I am very pleased to see this come out and that it was actually earlier than the release date! I am also happy that the buring doll fight was over extremely quickly instead of it being dragged out for half the episode. I also got a better insight of Morda's character. For some reason her appearance last episode irritated me and I can't quite figure out why. Her revealing outfit was something I found a bit garish. I think it was because she was adding more obstacle to the meeting of the the elf king and I got annoyed with that. I may be in the minority but I am not fond of the flying on a broomstick thing.
I really like seeing the other witches and that there seems to be a good number of male witches instead of it being over whelmingly female. I was most interested in seeing the culture and customs of the magic users what with there being gurus and apprentices under each guru. I also like how the magic users concentrate on nature. I really loved the decor and how it is very similar to Flora's mansion.
Summary courtesy of puella:
The girl says they'll have to call their "guru" (I'm going to use this word repeatedly but just like everything else, it's unconfirmed). Then all of a sudden, the rain comes. Schierke is amazed by that magical power, by the speed at which the weather was controlled. Farnese is curious, so Schierke explains to her that to change nature like that, you normally need a lengthy ceremony.
Of course, this was the work of the "guru" in question. He arrives, appraises the situation and concludes there's no problem. He calls each of the witches by their names, but I don't trust the text enough to write them at this point, so I'll just say that the girl is called something like "Kuka". He praises the three for their scouting, the job they were sent to do, but says he'll need to reprimand Molda later on for her actions.
I really liked this guy and his entrance and the fact that Schierke says that controlling the weather is not an easy feat to do makes his powers seem all the more impressive. Not sure yet how I feel about the other three witches but I am glad they were not hostile or prejudice toward Schierke like some people on here had feared. They seemed to take her in stride for the most part. I can't wait to know more about them. Based off of the way the other witches exasperation toward Morda it seem she is kind of annoying to them. I am interested in knowing more about the guru apprentice relationship in the context of magic user culture.
The guy explains that he came too late to welcome them (calling them his guests) and apologizes for the trouble they were caused by his delay.
Schierke asks if he knew they'd come here, and he replies that yes, the King of Elves had predicted it. Schierke thinks to herself "then... like I thought the boy is...". The guy gives more details: "The King predicted that a small whirlwind blown from this island would come back as a giant storm, wrapping numerous fates within it." They're all thinking... "Ahh... the small whirlwind..."
I was happy beyond measure that guts and companies arrival was foretold and that the magic users were expecting them and that the elf king predicted their arrival. This for me laid a lot of the fears I had to rest because I was afraid that there would be conflict of getting accepted on the island and getting to the elf king to help them. But being described (at least in this translation) as the guests and that the guru came there specifically to fetch them makes me really happy about this rolling along.

It will be interested in hearing the truth about the moonlight boy being revealed to everyone (and dispelling Schierke's misconceptions) and hopefully getting more insight about him.
I'm really also really glad that Puck has been given a some significance for having a hand in everything (much to Ivalera's chagrin)

He then exchanges a silent stare with Guts, because that's what cool guys do when they meet. As he leads them, he tells them to rest well from their journey and that he'll tell the elf king about them.
I really like this look the guru gave Guts, but I was not too sure that Guts had looked back at him. either way I loved that this was the first time the guru bothered to open his eyes.
Schierke explains that they're together because of some mysterious karma, and that the goal of their journey... Then Kuka says "is to bring her sanity back?" but Schierke continues "is to find a peaceful land for the cursed woman". Kuka says that now that she thinks of it, she's heard that the King of the Flower Storm can get deep inside somebody's mind using a "gallery/corridor of dreams", and so that it might be possible to cure Casca. Schierke says "really?!" and Guts smiles. Which in turn makes Farnese look worried/troubled.
The witches comment that they're really great, having crossed the ocean during such a world-shaking time only to get such a small wish.
I loved hearing about how the elf king might be able to cure Casca because up until now it has been really just speculation on how he might do it, and I am glad that it is something he can do by delving into her mind/soul. This has concerned me for a while because I imagined it as being a somewhat violent or intrusive process that would rip a person's mind to sanity by force and be a traumatic even violating experience for the person involved. But this "gallery/corridor of dreams" process seems altogether more...gentle? It seems like a more peaceful and calm way than what I imagined because I assumed her restoration would involve a hellish bombardment of the rape flooding her mind and forcing her to face it against her will. But something I am hoping for when/if this how it will go down that we get to see some more intimate insight into Casca the person, since she has been absent for so long. I'm really hungry for some Casca focus. I also hope this method involves her consent to come back rather it being forced on her.
On side not I wonder if Casca might sense what is about to happen to her and become afraid instinctively of the elf king, since he will be drawing her out of the solace of her current state. Casca has been shown to react fearfully whenever some external stimulate remind her of her ore deal and she has flash backs of it?
I noticed that Farnese was a little worried of Casca coming back, I hope there isn't too much drama over this. It is honestly my not favorite plot development.

They also tell Schierke that since she's a witch, she must have noticed that great change. The "guru" comments and says they call it the "Great Astral World Something". Again, we'll know once we have the Japanese version. He then goes on to say it's what the one called the Falcon of Light provoked by attacking the Forests of Spiritual Trees all over the world. Everyone in the group is flabbergasted to hear that (and you should be as well). "Falcon of Light?! Forests of Spiritual Trees? What are you talking about?"
holy crap...I can't wait to hear more on this!
They wonder what the witches are doing and are told that they're practicing to probe the Od by grooming tree sprouts. Schierke says she's familiar with it. She used to do it often, although she had no friends. Kuka says she'll introduce them later.
I thought this was sweet. I love the prospect of Schierke having people to relate to and having friends. I also wonder how they will be with someone like Farnese who is late to the magic user game age wise.
Molda disagrees, calling it a boring village. She says that even if they practice their skills ardently, in the end they'll still be confined to the island. She thinks they're "rotting" in there. Kuka takes issue with that, saying researching nature is the true duty of a witch. Molda doesn't care and wants to know about the outside world. They bicker.
I'm not sure how I feel about this character yet, but it is obvious that she is probably going to go with Guts and company when they eventually leave. I just don't know if I care for her personality yet. Somehow I don't trust her not to be some what troublesome.
Side not, but i am not liking how pale Casca is looking in these panels. She is as pale as everyone else right now, and her skin tone was such a unique physical characteristic of hers.