Episode 1 (Anime)

Ceremony (入学式(セレモニー), Nyūgakushiki (seremonī)) is the first episode of the Reign of the Seven Spellblades (Anime) series.

Synopsis
New student Oliver arrives at Kimberly Magic Academy, a house of learning where 20% of the students don't make it out in one piece.

Summary
At Kimberly Magic Academy, 20% of the students who enrol there, end up being "consumed by the spell" before they graduate.

Oliver is a new student at Kimberly Magic Academy. On the day of the entrance ceremony, while heading towards the academy, a flower states that he looks quite nervous and he should relax, no matter what terrible future awaits him. Oliver wonders if the flower says that to every new student. He then sees a girl in front on him, Katie, worried about the "terrible future". Another student, Guy, tells them to not worry what the pride plants say, and explain that they absorb magic particles from the ground and those around the academy develop quite nasty personalities. Katie is happy to hear that, noting that she doesn't know much about magical plants, but loves magical fauna. Michela warns another student, Pete, to watch where he is walking as he almost stepped on Madam's stem and may have received quite the insult. The flower gets offended and approaches another student, Nanao, noting how strangely she is dressed. The other students all get surprised too, noting that she is a samurai.

Reaching the academy, Guy is impressed to see a parade of magical fauna. He sees a dragon he had never seen before and Oliver explains its a fafnir. Guy then sees that Katie doesn't look so happy, even though she loves magical fauna and she explains that there is a troll marching with them, which are kind creatures and don't deserve this. She and Guy then argue if the trolls are good or bad, but Pete tells them to stop as he can't focus on his reading. Oliver tells them that they should talk later, after they have learned each other's names. Katie agrees and prepares to introduce herself, however from the crowd, a student casts Iaas on her. Suddenly her legs start moving on its own and she starts running towards the parade and towards the troll. Realizing its magic, the rest run after her. Two dogs attack the troll, but he easily defeats them. The magic dispels as Katie reaches the troll and she stops. The troll prepares to attack her, but Nanao yells at him to stop. As Katie is unable to move, Nanao then prepares to fight the troll. The rest arrive and Michela uses a spell to distract the troll, but it has no effect. The group wonders on what to do and Oliver tells them to use a wind spell over the troll. As there is no time, the rest agree and cast Impetus. Oliver then uses Tibia, changing the magic and making it create a noise that sounds like a dragon's roar. Hearing it, the troll turns around to look for the dragon. Using the moment, Nanao's hair turns white and she strikes the troll. She is unable to cut it, but knocks it out. Oliver recognizes her color change as Innocent Color. Nanao then thanks them for the help.

Before the entrance ceremony starts, Oliver realizes that Nanao didn't had a plan when she faced the troll. Nanao confirms, noting that her katana also didn't have a blade, so she was in quite the trouble. Oliver doesn't really understand her, but recalls that Innocent Color is a crystal-like hair through which magic particles flow easily, which also signifies powerful mana circulation within the body.

Luther tells the students to keep quiet and invites the headmistress to the podium. The headmistress Esmeralda then teleports to the podium. She apologizes for the parade incident, noting that the troll has been captured. Esmeralda explains that the academy is a place where the students will learn for seven years and it values two things: freedom and results, which in other words means that the students' lives are at their own hands. Only 80% of the students graduate. The other 20% get permanently crippled when their magic goes out of control, go missing when a summon drags them back with it, or go mad and die after attempting to kill fellow students. Esmeralda then asks the students if they have some question and Nanao then states that if your head hurts, you can cure it by rubbing a particular spot in circular motion. Esmeralda wonders if that is a question, but Nanao reveals that Esmeralda seems in pain and that is just some advice. Esmeralda ignores it and proceeds with the ceremony, explaining that the welcome banquet is next and the students are free to talk among themselves. She uses a spell, causing the students to float and flips up and down, revealing that there were tables and chairs at the ceiling. Older students also join the banquet and start talking with the freshmen.

Oliver and the other five students from earlier gather and decide to introduce themselves. Michela introduces her as the eldest daughter of McFarlane family, a dignified and proud clan that live in Yelgland since ancient times. Guy had guessed she is McFarlane and asks if her family has a curse and all have curly ringlets, however Michela reveals that the hairstyle is a symbol of their family. Next is Katie, who reveals that she is an exchange student from Farnland. She likes magical fauna and thanks everyone for saving her. Next is Guy, who reveals he is from a family with a long magical farmers history, and he knows a lot about magical plants. Pete's introduction is short, revealing that his parents are nonmagical and his family doesn't have a long history. Michela realizes he enrolled as an ordinary, noting its hard to get one of those slots. Oliver recognizes the book Pete is reading and explains he had read it quite a few times. Oliver is next, who explains that his family has been magical since his grandfather's days and he have cousins who are older students at Kimberly. The last one is Nanao, who explains that she is from a samurai family from Yamatsu. She was about to be killed in a war, but a passing mage saved her. Introducing himself as McFarlane, he invited her here. Michela guesses that must have been her father, who is also a part-time lecturer at Kimberly, but she didn't knew he went that far to look for students. Pete guesses that she also used a ordinary slot like him, but Nanao explains he didn't take any exams or anything. Michela reveals that each teacher can recommend one student and her father probably recommender her. Done with the introductions, they proceed to eat and Nanao prepares to eat the whole roast beef. Seeing that, the rest decide to teach her some manners and Oliver cuts the meat and serve it to everyone.

Oliver and Pete end up being roommates. Oliver gets up early in the morning and decides to check the academy while it still quiet. While outside, a voice wonders why he is out early, revealing that she is a covert operative sent by Gwyn, and has been tasked to watch over him until he settles. Oliver asks her for her name and she introduces herself as Teresa Carste. Oliver proceeds checking the academy and ends up seeing Nanao taking bath in the fountain. Seeing that, he quickly cast a spell creating a curtain around the fountain. He scolds her for bathing there and that everyone could see her, but Nanao explains that she is purifying herself from the blood during her last war. Nanao realizes she forgot to bring anything to dry herself. Oliver then gives her his mantle. Oliver notes to himself that Nanao is strange and innocent, but has a blood smell she can't get rid off.

Characters

 * Oliver Horn
 * Katie Aalto
 * Guy Greenwood
 * Pete Reston
 * Michela McFarlane
 * Nanao Hibiya
 * Richard Andrews
 * Luther Garland
 * Esmeralda
 * Teresa Carste

Light Novel-Anime Differences

 * Similar to the manga adaptation, the prologue of the light novel's first volume is skipped, and the story begins at the first day at Kimberly for Oliver and the rest of the future Sword Roses.