Chapter 12

**Chapter Twelve** of the third volume of the *Witch Hat Atelier* manga series.

## Summary

Coco and Agott are captured by Easthies of the Knights Moralis after Coco's spell obliterates the entire landscape, reducing it to sand. Just before Easthies can wipe their memories as punishment for her suspected use of forbidden magic, Richeh uses fire magic to free them, and Tetia utilizes Serpent's Bed of Sand to cushion their fall.

Easthies states that regardless of circumstances, the girls broke the rules, and need to be punished accordingly. Qifrey then appears out of nowhere and confronts him, and the two argue with one another. Olruggio then interrupts them and says they need to perform their duties as witches and help the unknowings affected by the disaster, promptly ending the fight.

Prompted by Olruggio, the remaining Knights Moralis begin to use their banners to help tend to the unknowings. Luluci wraps Custas's legs in a banner, and Dagda asks if it will fix his legs. Luluci states that it magic can't do that, and Luluci declares that they will take Coustas to the Kalhn Medical Facility for treatment.

After the unknowing leave, Easthies asks Coco to show him the spell she used, which was a normal Wall Breaker Seal. He then looks at her hand, searching for a glyph drawn into her skin, but only sees the ink she got on her hands while making the spell. Satisfied, Easthies leaves, but not before issuing a threat to Qifrey.

After Easthies departs, Qifrey tells Agott and Coco that he wants them to understand how dangerous thinks could have gotten, especially if any unknowings had realized the secret of magic, in which case people would have needed to have their memories wiped. Suddenly, much to Agott's surprise and delight, Qifrey says that he had submitted the application for her to take her second test.

Out of earshot of the girls, Olruggio interjects, asking Qifrey if he really thinks Agott is ready. Qifrey states that while before, Agott was isolating herself completely, just trying to improve, she is now breaking out of her shell and interacting with her peers, so he thinks he should believe in her. Agott then rushes over and asks Qifrey if they can go back home so she can practice, but he says they must do one last thing.

Meanwhile, Easthies and his colleagues are flying back to base. While flying, Easthies' subordinate, Utowin, begins speaking to his boss about the rumors surrounding Coco. Easthies says that he isn't going to just ignore them, but also says that there is no proof it is her, to which Utowin says that it wasn't possible to search Coco's petrified home for evidence.

Back at the river, Olruggio uses a Searneedle Wand to draw a glyph that creates a sand bridge, creating a temporary replacment for the bridge destroyed during the earlier flood. Qifrey notices Coco's hat and ink bottle on the ground, and gives them back to her. Coco then notices something strange, and remarks that despite using her ink earlier, her bottle is still full. Qifrey calmly asks if he can see the bottle for a moment, and after Coco hands it to him, he realizes that something is very, very wrong.

## Characters by Appearance

* Easthies
* Coco
* Agott
* Richeh
* Tetia
* Galga *(Debut)*
* Qifrey
* Olruggio
* Custas
* Dagda
* Luluci *(Debut)*
* Utowin *(Debut)*
* Iguin

## Chapter Notes

* Qifrey suspects there is something wrong with Coco's ink bottle.