Witch Hat Atelier (2026) s01e11 Episode Script

It's breeding season for the scalewolves.
So they don't hurt their pups
who are soon to be born,
they're shedding their hard-scaled fur
by ramming their bodies together.
If they never took a mate,
they could remain strong.
I thought a girl like her
would have nothing to offer me.
That an Outsider is an outsider.
That they had no place
in the world of magic.
But,
if she learns the rules the right way,
then what is the difference
between her and us?
Yes! I did it!
That's great!
THE TRIAL AT SERPENTBACK CAVE
You're drawing
much more stable spells now, Coco.
Thank you.
Still,
there aren't many spells
I can use with confidence yet.
So when something happens suddenly,
I always fall back on the same ones.
If you ask me,
the spells you rarely mess up,
the ones you draw without thinking,
are probably your strengths.
My strengths?
Yes.
See?
The spells you use often?
You can see
you rely heavily on straight lines.
Compared to curves,
your straight lines never waver.
The first thing you showed me when we met
was how beautifully
you could draw a straight line.
When you're aware of your strengths,
they become a source of confidence to
lean on when it's time to trust yourself.
When you're feeling uncertain,
say it out loud. Let yourself hear it.
My strength
is drawing straight lines.
So my strength is drawing straight lines!
Then all that's left is practice!
Draw straighter.
I'll keep going straight ahead!
Hold on there!
The spells you're good at
will improve on their own.
You need to practice the ones
you wouldn't normally use.
The spells you still can't draw.
You might discover a new strength.
Right?
Okay…
Somehow,
seals look even more incredible to me now
than they did before.
Now that I know how they're created,
I can tell just how difficult
they really are.
I've started to see that now.
Amazing.
This is amazing.
The spells of amazing people are amazing.
Your vocabulary for praise
is severely lacking.
It's so amazing
it's actually kind of discouraging.
Richeh, wanna take a look too?
No.
I like drawing them,
but I don't like looking at them.
Really? You're not gonna look?
I said no. And your movement is annoying.
Magic isn't just about putting pen
to paper, Richeh.
Studying exceptional magic
is how you train your eye--
I said I don't want to look!
Richeh! Are you all right?
Are you hurt?
Using magic in a fit of anger
isn't exactly admirable.
It's dangerous.
Wait, Richeh.
If you keep turning your eyes away from
what could teach you
and stop listening to your master's words,
you'll never get anywhere.
Um, I'm sorry about earlier.
I…
Huh? Richeh?
She's not here?
Is she in her bedroom?
You know where she is, Brushbuddy?
What?!
Where are you going, Brushbuddy?
Huh?!
Brushbuddy?
Where is this place?
Wow.
I didn't say you could come in.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I was following Brushbuddy.
What a beautiful spell.
It's like a ribbon made of crystal.
It doesn't have a name yet.
I made it.
It's your own original spell?
Wow, that's amazing.
It's so gorgeous. It makes my eyes happy.
That's a unique way
to appreciate something.
I really like this spell.
- If you want one, you can have it.
- What?!
I've got plenty anyway.
What?! Really?
I'm so happy.
Thank you!
Hey.
Can I ask you something?
Why don't you like to look at books?
I don't really know much about magic,
so I love reading books about it.
Who created each spell and when?
What made them want to cast it?
I like imagining those things as I read.
I only want to think about my own magic.
When I read those books,
the next thing is they tell me to try
drawing the same spells.
They make me draw things
I don't want to draw.
Magic that isn't my type of magic.
I'm sick of it.
It doesn't concern you, Coco.
I don't need anyone else's magic.
I don't want my magic to be tainted.
Before coming here,
Richeh already ended her apprenticeship
with another witch.
That stubbornness of hers
is a shield she uses to protect herself.
Like a scalewolf armored in hard fur…
It's hard to know how far to push.
People aren't as simple as magic.
Here.
What's this?
A rock?
My latest original spell, the Snugstone.
Keep it in your bed,
and it should keep you warm to your toes
and help you sleep soundly.
It may just be a placebo,
but give them to the apprentices for me.
Thanks.
Your magic is kind.
It says more than words ever could.
It's just work-related!
It's a prototype I'm developing for sale.
I just want feedback, that's all!
Sure, whatever you say.
- Hey, Olru.
- Hmm?
There are too many. There's five.
Four are for the apprentices.
The last one is for you.
At least set an example
and get some sleep at night.
You're their master.
I'll try.
A letter?
I wonder who it's from.
I'm back.
Agott.
Perfect timing.
I just got word from the Great Hall.
The date for the second exam has been set.
When is it?
Three days from now, at dawn.
Serpentback Cave on Cape Romonon.
You want to make crystal ribbons?
That's such an adorable spell, Richelitte.
- Hmph!
- Hey!
Look, Riri.
It's twinkly and sparkly. So pretty!
Riri?
You know, I…
love the magic that makes you you, Richeh.
So please, stay just as you are.
Riri?
Where are you going?
Aren't you going to watch
my magic anymore?
Don't go, Riri.
A dream…
I slept like a log.
I was planning to practice right up until
the last minute before the exam.
But because of this cozy Snugstone…
Yeah.
Don't worry, Agott.
No matter how much you prepare,
everyone feels like it isn't enough.
Just do your best as you are now.
For the sake
of who you'll become next time.
There won't be a next time.
I'll pass it on my first try.
After all, I'm a member of House Arklaum.
My, my, how reassuring.
She's worlds apart
from the underachiever in my care.
My apprentice, Euini,
has already failed the Second Exam twice
when you can only apply once a year.
I'd love to swap her dominant hand
with that of a young lady
from the illustrious House Arklaum.
Master Kukrow!
Apprentices aren't objects.
You can't just swap them out.
That's exactly the problem.
You can't repair them either.
You shouldn't talk that way…
Oh, um, it's okay.
It's all true.
I'm a lousy apprentice.
I've been nothing but a burden
to Master Kukrow.
And,
because I'm so incompetent, people
end up speaking badly about him too.
I'm so sorry.
Someone like me…
Um, Euini?
Man, I'm late. My bad.
The nearest window-way wasn't working
so I had to walk all the way here.
The giant brushbuddy is talking!
Take a closer look.
She's a bona fide witch.
Oh, but I thought transformations
are forbidden magic?
The mirror cloak of Borrowshade.
While you're wearing it,
the contraption projects the illusion
of the beast standing in front of you.
Nice to meet you. I'm Alaira.
I'm one of the proctors
overseeing the Second Exam.
You're the proctor?
What a coincidence.
Looks like you brought everyone along.
Even those who aren't taking the exam.
The second test,
"The Sincerity of the Shield,"
is exactly how it sounds.
Like a knight,
you'll be protecting a designated person
and escorting them safely through
Serpentback Cave,
from the entrance all the way to the exit.
You fail if you lose sight
of who you're guarding.
And you fail if only one of you reaches
the exit ahead of the other.
Naturally, you're also disqualified
if anyone sees you drawing a spell.
What if someone does see us?
You won't have to worry about
the secret being exposed,
but you'll fail the exam.
Because they'll realize you're human.
Put on that cloak and look through here.
Is that a gryphon?
No, those are myrphons.
They're different species.
The Serpentback Cave used for the exam
is a magical ruin
dating back to the Age of Chaos.
Inside, labyrinth magic swirls
through the passage.
Stray from the path and you're in danger.
So the Second Exam is about using magic
to protect them from magic?
Exactly.
Humans rarely set foot
in those ruins anymore,
but for the beasts, they've long served
as one of the migratory routes
connecting their breeding
and wintering grounds.
Witches bear responsibility
for changing their world.
That's why, every year,
we guide and escort the young ones
who've only just left the nest,
so they don't lose their way.
With the magic in those cloaks,
myrphons should see you as members
of their own flock right now.
But if you take the cloak off,
or if the seal gets damaged,
they'll immediately bolt, so be careful.
I see.
So in a way, this is even harder than
drawing magic without humans noticing.
You'll each be assigned one bird.
This one's yours.
And this one's yours.
Right, and the last one goes to you.
To Richeh?
This is a mistake.
I'm not taking the test.
Oh? That's strange.
We have an application for you.
It's not a mistake.
You're taking the exam too, Richeh.
Liar.
Master Qifrey,
you said I can do what I want.
That's why I came to you.
You don't care what I want either, do you?
You'll make me do
whatever the adults want.
It's not that I don't care.
In fact, it's because I do care
that I want you to take this exam.
I think what you learn here
will help you live the way
you want to live.
So,
will you trust me this time?
During the exam,
I'm gonna do things how I want.
Sure. Yes.
That's fine.
If I try it and hate it, I won't do it.
If I stop being me.
I'll never believe you again.
Seems you have your hands full too.
The hopeless ones stay hopeless
no matter what you say.
They always have some excuse. "But… but…"
It's exhausting, isn't it?
- Why are children so--
- Excuse me.
Did you just say something?
Huh?
Well then, look at the time.
I'd better get back to the Great Hall.
What?
You're leaving your apprentice's exam?
What? With you lot here, he'll be fine.
I leave the rest to you.
No way. He actually left.
Euini.
I'll try my best.
Oh, yes, good luck.
It's about time.
If only everyone could find their way
through the darkness.
That's what magic is for.
Exactly for that.
They're moving.
Okay, then. Let's go!
They've gone.
Now then,
how about we grab a late breakfast?
We can talk a little history
while we're at it.
History?
Yes.
You're probably not very familiar
with magical ruins
like Serpentback Cave yet, are you, Coco?
About how the forbidden magic
created before The Day of the Pact…
left a scar upon the world?
We have to go down this path?
I told you,
this is an exam about protecting
against magic with magic.
Now then, our young knights of magic,
how will you proceed from here?
Subtitle translation by: Emily Noguchi
EPISODE 12
THE SHADOW OF ROMONON