Description

It Didn't Have to Be Magic... Frieren spends four years tutoring Fern while translating an ancient grimoire concerning immortality. Heiter becomes bed-ridden and Fern trains nonstop, wanting Heiter to see her become a mage. She reveals after the deaths of her parents Heiter stopped her committing suicide, so to repay him she needs to prove she can survive on her own. Frieren’s translation reveals nothing about life extension, which Heiter already knew; it was just an excuse to have Frieren train Fern. Heiter dies shortly afterwards so Fern joins Frieren on her travels but is confused by the effort Frieren puts into learning spells, even silly ones. In a certain village they find a statue of Himmel that Frieren is compelled to decorate with Blue Moon Weed, a flower from Himmel’s village. As it is extinct they spend 6 months searching for even a single flower so Frieren can save it. Fern is frustrated Frieren could be helping the world yet wastes years on seemingly pointless tasks. Frieren reveals Himmel inspired her spell collecting to prevent the apathy caused by her lifespan. Eventually they find the flower in a Seed-Rat nest, allowing Frieren to create a field of them in Himmel’s memory. Fern realizes it is important to have a passion, be it for magic or anything else.