Lovers ever run before the clock.

Lovers ever run before the clock. (恋人たちはいつも時計の前を走る., Koibito-tachi wa itsumo tokei o mae ni hashiru) is the 11th episode of the first season of The Ancient Magus Bride anime.

Synopsis
More of Lindel and Elias' past is revealed, and how after being attacked in a village trying to gain some food, their bond together strengthens. Chise also nearly completes her wand and Lindel displays his magical ability through song.

Summary
Elias sits on a chair by his fireplace as Silver walks past him, picks something up, and takes her leave. After Silver does this, Renfred's voice echoes in his head.

Back to Chise's side, Lindel continues telling her about his time with Elias, detailing the time he spent training him. Lindel noticed that Elias was a quick learner, but had trouble understanding humans.

On one occasion, Elias almost killed several villagers who attacked Lindel after he offered his shaman services to heal whoever needed his help in exchange for food. Unbeknownst to the two, a little girl with "the sight" could see Elias hiding in Lindel's shadow, who was healing her brother's fever. The little girl's outburst calling Elias a monster, causes the two to flee the village as the villagers attack them. One of the rocks thrown at them hits Lindel's face causing him to bleed and trigger Elias' wraith. Lindel manages to snap Elias out of his enraged state and use his magic to escape.

Within the Forest of the Gods, Lindel struggles to regain his balance to leave the place. Hence, Elias puts him over his shoulder and finds a spruce of pine to guide them out of there.

Eventually, the two escape the forest, and Elias tends to Lindel's needs. It's also where Elias confesses he may have eaten humans in the past and still has urges to do so.

Returning to the present, Chise insists she has never frightened her despite learning this. Lindel suggests that she tell Elias exactly how she feels. After a heart-to-heart with each other concerning Elias, Chise goes to bed.

The next day, the baby dragons there bonk Chise into the lake where a beautiful sea creature meets her. Later, Lindel cuts the ends of her hair to use as material for her wand and gives her the choice of some wood as a handpiece for her wand. Then he instructs Chise to carve a Nevin's branch into a wand.

By nightfall, Chise nearly completes her wand, and for her efforts, Lindel demonstrates his power and sings a beautiful song that causes flowers to bloom. After this, Chise accidentally casts a mirror spell on the lake, allowing her to see Elias, who tells her how he feels, that their home feels cold without her, despite summer. Chise says she is ready to tell him what she could not speak before and promises to return home after using the wand. Lindel then complains he feels like a father raising two children.

Meanwhile, Silver buries the magical bird used to relay Renfred and Adolf’s voices to Elias, implying Elias killed the bird after they warned him about the future.

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Episodio 11