Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End first aired on Sept. 23, 2023. Throughout its 28-episode run, Kanehito Yamada’s story impacted viewers through its theming, refreshing take on the post-journey genre, and even inspired a Taiwanese citizen to prevent a train massacre. TOHO Animation later announced that the elven mage and her second party will return on Jan. 16 to kick off the anime new year. As the fans count down for Frieren’s return, here’s what you can expect for the next chapter.
Fern is A Certified First-Class Mage
From Episodes 18-28, Frieren and her assistant, Fern, participated in the First-Class Mage Exam. According to Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End lore, only the highest rank mages are granted access to the Northern Plateau. The elven mage explained to Fern and the party’s warrior, Stark, that these restrictions are in place to ensure adventurers’ safety. While Frieren is one of the few remaining great mages, she cannot achieve First-Rank due to her philosophy in magic.
Her deceased mentor, Flamme, has taught her that magic should have versatile uses, including the spells that improve daily life. However, the examiner, Serie, does not share her and Flamme’s perspective, for she sees magic as a weapon. Fern arrived at the right time as the First-Class Mage Exam is prepared every three years. Her mage training with the pigtailed elf woman has proven that she’s capable of making the strongest magic users fear her wits.
On the final exam, Serie almost deliberately failed Frieren’s pupil for being human. She was then taken by surprise by Fern’s senses, for she didn’t flinch at the sight of her mana. The elder elf asked her, “Tell me. What do you see?” “It’s fluctuating,” the young mage answered. Serie even attempted to recruit Fern as her new pupil, but she refused her offer because she had already accepted Frieren’s teachings. She passed the exam and received First-Class Mage certification, allowing her mentor to travel to the Northern Plateau.
Finding Aureole in the Northern Plateau
In Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Frieren is retracing the hero Himmel’s party path to the Demon King. Season 1 shows that demons are returning to attempt another world conquest. They previously almost wiped the elves to extinction because they feared their magic would destroy their kind. Thanks to Flamme and other mortal mages, their findings produced a new generation that allows humans to generate mana.
The Northern Plateau arc will feature Frieren reconnecting with Himmel, as she searches for Aureole, a heavenly place where the souls of the dead gather. The dwarven warrior Eisen pushed her motivations after she helped him find Flamme’s notes. Her previous journey showed she struggled to connect with humans and mortal species despite the hero, the cleric Heiter, and Eisen presenting their compassion.
Frieren has slowly changed her attitude towards them after Himmel’s passing, having come to understand that their lifespan is short. By meeting more humans and raising Fern with Heiter, she does what she can to help humans appreciate what’s around them. She even shows her kindness through her actions and magical assistance based on their reasoning. But to Frieren, Himmel was special as he defied expectations that inspired the next generation.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Season 2 also holds potential storylines for Fern and Stark. Like the elven mage, Fern could be motivated to see Heiter one final time, for he was the reason she studied to be a mage. As for Stark, his confidence could rise as he meets new people, as shown throughout Season 1. Hopefully, the warrior will meet Eisen again before his passing and forgive him for being afraid of his strength.
