“The Footsteps That Stalk the Witches”
What They Say:
The world is rules by a diversity of inhuman beings, who persecuted humans and drove them to near-extinction. One day, the forest guardian Golem meets a human girl. This is a chronicle of a journey that would bind a member of the dying “human” clan to the forest guardian Golem, as father and daughter.
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
As the group continues traveling through Osuna Desert, Father begins to have doubts they will find any remnants of settlements on the edge of the wastelands, despite what rumors may have told them otherwise, but he still has hope they will find some survivors. After setting up camp and laying the children down to bed, the girls talk of what happened to the human race, with Uzoi telling Somali they were probably scattered due to war, but she knows little else, which only makes the human even sadder since she doesn’t know anything about her own race. But as the girls have their own conversation, Haitora and Father discuss the interaction with their own charges, with the infected man thanking his companion for giving him the courage to stay with Uzoi, and yet wishes he could live until she grows up. However as he express this jealousy of not being able to living longer, the Golem then declares he too has a shortened existence, which is why he is to determined to find other humans before his time is up.
Although he is shocked by this statement, the man confesses he does not know of any nearby towns, but does acknowledge there is a village heading west from the desert which collects information from all over the world, and it from there they may find a new lead. Only then does the human ask why Golem stays with Somali, and though he does admit there are various issues in traveling with this child, such as endless curiosity which causes her to wander away and a weak immune system, all the problems are minor for Father as long as she remains in good health. Haitora then admits she is a lucky girl, for while humans are scarce and hunted, she has found a well-meaning guardian who will protect her so she can sleep safely at night and smile throughout the day. And while neither can protect their children until the end of their respective journeys, Father does solemnly state in escorting her to their next destination, a part of him does feel lighter.
In Summary:
After the sudden revelation of the last episode, it is refreshing to have a relaxing moment where the father figures can elaborate on the meaning behind their journeys, all as we smile at their revealing answers. But what was most encouraging was how the two men began to share a common bond wanting to stay by their children’s side, all while knowing neither may survive the trip and thus leave them alone once again. And yet even within this sadness, it seems that the previous emotionless Golem now has learned what is like to care for someone else, although he may never openly admit he has such unnecessary feelings.
Grade: A+
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
