Chapter 56

'''Better bend than break. I' (TBA, TBA) is the 56th chapter of The Ancient Magus' Bride'' manga written by Kore Yamazaki.

Synopsis
Philomela, Rian, Isaac, Chise and Lucy create a contract to keep the secret about Zoe being a gorgon from other students. Simon discusses the different various definitions that labels hold for people, such as "friends". Alice spends the night over at the Ainsworth house to help sort out her feelings of her worth towards Renfred.

Summary
Philomela is caught by Ruth spying on the group of students using a muffling spell to keep hidden. This comes just after Zoe had told his story about being a gorgon to everyone else. Now Rian's previous suggestion of a binding contract to keep this a secret comes to fruition. Chise and Ruth notice a strange smell coming from Philomela. She will not offer any information, but made it sound like if she was asked a question directly she would be forced to answer.

Rian seems to have no problem scolding Philomela, noting that they are distant cousins. On a sheet of paper, everyone offers a drop of their blood. Anyone who breaks the contract will have their throats or fingers burn (depending how the secret is told). Only Zoe's secret is part of the contract since it can only hold one. Chise's secret about having a dragon's curse is still known by everyone. Lucy does not trust Philomela, stating that she is the reason the Webster clan crumbled.

Alice is sitting alone solemnly as Chise approaches and asks if she can spend the night at the Ainsworth home. Since Alice cannot take the shortcut back to the house and the buses stopped running for the evening, Simon offers to give the girls a ride in his car. Simon uses this opportunity to tell Chise that Elias might buy her a car if she asked him. As convenient as having a car would be, Chise decides it would be too much of an expensive burden to suggest it. Simon is happy Chise is making friends, and the girl are both caught off guard by the term. Labels and definitions of friendships can have many meanings and aspects to them, Simon describes, using the fact that people interpret the Bible differently even though the words are the same as an example.

Silky prepares some tea and soup as a late night snack for Alice as they prepare for bed. Elias is surprised by the overnight visitor and Chise promises to sleep in bed with him tomorrow evening, as she will be using her old bed with Alice tonight. This dynamic shocks Alice. Having turned in for the evening, Alice spills her concerns regarding the direction her life is taking. A memory of a time when she was unable to help protect Renfred once again begins.

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Capítulo 56