English Dub Review: The Witch and the Beast “Eloquence and Silence: Opening Act”

Overview

Ashaf reminisces about his first meeting with Guideau. Three years ago, a sleepy farming town blamed a young witch for a string of gruesome incidents. But what kind of “which” can’t use magic?

Our Take

This time around, we get a flashback episode that delves further into Ashaf and Guideau’s past, three years before the main events of the series. Ashaf, a mage from the Order of Magical Resonance, finds himself in an unassuming village plagued by witch killings. Despite prejudice from the villagers, Ashaf saves a witch named Falvell, her brother Owent and another child named Craig. However, their troubles escalate when Ashaf encounters Guideau, a cursed individual with a mysterious coffin, drawing suspicion from the villagers.

As Ashaf seeks to protect Falvell and her family, he learns of her lineage as a descendant of the Mystic Witch Luna, known for her invocation magic. However, Falvell cannot use magic herself, leading to suspicion that someone is impersonating her using evocative magic. Matters become worse when Craig and his father are revealed as part of the witch-hunting Executioners, putting Falvell’s family in grave danger. Despite Ashaf’s efforts to shield them, the situation takes a dark turn as the true intentions of the villagers become clear…

Overall, it’s pretty interesting to get a flashback arc that delves into Ashaf and Guideau’s initial encounter, but at least it sheds light on their enigmatic personas, and the plot surrounding Falvell’s predicament offers a compelling exploration of themes like identity and persecution. With only two episodes remaining, the stage is set for something intense and possibly brutal.