As she lay down in the infirmary bed, Amy stared at the red glowing book transforming into a manga tome.
“To be honest,” Amy started in a deliberate light tone and a somewhat strained smile, “I don’t actually mind reading the chapter, since I will appear in action. Is that narcissistic? It feels narcissistic.”
[It is narcissistic.]
Amy chuckled, or at least tried because in a matter of seconds it turned into a pained cough. “Ouch…everything hurts.”
[Perhaps you should rest instead of—]
“No. I need to see it. Now.”
There were a few seconds of silence before a sigh left the book. [Very well. Chapter 152 is titled “Mysteries of Building B.” It covers events from a little before the inauguration ceremony, up to your discovery of the nightmare.]
The cover art featured Crow in the foreground, holding a golden key. Behind him stood Ash, Lyra, and Lain, along with the Academy building in the background, partially obscured shadows where Amy also barely appeared, her eyes shining.
[They keep making you look cool for some weird reason…]
“What do you mean? I am cool.”
Amy flipped to the first page and began reading.
The chapter started with Crow in Professor Vanheim’s office and the golden key in the desk between them.
“Have you made any progress?” Vanheim asked.
“None,” Crow said with a frown.
Vanheim stroked his beard with a similar frown before sighing. “Have you considered consulting Zayd Gaspard? His prophetic abilities might—”
“No,” Crow interrupted. “I’d rather explore other options first.”
Vanheim did not respond; he only shook his head lightly.
A small flashback provided context. It showed how, six months ago, Crow had discovered, while reading the Academy records of past students, evidence, or at least something suspicious, suggesting the Gaspards’ involvement in his father’s disappearance; apparently, his father, who used to be a student here, was given the same month of his disappearance additional classes with a Gaspard in divination due to his possible talent in the field.
“There’s a new student,” Crow said after a moment. “I believe she might have… special perceptive abilities.”
Vanheim’s eyebrows rose. “Ah. I think I know who you’re talking about.”
“Is she related to the Gaspards…?”
“From all I know, her relationship with them is nonexistent, which raises a lot of questions… I didn’t think you two knew each other.”
A few scenes depicted Crow’s internal debate over whether or not to tell the professor everything he knew about Amy. He trusted his teacher with his life, but he also didn’t want the man to pester him about his decision to trust that girl over Zayd. If Crow told him that his encounter with the new student had not only been a coincidence, but that she seemed to possess an ancient consciousness-bearing artifact, and that she’d appeared out of nowhere on the day the Onyx Star was closest to the world, then his teacher would surely start thinking of Crow as a fool.
“We don’t. I met her randomly some time ago.”
“I see… Just between us, a new Professor, Kaelen from the Gaspard family, has expressed… quite an interest in her.”
“What does he want?” Crow asked, narrowing his eyes.
“He calls it professional curiosity. Though I can’t remember him being this curious about another first-year.” Vanheim leaned forward. “But I’m concerned about the key. Are you really going to tell a girl you’ve barely met about something that might lead you to your father?”
Crow folded his arms. “I haven’t told her everything.”
“You haven’t decided how much to tell her yet. I know that look, Crow.” Vanheim sighed. “You’ve spent years looking for a clue like this. Be careful who you involve.”
“You suggested Zayd. I have reasons not to trust him. I don’t have any history with her.”
Vanheim shut his eyes for a moment.
“Just be careful. You don’t know her.”
“I know.”
Crow picked up the key and went to the door.
“Crow. What did I teach you about perception and reality?”
He stopped in the doorway to listen, without turning back.
“The simplest explanation is often correct… except when dealing with the past. Then, it’s never simple. Be careful, boy, and don’t let your father ruin your life more than he’s already done.”
After those words, Crow left the room.
Amy grimaced at the page. “Am I really that unreliable? Like, I get I’m suspicious and all, but does it genuinely have to be this exaggerated?”
[If you were in their position, you would be just as apprehensive. Perhaps even more considering your…attitude.]
“The hell are you talking about?”
[Nothing.]
“Whatever.” It was a hopeless endeavor to waste one’s breath on the nonsense of this insolent little book.
The manga scene shifted to Crow during the opening ceremony, reuniting with his friends, whom he had barely seen before and had no chance to really talk to since summer break. Ash was telling them about his summer with Crow at the orphanage. Lyra was giving out the presents she’d brought from home. Lain stood with them, mostly listening, though Amy caught a small smile in a couple of panels.
Then Iris Wright arrived. Amy knew her already: the tall girl with copper skin was Class S’s combat specialist, and she’d been in enough chapters to be familiar.
“Your family let you come back alive?” Crow asked, almost smiling.
“Father tried his best.” Iris moved a braid off her shoulder. “Three new weapons. That’s what he wanted me to learn over the break. I told him I could already beat most of the lower-grade instructors, but apparently that wasn’t the point.”
She looked over at Lain.
“Arkwright. You look well. Everything back home still unfrozen?”
Lain glanced at her. Iris apparently accepted that as an answer and went on talking.
Amy knew most of the things they brought up. The tournament from last year, the Northern Ruins, some fight at a bridge. They’d been whole arcs when she read them. To these people, they were things they’d done with their friends and could mention without explaining anything.
During the conversation, Crow was becoming more and more annoyed after Ash teased him a couple of times about his relationship with the blonde first-year student. So he ended up telling the group about Amy, their encounter in the teahouse, as well as everything he knew about her.
“How nosy. Doesn’t this guy know that it’s bad to gossip about others this much?” Amy commented with a frown.
The ceremony took up the next few pages. Crow watched Amy when she was introduced to Class S, and the artist kept showing where he was looking as she crossed the hall. He seemed to be thinking something over.
Then Amy reached the box with his thoughts: As expected, she’s in Class S. A potential seer not bound by Gaspard traditions. Perhaps…
“So that’s why he wanted to talk to me.” Amy frowned. “I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but still. He’s supposed to be the protagonist.”
[You’re being a little harsh. He was looking for help, and you appeared to be someone who could provide it.]
“What are you, his PR team?” Amy frowned, flipping to the next page.
The chapter continued, showing Crow’s decision to approach Amy about the key while talking about the deal he wanted to make, and then leaving when he sensed the headmistress’ eyes on the two of them.
What happened next were a boring lecture and his reunion with other second-year students, such as Vulty and Kain. And then, the somewhat polite but awkward greeting between him and Zayd; she still didn’t understand where the two of them stood.
Eventually, the first-years arrived, and class began, then ended. And finally he approached Amy and talked about their deal, then his companions butted in, annoying him a little bit, but eventually relenting.
What followed was the conversation on the balcony where Amy had agreed to help him.
When Amy had made her declaration about being able to find what the key opened, a panel showed Crow’s genuine surprise, quickly replaced by calculation. A small text box revealed his thoughts: Either she’s bluffing, or her power truly is remarkable. Either way, I will know soon.
The deal continued with Crow offering payment, but Amy declining and instead asking for a favor. Something that deeply unsettled Crow, though he eventually accepted. With the conversation over, both parties went their separate ways.
However, right before the scene changed, there was a full page of Amy walking home, accompanied by a single line of dialogue.
“Will I be able to stop it, I wonder…”
As she read this part, Amy could not contain her surprise. “I’m so fucking gorgeous…!”
[…is that really what you should be focusing on?]
Amy cleared her throat before shifting her attention to the line she’d spoken back then. “I didn’t expect the author to add this part. Am I in danger…?”
[Why would you be in danger? I’m confused.]
“What if they depict something where I break my character?”
[Then I’ll censor it before it reaches them.]
“You can do that?” Amy’s eyebrows rose, and her eyes opened slightly. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
[I can only do it when you haven’t exposed yourself directly to the characters or other similar situations. As for why I haven’t told you, it’s because I have a bad premonition that you’ll try to exploit this rule.]
“I would never!” she exclaimed even as she considered how to use this to her advantage.
[Forgive me, but I’d much rather trust a clown than you.]
“Why a clown…?”
[Don’t you have a chapter to finish?]
Amy stared at Libris in silence, still trying to understand why it had mentioned clowns specifically, but a few seconds later she gave up and returned her attention to the manga.
The scene shifted to the next day after class, with Crow and his companions waiting outside Building B. His fingers toyed with the golden key as his gaze scanned the Academy grounds.
This place feels… wrong, his internal monologue read. Has it always felt this way? Or am I simply more attuned to such things now?
Amy arrived shortly after. They talked briefly and then entered the building.
The following pages depicted their group splitting up to search, focusing briefly on Crow accepting Libris from Amy with a puzzled expression. His mind raced with thoughts, trying to discern the woman’s intentions.
It also showed Lain and Amy’s weird standoff as neither of the two moved their gazes from each other.
Lain’s silver eyes followed Amy’s every movement with her usual expressionless visage. A small text box captured her thoughts:
There’s something wrong here. The way she appeared so suddenly…so conveniently just when Crow needed her… I need to keep watch.
There was frost forming on Lain’s fingers. Amy had seen the artist do that before when Lain was anxious. In the next panel, she closed her hand and the little crystals disappeared before anyone noticed.
“And here I was wondering why she decided to approach me… What did I do to deserve this…?”
[Quite a lot—]
“You know, your snarky, quirky comments are getting old. Is your whole personality just that?”
[Yes, actually.]
“…” Amy sighed, something that she felt happened a lot lately. With a shake of her head, she once again returned her focus to the manga.
It was only after a long silence that someone finally spoke.
“Is there anything you need, Lain?” Amy asked bluntly.
Lain glanced away before looking back at her. She took a while to answer, and when she did, the words were tiny inside a small speech bubble.
“…can I come with you…?” Lain asked, after a big effort.
Amy seemed to think for a second before just nodding and walking away. Lain followed behind.
The manga perspective shifted again, this time showing Crow searching everywhere, and even talking to students, all without success.
Once the agreed-upon ten minutes were over, everyone returned except for two. Amy and Lain. Ash wasn’t bothered at all, and in fact, repeatedly reassured the concerned and mildly impatient Lyra, who kept imagining the worst possible outcomes.
Meanwhile, Crow just stared in silence at the book, a deep frown on its face. Why did she give it to me? he thought. Could it be that something is about to happen…?
And with those ominous words, the perspective switched to the last panel. Amy and Lain stared at the bloodied figure of a student held in ropes with some kind of cursed magic holding his organs in place.
[End of Chapter 152.]
Amy exhaled slowly. “Pretty accurate to what happened, though seeing it from Crow’s perspective is… interesting.”
[Ready for Chapter 153?]
Amy nodded. The pages changed to the next cover: Crow fighting one of the copies, his blade cutting through its distorted body. There were more monsters in the background, and a small panel at the bottom showed Amy and Lain in the dark, both looking determined.
“So dramatic.” Amy didn’t feel much like joking about this one.
She turned the page. Crow was still at the rendezvous point with Ash and Lyra, and he kept looking at the clock.
“Seventeen minutes late.”
“They might’ve found something,” Ash said, though he didn’t seem convinced himself.
“Could an assassin have attacked them on their way back?” Lyra added, her expression filled with fear. “Perhaps they found a demonic ritual and are currently trapped in a nightmare!”
Crow looked at the book again. He hadn’t stopped worrying about why she’d left it with him.
The key. The building. Something’s wrong with all of this, but what?
He looked up when two people approached. Amy and Lain, both looking perfectly calm.
“Lain! Where have you been? I was worried sick!” Lyra ran to her and hugged her. Lain hesitated before hugging her back.
“Find anything?” Amy asked.
Crow watched her for a moment. Something about her was bothering him.
“Not yet. You? You’re quite late.“
“We got lost. As you saw from our first encounter, I’m not the best with directions.”
“I see…” Crow narrowed his eyes, but eventually just nodded. “Then, have you found anything?”
“Nothing,” Lain answered, her voice as quiet as always.
Crow sighed before handing Libris to her. “Your book,” he said, extending it toward Amy. “I’m not sure it was of any help to me.”
Amy made no move to take it, her gaze sliding past the book as if it weren’t there.
The panels zoomed in on Crow’s eyes, narrowing with sudden suspicion. A small text box appeared: Why isn’t she taking it… Not even glancing at it… Is it possible that…
“Actually,” Crow said, sliding the book towards Lyra, who held it with a confused face, “I think we should check the east wing again. Lyra, would you come with me? Ash, stay with Amy and Lain.”
Amy was confused at the reasoning behind this, but Crow didn’t elaborate, and in the end she had no choice but to agree.
As Crow and Lyra moved down a hallway, he activated his Soul Sight—one of his abilities that allowed him to see higher planes. Looking back, he could see the auras around the two girls. The shapes were wrong. Amy’s and Lain’s both twisted in ways a living person’s shouldn’t.
“The girls who came back aren’t Amy and Lain.”
Lyra stared at him. “Are you sure?”
“She didn’t take her book. The real Amy wouldn’t have ignored it.” He lowered his voice further. “I checked with my Third Sight. Whatever they are, they’re not human.”
Then, after a pause, “I had a feeling, too.”
“This writing is ass…” Amy muttered at that last line. He’d just confirmed it with his ability. What did he need the intuition line for?
[You are miserable.]
Crow went back and asked ‘Amy’ to help him check a classroom. The next few panels followed them into an empty corridor. He waited until they were alone, then drew his sword and stabbed her in the back.
What came out of the wound was black. The thing’s face began to melt, and Amy watched the drawing of herself turn into something that barely looked human. By the next few panels, it had collapsed. Even as a puddle, it was still writhing.
Amy made a face at the page.
“He really just did it.”
[As I told you. He didn’t doubt himself for a second. Impressive, really.]
After that, Crow and Lyra told Ash what was happening and went for the fake Lain. That one fought back. It didn’t last long against all three of them, though, and soon Crow was looking down at another puddle of black ichor.
“Forbidden blood magic. Is the Blood Emperor involved?”
“We need the headmistress,” Lyra said. “This is too much for us.”
“Go find her. Ash and I will look for the real Amy and Lain.”
“What about everyone else in here?” Ash asked.
“Don’t assume they’re students just because they look like them. Any of them could be another copy.”
Lyra left, and Crow and Ash began searching. Some of the students they met were real. Others gave themselves away and attacked, leaving Crow and Ash with more creatures to kill.
“Another copy,” Ash said, looking down at what they’d just fought.
A screech came from further inside the building. Things were leaving the classrooms now, and none of them looked remotely like students. Apparently there was no point keeping the disguises after the boys had figured it out.
“They know we’ve noticed,” Crow said, drawing his sword as three of them approached.
Amy read through several pages of fighting. Crow and Ash were trying to get through the building, but more creatures kept coming. Some of the students ran. A few tried to help, which mostly left the boys with more people to worry about.
“Get out of here!” Crow shouted at a group from Class B. “We’ve got this. Go!”
Eventually the fight moved into a courtyard. Ash was using his enhanced strength to pull the creatures apart, while Crow cut down the ones coming at him. More kept leaving the building.
The next page returned to the nightmare. Lain was watching Amy. Her face didn’t show much, but the artist had drawn enough for Amy to tell she was worried and confused.
She talks about visions, but she knows her way around here. Has she been here before? She isn’t a Gaspard. How can her foresight be this good? As good as Zayd’s?
Amy went on reading Lain’s thoughts as they walked.
Crow needed a seer and she appeared. Just like that. There has to be more to her.
The rest was familiar. They ran from the monster and barely made it into the hidden passage. Then the manga put the two fights next to each other: Crow and Ash back-to-back in the courtyard, and Amy bleeding into the ritual channels while Lain held the creatures off.
Eventually, almost everything worked out. Crow managed to keep outside casualties to zero as he drew all the monsters’ attention on himself. Lain and Amy saved almost all of the sacrifices, with Amy falling unconscious at the end and Lain princess-carrying her. Right when the teachers and professional ability users arrived.
Nobody had died, except for one person.
[End of Chapter 153]
Amy closed the book with a frown.
[You did well, Amy.]
She leaned back against her pillow. Not responding.
The infirmary door eventually opened. A healer came in, a middle-aged woman with silver streaks in her dark hair.
“Miss Stake. How are you feeling?”
Amy tried to put the manga out of her mind long enough to answer.
“Fine.”
“So strong~,” the woman said with a chuckle, coming over to check on her.
Amy let her get on with it. She kept looking at Libris on the table, though it had already returned to its ordinary book form.
Twelve out of thirteen.
More than in the original. She knew that. Expecting to fix everything was stupid, and if she kept thinking about the one she hadn’t saved, what did that say about the twelve she had?
Then she remembered Elias’s face, and all of those perfectly reasonable thoughts became useless again.
The nurse took her time with the examination. Eventually, she finished and told Amy she’d be back shortly, leaving her alone with Libris.
[Shall we look at the readers’ reactions?]
“Do we have to?” Amy pulled up the blanket. “I’ve had enough people wondering what’s wrong with me.”
[What they think of you affects your power, Amy. It would help to know.]
Annoyingly, that was true. She could argue about it, but she was tired, and she would probably end up reading them anyway.
“Fine. Most liked, and any threads about me that matter. But if I say stop, you stop.”
[Of course.]
Light spread across the pages again, bringing new words with it.
[Displaying comments from chapters 152 and 153.]
[Ch.152]
MidnightReader “Will I be able to stop it, I wonder…” WHAT DOES AMY KNOW??? That line dropped like a bomb at the end! + The golden key subplot has been teased for like 20 chapters, and we’re getting somewhere. The Building B mystery feels genuinely creepy.
↳ 14k likes ⋅ 216 comments
KeyMaster42 ↪ replying to MidnightReader, I’ve been saying Building B was sus since the background details in chapter 87. Takahashi-sensei plays the long game with his foreshadowing.
↳ 378 likes ⋅ 16 comments
CrowStans4Life Can we talk about how Crow keeps using Amy while simultaneously not trusting her at all? Bro needs to make up his mind
↳ 982 likes ⋅ 157 comments
Psych000 ↪ replying to CrowStans4Life Classic Crow behavior though. Remember how he treated Lain when she first joined the group? That’s just his daddy issues taking hold.
↳ 453 likes ⋅ 15 comments
GoldenEyes Amy is such a breath of fresh air in this series. She’s mysterious but not in an annoying way, and her dynamic with the group is already so interesting.
↳ 876 likes ⋅ 94 comments
LoreHunter ↪ replying to GoldenEyes Her character design is gorgeous too. Those golden eyes against that dark character palette Takahashi-sensei uses? chef’s kiss.
↳ 328 likes ⋅ 13 comments
Skep101 ↪ replying to GoldenEyes I don’t know about her, she’s so sus. Even if her intentions might be good, she still seems antagonistic…
↳ 112 likes ⋅ 43 replies
Lolenhd ↪ replying to Skep101 Right? Even Vanheim is wondering about it. “Transparent to those who know how to look” - Crow is being played.
↳ 67 likes
ZaydFan2000 Everyone’s focused on Amy, but let’s not forget Zayd Gaspard. I miss my boy ;—;
↳ 1487 likes ⋅ 94 comments
PlotTheorist That last panel with Amy and Lain finding the student… chills literally down my spine. Takahashi-sensei never disappoints with the horror elements.
↳ 754 likes ⋅ 87 comments
Mangasucker ↪ replying to PlotTheorist Those thirteen blood marks are definitely some ritual. I’m betting it connects to the Forbidden Arts mentioned in the Library Arc.
↳ 312 likes ⋅ 7 comments
LainDefenseSquad Lain asking to come with Amy instead of staying with her usual group?? Character development.
↳ 708 likes ⋅ 76 comments
Charay ↪ replying to LainDefenseSquad Lain’s internal monologue about Amy being “not right” is so fascinating though. Her instincts are usually spot on.
↳ 287 likes
ForeshadowingExpert ↪ replying to Charay She clearly knows way more than she’s letting on. Calling it now - she’s seen the future somehow.
↳ 31 likes ⋅ 8 comments
VanheimFanclub Professor Vanheim proving once again why he’s the best character in this manga. “Be careful boy, don’t let your father ruin your life more than he’s already done” - OUCH.
↳ 1584 likes ⋅ 167 comments
KeyTheories Deep dive on the golden key: Old Kingdom artifact + “exists between realities” + Crow’s father disappearance = DIMENSIONAL PORTAL???
↳ 547 likes ⋅ 213 comments
BalconyScene That balcony conversation was the perfect setup for the whole Building B investigation.
↳ 501 likes ⋅ 58 comments
ShipperTrash ↪ replying to BalconyScene The lighting in that scene was gorgeous too. The artist is spoiling us.
↳ 203 likes
[ch.153]
SageFan426 Well, that was INTENSE. Takahashi-sensei really said “no brakes” this time. I’m still processing everything that happened in Building B. Thoughts?
↳ 8007 likes ⋅ 3438 comments
AcidRainDreamer ↪ replying to SageFan426 I cannot believe Takahashi-sensei didn’t just kill everyone like he used to. Was the rumor of their partner scolding them because they killed too much true? Also, the Elias death was brutal tho 😭 but holy shit Amy and Lain actually rescued almost everyone. In the rough draft leaks it seemed like Takahashi was setting up another typical “everyone dies” moment but then SWERVED US.
↳ 4954 likes ⋅ 902 replies
KingOfTheories ↪ replying to AcidRainDreamer I’m honestly shocked. Quest for Avalon never lets characters save people. Remember the Village Arc? The Temple Collapse? The fact that Crow managed to protect everyone and Amy and Lain saved 12/13 students, that’s huge for this manga. It’s like Takahashi is signaling a tonal shift.
↳ 1426 likes ⋅ 138 comments
NotLikeOtherMCs ↪ replying to KingOfTheories Exactly. And the contrast between Crow’s “eliminate the threats” approach versus Amy’s “save everyone” mission really highlights the changing dynamics. I love that she’s bringing a new energy to the story.
↳ 198 likes ⋅ 38 comments
EternalCynic ↪ replying to NotLikeOtherMCs Don’t get too excited. We’re still in the “Hope” part of Takahashi’s typical “Hope -> Despair -> Deeper Despair” cycle. These 12 students are probably just being saved for something worse later.
↳ 137 likes ⋅ 14 replies
CriticalReader21 ↪ replying to AcidRainDreamer Am I the only one who thinks this was WAY too convenient? New character shows up and suddenly the established grimdark tone changes? This feels like editorial interference or Takahashi trying to appeal to a wider audience.
↳ 29 likes ⋅ 8 replies
AestheticDoom ↪ replying to CriticalReader21 not everything is a conspiracy theory against your precious dark stories lmao. Maybe the author just wanted to try something different after 150+ chapters of complete misery? 🙄
↳ 83 likes
MangaOtaku88 ↪ replying to SageFan426 Crow’s “zero hesitation” moment when he stabbed fake Amy was the coldest shit I’ve ever seen in this manga. My man did not BLINK. Just “you’re not Amy” STAB 💀
↳ 1200 likes ⋅ 127 replies
CelestiaPrime ↪ replying to MangaOtaku88 He didn’t even question it lmaooo like “this girl I barely know is acting weird” immediately commits murder AND HE WAS RIGHT
↳ 678 likes ⋅ 97 replies
BloodiedSword ↪ replying to CelestiaPrime Bro has trust issues the size of the moon and I’m here for it 👏 Crow said “nah this ain’t my mysterious seer gf” and chose violence instantly
↳ 354 likes ⋅ 17 replies
CalmNinja ↪ replying to SageFan426 Anyone notice how Lain had warmed up so fast to Amy throughout these chapters? Like she says more to Amy in 2 chapters than she did to most other characters in 150+
↳ 798 likes ⋅ 87 replies
FrozenRose ↪ replying to CalmNinja That’s what I’m saying. Lain, the girl who can barely speak three words to people she’s known for years, voluntarily going with Amy and then fighting alongside her is huge, why are people not talking more about this?
↳ 431 likes ⋅ 17 replies
IceQueenLover ↪ replying to FrozenRose she literally carried amy’s unconscious body out of the collapsing nightmare and the panel where she’s looking down at amy with actual emotion on her face… i ship it your honor 😳
↳ 367 likes ⋅ 243 replies
ShipWars2023 ↪ replying to IceQueenLover Here we go again with people shipping characters who’ve known each other for two days.
↳ 29 likes ⋅ 88 replies
FrostSeeker ↪ replying to ShipWars2023 “shipping characters who’ve known each other for two days” my brother in christ Lain doesn’t HAVE friends besides like 3 people and she immediately latched onto Amy. That’s not normal Lain behavior
↳ 107 likes ⋅ 87 replies
CleverAnalysis ↪ replying to SageFan426 I think we need to talk about the massive revelation that Building B has been compromised for who knows how long? There are 13 fake students we know about, but what if there are more? The paranoia potential here is incredible.
↳ 654 likes ⋅ 42 replies
ConspiracyTracker ↪ replying to CleverAnalysis Holy shit you’re right. What if this is just the tip of the iceberg? How long has the Blood Emperor been infiltrating the Academy? How many “students” are actually imposters?
↳ 228 likes ⋅ 22 replies
ThatsN ↪ replying to SageFan426 Am I trippin or was Elias Varn never mentioned in the manga before? Feels like they created him just to kill him off
↳ 43 likes ⋅ 7 replies
MangaHistorian ↪ replying to ThatsN He was actually mentioned in ch 87 in the background during the tournament. Just a name drop though.
↳ 95 likes
SeriousFan101 ↪ replying to SageFan426 Can we discuss how Amy basically destroyed herself to save those students? The panel where she’s bleeding from her eyes while still trying to free more people? That’s the most hardcore thing I’ve seen from a new character.
↳ 723 likes ⋅ 54 replies
ProtagonistVibes ↪ replying to SeriousFan101 It changed my whole outlook on the character. I thought she was a villain, but she might genuinely be good.
↳ 392 likes
Realig ↪ replying to ProtagonistVibes Nah, she’s evil. Have you seen that face? I know that bitch is plotting something.
↳ -8 likes ⋅ 26 replies
CommonSense2023 ↪ replying to Realig She saved 12 lives while putting hers on the line. If that’s not heroic idk what is.
↳ 15 likes
GrangerThoughts ↪ replying to SageFan426 The contrast between Crow’s tactical approach (isolate threats, eliminate efficiently) vs Amy’s emotional one (save everyone even at personal cost) is such interesting character work. In terms of personality, we haven’t seen much of Amy, but in terms of actions, they’re like opposites but somehow complementary.
↳ 527 likes ⋅ 38 replies
TheoristSupreme ↪ replying to GrangerThoughts Takahashi loves his “opposing approaches that actually need each other” dynamic. Remember Ash and Mina’s whole arc? This feels like a new version of that with Crow and Amy.
↳ 219 likes ⋅ 28 replies
CryingInTheClub ↪ replying to SageFan426 no bc why am i sobbing at amy desperately trying to save elias even after everyone else escaped?? the way she REFUSED to leave him behind?? i can’t handle this emotionally 😭😭😭
↳ 612 likes ⋅ 27 replies
EmotionalDamage ↪ replying to CryingInTheClub LITERALLY SAME and then when the tentacle just…. i can’t even type it. Takahashi really said “you get to save almost everyone but watch this one die HORRIBLY”
↳ 341 likes
Matias45462 ↪ replying to EmotionalDamage god the way this fandom talks now makes me feel ancient. what happened to actual discussion instead of whatever this is
↳ -37 likes ⋅ 12 replies
D”ck27 ↪ replying to Matias45462 go back to the retirement home grandpa, let people enjoy things
↳ 127 likes ⋅ 8 replies
Thread: Controversial Opinion - Amy is BAD for this story
TruthTeller99 [Thread Starter] I’m probably going to get downvoted to hell but somebody needs to say it: Amy is RUINING the core essence of this manga. Quest for Avalon has ALWAYS been about the harsh reality that you can’t save everyone. The despair and tragedy are what make triumphs meaningful.
Now suddenly this random new girl shows up and saves 12 people? This completely undermines the established tone and themes of the story. It’s like Takahashi is catering to fans who complained the story was “too dark.”
And don’t get me started on how she’s already being set up as a love interest. The “mysterious girl with golden eyes” trope is SO overdone.
↳ 17 likes ⋅ 131 comments
FanSince2019 ↪ replying to TruthTeller99 dude it’s literally been 3 chapters with her, maybe wait before declaring she’s “ruined” a 150+ chapter manga? 💀
↳ 213 likes
RIPLogic ↪ replying to TruthTeller99 So your complaint is that… too many people survived? That’s honestly weird.
↳ 178 likes ⋅ 12 replies
TruthTeller99 ↪ replying to RIPLogic No, my complaint is that the core THEMES of the manga are being undermined. QfA has always shown that sacrifice is necessary, that you can’t save everyone. Now suddenly you can?
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LiteraryAnalysis ↪ replying to TruthTeller99 Have you considered that subverting expectations is the point? That the story might be evolving to explore what happens when someone REFUSES to accept the “you can’t save everyone” premise?
↳ 430 likes ⋅ 18 replies
NeverSatisfied ↪ replying to TruthTeller99 LMAO did we read the same chapters?? One kid still died horrifically, Amy almost killed herself trying, and Lain barely saved both of them. Yeah real happy sunshine outcome there.
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ShippingWars ↪ replying to TruthTeller99 “Don’t get me started on how she’s already being set up as a love interest” my brother in christ Crow STABBED HER DOPPELGANGER WITH ZERO HESITATION
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LogicalShipper ↪ replying to ShippingWars To be fair that’s basically Crow’s love language at this point
↳ 186 likes ⋅ 3 replies
Thread: Amy’s backstory predictions???
CharacterLover [Thread Starter] We still know almost nothing about Amy’s background! Where did she come from? What is her objective? And most importantly, what’s with the talking book?
Drop your theories below! Most creative one gets my free award :)
↳ 342 likes ⋅ 197 comments
WildGuess ↪ replying to CharacterLover I’m thinking she’s actually related to the royal bloodline somehow. I remember someone commenting that on an old thread. The golden eyes/hair are a dead giveaway - remember the ancient queen in the flashback from ch 120? same coloring.
↳ 87 likes
OutlandishTheory ↪ replying to CharacterLover The book is actually Amy from the future who went back in time to guide her past self and prevent some catastrophe BOOM
↳ 120 likes ⋅ 5 replies
ReasonablePerson ↪ replying to OutlandishTheory This makes zero sense but I’m upvoting for creativity
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GrassyField ↪ replying to CharacterLover no theories just here for the vibes.
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DeepLore ↪ replying to CharacterLover Realistically, I think she comes from one of the Outer Territories that were lost during the Cataclysm. That would explain why her prophetic abilities are different from the Gaspard tradition - they evolved separately.
↳ 102 likes ⋅ 17 replies
Theories on Amy’s Powers (Based on Chapter 152 and 153 revelations)
PowerShjfAnalyst [Thread started] THEORY THREAD: Amy’s powers explained after the Building B incident
- She doesn’t just “see” the future - she seems to physically navigate potential futures
- She has knowledge no first-year student should have about the building layout and academy situation
- The physical toll (bleeding eyes, collapse) suggests her power has serious drawbacks
- She seemed to know that the students were trapped before finding them
What do you all think? Is she more than just a seer?
↳ 1200 likes ⋅ 247 comments
MultipowerTheory ↪ replying to PowerShjfAnalyst I think she’s like Crow - multiple abilities that work together. Prophetic sight + some kind of fate navigation that lets her navigate the consequences of different choices.
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ShadowSage23 Anyone notice how Amy seemed to be conserving her strength until the ritual chamber? Then suddenly went all out? She knew exactly when to use her full power.
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AbilityHoarder ↪ replying to ShadowSage23 This suggests she has way more control than a typical first-year. Her power might be new to the Academy but not new to her.
↳ 295 likes ⋅ 4 replies
OutsideContext Wild theory but what if Amy has all those drawback because she was so far away from the book?
↳ 743 likes ⋅ 167 comments
MetaReader ↪ replying to OutsideContext There was a theory that said that the book is the main body, and honestly, it might actually be right
↳ 284 likes ⋅ 17 comments
Nerd Amy breaking the blood ritual requires specialized knowledge, so the ability she explained to Crow is most likely real. However, it doesn’t explain her leaving the book behind to Crow like if she knew exactly what was going to happen.
↳ 247 likes ⋅ 16 comments
TwoBooksTheory ↪ replying to Nerd I wonder if her book is her soul, or has her soul contained in it.
↳ 247 likes ⋅ 9 comments
EyeBleedingSymbolism Theory: The bleeding eyes aren’t just a physical toll - they’re symbolic of how her power works. She’s literally seeing through time until her body can’t take it anymore. I genuinely believe that she might be an irregular just like Crow and have an ability that permits her to gain more than one ability.
↳ 631 likes ⋅ 92 comments
LimitBreaker ↪ replying to EyeBleedingSymbolism Personally I just think it’s a single ability that tells her what to do. The further she “looks” into possible futures, the less focused it is so it doesn’t put as much strain on her body. But with the rituals, it was because they were so complex that she needed to overdrive her core.
↳ 218 likes ⋅ 12 comments
ClassSSecrets Amy hasn’t told anyone her full abilities - calling it now. That “finding what keys open” thing is just ONE aspect of what she can do.
↳ 587 likes ⋅ 84 comments
FutureTense ↪ replying to ClassSSecrets Agreed. Notice how she described her ability in the vaguest possible terms? She’s hiding something.
↳ 201 likes ⋅ 54 comments
ConsequenceTracker The 12/13 survival rate is unprecedented in this manga. Amy must be able to precisely calculate the outcome of her actions to achieve this.
↳ 529 likes ⋅ 76 comments
Arminmybeloved Does anyone else think Amy might have some kind of time manipulation ability? Not full control, but maybe she can slow her perception of time to make better decisions? She looked so adaptable during all the impostor stuff
↳ 487 likes ⋅ 95 comments
CostAnalysis Power scaling theory: Amy’s abilities are S-tier but with S-tier drawbacks. She’s not overpowered because using her full strength nearly killed her. Balanced character design. Good job Takahashi-san
↳ 452 likes ⋅ 63 comments
Thread: POWERSCALING AFTER CH 153
PowerLevelGuy [Thread Starter] Updated power rankings after the Building B short-arc:
S-TIER: headmistress, teachers, Crow, Vanheim A-TIER: Zayd, Iris, Ash, Lain, Amy (maybe higher?) B-TIER: Lyra, Kaelen, other Class S seniors C-TIER: Tallen, Alba, Stella, other Class S firsties D-TIER: Normal students
Thoughts?
↳ 989 likes ⋅ 1430 comments
ActuallyPays Attention ↪ replying to PowerLevelGuy Amy in A-Tier? Are you HIGH? She literally collapsed after one fight and needed to be carried out. Her attack power is non-existent.
↳ 76 likes ⋅ 88 replies
PowerLevelGuy ↪ replying to ActuallyPaysAttention Her prophetic power is A-tier. She literally broke a blood magic ritual that was supposed to be unbreakable. Attack power isn’t everything.
↳ 393 likes ⋅ 84 comments
FactsOnly ↪ replying to PowerLevelGuy Bump Lain up to S-tier. She was fighting those monsters non-stop while also breaking the ritual and carrying Amy out.
↳ 427 likes ⋅ 54 comments
NoContextMemes ↪ replying to PowerLevelGuy Elias Varn: D-tier from dead. 💀
↳ 880 likes ⋅ 17 replies
CommonDecency ↪ replying to NoContextMemes Seriously? Making jokes about a kid who died horrifically? You are horrible.
↳ -15 likes ⋅ 84 comments
NoContextMemes ↪ replying to CommonDecency Touch grass lol.
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“That’s enough,” Amy looked away. She felt dizzy. “I don’t want to read any more.”
[Are you alright?]
The light faded from the pages.
“Fine. Just tired.” She rubbed the sweat off her forehead and put her hands down before Libris could see them shaking.
[You don’t look fine.]
“Well, what did you expect?” Amy tried to laugh, with very little success.
“People talking about me like that… it’s weird. That’s all.” She should have stopped at tired; the more she said, the less convincing she sounded.
[Was it what they said about—]
“I’m fine, Libris.” She stopped, then tried again more quietly. “Really. I just need some rest.”
She lay back against the pillows and tried to breathe normally. She could still hear the sound it had made. Still see the blood. They could joke about Elias because he’d been a drawing to them. He’d been right in front of her, and now he was dead.
Would it happen to her, too? Death? What would it be like? Would she just stop existing….?
[If you want to talk about what happened—]
“What’s there to talk about?” Amy said, looking at the ceiling so Libris wouldn’t see her eyes. “Twelve got out. One didn’t. That’s better than losing everyone.”
[It is. That doesn’t mean his death shouldn’t hurt you.]
She swallowed. Her throat felt tight.
“We saved most of them. People liked the chapter. My ability gets stronger. That’s good, isn’t it? We did what we needed to.”
Libris didn’t answer for a while.
[Get some rest, Amy.]
She nodded and rolled onto her side, facing away from the table. She wiped her eyes while she moved, hoping it wasn’t obvious. “…I haven’t forgotten about your favour…tell me later…the status, too…” she murmured.
[Sure.]
As she closed her eyes, Elias’s head—whole, before the tentacle—appeared in her mind. She hadn’t even known him. Had never spoken to him. But she’d tried to save him, and failed.
Twelve out of thirteen. Better than none.
She kept telling herself that, but she didn’t feel any better. She could close her eyes and still see what had happened to him.
Better than none. Remember…better than none.