Narrator: September 1st, 1939, on that fateful day, the powerful European dictatorship, known as The Germanian Empire, launched an unexpected invasion of a neighboring nation, Livonia. In response to this unprovoked attack, The Kingdom of Britannia, and The Republic of Thermidor spring into action. Soon, they declared war on Germania. However, they were unable to hold on their own against Germania's blitzkrieg tactics which combined air warfare and tank combat. Now, seemingly unstoppable, Germania has set its sites on other countries, including the tiny alpine state to itself, The Duchy of Eylstadt.

---

A squad of warplane was flying over the alpine mountain range. Basler speak to his squad member through radio speaker while he was operating his airplane.

Basler: Squad leader to all units, once we cross the mountain range ahead, we'll be Eylstadt airspace.

Squad member: Roger that. I can't believe we still haven't conquer such a tiny country yet. So much for the army and their blitzkrieg, huh? Sounds like they need our help.

Basler: Ha-ha!

Airplane Operator: Mayday! Mayday! Something's happening to our plane! Mayday!

"We're going down! Aaahhh!" behind the operator's voice, someone cried in desperate way. With a sound of explosion, their communication lost.

Basler: Let's check it out. Follow me.

Basler and his squad, total four warplane, veered its direction to the left.

---

Izetta and Finé was flying down along the body of the mountain.

Izetta: I can't believe it. It's really you, princess?

Finé: This great power of yours is truly amazing, Izetta. You saved my life. I'm forever grateful.

Izetta: Eh?! Don't say that Princess, I'm not worthy of your gratitude!

Finé lightly embraced Izetta, but soon she noticed they were in danger while Izetta lost herself, moved to tears. The edge of mountain cliff was looming in their way.

Finé: Izetta! Watch out!

Izetta: Huh? Ah?! Ugh...Please forgive me! I was so happy, so I guess I wasn't paying attention! ...Eh? Princess?!

Izetta got bewildered when she saw her right hand was drenched in full of blood, which came from Finé's wounded right arm.

Finé: Don't you worry. This is nothing compared to what could've happen to me. Considering alternative, this is for the best.

Izetta: Just hold on, 'kay? I'll find the place set us down!

Finé: Wait. Not here. Now, we should head over the mountain range. There's an Eylstadt fortress there.

Izetta looked up the sky, there were two airplanes flying over her. The planes were far above enough she and Finé may be unnoticed by the planes, however, from behind, suddenly other two planes flew so close to her right side, and outstripped her.

Izetta: Huh?! Eek!

Squad Member: That might be the enemy to down the transport plane---Am I seeing things, Captain?! It looks like, two girls flying on a rifle!

Basler: It sure does. Don't fire until I give the word.

Finé: Those are Germanian fighter planes...

Izetta: ...

---

Izetta was reminiscing things, Germanian army's symbol painted on the side of the track, soldiers burning a village, corpses piled up on the blood soaked ground, a blindfolded old man shot in his temple. Izetta had simply stood still, watching the living picture of Hell quietly.

---

Izetta opened her right hand, generate a light ball, or crystal thing on her hand. The emerald thing expanded, and then contracted in a rhythmical manner. After Izetta checked on its size or something, she closed her hand and the thing vanished.

Izetta: Princess, I can fight here. Hold on to me. This might hurt a little bit, but it's the best way for me to protect you!

Finé: Hang on. You weren't supposed to use your witch's power this recklessly.

Izetta: Um...I think my grandmother will be okay with it, only because I'm using to save someone I care about.

Finé: ...Thank you.

Izetta talked to her grandmother only in her mind.

Izetta: I'm sorry, grandmother...But I'm going disobey you. ...Here we go.

When Izetta touched, imbued again her magical power into the rifle, it suddenly became more animated, raised its speed matched to the warplanes around her.

Squad Member: Wait, [right?]?!

A panicked pilot shot its machine gun toward Izetta, though all of them didn't hit her.

Basler: I told you not to fire!

His voice couldn't reach his squad member, who continued to chase, shot Izetta.

Squad Member: 400 kilometers an hour?! That's insane!

Basler: Damn! Rookies! Control yourselves!

Izetta: Are you okay, Princess?! You're quiet!

Finé: ...Years ago, when I first saw you flying...I hope, one day I flight with you...I never thought it would be like this...

Izetta: Her breath is hot...not good...!

Izetta flew close to the snow covering ground, mountain sides, maneuvering to evade warplanes gunfire. She bit off a tip of her finger, made bleed herself, but when she splashed her blood on the snow ground, the spots where her blood touched glowed in red light.

Izetta: Come out!

Lances of icicles suddenly shot out from the snow ground, pierced one of the warplane chasing her, lost its balance and crushed into the mountain side.

Basler: No!

Squad Member: What the hell is she...?! A demon?!

He got totally dumbfounded, captured his vision by Izetta.

Baster: You're idiot! Pull up!

Squad Member: ...A witch?!

The second warplane smashed into the mountain hill. Remaining planes were two.

Basler: ...And I thought this was the age of science.

Izetta: ...I killed the pilot, didn't I?

Izetta began crying, buried her face to Finé's shoulder.

Finé: ...

Basler and the other pilot continued to chase Izetta.

Basler: I don't know what you are, little girl, but you are an enemy! Say good bye!

Basler shot his machine gun, but Izetta closely evaded the shot. Instead, she splashed her blood again to the steep side of the mountain. Lances made from an ice attacked Basler's plane. The attack Basler could evade with his ability, but his colleague couldn't, got direct hit of it on his plane.

Squad Member: Help me!

Basler: Damn it! No!

Izetta: Princess, look! I made it over the mountains! ...Eh?! My powers!

Soon Izetta came out of the mountain range, her rifle suddenly become inanimate, lost its flying power. Izetta and Finé began to fall. And the remaining one warplane, Basler's, from above her.

Izetta: I can't fly anymore!

Finé: I want you to point the rifle at that plane.

Izetta: Huh?!

Finé pulled the bolt handle of the rifle, charged an ammunition into its barrel.

Finé: Uggh...! You won't be the only one with blood your hands.

While Izetta struggling to aim with the rifle, Basler flew his plane straight to Izetta and Finé, caught them into his gun's scope, screaming.

Basler: Now, die!

The moment when Basler triggered his machine gun, Finé, too, pulled her trigger of the rifle. The rifle shot hit the center front of Basler's plane, and its recoiling force also helped them to evade from Basler's gunshots, but made them rolling in the air.

Izetta: Eek! ...Ah?! It's hot! So hot!

And, Izetta couldn't touch the barrel due to the heat of rifle's gunshot. Basler's warplanes propeller stopped its revolution, he could no more to chase them, drifted away in the air.

Basler: A witch? Impossible...

Somehow, Izetta regained her power a little, managed to land slowly on the forest ground nearby the mountain side.

---

Izetta: Princess! Wake up! Princess!

Finé didn't regain her consciousness despite Izetta called her repeatedly. Izetta ripped a hem of her clothes to improvise bandages to stop Finé's bleeding. Then, Izetta piggybacked Finé.

Izetta: She said there was a fortress around here. I have to find it bu myself.

Izetta opened upwardly her palm, checked the level of the magic. A green crystal vigorously pulsated a while before looked now so small and weak. Izetta glanced back to the rifle which had carried them to the place.

Izetta: Thanks for your help. But I'm afraid I can't use you anymore.

Izetta started to walk to find the fortress.

Izetta: You have to hung in there a little longer, Princess. I'll make sure you're safe.

---

Landsbruck, Capital of Eylstadt. The bedridden Archduke was lamenting the situation.

Rudolf: I never thought I'd see the day with a Landsbruck sky was darkened by barrage balloons. Sigh...so Fort Schweizen is fallen as well?

Schneider: Yes, I'm afraid so.

Rudolf: Hmm...The men there, those who tried to protect it?

Schneider: A suicide squad for bravely to bring down the Blegen Bridge. We told some men did managed to escaped [and saved?], but unfortunately, the number of survivors was relatively small.

Rudolf: Hmm...I expected the enemy would prioritize a strike on our capital city. But they came from the west.

Schneider: Damn those Germanians! They managed to get the best of us by sneaking into our weak spot! But! Their cowardly tactics did only serve to raise the morale of our troops for endless to keep fighting! We boosted our defensive lines on Coenenberg and fully prepared to hold the enemy back there! You'll show those spineless Germanians what it means to fight heart and soul of for one's country!

Sieghard: Unfortunately, morale isn't going to win a war against Germania, General Schneider.

Schneider: What did you say...?!

Rudolf: Sigh...Tell me, have you heard anything from Finé yet, Sieg?

Sieghard: Nothing...I wish I had news.

Bianca: ...

Rudolf: Hmm...

Rudolf quietly glanced the painting, hanging on the wall.

Sieghard: Sigh...and at this point, I'd even be willing to seek help from the Witch in the fairly tales...

Rudolf: The White Witch won't show up and save our country...even if the legend were true. Cough! Cough!

Rudolf began coughing badly. A doctor who stood by him stroked his back to alleviate his condition.

Schneider: Your excellency!

Doctor A: Everyone out! ...Quickly, give me my bag!

Nurse: Yes, sir!

---

Eylstadtian troops were trudging through ceder forest. Most of them were injured, and some of them use their comrade's shoulder to walk. They were retreating from the front line. Soldiers faces were all gloomy.

Soldier A: I can walk. Take your horse, Major.

Hans: No, you need to rest. The fortress may have fallen, but war's not over. I'm still counting on you to fight for Eylstadt...Eh?

Someone made noise in the bush aside the road. The Major stopped the troops and readied his gun, running to the place where the noise made.

Izetta: Excuse me. I, um...are, you Eylstadt's army by chance?

Hans: ...We are.

Izetta: Oh, thank goodness! Then you can help! The Princess! Please, she needs a doctor!

Hans: Princess Finé?!

---

Doctor B: Gently now. Boil some water for me!

A field doctor yelled to someone. The troops held a camp amid the forest.

Hans: ...She was captured by the Germanians and somehow managed to escape?

Izetta: Well, sort of...

Doctor B: I assume you must be Princess Finé's maid, is that right? I could use your help.

Izetta: What?! Yes?! Of course! Whatever you need!

---

In the tent, the doctor was treating Finé's wound.

Doctor B: The bullet struck upper right arm, but it past through cleanly. Did you bandage her up?

Izetta: I did. There were so much blood. I don't know...

Doctor B: Well, you did a nice job. It seems to be an only wound. So I'll disinfect and get it sewn up. ...This old scar on her side is terrible, though.

Izetta: ...I'm so sorry, my Princess...

Doctor B: Hmm? This looks like it happened long time ago. I doubt it's your fault?

Izetta swung her head strongly to deny doctor's comment.

Izetta: I...wish that wasn't.

Doctor B: Hmm?

---

Izetta recalled her memory, when she and Finé met first time at the pond.

Izetta: Hm?

Finé: Ahh...

Izetta: Ah?!

When little Izetta, floating in the air, noticed some other girl watching at her, she lost her concentration and fell into the pond. Little Finé, the other girl, tried to catch her at the edge of the boat, but she also fell with Izetta. Drothée followed them and jumped into the water. The pond was shallow so they didn't have to worry to be drowned, but they all drenched.

Izetta: ...Um, hello?

Finé: We are all wet! I'm sorry!

Finé apologized Izetta, but her face was all smiled to the little witch. Izetta stared back soundlessly at Finé, astounded, or be captured by her smile.

Finé: So, you must be a witch, right?!

Izetta: Er, no...

Finé: Come on! You can't fool me! Everyone says witch's a fairy tale, and that if they do exist, they're terrible people who sold their souls to the Devil or something! But I don't think that's true at all! I believe in the legend of the Weiss Hexe, the White Witch! Do you?!

Izetta: Aren't you...scared of me?

Finé: Nn-nh, no way. You look so pretty floating up the air earlier. I you can something wonderful like that, then it must mean that you are a good witch, right? What else can you---Achoo!

Izetta: Hey, um, maybe we should get out of the wa---A, achoo!

Finé: Hm?

Dorothée: Woff!

Finé and Izetta burst out laughter when Dorothée, little dog of Finé's, seemed mimicking them having sneezes.
After they were out from the pond, they took off their outfits and hung on the beam of the pier to dry them. Izetta and Finé, wearing only their inner clothes, laid on the pier, bathing sunlight.

Finé: I was walking to the forest with Dorothée, when I heard this beautiful sound coming from a water. I've never heard anything light---

"She was so pretty---I thought she must've been special. Royalty, maybe. Of course, at that time, I had no idea who she was or that she was an actual Princess...Before I met her, I've been traveling along with my grand mother for what seem like ages..." Izetta continued her reminiscence of her old age, before she met Finé. She and her grandmother were walking through deserted land, along with a donkey carrying their luggage.
"No one likes drifters, but because I still wasn't used to my power, we couldn't stay in one place. It wasn't safe. I never thought I'd have anyone else..."
In the night, Izetta and the grandmother sat at the front of bonfire. The grandmother began to talk to her granddaughter.

---

Grandmother: Izetta, my poor grandchild...I think it's quite probably you are the very last witch. All of the others are already dead. Listen well, you must never use your abilities in front of other people. Yours is the greatest power we've seen in generations of witches...It's a curse. This era is not ready for a power as strong as yours. It will only bring sorrow to you, and anyone around you...

---

"But, the princess loves seeing my abilities. It was the first time...that someone knew about my power inside was wonderful, not scary. She was the only one."
Young Izetta was practicing her bloom ride in the summer grass field, with Finé supporting her practice.
"I'd always hated my witch's power. And because of that, I'd grown to hate myself, too. But, thanks to the Princess, I became like the both of them...at least a little bit."

---

Doctor B: Don't worry. She's going to be just fine.

Izetta: Thank goodness.

Doctor B: Now, it's your turn.

Izetta: Huh? But I'm not injured at all.

Doctor B: Your legs are covered in lacerations.

Izetta: Hm? Urm...Oh, no! I'm okay!

Doctor B: And there's a cut on your index finger.

Izetta: Huh? Ah!

Doctor B: How about we clean you up a bit?

The field surgery began to treat Izetta, putting moistened cotton on her lacerated legs.

Doctor B: You must be starving after all that? We are short on supplies, but you should ask them something to eat.

Izetta: I'm not hungry! I can't eat 'em on the Princess is in pain!

Grumbling sound heard from Izetta's stomach. Her face was all flushed.

Doctor B: Just go, get some food, okay? I'm sure Princess Finé would want you to eat.

Izetta consistently shook her head.

Izetta: I'm fasting until she wakes up, you understand?!

Doctor B: It sounds to me like you really love the Princess, don't you? So, are you best friends?

Izetta: Of course not!

Doctor B: Hmm?

Izetta: I'm not worthy...as someone like her. ...Not long ago, she helped me. The Princess saved my life.

---

An owl cried in the night forest. Hans entered into the tent where the doctor treating injured soldiers. He coughed once before he opened the cloth which separates a room for Finé and Izetta in the tent.

Izetta: Yes?

Hans: Excuse me. [Get known?], Miss, you could probably [use?] some sleep as well.

Izetta: Nn-huh.

Izetta shook her head to decline Hans' offer. Hans noticed that Izetta also hadn't touched the ration sat at the side of Izetta.

Hans: ...She's in good hands right now. Princess Finé isn't just important to you, but the rest of us here as well. We'll do everything we can to protect her. She believes the well being of her people is every bit as important as her own happiness and safety. That's a very rare trait for someone who is born into noble blood. Honestly, I think I'd preferred if she finally realized her life is much more important than any of ours. But that's just another reason I'd happily sacrifice myself to make sure that she's kept safe. Our country needs her. We believe in her.

Izetta: ...She's your hope. Ah?! Princess Finé?

Finé: ...Izetta?

Izetta: You are awake...!

Hans: Doctor! She's conscious!

Finé smiled to Izetta, whose eyes filled with tears.

---

Small water pool made by melted snow was reflecting blue sunny sky. Eylstadtian troop was walking in the forest. Finé was carried on a stretcher.

Hans: There's an abundant margin, just a few more kilometers ahead. We can camp out there for the time being.

Finé: Sorry for all the trouble, Obermayer.

Hans: Don't be. As a defeated officer, I'm honestly glad I can be of use. Many died defending the fortress. But if we can assist you, their death will not be in vain.

---

The troop had arrived at small stone fortress. The place looked ruined, abandoned long time ago. Finé was sitting in the room of it.

Hans: I'm confident we should be safe here for now. Even though the building isn't easy on the eyes.

Finé: I'm not concerned about that. Be glad we have a roof over our heads. Are the Germanians still moving forward?

Hans: If I allowed guess, I'd say they've arrived at the Lach River by now. We knocked out all the bridges which should delay them until they find another way across.

Finé: Consequently, we are out of luck if we have a desire to across the river ourselves.

Hans: Yes. We can take a detour through the mountains to reconnect for the main road that way.

Finé: But that's a gamble...If Coenenberg falls, the enemy will almost surely use the main load to get to the capitol. We'll be completely cut off.

Hans: ...I apologize, Princess.

Finé: There's absolutely no need for you to be sorry. You did your best. It's only because of your assistance that I'm sitting here in front of you right now. So, really, it's a miracle I'm alive...

Hans: Hm?

Finé: But, there'll be no more miracles. We have to do the rest on our own, on Eylstadt.

---

Izetta, sitting outside near the fortress, was checking her power level with throbbing magical crystal. The crystal was large enough to make Izetta confident. A soldier appeared out from the ruined fortress, spoke to her.

Soldier B: Excuse me, the Princess asked for you.

Izetta: Huh?

---

Izetta: You want me to run away?! Why?!

Finé: This is Eylstadt's war. Not yours. I don't want you to get wrapped up in this. You already saved me from the Germanians and even broke your sacred vow to do so. You've done enough.

Izetta: I won't go!

Finé: I beg you. Please leave here, Izetta. I just realized...you're the only friend I've ever had who talked back to me despite my rank.

Izetta: I!...well, I am...urm...

Finé: That's why I want you to survive. Hmm...I'm being selfish.

Izetta: ...

Izetta was remembering the scene when Finé tried to protect her from the people fearing her magic. Little Finé was talking something to her, but the voice was inaudible.

Izetta: It's the same as it was before...Wait, Princess. I have a request...Just like you are to your people, will you be my hope?

---

Fallen airplane laid in the thick forest. Germanian soldiers, Berkman and Rickert were investing the scene.

Rickert: So far, the only bodies they've found are those of our own soldiers. Hmm...looks like the parachutes weren't deployed either, so where are the Princess and our specimen...?

Berkman: Perhaps, the girl actually the real thing.

Rickert: Wait, don't tell me you really think she's a witch?

Berkman: It's irrelevant. We have to go after her no matter what. Get in touch with the workshop.

Germanian Soldier: Major! Emergency message from HQ! A battle has begun on the plain in the south of Ruden Lake.

---

Izetta continued to declare her pledges to Finé.

Izetta: I promise, Princess. I will protect Eylstadt!

[End of the episode]

<Trailer>

Finé: Next time, "The Sword in the Heavens." Please, forgive me for not being strong enough.