Look before you leap.

Look before you leap. (飛ぶ前によく見よ., Tobu mae ni yoku miyo) is the 17th episode of the first season of The Ancient Magus Bride anime.

Synopsis
A young girl named Stella searches for her missing brother Ethan, yet no one close to her knows who Ethan is. Begging Chise for help, she, along with Elias and Ruth, help Stella find Ethan, who was kidnapped by Ashen Eye, who subjects them to a game to locate both Ethan and Elias.

Summary
A young girl named Stella rushes into her house, calling out to her brother Ethan. Stella then asks her Mother if she's seen him; however, she doesn't know who Ethan is.

On Christmas day, Chise confronts Elias about her new teddy bear sprouting flowers on top of its head. He explains its purpose, to which Ruth then comments on tasty they look and there to Fae. Elias then explains the remaining gifts she’d received from her fellow friends. Combining the bracelet Chise got from Ant Hill with the one that Angie made for her, it became a charm that made her unable to absorb or create magic.

Later, making their way outside to thank Simon for his gift, Chise and the others stumbles into Stella, who’s looking for her little brother Ethan. While it appears that everyone has forgotten about her little brother, Chise and the others offer to help her under the condition that Stella pays them with sweets she promised to make. Once that was settled, they set out into the woods to find Ethan.

At the wood, Elias cannot track the boy with his usual method, as whoever abducted him was interfering with his technique. Chise resorts to taking aid from the local Fae by giving them the crystal flowers and other methods until they learn that Ethan has been abducted by Ashen Eye.

Learning that Stella’s words caused Ethan to be taken away from her, Ashen Eye proposes a game to give them a chance to return Ethan. And to make things more interesting, Ashen Eye takes Elias hostage as well and tells the two girls (and Ruth) to find them before sundown.

While they search for Elias and Ethan, the two start exchanging words, and soon Chise finds them after transforming herself into a Bear Werebeast. Admitting defeat, Ashen Eye takes the crystal flower that Stella had before leaving. Stella and Ethan thank Chise before heading home with their parents.

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Episodio 18