Witch Hat Atelier Spoilers until chapter 96
I’ve been thinking about Qifrey’s condition, and I have a theory on what could happen next/ a possible cure.
There are four named characters who are hosts of the silverwood, three of which are brimhats, and two are actively looking to improve the spell instead of cure it. Because of that, I doubt the plot would lead to Qifrey’s true end as a tree. Plus, if Coco can save him, it gives her hope that she can save her mother. A cure at the very least would be sought as soon as the main characters have the knowledge and means. The Tower of Tomes has been tried before, but may very well have an unexpected answer or provide a basis to find a spell from a different perspective than Olruggio’s rushed and desperate attempt years ago.
But what if the solution isn’t magical at all? We’ve met Ezrest, a king with an interest in medicine, a descendent of healer witches, who has recently had his city saved by witches and even bowed to them in view of his people. He also clearly has no issues bending the rules of the pact should he be asked to, and actually seems eager to find a way. He’s very intelligent, and his motives are currently… hazy at best, but it’s possible. Desperate times can call for desperate measures and Beldaruit is already in his care.
But motives aside, with his knowledge and skill, I wonder if the seed can be found and surgically removed while in a dormant state, would the roots die without harming Qifrey further? If the tree is responsible for his remaining sight, would he be trading blindness for happiness? If he’s already losing his sight, would it be worth it? Blindness likely means Qifrey could no longer practice magic, so the children would lose their protector and to an extent their professor. It’s a dangerous time for that, but if the situation is dire, maybe it could be Olruggio’s chance to take the 5th test and become the girls master instead.
If this happens it could also somehow provide an opportunity for the line between medicine amd magic to blur further if both are needed for a cure. Maybe there’s forbidden magic that could restore Qifrey’s sight once the silverwood is gone.
