Recap: Megumu starts the Kusaribe’s plan by destroying a branch of the Tree of Genesis. Meanwhile, Hakaze is troubled by the final words of Jun while visiting her home in search of a spy.  Is it really her growing feelings for Yoshino that unintentionally slew Aika?

More intrigue this week. Following up on the promise of last week, Megumu descends from the sky somehow and destroys part of the tree for all to see. I am quite interested to learn the exact mechanics of it. Lifesong seems convinced that he’s being held up by strings. I suppose that would support why a giant light appears above him as he enters, but it seems like a weird stunt to have something like wires cheapen its effect. I hypothesized that one of the abilities of being a mage of chaos would be that he might be able to negate the logic of gravity, thus allowing him to levitate. Either way it was funny how they had his whole super sentai introduction. I wonder when the Kusaribe’s actions will change from a publicity stunt to actually tackling the tree issue.

The bigger subject this week was the ongoing relationship issues Hakaze is facing in light of Jun’s revelation. This made for absolutely the cutest episode to date. It’s just something about Miyuki Sawashiro’s voice but hearing someone who can sound so serious and even haughty at times become so hilariously lovestruck was incredibly entertaining. I also love that wavy lines in the inner-monologuing seems to be a hereditary trait among the Kusaribe family. While you’d think straying away from cool magic fights and debate wars for romantic comedy hijinks wouldn’t be the greatest move, Tempest really is doing it well.

It also put out a pretty mature thought on the topic of remorse. Supposed the children see a ghost running amuck, easily recognized by both parties as the spy that has reportedly tried to infiltrate the village. While Hakaze’s idea does sound solid on paper, there really is a temptation to want to believe ghosts are real for some. When we lose the ones we love we would want to find any way to see them even if we know it’s a delusion. This comes back to bite them, and reminds Yoshino yet again of Aika.

This entire episode is trying to bait us into deciding for ourselves who the true Mage of Exodus is. With all its attempts to make it seem like Yoshino is doing some extreme levels of manipulation to get what he wants, I think it rather implicates Aika more than anything. This is the first time we’ve heard of a character deigning logic for the irrational. She even laments in Yoshino’s adherence to only believing in what he can see. Does this desire to believe in something irrational mean that Aika’s illogical mindset really comes from her place as a mage, or are the writers leaving some kind of double red herring? Still, its hard not to think that if the Tree can prepare so much for Hakaze that it would even be able to go so far as to kill the girlfriend of her love retroactively. Either way this was a fantastic episode.

When I started watching Tempest I really didn’t know if I’d like it, but sticking with it this far I’m really glad I did. Next episode it would appear we’re going to get even more romance hijinks, which I welcome with open arms. I think Yoshino and Hakaze have some great chemistry. Honestly, the dude really needs to let go and realize he’s got literally the most powerful woman in the world all to himself.