The episode began with Professor Croix providing Modern Magic to the students, introducing them Ley Line Router and Magitronic Tablet which amazed all but Diana who was indifferent toward them. Upon being asked by Akko, Croix confirmed that she's the one who pioneered Magitronics.
Curious about the new professor, Diana went to the Luna Nova Library to examine her background in the graduation register logs. Ursula approached Diana, who remarked on what she has learned. Ursula provided her own personal feedback about Professor Croix, which made Diana speculate the two being friends when they went to Luna Nova together. Ursula denied this and defensively claimed that what she said was just secondhand knowledge, before abruptly leaving with the remark that she was too busy as a "regular" teacher. Suspicious of this reaction, Diana searched the register logs for Ursula. Meanwhile, Ursula correctly deduced that Croix was after the revived Claiomh Solais.
At the Cafeteria, Akko waxed about how great Professor Croix was. Lotte found a profile of Croix in the newspaper detailing the professor's accomplishments, which revealed that she went to the academy when Chariot was attending it. Akko excitedly speculated that they were rivals, which was denied by Professor Finnelan and Nelson, who have overheard the conversation. They both state that Croix was a hardworking student who got great marks in school and showed promise, while Chariot neglected her studies and wasted her natural talent on a silly entertainment show, becoming an embarrassment to witches. Finnelan lamented the fact that Croix turned out no better in her perspective for developing Magitronics before being interrupted by the two students whom she caught holding a Magitronic Tablet during their lunch break. Using the opportunity to slip away, Akko visited Croix and asked her about Chariot. She was elated when Croix spoke highly of her, and revealed her intentions to find Chariot. Croix offered to help locate Chariot with her Magitronic devices if Akko could provide something connected to her. Akko promised to bring Chariot's Staff, the Shiny Rod, to Croix's laboratory in the New Moon Tower for analysis.
Concerned about Croix's intentions of returning to Luna Nova, Ursula went to check up on Akko. However, at red team's dorm room, she found Lotte who told her that Akko had gone to the New Moon Tower with the Shiny Rod at Croix's request. She immediately realized that Akko was in danger and rushed to the tower, much to Lotte's confusion.
A customized Sorcery Units guided Akko to the recently established laboratory within New Moon Towet for Croix to work on her projects. Welcoming the Japanese witch-in-training, she was about to reach Shiny Rod as the latter presented it to her only to hesitate at the last moments; for some reasons, the flashback of Chariot holding the Rod in the same manner as Akko did implored the Modern Magic professor to have the Japanese witch-in-training to place it into the scanner on her behalf instead. The result of the scanner's analysis was in; Shiny Rod was empowered by the wielder's spiritual and emotional energy, leading to Croix inquired Akko whether the Rod reacted to her emotions. Akko stated that it could be the case despite puzzled by the new piece of information. Without giving her a chance to respond, Croix then rendered Akko unconscious in order to scan her emotions and memories to find out how and why the Rod answered to her. As her computer showcased Akko's emotional pattern and memories, one of the laboratory's security cameras caught the image of Ursula sneaking in, much to Croix's pleasant surprise.
Ascending the stairs, Ursula was soon ambushed by New Moon Tower's defenses Croix unleashed upon her; enormous animated stone statues modeled after Roman soldiers of old, carved reliefs shaped after mythological beasts which magically brought to life as actual creatures made of stone, and a swarm of Sorcery Units. With some efforts, Ursula — as Chariot — fought past through them all while unveiling combat bodysuit underneath her uniform and unleashing everything she got, causing her hair to revert to its original red color. As soon as she was about to reach the steel door leading fo the same chamber Croix and Akko were in however, tendrils made of Pixels pulled her inside.
Returning to her feet, Chariot confronted Croix as the latter remarked the former being as sharp as ever despite hiding her true power for a decade. Here, it's revealed that Chariot and Croix had become bitter enemies because of the latter sought Grand Triskellion for her own agenda in addition of being so selfish she didn't take others' well-being into account. After mocking Chariot for being a shadow of her former self nonetheless, Croix pragmatically left the still unconscious Akko in her rival's care, failing in finding anything worthwhile in the brunette. As Croix left her lab, Chariot swore to protect Akko against her rival's evil machinations.
When Akko finally awakened, she found herself in Ursula's room expected by Ursula herself. It was when Ursula revealed about the Cosmic Tree Yggdrasil, the source of all magic, and how its presence in the world faded, leaving only its branches which became known as Ley Lines — the same topic Diana reviewed in her notes as they spoke. There's a way to bring it back to the world, a seed of creation known as Grand Triskellion sealed away by Nine Olde Witches in Arcturus Forest to ensure its preservation. The means to undo the seal was by using Claiomh Solais — Shiny Rod itself — in conjunction of Seven Words of Arcturus. Simlly knowing the Words were insufficient for the wielder or Claiomh Solais must believe in them with complete conviction in their heart. At this point, Akko had unlocked three of the Words thus only four left. Ursula stated that she's already familiar with all except the Seventh and Final one.
Upon these revelations, Akko surmised that the reason Chariot disappeared was in order to search the last one — a reality which not far from truth as Ursula knew it (she hasn't yet to reveal her true identity to Akko and stuck at that part for some reasons). Believing that she would finally meet Chariot again if she succeeded, Akko passionately declared her intentions to finish what her idol had started.
The appearance of the Shooting Star in the newspaper is a running gag.
When Diana is reading Croix's profile in the student album, the name Salem Saberhagen can be seen to the left.
When Croix was probing Akko's mind, there are flashes between old scenes of Chariot's magic show interspaced with a new one about Akko as a child trying to ride a broom.
The advance cut for this episode's preview trailer was the first to not end with Akko saying "So thrilling and exciting! (ドッキドキのワックワク！,Dokkidoki no wakkuwaku!?)" Instead, the quotation is one of Chariot's from this episode, "What have you done to Akko?!"
Similarly, the preview trailer of "Cavendish" ends with Diana saying "Goodbye, Luna Nova. (さようならルーナノヴァ。,Sayonara, Luna Nova.?)" Previews for episodes 20-22 similarly end in such a way.
Though thankfully tamer in comparison, some viewers quick to find the scene where Croix embraces Akko as she knocks her unconscious in order to probe her mind as unsettling as infamous "purification scene" (the scene revolving Ragyō's interaction with Satsuki while taking a bath together) in Kill la Kill, another Studio Trigger production aimed for older audience.
At the scene where Lotte being oblivious to danger Akko put herself in by visiting Croix while bringing in Shiny Rod, one can see the excerpt of the book she reads that started with a line that says, "A long time ago in a foreign lan far, far away...." This is a nod to opening static blue text of Star Wars that says, "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...."
The title of the episode arguably alludes 1981 British historical sports drama film Chariots of Fire.[1][2]
This episode takes place in November, along with "New Age Magic", as stated in the chronicles book.[3][4]
Errors/Goofs
Chariot loses her hat and hair tie and discards her skirt and glasses in the process of her ascent to Croix's lab, but she has them when Akko awakens. It's plausible that she took her time recovering them while bringing Akko back to her room.
Croix leaves her lab while Chariot is still inside.
