Synopsis: Chagum travels to the Place of Celebration.

The snow is starting to melt and Torogai is returning to the cave. She notices that there wasn’t much snow that year. She realizes that the Nyunga Ro Im has passed away.

In the court, Gakai apologizes to Shuga for not being able to decipher all of the tomes in time for his departure. Shuga tells him that just finding a way to protect the Prince is enough. Shuga thanks Gakai and Gakai tells him that he will send a messenger on horseback if they find anything more.

Shuga visits the Second Empress. He tells her that he will save the Prince even if it kills him. The Second Empress tells him that she will pray for his success but he must return alive since Shuga has become indispensable to the Emperor.

An army has now gathered. The Emperor has sent them to assist Shuga.

Balsa, Tanda and Chagum are making preparations. Chagum stands up and goes outside without saying a word. Balsa and Tanda follow him. Torogai arrives on a donkey. She says that Chagum now has the face of a man. Balsa tells her that Chagum is twelve already. Torogai hands Chagum a fresh set of clothes since he has outgrown his. Balsa comments that Tanda had the same growth spurt when he was Chagum’s age. She says that up until then, he had been her cute little brother.

Torogai gives Balsa a dagger as she requested. Chagum comes out wearing his new clothes. Balsa gives him the dagger as a gift. She says that the weight of the sword is the weight of life. It can either mean one’s life, or it can mean one’s death. She tells Chagum that when he draws the blade, he must be prepared to entrust his life to it. Balsa says that it’s a Kanbal saying. It is spoken during a coming-of-age ritual where a father gives his son a sword. Chagum thanks Balsa then puts the dagger in his belt.

Chagum looks around and tells Balsa that he is called, as if he is being pulled by invisible threads. Torogai says that the egg is calling him. Balsa asks where he wants to go. Chagum points to a mountain. Torogai says that the Place of Celebration is one of the springs that feed the Aoyumi River as mentioned in the Official Founding History. Torogai then tells Chagum to lead them to that place.

They journey towards it and follow a river. They rest at some point. Torogai tells Balsa that she looks like a mother. She asks Balsa what she is going to do afterwards. She says staying in one place isn’t so bad and that having and raising a kid is fun. Balsa comments that Torogai talks as if she had one. Torogai tells her that she had three.

Chagum goes to Tanda and asks him if Balsa gave him an answer. Chagum tells him about what Tanda told Balsa at the Hunter’s Cave about the three of them living together. Tanda asks if Chagum was listening. Chagum nods. Chagum tells Tanda that he should just sleep with her. Tanda tells him not to say it as if it’d be that easy. He says that they both have a lot of baggages. Chagum asks if he’s talking about Balsa’s vow. Tanda says that they probably spent too much time together that it eventually led to something like drifting apart. He says that there was a time when love burned in his heart like a summer sun but over time it mellowed like an autumn breeze. Tanda tells Chagum that no matter how much time he spends dwelling over it, it isn’t something he can solve himself. Chagum asks if Tanda wants him to ask Balsa. Tanda then asks him when did he become so decisive.

Chagum says that he realized that even if he died, it would be alright since he would be leaving something behind. Ever since Balsa told him about Jiguro, he has been able to see it that way.

Shuga, the warriors and the Emperor’s army head to the Place of Celebration. Shuga tells the warriors that they can’t fight the spear-wielder because their interests are aligned. There is no longer a reason for them to fight and besides they should consider Chagum’s feelings. The warriors leave and a keeper comes to report to Shuga that the best archers have hidden themselves along the return path. He asks if it is what Shuga truly wished. Shuga replies that it’s the Emperor’s orders.

Balsa, Chagum, Tanda and Torogai continue to travel to the Place of Celebration. Like a son, he holds Balsa and Tanda’s hands. They arrive at a lake filled with sig salua blossoms. It is the Blue Lake. Chagum is asked if it is the Place of Celebration. He says he doesn’t know.

The Emperor’s army arrive and they surround Balsa and the others. Shuga and the warriors come forward. He tells Torogai that he has come as promised. Torogai tells him that it is reassuring he didn’t come empty-handed.

Shuga kneels to the Prince and the warriors follow. Shuga tells Chagum that they have come to assist him with the delivery of the water spirit and to welcome him back to the capital as the hero who saved the New Yogo Empire. Chagum asks Shuga if his brother has truly passed away. Shuga confirms it.

Balsa tells Shuga that they’ve had quite a turn, calling Chagum as the hero that will save Yogo. Shuga tells her that their interest is aligned with hers. He says that though they had disagreements in the past, the warriors no longer intend to bring any harm.

Torogai steps forward and comments that the star diviner speaks with confidence. She asks how the La Lunga can be destroyed. Shuga replies that the La Lunga’s weakness is fire. It was written on the secret tome that the Eight Warriors who served the Holy Founding Father repelled the La Lunga with it. Torogai says that it’s the opposing relationship between the spirits: Water is weaker than Earth, Earth is weaker than Fire. The La Lunga, which eats the water spirit’s egg, is an earth spirit. Torogai says she can’t believe she didn’t figure out something that simple. Tanda comments that the giant torches lit during the summer solstice festival must be a reminder of it.

Chagum suddenly runs to the lake and walks in the water. Balsa follows him. Shuga says that according to the tome, the water spirit will be born when the double moon rises on the night of the spring equinox. It is still far from nightfall however. He asks Torogai what is going on but she says she doesn’t know either.

Chagum stands in the middle of the lake. He picks up a blossom of the sig salua and drinks its nectar.

Meanwhile, in the court, Gakai realizes that he got something wrong. He asks his assistants how many more tablets are left. His assistants say there are eight. Gakai orders him to have it retrieved right away.

Balsa calls out to Chagum but he doesn’t respond. The birds from the surrounding forest fly away as if disturbed by something. Balsa notices the sig salua leaves moving in the water. She thinks it must be the La Lunga. Quickly, she goes towards Chagum.

Shuga orders the army to light the torches they have brought. The army surround the lake and the warriors rush around Chagum. Night has now fallen and they could see a nearly-invisible claw moving in the water. Shuga orders the army to attack. They shoot it with fire but nothing happens. The claw moves towards Chagum. Mon shoots the claw with fire and it falls but Balsa says that the La Lunga is still there. A claw reaches out to Chagum and Balsa knocks him away. The claw, however, goes after them. Chagum and Balsa are suddenly enveloped in a blue light. The claw tries to strike but it cannot penetrate the barrier. The blue ligght takes Chagum and Balsa away from the claw. Chagum runs away to the forest. Balsa follows him. Tanda gathers sig salua blossoms and follow too.

Back to the court, Gakai has retrieved all of the tablets. He finds out that the Blue Lake isn’t the Place of Celebration. He asks his assistant to have the tablet delivered to Shuga.

Anyway, I was awestruck upon seeing this episode. It was amazing how the Emperor’s army were animated in detail. Same as when they animated the scene during Chagum’s funeral.

Chagum telling Tanda to just sleep with Balsa was somehow weird. I mean Chagum’s always the little kid and now he’s talking about things like that. I wonder where he got it. As Tanda told him, when did he become so decisive.

I wonder why the Emperor assigned archers to hide in the return path. Are they going to shoot Balsa? The Emperor seems to be someone who makes rash descisions as is the case when he ordered Chagum to be assassinated.

Also, I realized that the episode about the summer solstice festival wasn’t a waste. Apart from setting some things to motion (as I wrote), the lighting of the giant torches foreshadow how the La Lunga can be repelled.

Lastly, the La Lunga finally arrives. The scene was so intense. I can’t wait to see how Balsa and the others will be able to protect Chagum. Unfortunately, subs are slow. I might have to watch the raws.

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