It’s been sort of an odd start to the second season for Mahoutsukai no Yome.  To a certain extent this series has always tended towards extended slice of life sequences punctuated by short bursts of extreme plot.  The pacing this season, though, has been measured to say the least.  Much off this episode seemed to be given over to introducing new characters, with a bit of foreshadowing thrown in for good measure.  Then, in the end, it took a turn in a familiar direction, with interesting results.

It’a hard to say just who among this massive character drop are going to be the big players in this arc.  There are indeed two sets of twins (both one of each), twins being long associated with magical powers.  The two blondes pop by in passing, but the other two – Violent (boy) and Jasmine (girl) St. George are at the cafeteria table another student, Beatrice Byrne, invites Chise and Elias to eat at.  Chise shows off her dragon nose by guessing that Violet is a boy, and Elias seems to be a major celebrity all around.

Another possibly important kid is Zoe Ivy, who I’m pretty sure is a guy but this arc is full of androgynous characters and boys with girls names so I’m not 100% sure.  He sort of freaks out around Elias and Chise and later grumbles that they’re “not human” (when you’re right…).  Roommate Lucy sits alone at another table and scowls, silently deriding the others for bothering to make friends.  As for Rian, he gets a splash of cold water from Alice’s will-o-the-wisp, declaring him “no good” and with powers that reek of rust.  But Rian is no less determined to learn magecraft, and seems little surprised by these developments.

At this point the story take a sharp left turn – left being west on the map – as Chise and Elias head back to their home turf for a little decompression.  Neither of them is used to being around people to this degree, and –  speaking from experience – Chise’s exhaustion is absolutely a typical response.  She gives Elias a lap pillow session, as his horns make it impossible to lie next to her on the grass, and he notes that this may be the first time he’s ever lain back and looked up at the sky.  Later, while washing gourds and accidentally crushing them with her dragon hand, Chise gets a visit from Joseph, but they aren’t seeing eye to eye.

It’s funny, but that little eight or nine minute return brought home all over again how much I miss Mahoutsukai’s village setting.  It just seems to fit the series’ vibe so perfectly – I get the appeal of the whole magic academy thing, but I just can’t shake the feeling of slight wrongness watching the college scenes play out.  When Elias was telling the story of Samhain  – proto-Halloween – and the forgotten old Gods, it invoked all the mystery and wonder of the first season.  And just for old time’s sake, Chise and Ruth get spirited away somewhere.  I’m sure this will be a short-lived detour, but I’m going to enjoy it for as long as it lasts.