The Ancient Magus' Bride is coming back after more than five years, and fans are re-exploring major questions Season 1 left unanswered. For example, does Chise die in The Ancient Magus' Bride?
The anime makes it clear from early on that Chise Hatori is part of a vulnerable species, which explains her supernatural misfortunes and ill health.
It was always implied that she doesn't have too much time left, but could she survive Season 2 and beyond?
Spoiler Warning: There are manga spoilers below!
RELATED: The Best Fantasy Anime You Should Watch
Why Is Chise Ill in The Ancient Magus' Bride?
Chise might look like a regular human, but we find out early on that she is, in fact, a Sleigh Beggy, which explains her long-term poor constitution.
These rare humans have a natural affinity for the supernatural, attracting the fae and other similar entities.
Sleigh Beggies can absorb a larger quantity of magic than most as well as generate their own. This makes them much sought-after by those who want to use their powers as a weapon.
But in the world of The Ancient Magus' Bride, magic comes at a cost. Sleigh Beggies have significantly shortened lifespans due to their bodies' inability to handle large amounts of magic in the long run.
At the start of the anime, Chise would frequently fall ill due to her inability to control her magic, and she would often stay asleep for days after exerting herself too much.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: The Best Romance Anime With a Female Lead
Will Chise Die in The Ancient Magus' Bride?
While The Ancient Magus' Bride manga is still ongoing -- and Chise is still around -- some fans are worried that the story will end with her death.
To make matters even more complicated, Chise is infected with the Dragon's Curse on top of her Sleigh Beggy abilities.
This changes one of her human arms into a monstrous one and shortens her lifespan to no more than a year.
This curse, however, turns out to be less of a death sentence. The reason for that? Another curse.
Later in the story, Chise also contracts a curse from Joseph, a sorcerer fused with a supernatural being known as Cartaphilous.
This is essentially an immortality curse that can't be undone based on what we know so far.
The two curses end up counterbalancing each other. The Dragon's Curse makes Chise strong and enhances her abilities while the Immortality Curse prevents her powers from killing her prematurely.
At this point, it isn't entirely clear if the Immortality Curse makes Chise an actual immortal.
She's definitely doing better health-wise, but the fact that she no longer exerts herself as much might be part of the reason for her physical improvement.
The consensus seems to be that the Dragon Curse might still kill Chise eventually, but while the Immortality Curse holds, she has more of a normal lifespan to look forward to.
Of course, we have to watch Season 2 to see if this will continue to be the case!
Get the latest news and trends direct to your feed by following us on Twitter @epicstreamanime or on Facebook.
READ NEXT: The Best Supernatural Romance Anime You Should Watch