Better bend than break.

**Better bend than break.** is the 6th episode of the second season of *The Ancient Magus Bride* anime.

## Synopsis

Alice and Chise try to sort through their feelings about their complicated relationships with their respective masters.

## Summary

A brief recap where Chise asks Elias why he decided to make her his wife, and Elias is hesitant to answer. Later, Elias would run into Renfred and ask him if he ever considered taking someone as his spouse, which surprised Renfred. Elias further clarifies his question noting, he's looking for examples to explain his own motives to Chise. Unbeknownst to them, Alice eavesdrops on their conversation and learns Renfred's opinion of her when Elias asks why someone like her is attending the College. Although Renfred vaguely agrees with Elias' logic, he furiously defends his reasons, claiming Alice is his "daughter", and explains his relationship and hopes for her to Elias.

Hearing this visibly upsets Alice, who eventually takes a train to Chise's village and is picked up by a car driven by Simon with Chise sitting in the back. As they're driven to Elias' House, Alice becomes acquainted with Simon and learns some interesting facts and perspectives from him.

Arriving at Elias' House, Alice enjoys the soup that Silver Lady, who takes the compliment with glee; however, Elias asks why she's there without Renfred. Alice bluntly responds that she's there to "borrow" Chise for the night, but Elias is against it. Hence, Chise bargains with Elias noting she'll spend the night with him the next day, and Elias allows it.

Chise and Alice have a heart-to-heart that night in bed about Alice's motive for being there. She goes on to recount the day when her and Renfred's life changed forever when Joseph appeared with his Chimera that severed Renfred's left arm when he tried to protect her. Taking Renfred's left arm, Joseph demands that Renfred retrieve the corruption from the King of Cats and then uses the knife Alice wielded to reopen his facial scars. This encounter with Joseph and his Chimera had a preponderant emotional effect on Alice, whose self-reflectance was deprecative on herself and how she's made no significant improvement to herself. She also vents her frustrations about Renfred thinking of her as his daughter, while her interpretations of a father are profoundly dark and convoluted.

When Alice asks Chise about her relationship with Elias, Chise is uncertain what hers is with him. She'd go on to recall Simon's remark about interpretations of the same thing. As their conversation continues, Will o' The Wisp appears and gives his two cents on the topic, which Alice begrudgingly agrees with and goes to sleep.

A little later, Chise heads to the rooftop and finds Elias, who couldn't sleep. Chise relates with Elias and then asks him about her question from that morning. Although Elias wanted more time to think it over, Chise lightly pressed him for an answer. Hence, Elias used his marriage proposal to have her live with him. Curious to know if Chise was disappointed in him, she claims it was to her expectations. Elias would then talk about how they're to each other master and student for different reasons, but the fact remains that eventually, one leaves the other. He also mentions that she once left him, but returned because "she was his bride". From Elias' perspective, that's what brides are, which Chise believed isn't accurate in modern times. Chise backs her claim by noting the high divorce rates, and her perspective of a master and student while being a married couple is just one interpretation role.

Chise explains roles and relationships with people, and Elias asks if she dislikes being assigned being his student and wife, to which she flusteredly answers she appreciates it. Chise also confesses that staying with Elias has made her feel happy, making Elias confess his happy feelings that Chise makes him feel.

The following day, Alice lies on the ground of the College, lamenting that she didn't learn a thing until Renfred comes along. Alice then unloads her feelings about his interpretation of her being his daughter and how she doesn't see eye to eye with him on that notion. This would make Alice contentiously opine her thoughts on the matter and how she no longer always wishes to be "protected" by him and would like to do it for him. In Renfred's opinion, he claims that "children" don't immaturely yell, and she should not skip her classes either.

Elsewhere, two people put something on a shelf in an underground basement that emits purple smoke after that.

## Character Appearances

* Chise Hatori
* Elias Ainsworth
* Mikhail Renfred
* Alice Swayne
* Simon Cullum
* Silver Lady
* Ruth
* Joseph *(flashback)*
* Will o' The Wisp
* Jade Ariel *(flashback)*
* Lindel *(flashback)*
* Shannon *(flashback)*
* Shanahan *(flashback)*
* Althea Barley *(flashback)*
* Angelica Barley *(flashback)*
* David Barley *(flashback)*