At the start of the episode, we see that Frieren accepted a job to help clean up for their upcoming festival. Of course, Frieren states she is doing it to help out, but we learn there is more to it. It’s interesting to learn the Heroes Party was here for a previous festival and Frieren missed the sunrise. Interestingly enough, Heiter was the most upset.
Most interesting is Himmel’s words in saying that she would enjoy the sunrise because she is that type of person. This is the source of Frieren wanting to help. Though of course Frieren is not a morning person. We do get to see how Fern’s relationship is with Frieren where it looks like she is taking care of her elderly mother at times. Of course, when Frieren sees the sunrise and how beautiful it is, she just says, “Its just a sunrise”. Though Fern herself is enamored by it, and that puts a smile on Frieren’s face. Himmel’s words lined up more like you wouldn’t enjoy the sunrise for the sunrise itself, but for being around others like Fern or Heiter who would love seeing it.
We get a brief flashback that brings some interesting characterization to Heiter. The gag of him being a corrupted priest is constant, but we can understand his beliefs as a priest. As he doesn’t care whether heaven exists or not. Still, the two choices are heaven existing or not. Isn’t it better to think it does exist? It is the common point that it is better to look at the glass as half full than half empty.
We see the jump in the present where Frieren & Fern meet up with Eisen, and Frieren asks if Eisen needs help. Interestingly enough, Eisen communicated with Heiter about the notes of Flamme “The Legendary Mage”. It all stems back to the funeral and how they felt bad for Frieren with her regret of not knowing Himmel better. As we can see with Frieren being considerate of Fern’s time, she has made notable improvements, and thus she is understanding humans better. However, Himmel is dead. Eisen & Heiter being great guys and wanting to give Frieren an opportunity to communicate with Himmel since Flamme’s notes talked about conversing with the dead.
Eisen points out something interesting in that Frieren was Flamme’s best student. We see a flashback in which Flamme summarized that Frieren would have regrets about not being able to get to know people better. Perhaps there is a wish from her wanting to be closer to her student?
The transition is beautifully animated, where we see the sapling in the past turn into a huge tree. We see Frieren finds Flamme’s notes, where it says on the northernmost continent there is a place called Aureole where souls rest. Flamme was able to communicate with her friends that she fought alongside. It is in the Northern Continent of Ende, which was the location of the Demon King’s castle. We have a final destination for Frieren’s new journey, and it will essentially parallel the journey she made with Himmel’s party when they journeyed to take down the Demon King himself.
As they leave together and Frieren falls asleep, there is a very particular conversation between Fern & Eisen. Eisen is asking if Frieren is a good teacher. Fern, of course, would be confused with how Frieren acts. Of course, remember how Frieren was back then, and the subtle changes are noticeable. Back then we see that Frieren assumes that she and Eisen would be on equal understanding because they live longer lives than humans. Eisen saw clear as day that Frieren never understood what relationships meant despite traveling with the party. Eisen called Frieren a good master because she is taking the steps to understand how relationships will go, but of course, for Frieren she is only starting to understand them.
This episode finished adapting Volume 1 by covering chapters 6 and 7. As well as chapter 8 in Volume 2, the visual improvements in chapter 6’s sunrise are a beauty. Plus, the passage of time moments have a few anime originals sprinkled in, which really shows the love the staff has for this anime. In chapter 7, the entire flashback where Frieren talks to Flamme is anime original before she examines Flamme’s notes. There are a few jokes that were cut, but I think it is better that way with how the episode flows.