Episode 7 (Anime)

Reversi (両極往来者（リバーシ), Ryōkyoku ōrai-sha (ribāshi)) is the seventh episode of the Reign of the Seven Spellblades (Anime) series.

Synopsis
Oliver and friends attend their first broomriding class. Meanwhile, Pete discovers something unexpected about himself.

Summary
Four months after the disappearance of Darius, Esmeralda gathers Frances, Enrico, Demitrio, Baldia and Vanessa, stating that they can assume Darius is dead. Since its likely that he got himself killed in the labyrinth, someone must have killed him. However Vanessa thinks that only the six of them, along with Garland and Theodore may be able to kill him. Theodore reveals that he is also there and notes that this is a high praise for him. Vanessa asks if anyone had something to do with Darius death, but they all remain silent. Vanessa wonders if somehow some student did it and Esmeralda states that nothing would change, but the student would regret his actions.

Pete feels hot and wakes up. He then realizes that he now has a female body. Oliver wakes up hearing him screaming, but Pete tells him to stay away. During the day, Pete acts weird and stays away from his friends. Michela sees Stacy and greets her, but Stacy ignores her. Michela explains this was Stacy, a relative of hers and her attendant, Fay, but she has been keeping her distance since school started.

Their teacher, Dustin Hedges, arrives and explains that today he will be teaching them on how to ride a broomstick. He takes them to the broomhouse, where he reveals that the broomsticks are living creatures and they won't let anyone ride them, and tells the student to go find a partner. Oliver has brought his own broom. Several brooms surround Nanao, liking her mana, but she sees a lonely broom in the corner. Dustin warns her that's a bucking broom, and it can hurt her if she isn't careful. Nanao approaches it and as the broom starts to move, she feels its like her trusty steed, which only allows its true master to ride it. The broom then calms down. Nanao tells it that it won't force it, but wants it to know that she likes it. The broom then accepts her and she rides it. Dustin is surprised as he tried many times to tame that broom. Oliver is sure that is the same broom his mother once flew.

Everyone finds a broom, except Pete and Guy. Next they have alchemy, but its with a substitude teacher, making Katie wonder if Darius is okay. Michela explains that she heard Darius went missing in the labyrinth, although its hard to believe. Guy heard it was infighting between teachers or some mage that had grudge against Kimberly. Theodore then shows up, wondering which is the truth. Michela is surprised to see her father, and wonders where has he been and tells him to apologize to Nanao as he brought her here and disappeared. Theodore apologizes, but explains he guessed that Michela will take care of Nanao. Theodore then excuses himself, stating that he has a class to teach and reveals that he will be their alchemy teacher for a while.

During Alchemy class, he asks if someone had read his book "Journey to the East". Stacy reveals she had read it up to Volume 12. Pete reveals he had read it too and has a question about a part in the second edition of Volume 25 that differs from the first printing. Theodore wonders if he had read all volumes and Pete confirms, that he done it three times. Theodore gets happy and promises to bring him a present from Azia.

Next, they have their first magical engineering class with Enrico Forghieri, and will be teaching them about magic tools and magical architecture. They will start with dismantling some finished products to understand how they work. He brings out four boxes and explains they are magical traps set to trigger in 60 minutes. They have different structure inside and if they don't manage to dismantle them in time and they are still touching them, they will lose their limbs. He suggest they split in groups and gives them 60 minutes.

They spend nearly 60 minutes, but are unable to dismantle them. As 10 seconds remain, Oliver tells everyone to take a safe distance. But in that moment, Pete feels pain and is unable to run. The trap activates with snakes coming out of it. Oliver then protects Pete, allowing himself to be bitten by the snakes. Seeing the snakes, Guy states that if he knew what it was, he wouldn't have been that scared. He pours some water on himself and as the snakes bite him, he uses Tonitrus on himself and knocks out the snakes. Enrico congratulates them on the progress and gives everyone a lollipop, stating its an antidote. Oliver tells Pete that he wants to talk to him in private, about his change.

The two go somewhere private and Oliver states that since he touched him, he knows that Pete switched sexes. Pete explains that he had a strange dream and then he changed sexes. Oliver explains its quite rare, but he is reversi, one who goes back and forth between sexes. He states its a gift and tells Pete to shoot a lightning spell, since Pete had trouble with it. Pete then uses Tonitrus, surprised at its power. Oliver explains that males and females have different elements they are best with. Oliver then feels someone's presence and Carlos Whitrow reveals herself. She explains that she didn't mean to overhear them, but guessed it was about time for this to happen as she felt it when they met in the labyrinth. Oliver had already told him most of what he needs to know, but if he wants to learn more, she gives him a letter with location and time.

In the evening, Pete and Oliver head to the location. They meet Alvin, who heard they are also heading towards the same event he is going. They go with him in the labyrinth towards the event. Alvin explains that he regularly checks all events in the labyrinth and should have notices the colosseum and Vera incidents sooner and apologizes. He has been trying to make this place safer, but it doesn't feel it changed at all in five years. Reaching the event, Alvin explains its a gathering for people with sex-based magical traits. Some people approach Oliver and Pete, and Oliver introduces themselves, but the people tell him that he doesn't need to be that formal as they don't have enemies here. A show then starts and Oliver sees his cousin who plays on a violin, while Carlos sings. Oliver tells Pete that Carlos has enchanted voice, but its not a charm ability, but something more simple and pure. Pete is still worried, but feels he will be able to deal with his new body. Oliver tells him that he can get his own room at school, but Pete doesn't want to stay alone and prefers staying with Oliver for now.

Characters

 * Esmeralda
 * Frances Gilchrist
 * Enrico Forghieri
 * Demitrio Aristides
 * Baldia Muwezicamili
 * Vanessa Aldiss
 * Theodore McFarlane
 * Pete Reston
 * Oliver Horn
 * Nanao Hibiya
 * Michela McFarlane
 * Katie Aalto
 * Guy Greenwood
 * Stacy Cornwallis
 * Fay Willock
 * Dustin Hedges
 * Carlos Whitrow
 * Alvin Godfrey
 * Gwyn Sherwood
 * Tullio Rossi

Light Novel-Anime Differences

 * Episodes 7 and 8 reorder the events of Volume 2 significantly. Chapter 1 of the novel opened with Tullio Rossi introducing himself to the Sword Roses and announcing the first-years' dueling tournament; Stacy Cornwallis and Fay Willock are introduced at this time. This episode instead introduces Cornwallis and Willock passing by the Sword Roses on their way to class, and Rossi in the stinger after Pete and Oliver attend the meeting of the sex-linked magic club. Rossi then proposes the tournament in the first half of episode 8.

Trivia

 * In previous episodes, the opening credit animation ended with a mask laying on the ground. Starting in this episode, the animation is extended by a few seconds, showing Oliver picking up his mask and putting it on.