Rigarden Magical Academy
7,200.
Of the 12,000 total credits available at the academy,
that is the number required for a student to advance to the Upper Institute,
an absolute condition for becoming a Magia Vander.
Crims Serbe!
Stear Viola!
Sion Ulster! Colette Loire! You both pass!
Sion Ulster
9,889 credits
Colette Loire
7,340 credits
Come on. What are you doing?
A student of our magical academy is planning to throw a punch at it?
What happened to your wand?
He can't use magic and he can't even scratch a golem.
I'd expect nothing less of a book-learner, an eternal failure in spellwork!
Sagius Leo.
Zephyros Claw.
Lihanna Owenzaus
10,100 credits
Lihanna Owenzaus!
Wignall Lindor!
Wignall Lindor
10,075 credits
You pass!
Ice over.
That Julius. He went and froze ours, too.
Julius Reinberg. You pass!
Julius Reinberg
10,048 credits
It seems that neither of you two have lost your skills.
There's no reason that I should have. The time for revels already draws near.
Lihanna. Wignall.
I'll declare my intent for war now.
With my newly acquired secret method, this time I will defeat the both of you.
You will accept this in place of a gauntlet, won't you?
I look forward to it, Julius.
Wow. No wonder it's already confirmed they're going to the Upper Institute.
Miss Perfect and the elf, Master Wignall.
The only ones with over ten thousand credits are those two and Julius.
A student's credits are like an index by which their skills can be judged.
I don't have enough to graduate, let alone advance to the Upper Institute.
Will Serfort
5,405 credits
And this is my last year in school.
You're in the way, laggard.
Could you please not show yourself in my presence?
I-I'm sorry, Julius!
You passed with just one spell again today!
It's no wonder you're one of our year's top three!
You're sure to get scouted at the Grand Magic Festival!
Oh, right. It's already that time again.
Episode 4 The Eve of the Grand Festival
What are the odds of winning this year's Sky Race?
I've already given up on that. I'm focused on the Dual Duel.
You'll just have to get scouted at the Grand Magic Festival, too, Will!
The rumor is that the elf faction is prioritizing those
What?
Well, advancing to the Upper Institute on Writing and Praxis alone just isn't realistic!
who rank highly in Magic Craft.
Elves are really conscious of only associating with other elves, so I don't know.
And even with less than 7,200 credits,
I'm gonna make up for everything I messed up in Writing lessons!
there's a precedent for a student being scouted and ascending the Tower on the spot.
Well, you do have a point.
Though, around the time of the Grand Magic Festival,
everyone's trying to turn things around with one shot, so they're all out for blood.
The Grand Magic Festival.
It's an event held by Rigarden Magical Academy once every two years.
A number of different competitions are held,
and High Mages come down from the tower as scouts.
Now, Will.
The Grand Magic Festival is, in effect,
a contest between students from the different Tower factions.
You could even say that this is where advancement to the Tower is decided.
The factions are the Lightning Lord's Wand, Thorzeus Fasce,
Lightning Lord
the Sacred Elf's Wand, Elleaf Caanan,
Sacred Elf
the Flame Emperor's Wand, Incindia Barham,
Flame Emperor
the Icemaiden's Wand, Albis Vina,
Icemaiden
and setting aside the Light Sovereign's Wand, Masterias Noah,
the current Magia Vander lead these four major factions.
If one of those factions chooses you,
then your admittance as a Tower member is assured!
Skipping the requirements for graduation
and going straight to the Tower hardly ever happens.
I'd have to perform some kind of magic that would put a High Mage's to shame.
But that's not all!
They say that people called Watchers appear at the Grand Magic Festival,
snatch up outstanding talents, and carry them off to the Tower!
Watchers? That's just one of the academy's seven legends, isn't it?
A no-talent shouldn't try to stand out at the Grand Magic Festival.
I'll work behind the scenes again this year. I'll help with operations.
If you entered as you are now, Will, I think it would change the way people see you.
Thank you, Colette. But if I entered, it would turn into a regular sports event.
And when we were second-years, I had a really rough time because of that.
Hey, that's cheating!
Disqualify him!
Get out!
Quit interfering!
Go away!
The 50th Festival, also known as the absolute worst in history.
Yes, that was quite something.
That year, I stood out for all the wrong reasons.
I feel like I'm still not over it.
That's Magic Craft.
And over there is Guardian Summoning.
It really makes you feel how close the Grand Magic Festival is now.
Yes.
And a lot of scouts from other capitals besides Rigarden will be coming.
Even if we can't ascend the Tower, there are still other paths you could follow!
The Grand Magic Festival really is the perfect opportunity
to show your abilities to others.
And that's why you have to promote yourself, too, Will!
I've told you already. I can't even use magic.
Colette? Is something wrong?
It's well hidden, but a barrier's been cast here.
What? Not lock magic?
An inhibitor... and a sound-dampening barrier.
I think I could probably use magic to break it by force, but...
Kiki.
What do you think?
You did it!
You're amazing, Kiki!
A... A hidden stairway?
I can hear something. Let's go!
Now, step right up! Who will win each event at the Grand Magic Festival?
We've got big predictions right now!
Place your bets! Place your bets!
Three hundred on Julius!
Five hundred on Master Wignall!
Eight hundred on Lihanna!
U-Underground gambling?
I can't believe them.
Just because the professors don't come near the lockers,
it's no reason to get up to all this.
Sion?
The laggard?
Why are you here?
We just happened to end up here.
Now, stop being violent, Sion.
The next time you're rough with Will for no reason, I will get seriously angry with you.
U-Um, Sion, why are you here?
It doesn't look like you've been gambling.
What does it matter?
That's right! It's not like he's wondering about the betting odds!
Indeed! Word is, there's quite a spread between him, Lihanna, and the others.
How frustrating!
But Sion would never be thinking anything like that!
I'm so sad because the top three don't even notice me!
That's a thought that'd never cross his mind!
You two, just stop talking!
Sorry, Sion!
My! Are you concerned about Lihanna and the others?
Well, you are a boy after all, Sion.
I'm not particularly concerned.
It isn't as if they've beaten me.
And the number of credits I lag behind them are simply credits I lost in Writing exams.
I've been training ever since that day.
In terms of magical skill, I'm just as good as Lihanna and Wignall.
Look how high you are!
Why am I explaining myself to you?
Hey, Sion!
Sion!
Wait for us!
A festival held once every two years.
I suppose it's no wonder everyone is so excited about it.
That's all for today!
Next time, we will actually craft some magic potions.
Be sure to review the material and prepare for the lesson.
Kiki, it's over.
Will!
Um, what are you doing after this?
If you're going to the dungeon, I'll go with you.
Sorry, Colette!
I'm working at Miss Gina's tavern tonight.
Oh, honestly!
Crystal for monitoring Will
Kiki The reason I gave Kiki to Will? Because that boy is always acting recklessly of course. If he doesn't at least have a talented familiar with him, I wouldn't feel comfortable watching him go into the dungeon. And that incident on the 6th floor the other day. If Kiki's crystal hadn't been connected to mine, I wouldn't have been able to see— That was a slip of the tongue. Please forget about it. Workner Norgram
Dwarves Short in stature with short limbs. Also, they reek of sweat. What else is there to know? They're deft with their hands and they have insane physical strength? You fool. If one has magic, one doesn't need any of that. A certain mage who believes in the absolute rule of magic
Slumland Street is on the outskirts of Urbus Rigarden.
Slumland Street
Urbus Rigarden Outskirts of the Capital of Magic
Gina's Tavern The Hen and Beanstalk
Today, like every day, the exploited miners quaff their alcohol.
The sound of laughter rings out through this dwarven bystreet.
Will, take this out!
One goulard bean sautée, order up!
Coming, Miss Gina!
Put your back into it, Will!
Mister Donnan, thank you for waiting.
Oh, thanks, Will.
You've got it pretty rough too, don't you?
Newspaper delivery in the mornings. Student during the day.
Then waiting tables for Gina at night.
I'm not eligible for a scholarship,
so if I don't work, I won't be able to pay my tuition.
That reminds me, it's coming up soon, isn't it?
What's it called again?
That's right! The Grand Magic Festival.
If you're in that, couldn't that fix things for you?
Oh, no, no, no! I really couldn't enter that!
Quit chatting and work, Will!
Yikes!
Your buddy is working much harder than you!
Table three, thank you for waiting!
Thanks!
I'll have another ale!
Of course, coming right up!
Whoops!
Sorry for asking you to help out like this, Rosty.
Working without using magic is a fun new experience. Don't worry about it.
Besides, my roommate was in a bind, right?
One of my staff went and quit.
Bring me another part-timer, won't you, Will?
What're you talking about, Miss Gina? This lad'll work as hard as two!
Will can do it!
What?
Because you're a brother to us dwarves, right?
Everyone, please don't do this to me!
But Will, are you all right with this?
With what?
The wages the dwarves pay you aren't high, right?
Professor Workner would be able to help you find a better job, wouldn't he?
I'm already making all sorts of trouble for Professor Workner.
Besides...
Mister Donnan and the others... I like them. I like the dwarves.
They're a hearty people. They love alcohol.
And they're really skilled with their hands!
Despite me being like this, they've welcomed me warmly.
I respect the dwarves.
I see.
What sort of vulgar tavern is this?
Sorry, Julius! None of the other taverns are open.
Will, isn't he from the academy?
Is that the laggard?
Come now. Don't tell me you work here?
Well, this is beautiful!
The no-talent and the barbarians. You suit each other perfectly!
What did you just say?
H-Hey.
What is it, dwarf? What's that look in your eye?
You're an inferior race that immigrated here from another world.
You're being allowed to live in this country by the grace of others.
Know your place!
Long ago, when the dwarves' world was destroyed by the Celestial Host,
they escaped to our world.
This is a tavern, isn't it?
Hurry up and bring me food and drink!
Unlike the elves, dwarves are treated with disdain.
Were a dwarf to lay hands on a mage, their standing would instantly be in danger.
In this world, magic rules absolute.
The discrimination against dwarves shows the world in microcosm.
Still...
What is this bean dish?
Even out in the countryside they can serve up better food than this!
What's wrong with these barbarians' sense of taste?
More than anything else, it reeks. It's difficult to endure this stench of sweat.
Still...
Even beasts are better than these filthy brutes.
Hurry up and get out of our country!
Will?
Still...
What is it, no-talent?
We didn't call for a server.
I want you to take back those insults.
What did you say?
The dwarves' beans, grown from barren soil, are the culmination of the dwarves' wisdom!
The dwarves' sweat is proof of their earnest toil under the harshest conditions!
They are not things which should ever be sneered at!
Since none of you can use magic, do you sit around licking each other's wounds?
If something reeks, it reeks.
If something's an eyesore I'll call it an eyesore.
What's wrong with that?
Don't get any ideas, no-talent!
Hurry up and get out of our sight!
The savagery between you and me
is far more senseless than that of the dwarves. We're worse than beasts.
I haven't faced humiliation like this in a while.
You understand who you've just picked a fight with, don't you?
No-talent!
Pin him in place.
Hey, that's going too far!
I've changed my mind.
Encasing you in ice here won't be enough to appease me.
Enter the Grand Magic Festival, no-talent!
I will humiliate you in front of all of those spectators!
All right. I'll enter.
W-Wait, Will!
It's no good.
He's seriously angry.
I will win and remove any space for you to belong within the academy!
If I win, please apologize to Mister Donnan and the others.
Next time on Wistoria: Wand and Sword,
episode 5, "Raise the Starting Pistol."
Episode 5: Raise the Starting Pistol