Episode 19: Friends at Kazalm
Summary:
Early one morning, Erin runs out to look at the beast-lords. She notices a caretaker holding the mute whistle, and wonders why the beast-lords here are different from the ones she’s seen before.
As Erin heads back inside, Yuuyan stumbles into her. She had apparently been searching for her and tells her to get ready quickly, for they are late to breakfast. Once there, Yuuyan apologizes for their tardiness and Karisa scolds her; however, Erin reveals she’s the reason why they’re late and also apologizes. Karisa sighs and tells her to be more careful, leaving the room. As they go to sit down, one of the boys directs them by saying, “this way princesses,” and Yuuyan points out the backward knot on his robe. He rhetorically asks whether that makes him unique. Yuuyan introduces him as Kashugan. She then proceeds to introduce the rest of the boys: across from them are Wooly with plain eyes and Urari with glasses; at the other table are Tyna who looks young with round eyes and Tamarin with puffy black hair, Chaman with unique bangs, Pance with a chunky face and nose, and Hanuka with lightning-like marks underneath his eyes. Erin then introduces herself and tries to recall all of their names, but fails. Yuuyan tells her not to sweat it since it’s expected it’ll take time to learn all their names.
Erin studies her food carefully and takes a bite out of a fruit called taichi. Tyna tries to stop her since she needed to peel the skin first, and Erin expresses its bitterness and tries to wash it away with her drink; unfortunately, she again acted too quickly and her mouth is filled with sourness. Everyone else helplessly watches in horror. Urari says she has much to learn.
At the start of her first class, Erin anxiously awaits her teacher with the others. As he comes in and the others say “good morning,” she doesn’t react first enough and says it noticeably later. Everyone else chuckles at her innocence. The class then begins and he goes into bird anatomy. He points out how the beast-lords here can’t fly, and this arouses Erin’s curiosity. She stands up and starts having an in-depth question and answer session with the teacher. Urari stops her eventually, saying this isn’t a private lesson and that they’re not really learning about beast-lords right now. She sits back down apologetically.
Later, Yuuyan shows her around the school and Erin takes interest in the atrium’s library immediately. During one of her classes, it visibly distracts her; consequently, her teacher tells her to pay attention and then asks the class about summer bells. Erin impresses them with her knowledge and the instructor points out how these are things one learns in college.
Life at Kazalm is not without issues. Because of her upbringing, Erin has trouble following the rules and worries her classmates, who wonder where she is during lunchtime. They all search for her and catch the attention of the instructors. Eventually, Erin returns to face Esal with her peers and teachers and reveals she was at the library. Esal tells her to refrain from self-indulgent acts while living at Kazalm, and Erin apologizes. Just then, an older student dressed in blue, named Tomura, approaches Esal and tells her he wants to discuss something about “Lilan.” After she leaves to wait for him in her office, he tries to cheer her up. The other students apparently look up to him.
At night, Erin goes over a few rules to help keep herself in the loop of living communally. In the passing days, Erin increases her focus and becomes more serious in her studies. Yuuyan notices her change in behavior and becomes concerned. One night, she brings this up with the others while Nukku and Mokku are present. Back in her room, Erin dozes in and out while reading a book; luckily, Yuuyan appears and asks her to accompany her somewhere. She’s surprised by a welcome party with her classmates (and Nukku and Mokku) in the cafeteria. Though delighted, she eventually dozes off. Yuuyan tries to rouse her but Erin ends up talking in her sleep about the “rules” she must follow while at Kazalm.
Erin wakes up in her bed, realizing she missed most of the party. She tries to go and apologize to the others but Yuuyan tells her not to worry. Instead, she says they’re concerned about how hard she is pushing herself. She wonders if something is bothering her. Erin says how she has to act like everyone else, for, unlike them, she is different; she has no place in which to return, and must conform. Yuuyan brings up her Osaka-based dialect and Kashugan’s backward knot: everyone is different, and that’s okay. She says it’s human nature to be curious about someone that’s different, but people are who they are. Erin is touched by this, for she has been bothered about her origin ever since she was little. She feels, for the first time, that it is alright to be different. She thanks Yuuyan with tears, and causes her to cry, too. Yuuyan hopes the two of them will be able to smile like this all the time. Erin then tells her how she wants to thank everyone.
Early the next morning, Yuuyan wakes everyone up and guides them to Erin, who is preparing them a snack: honey and fruit juice. As she hands everyone their plates, she correctly says their names and apologizes for the night before. Everyone enjoys the snack and Erin tells them that the reason she got them up so early was to see the beast-lords resting in the field. They aren’t too impressed by seeing the beast-lords, since they see them everyday; however, they admire her passion for them [the beast-lords], and Pance dubs her “beast-lord gung-ho.” Yuuyan thinks the title suits her well.
Just then, the group notices Tomura from the fields below and exchange waves. They admire him for being a student that takes care of a baby beast-lord. A curious Erin watches him enter a large barn. She remembers her past encounter with the wild beast-lord and its baby in the mountains.
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My Thoughts:
We got introduced to many new minor characters this time. I thought this was a good episode in terms of showing Erin’s transition into a new lifestyle. They once again portray Erin at the top of the knowledge food chain, impressing even some of the instructors. Her interest in the beast-lords is also apparent. It looked like Erin was having problems fitting in at first, but I’m glad things seem to be working out now.
It was especially touching when she had her talk with Yuuyan on being different. When they flashed back to the past with young Erin it honestly struck a note for me. I didn’t notice it the first time I watched this episode, but the second time I felt bad for Erin on realizing that her origin had been a constant worry for her. I’m glad Yuuyan was able to dispel that emotion for Kazalm. Erin deserves to be able to grow up with a good education and friends. Speaking of which, this is the first time Erin has been around people her age since Ake. There was a bit of growth in terms of realizing she needs to be more aware of the people around her and their feelings, but I wonder how much more she’ll grow socially. She’s already an outgoing girl, but I’m talking more about social mannerisms. Doesn’t matter too much to me though. Erin’s personality is just fine as it is!
We also got officially introduced to Tomura-senpai, though I think Kashugan mentioned his name last episode. He seems like a well-respected student, and is even taking care of a baby beast-lord, which seems like a big deal. I wonder if there are any other students with blue clothes aside from him? Seeing Erin’s classmates all the time makes me wonder if they’re the main class of the school.
Next episode may be interesting; it’s titled, “The Beast-Lord Named Lilan.” Erin seems to get pretty close to it based on the preview shots. Perhaps the Mist People will have to step in now, since they did express concern on her getting close to the beast-lords. We’ll see. Check it out, next time, on Kemono no Souja Erin. Stay tuned!
Tags: anime, fantasy, heart-warming, Kemono no Souja Erin
