Chapter 10 is the tenth chapter of the Little Witch Academia manga series adaptation illustrated by Keisuke Satō.
Overview[]
The chapter picks up immediately where the last chapter left off, with Andrew and Akko running away from Arcas after encountering it during Akko's search for the Fountain of Polaris. Professor Ursula saves the two by the using the Suspension Spell. After being saved Akko finds the Fountain of Polaris.
Summary[]
Picking up from where the previous chapter left off, Andrew drags Akko with him as they flee from the polar bear-like guardian beast, which is none other than Arcas himself, all while sarcastically remarked how "amazing" Luna Nova Academy is until the two stumble upon a broken staircase. With so little time to figure out the way to go upstairs, the two are forced to improvise where Andrew hoists Akko upwards before dangerously jumping over Arcas with the beast's snout as a footing, displaying a remarkable acrobatic feat in doing so. The chase continues at the upper floors where the floor underneath their feet collapsing under their weight, resulting the two hanging for their dear lives. Hilariously, whereas Andrew is hanging on the ledge of the building, Akko does the same on the hem of Andrew's pants instead, threaten to pull it off under her own weight. Realizing what happened, the embarrassed Akko cried out that she didn't mean to do that, which certainly doesn't help their situation as Andrew knows it — the angry Arcas lunges towards them in the middle of their argument, unwittingly causing three of them plummeting to the ground far below. Fortunately, Ursula appears and magically conjures magical bubbles around them each to slow their descent. As this happens, Ursula reverted the color of her hair, allowing the giant bear to recognize her as a friend.
Some time afterwards, the newly awakened Akko is startled upon realizing that she somehow sat on top of Andrew. Entering the Fountain's entrance nearby with the young Hanbridge on her side, they walk through a staircase leading to a stone fountain in the middle of a space-like dimension. Recognizing it as the Fountain of Polaris she sought, Akko pleads to the Fountain to bestow her the magic of stars. But instead of granting her wish, the fountain shows the Japanese witch-in-training Chariot's past: Like her, Chariot sought the magic of stars within the Fountain of Polaris out of frustration over her shortcomings in magic, but the Fountain disappeared before her eyes because she was not yet worthy at the time. Unwilling to give up, Chariot takes her studies more seriously, leading to her becoming a talented witch and subsequently, worthy enough for aforementioned power. The Fountain's montage about Chariot's past struggles concludes with her demonstrating her newfound power by transforming into a fiery giant bird accompanied by the emergence of what appeared to be young Alcor. It is when Akko and Andrew unexpectedly teleported back to the outside of the Fountain's entrance.
Just then, Ursula appears and tells Akko what actually happened; the fountain did appear, but when an incompetent witch goes there looking for that magic but is still unworthy to wield it, the fountain disappears before her eyes. Dismayed, Akko confessed that deep inside, she already knows that hard-working is necessary to become an accomplished witch who is acknowledged by everyone, something that Ursula agreed on. The Japanese witch-in-training then tearfully steeled her resolve to become better than she is now with Ursula returned the rod and advised her student to return to the fountain once she did.
On their way back home (but not before Ursula undo the magic mishap Akko inadvertently caused to Andrew under the condition where they must keep the fiasco a secret between them), Andrew and his father engage in a conversation about their recent visit at Luna Nova. Paul sighed over their seemingly pointless visit and mild annoyance over Frank's interest in witches. As much as he agrees with his father about both, Andrew nevertheless understands his best friend's passion thanks to Akko.
The chapter ends with Akko eating some food Lotte and Sucy brought for her from the feast only to be comically overwhelmed by its surprisingly spicy flavor which suspiciously had something to do with the Manbavaran, prompting the Finnish to bring her friend some water...
Order of appearances[]
| Characters | Tools | Spells | Creatures |
|---|---|---|---|
Manga & Anime Differences[]
- Akko attempts to use Shiny Rod against Arcas to no avail during the chase.
- The yellow steel ladder on the broken staircase is absent in manga, forcing Andrew to hoist Akko upstairs before evading Arcas' charging attack. While the young Hanbridge catches up with Akko by jumping over Arcas as with in the anime, he does so during Arcas' second attempt.
- The pattern of Andrew's boxers is changed into polka dot, likely for the sake of simplicity given that anime version being more intricate in design.
- As Akko acknowledges that she indeed must work had to become an accomplished witch, she remembered her interaction with Hope prior and therefore must live up the example she provided to him.
- Because Paul already mentioned the true reason of their visit to Luna Nova in Chapter 8, he expresses his mild annoyance over Frank's interest with witches instead.
- The scene where Ursula nervously offers to Andrew to undo the magic mishap that Akko inadvertently caused under the condition where the young Hanbridge must keep the mishap a secret between them was simplified and occurred in Andrew's brief flashback due to both page constraints and to add the epilogue of Lotte and Sucy share Akko some food from the feast.
Trivia[]
- Alongside the previous chapter, this chapter serves as manga adaptation of "The Fountain of Polaris".