English Dub Review: Vermeil in Gold: “Questions”

 

Overview: Alto (Mike Haimoto) and Vermeil (Monica Rial) take on the immensely powerful mage in Iolite (Scott Gibbs), who proves to be more than a match for them. 

Our Take: This episode cuts to the chase of Iolite’s true identity, getting right to the nitty and gritty of him attacking Alto and Vermeil without unnecessarily prolonging it. Him being the perfect score student, having specialized life magic sets up his prestige as a threatening platinum square. Even more impressive is how Alto manages to inflict damage, but thankfully, the young prodigy actually proves to be a legitimate challenge by defeating him, despite his and Vermeil’s onslaught with her getting knocked unconscious. Their all-out-attack is a short but sweet visually dynamic blast. 

The “Mage of Beginnings,” Fatema, who visited Alto in his dreams, comes about to halt the fight between Alto and Iolite. Her timing is more than a bit convenient in coming to his aid when his back is against the wall, revealing herself to ask if he will take on Vermeil despite her past transgressions. Fatema taking him into her memories of her past in Ortigia five hundred and fifty years ago cuts the pacing of the battle but is intriguing in seeing what horrific events led to her choosing to be sealed inside of the book Alto found her in.