By In a room that contains Emeraude’s crown, a shadow appears and claims that all of Cephiro will be hers. Hikaru somehow sees this but finds herself back in the room she shares with Umi and Fuu. They express their concern but Hikaru insists that she’s fine. Umi doesn’t believe her because she knows Hikaru never shows her pain. Fuu reassures Hikaru that they’re comrades and asks her to share her worries with them. Hikaru gets another vision of Nova who says that she hates everything Hikaru loves. She says she’ll start by killing Umi and Fuu, and that Hikaru will meet her soon. The ground shakes violently as Cephiro continues crumbling apart. Clef realizes they don’t have much time left and the Knights arrive to check on him. Clef tells them if they don’t find a new Pillar soon Cephiro will disappear. Ferio wonders how they can find more candidates since most of the population is already in the castle. Umi asks how the Pillar is chosen and Clef takes them to the room with the crown.
Hikaru recognizes the room and Clef explains the crown chooses who is worthy of being the Pillar. Only those with the will to support Cephiro can wear it and it will change form to best suit its master. Presea says that the fact it’s still in the same shape as when Emeraude had it means no one worthy of it has appeared yet. Ferio stops Hikaru from entering the room, saying only those worthy can enter safely. Presea throws in an earring and it is destroyed by the water in the room. Clef says that the one with a strong enough will doesn’t necessarily have to be from Cephiro, but the room is protected by a barrier and you need Clef’s ring to open it. However it’s can also be opened by a plate worn by Zagato and Lantis’s sword. Lantis looks over Cephiro’s current state without a Pillar and remembers his brother asking him what he thought about the Pillar system. Zagato had wondered if the Pillar’s heart was really free. Hikaru wants to head outside the castle to look for a Pillar candidate alone, but the others try to stop her. Hikaru says it’ll be bad if the other countries attack with two Knights gone and decides to ask Lantis to go with her. Since Lantis had found that woman earlier he should know the current land and he is strong, but Clef still has his doubts. Hikaru says she doesn’t think Lantis is a bad person because of the sad look in his eyes. Elsewhere, Alcyone prostrates before her master, Lady Debonair. Debonair laughs that the others are fighting while being ignorant of her existence, but Nova says Hikaru has noticed. Debonair assures Nova she will meet Hikaru soon and Nova can’t wait to paint Umi and Fuu in blood. Debonair reminds Alcyone that she saved her and confirms her loyalty.
This episode was full of exposition and answers some necessary questions. Cephiro is still doomed and if no one among the current population is worthy of being the Pillar, they might just have to rely on outside forces. But depending on who gets picked, the cure might be worse than the disease. Of course some women just want to watch the world burn, and we’re formally introduced to Lady Debonair. She and Nova are both anime original characters, but Debonair eventually joined CLAMP canon when she appeared in Tsubasa Chronicles. We know how ineffective Alcyone can be, but the other two might become a real problem.
Comments