The Ashen Witch’s adventures continue in the fourth volume of Jougi Shiraishi’s Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina light novel series. Elaina picks up a new companion in this volume, and as a result actually has a destination in mind, rather than wandering from place to place.
This volume contains ten more chapters detailing Elaina’s adventures.
It’s a wonder how one witch can see so many fantastic places yet never settle down. Then again, when your average encounter involves biting into a poisonous apple, meeting a clumsy spy, rendezvousing with a flying dragon, finding a sunken city, exploring a frozen town, and more… you might find yourself reluctant to stay in one place, too. Be that as it may, this isn’t the case for everyone. In fact, there’s nothing Amnesia wants more than to go home, if only she could piece her memories back together…
I’m happy that Jougi Shiraishi got the opportunity to continue writing Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina. The series had been cancelled after three volumes, but the series performed well enough to merit the creation of a fourth volume. As such, this volume can be considered a comeback for the series, and it certainly turns out to be one heck of a comeback.
Of course we still have various stories from the places that Elaina travels to, but the main draw of this volume comes from the introduction of the character called Amnesia. Now, this may come as a surprise, but Amnesia suffers memory loss. Bet you would’ve never guessed that one, huh?
Her memories are erased whenever she sleeps, so every day she wakes up with no memories. She does have a journal, and that’s about the only thing that gives her hints about what happened to her previously.
As a result of that, multiple chapters in this volume focus on Elaina and Amnesia journeying together. It’s something of a rarity for Elaina to actually have a specific destination in mind, but that turns out to be the case as she accompanies Amnesia. Doesn’t mean that the two of them can’t stop by various places on their way to that destination, though.
As for how the two interact with each other; I absolutely adore their chemistry. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that I prefer Elaina x Amnesia over Elaina x Saya. Amnesia may forget each day, but it seems her affection towards Elaina still manages to grow bit by bit as they travel together. Elaina is resistant towards that at first, but she definitely softens up.
Whilst Amnesia’s story is definitely the main highlight of this volume, there are plenty of enjoyable events that Elaina experiences without Amnesia at her side. Said things include poison apples, a sunken city and a brief appearance from Saya. Also, there’s definitely an increase in the amount of yuri, particularly with several of the characters introduced here.
This might just be my favourite volume of Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina yet. That is courtesy of Amnesia’s story. There is a bit of darkness to be found in this volume, but I’d say most of the stories trend towards a lighter tone.
A superb volume from Jougi Shiraishi.
Rory Muses 