IF THE THRONE REMAINS VACANT LIKE THIS,
I FEAR FOR THE KINGDOM'S STABILITY.
...THE KINGDOM STANDS STRONG.
I SHARE YOUR SENTIMENT, BUT
THOSE AIMING TO CLAIM THE THRONE ARE INCREASING ONE BY ONE.
I FEAR HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN DOWAGER MIGHT LOSE THE ROYAL AUTHORITY TO THEM—
A MOTHER'S GRIEF HAS NOT YET ENDED,
YET WHO DARES TO COVET MY SON'S PLACE?!
IN THIS PALACE,
THERE IS NO ONE ELSE TO TAKE THIS SEAT!
THE ONLY ONE TO INHERIT IT IS OF MY BLOOD!
DEAD OR ALIVE!
FOOLISH OLD WOMAN...
IT'S BEEN AGES SINCE SHE BURIED HER SON,
AND SHE'S STILL HARPING ON HER LOSS.
THOSE SHAMELESS ROYALS,
ALWAYS RUIN A PERFECTLY SET TABLE AT THE LAST MINUTE.
WITH THE HELP OF US SORCERERS GENERATION AFTER GENERATION,
THEY BUILT THIS KINGDOM, YET...
THEY ENJOY EVERYTHING FOR THEMSELVES...
EVEN WHEN WE ACHIEVE THE FEAT OF SAVING THE COUNTRY,
THEY JUST TOSS US THE EMPTY SHELL OF HONOR...
AS IF THAT EMPTY SHELL IS OUR RIGHTFUL PLACE.
FATHER, I WILL NEVER
LIVE FOOLISHLY LIKE YOU DID.
NEITHER I,
NOR ANY OF MY DESCENDANTS.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
APRIL.
...YES, FATHER.
I'M THROWING IT! NOW!
HURRY UP, EVERYONE!
CATCH IT!
SWEET! I SAFELY SECURED A CATCH!
I couldn't catch it...
UGH, ISN'T THIS ALL JUST A SUPERSTITION ANYWAY?!
HEY, YOU'RE THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO RELY ON SUPERSTITIONS.
WHAT?!
SIGH, DO YOU THINK LOVE IS THAT EASY~
THEY SAY IF YOU CATCH A PETAL BEFORE THE COMING-OF-AGE CEREMONY,
A PARTNER WHO WILL TIE YOUR SLEEVES TOGETHER WILL APPEAR...
?
THE COMING-OF-AGE CEREMONY IS SOON.
ASHA'S PARTICIPATING THIS TIME TOO, RIGHT DUDE?
YEAH.
HOW DOES IT FEEL GIVING YOUR DAUGHTER AWAY?
YEAH, SHE'S ONLY YOUR SISTER IN NAME. SHE'S PRACTICALLY YOUR DAUGHTER.
EVER SINCE SHE WAS LITTLE, YOU ALWAYS CARRIED HER ON YOUR BACK OR IN YOUR ARMS.
YOU PLAYED THE VILLAGE FATHER FIGURE ALL BY YOURSELF.
I WONDER IF YOU'LL GET TERRITORIAL WITH THE GUY WHO SNATCHES YOUR LITTLE GIRL AWAY.
DAUGHTER, MY FOOT.
AH, COLD!
WE'RE AT THE AGE WHERE WE COULD EVEN MARRY EACH OTHER.
HUH, WHAT
MARRIAGE?
MARRIAAAAGE?
Dude, is that how you felt raising her?
IT'S JUST A FIGURE OF SPEECH.
STOP MAKING ME OUT TO BE A FATHER.
YASHA!
UH, HUH?
Have you decided?
DECIDED WHAT?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WHO YOU'LL ENTRUST YOUR SLEEVES TO.
OH? UH... I...
THIS IS A DECLARATION, A DECLARATION!
Saying, 'Be mine!'
Yeah. It's a rare coming-of-age ceremony, so muster up some courage, Yasha.
U-YEAH, OKAY...
I'LL GIVE IT A TRY.
AH.
I'LL GO ON AHEAD!
Oh my?
OH MY, THIS YEAR THERE'S JUST
SO MANY KIDS COMING OF AGE,
THERE'S NO END TO THE STRINGS WE HAVE TO TIE.
MUSTER UP COURAGE...
...YEAH RIGHT, I CAN'T EVEN BRING MYSELF TO SPEAK.
DAUGHTER, MY FOOT. WE'RE AT THE AGE WHERE WE COULD EVEN MARRY EACH OTHER.
YOU ALWAYS TREAT ME LIKE A KID, AND NOW THIS.
WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN...
WHAT THE. WHERE DID HE GO?
WHAT'S GOT YOU ALL WORRIED
TO BE STANDING AROUND LIKE THIS?
IS SOMETHING WRONG?
AH, WELL, IT'S ABOUT THE COMING-OF-AGE CEREMONY.
WHY? ABOUT FINDING A PARTNER?
YEAH... SOMETHING LIKE THAT...
T-
TIE MY SLEEVES, EDAN!
...WHAT?
ON THE DAY OF THE COMING-OF-AGE CEREMONY,
I WANT YOU TO TIE MY SLEEVES!
EDAN DEAN.
SKYLAR?
YEAH, ARE YOU BUSY TALKING? I HAVE A FAVOR TO ASK.
WHAT KIND OF FAVOR?
I WANT YOU TO TIE MY SLEEVES AT THIS COMING-OF-AGE CEREMONY.
UH...
UHHH!?!?!?
The vacant throne heightens tension in the palace; while the queen mother insists on preserving her authority despite her mourning, the mages complain about being ostracized. In the village, preparations for the coming-of-age ceremony are underway. Choosing a mate is discussed through the petal-catching superstition, and it is learned that Asha will also take part. Yasha asks Edan to bind her arms on the ceremony day.
