Witch Hat Atelier Episode 9 takes a break from the big action and shifts the focus more toward character development, magical history, and the mysteries surrounding Qifrey and the Brimmed Caps. The story is slower than previous instalments but still manages to keep you hooked as more and more of the world of witches and the battles each character is fighting are revealed.
The episode opens with Tartah still haunted by the truth about his grandfather. Confused and hesitant, he realises the only person who could have answers is Qifrey himself.
Meanwhile Coco is still training her magic skills. When she tries to cast a wind spell, however, her giant sigil goes awry and accidentally draws Qifrey and a whole tree toward her. Tetia immediately jumps in to help her improve the spell design, but Agott scolds Tetia for wasting time teaching her instead of studying. But this tension is not long as Coco and Tetia force Agott to join them and help properly.
The Witch Exams and the Tower of Books
Later Qifrey explains there are five magical exams all witches have to pass eventually. Ancient witches did not want to make them seem like ordinary tests but exciting trials full of rewards and discoveries.
The first exam is in the Dadah Range, the last test is only needed by witches that want to train apprentices of their own someday.
The biggest thing for Coco is that if she passes the third exam, she’ll finally be able to get into the legendary Tower of Tomes. The discovery is immediately important, as the tower may contain knowledge that can help her save her mother.
At the same time, viewers also learn more about Agott’s personal ambitions. She dreams of becoming a librarian in the Tower of Tomes, following in a family tradition that spans generations.
Richeh, though, isn’t so sure. She freely admits that she only likes to create the types of spells she likes and has little interest in following the traditional path expected of witches. Her reaction hints at deeper emotional conflicts tied to magic and her past.
The Perilous Experiment of Qifrey
The episode gets really exciting once it gets dark.
Qifrey is unable to resist investigating the Brimmed Caps so he secludes himself in the chimney room of the atelier to investigate the strange vial attached to them. The object, he explains, is an ancient lost spell, once created by the Righteous Witches of Healingcraft, a group that shared medicinal magic through enchanted medals hidden within special containers.
But as Qifrey raises the medal from the vial, he unwittingly triggers a concealed secondary spell. Water floods the room, and electricity shoots through the chamber, nearly killing him.
One of the Brimmed Cap witches reappears to Qifrey, destroys the vial and instantly disappears before Qifrey can fully understand what just happened leaving him with no answers. This short fight proves how cautious and ready the Brimmed Caps really are.
Coco Falls Over From Exhaustion
The next day shows the consequences of Coco having overdone it.
Coco returns Agott’s repaired Sylph Shoes, and tries to explain how their past struggles have made her a stronger witch. But before she can finish she suddenly collapses from exhaustion from sleepless nights of studying and practicing magic.
Qifrey rushes her to Kalhn for treatment, but by the time they reach the city her fever is worsening by the minute.
Luckily Tartah arrives at the right time and leads them through a short cut to reach the hospital faster. Then Qifrey thanks him, noting how perceptive the boy has grown. Finally, Tartah gathers the courage to ask Qifrey the question that has been bothering him for so long.
The episode ends without telling us what he says, building a lot of anticipation for what is next.
Episode Review
Episode 9 doesn’t have any big battles or shocking twists, but it does succeed in deepening the emotional and thematic levels of the story. The series takes its time building its magical world, adding small details that seem more and more important with each episode.
Another interesting piece of lore is the Witches of Healingcraft. Later in the series their lost techniques and medical magic may be key to understanding the Brimmed Caps and their motivations.
The character development here is also very strong. Tetia still dreams freely of her future and Agott is still completely focused on reaching her goals as fast as possible. Meanwhile, Richeh is even more intriguing because of her conflicted feelings about magic itself.
Perhaps the most important development is that of Tartah. As he becomes more involved in the story, he may soon learn truths about Qifrey’s mysterious past and what happened to his grandfather. The tension around that relationship continues to ratchet up, and it seems like Tartah’s going to be a lot more important moving forward.
On the whole, Episode 9 is a well-considered and emotionally rich chapter that hits a really nice balance between humor, magical lore, and suspense, while continuing to expand the mystery surrounding the Brimmed Caps.