Contrary to last episode’s ending scene of Gray and Hephaestion charging into each other, it winds up being something very reminiscent of the that entire banquet of kings episode from Fate/zero. Although fewer in participants, less epic and far shorter than its predecessor, it’s filled with substantial dialogue between these two warriors about their own nature and desire. Gray, raised to having the body of King Arthur, doesn’t have any desires of her own like saving her people or world domination. Being the protector of Waver seems to be the only thing going for her with a hint or two of developing romantic feelings for him. On the other hand, Hephaestion resents Iskander for never letting go of his dream to see Okeanus which wasn’t achievable. In the end, it’s about the possibility of Grey having a part of King Arthur channeling through her, coming to understand what makes Hephaestion tick and the reveal of her mystic eyes. For the lack of action this episode, having a Mystic Code for a Divine Construct like the Rhongomyniad be reduced down to a snowboard for Gray to escape the forest more than makes it up.
As Waver wakes up from his servant-induced nap, I feel that the main case can start moving forward again. The others are talented in their own ways but they were better at dealing with the immediate danger of a magical murderous forest as opposed to making deductions on magecraft mysteries. I’m starting to think that Aamashi is a red herring as the culprit although her flashy response at Waver in the ending scene doesn’t help her overall case. The parallel investigation of Kairi and Luvia (featuring her rocking back muscles), strongly points to the former department head of Modern Magecraft Theory, Dr. Heartless, who has the motive and means of committing all the serial murders and theft. Her actions thus far are as if she was a shrewd bureaucrat looking to just do her job of weeding out magecraft violations. Indeed the bold move of claiming Karabo’s eyes as part of evidence under the Department of Policies means that she is both the seller and buyer of the mystic eyes. With nothing to lose (except for the commission that goes to Rail Zeppelin), the auction felt a little like something out of Kakegurui where the game is rigged and yet the protagonist somehow pulls through. Gathering a bunch of money and outbidding each other is a less than elegant solution but the auction of mystic eyes was never the point of the show
