Episode 40: Falling into Shadow
Summary:
A bloodied Erin lands with Lilan on the Queen’s ship. Injured Sezans and civilians are scattered throughout the boat. Erin tearfully recalls the events that had just happened with Lilan ripping through all the Touda. She notices a child trapped by some rumble and a Sezan helps free her. One of the Queen’s attendants tells them she needs aid. The Sezan says he can tend to the child, and asks Erin to go help, since she’s from Kazalm. From the shore, Kiriku is in disbelief that an army of Touda was obliterated by a single beast-lord. He thinks his master will take advantage of this somehow. Damiya explains the Queen’s condition to Erin as she examines her; she explains that there is the possible case of internal bleeding inside the skull, but that she can’t say anything else without more time and a doctor. She then examines his minor injuries.
Meanwhile, Esal-sensei and the others prepare to send aid. The scene shifts back to the Queen’s boat, where Damiya marvels at how his pain has magically vanished. Erin proceeds to go back down and help the others, but Damiya questions her inability to help the Queen, since she’s an Arryo. They’re interrupted by Kiriku who tells Erin he’ll handle things here, and reminds her of Lilan. Damiya says she can go and Erin heads outside. She looks around for Ial and worries he’s been killed. She then spots him down below treating his men. Erin notices a wound on his arm, and he tells her not to worry. However, she warns him that a Touda’s fangs are poisonous and he needs an antidote. He still wishes her to tend to his men first, and Erin does that. She wonders if he was raised only to fight just like Touda, and whether he’ll ever be able to free himself of that fate. Erin then notices the Touda don’t have the signature crest of the Grand Duke.
Later, Kazalm’s ships arrive, but they didn’t bring the antidote. Erin says she’ll fly back to quickly get it, but Ial tells her to meet them at Sir Kazalm’s estate; they’re heading there for safety, in case the Grand Duke’s Touda attack again. Erin realizes they’ve mistakenly held the Grand Duke’s men responsible. Ial also recommends traveling on horse, since it’d be better to leave her beast-lord behind. As they turn to look at Lilan, Damiya is shown examining her from a safe distance.
Back at Kazalm, Erin updates Esal-sensei on the situation. Erin notices the blood on Lilan’s fur as she climbs down and recalls the horrible events; she fears its consequences. The Queen is treated at Sir Kazalm’s estate. Also, Erin arrives with the antidote and asks someone where Ial is. The man explains that he’s in a meeting for failing to protect the Queen. She requests that Ial be informed of her arrival after the meeting is over. Meanwhile, she treats the injured.
At the palace, Seimiya is informed of the Queen’s injuries and also of the Touda attack. She slightly faints on hearing this, though Nami catches her.
Ial is meanwhile criticized for the Sezans’ inability of defending the Queen, but he does not respond. He recalls Hagal’s words about how the Sezans would eventually become deficient if these same ignorant people stayed in power. Damiya eventually tells him he’ll receive his punishment later and dismisses him.
In the medical room, Erin tends to the wounded but many scream feverishly. This is replaced by a soothing calm when Erin decides to play the Bird of Dawn. Ial returns on the song’s end, while Kiriku hides himself from view. Ial inquires about his men, and she says they’ve all been treated. As she treats his wounds, Erin wonders why he didn’t come sooner. Ial claims he was occupied. Erin warns that his arm may not be usable again and wonders if he plans on throwing away what’s precious to him. Ial remembers when the Queen treated him during training, and responds how his arm was useless at a critical moment.
He then thanks her for saving them. Yet, Erin hopes he forgets what she did; Ial tells her this is impossible and that people will think she manipulated the beast-lord with Mist People magic. She wonders if he thinks that too, but Ial cannot answer definitely. However, he tells her if she did have the power, he wouldn’t be worried since she is a good-natured person. He apologizes that she had to save his life, since it probably won’t last much longer. Erin says his wounds aren’t life-threatening, but he explains that he’s talking about their country: the trunk supporting it will soon fall, and there is nothing the Sezans can do. He claims what really protected the country is not the Sezans or Grand Duke’s army, but the citizens’ love for the Queen. She is the reason they haven’t raided other countries because she hates war. However, the Holons and Wajyaku forget these beliefs, and will bring ruin. Erin then informs him that the attacking Touda weren’t from the Grand Duke, noting the absence of a crest.
He wonders how she would know something like that, and she explains her past: being raised in Ake, her mother’s execution, and her experience in the Queen’s quarter. She reveals everything except for Soyon controlling the Touda. Kiriku listens in on all of this. At the end, Ial sees Erin off, and she confidently remarks how there are many things he can still protect with his arm. He says that he’ll reinvestigate the attackers and won’t mention her mom to anyone; however, Erin tells him if he finds it necessary, then he should. Kiriku also watches her ride off and reflects on her past. When Ial thinks about their country’s conspiracy, he is unable to stop thinking about Erin, for she will undoubtedly be pulled in.
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My Thoughts:
To sum it up: Erin and Ial development, Damiya is planning how to use Erin to his advantage, and Kiriku appears sympathetic towards Erin. Lilan fortunately returned to normal, and based on her reaction to Erin’s distress, she considers what happened no big deal. When they show a beast-lord’s red eyes I wonder if that’s just to show they’re hellbent on killing Touda versus an actual physical change. Either way, words don’t reach them in that mode.
I wanted to slap Damiya when he made that remark to Erin about helping the Queen. Erin should have just left when he let out that small cry noting he was injured. The Holons’ unrealistic perspective was portrayed during their meeting with Ial. It’s unreasonable to think that mere guards could go up against all those Touda. Then again, people like pointing fingers.
More interesting was how no one seemed to know the characteristics of the Grand Duke’s Touda. This makes Erin’s experience highly relevant and useful for Ial’s investigation. Also, some things are making more sense now. The Touda are the ones stolen from their nest long ago (the case of stolen Touda eggs). It’s obvious Damiya is the ringleader, especially since the series portrays him as creepy and likes to cast him in shadow with villain music. I’m still not sure what he’s exactly trying to accomplish. Even if he eliminated the Queen, he wouldn’t be ruler; although, he could manipulate Seimiya. It still doesn’t make sense to me since he has influence over the current Queen.
I’m not sure what to really think of Ial and Erin. From their encounters, there could be some spark of attraction, but it could just be a brother type of bond. Tomura is a more realistic candidate, but Erin might just be into men that can fight and be rough; more than likely it hasn’t crossed her mind, since she is beast-lord gung-ho. I figure if you’re going after Erin, you have to be direct with her.
One last thing is Kiriku’s ninja skills. How did Ial not at least detect him in the final scene? In any case he appears sympathetic to Erin. When he was first introduced I immediately thought he’d be a obvious baddie, but now it’s uncertain. Will he play a factor when Damiya and Erin finally have their showdown? No idea, but the only way to find out is to keep watching! Stay tuned for the next episode of Kemono no Souja Erin: “The Truth About the Queen!”
Tags: anime, fantasy, heart-warming, Kemono no Souja Erin
