude?
I don't want to wake them up, though...
I'm getting nervous.
She's creepy, right?
She's always on her own.
I've never seen her smile.
I saw her talking to herself in class.
Ew.
No way.
They're all sorcerers.
I'm sure they'll understand me, even when I'm being weird...
Wait, no, they might be suspicious of me.
Even Joseph wasn't this scary.
But...
I'm here to seek things out.
Okay.
Why didn't you knock?!
I-I'm sorry!
I didn't expect anyone to be right there.
You were dawdling in front of the door!
Of course I saw you!
S-Sorry.
Whatever, you're forgiven.
You're my new roommate, aren't you?
Lucy.
Lucy Webster.
Chise Hatori.
Nice to meet you.
Your bed's over there.
That's your desk.
The dorm rules are in the drawer.
Your uniform's in the closet.
Uh...
Got it?
Yes.
Also, I'm not good at talking to people.
If you want someone to chat with, find someone else.
That'll make it easier for both of us.
I'm gonna sleep until right before class starts.
Don't wake me up.
It's okay.
It's just been a while.
Having a hole in my stomach was way worse.
Okay.
Where's the training room?
Again, don't ask me.
Chise!
What do I even do?
I'm usually on the other side of this situation.
I don't know what to do.