Wistoria: Wand and Sword (Japanese: 杖と剣のウィストリア, Hepburn: Tsue to Tsurugi no Uisutoria) is a Japanese manga series written by Fujino Ōmori and illustrated by Toshi Aoi. It began serialization on Kodansha's shōnen manga magazine Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine in December 2020, with its chapters collected in 11 tankōbon volumes as of November 2024. The series follows a boy who seemingly has no talent for magic, working his way up in a magical institution in a country where magic skill is regarded as absolute power with only his swordsmanship skills in order to reunite with his magical prodigy childhood friend. An anime television series adaptation produced by Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures aired from July to September 2024. A second season has been announced.

Plot

Hundreds of years ago, invaders from the sky ravaged the land and almost destroyed the world. To repel the invaders, five mages joined together and cast a powerful barrier to ward the invaders away, atop a huge tower, the "Mercedes Caulis", becoming known as the first "Magia Vander". The Rigarden Magical Academy is focused on training magicians, including those strong enough to become Magia Vander themselves and continue the legacy of maintaining the barrier that protects the kingdom. Will Serfort is a Rigarden student who swore to become a magician strong enough to be accepted into the Mercedes Caulis and reunite with his childhood friend, Elfaria Albis Serfort, the youngest magician ever to become a Magia Vander. However, Will has no magic aptitude at all, having managed to progress on his studies so far with the perfect scores on written tests and the extra credits obtained from hunting monsters in the school's dungeon, but only a few people know his true power, as what he lacks in magic, he makes up with his swordsmanship, capable of defeating powerful monsters that even the strongest magicians have difficulties against. As Will keeps pushing toward his dream, he makes friends and enemies along the way while showing his true powers which shake the very foundations of the world.

Characters

= Main characters

= Will Serfort (ウィル・セルフォルト, Wiru Seruforuto) Voiced by: Kōhei Amasaki (Japanese); Corey Wilder, Amanda Gael (young) (English) The main protagonist. He is a sixth-year student at Rigarden Magical Academy, shunned by his peers due to his lack of magical aptitude. He is also a childhood friend of Magia Vander member Elfaria until their differing stations separated them. Having vowed to reunite with her one day, he strives to earn enough academy points to graduate and join her in the Ice Faction. After finally graduating, however, he is instead recruited by the Thunder Faction. Although unable to use magic, he is highly knowledgeable and an incredibly skilled swordsman, capable of countering his opponents after just witnessing their attacks once. He later discovers that he has an ability called "Wis", which lets him absorb others' magic and infuse it into his Sword. Elfaria Albis Serfort (エルファリア・アルヴィス・セルフォルト, Erufaria Aruvisu Seruforuto) Voiced by: Akira Sekine (Japanese); Kelsey Cruz (English) Will's childhood friend. She is a prodigious magician who quickly rose through the ranks and became the youngest ever to become a Magia Vander, commanding the ice faction. However, privately, she is a slacker who pushes her responsibilities onto her subordinates, spending her days waiting for Will to fulfill their promise to reunite with her. Specializing in ice magic, she created twelve original spells, an unprecedented feat.

= Supporting characters

= Colette Loire (コレット・ロワール, Koretto Rowāru) Voiced by: Satomi Amano (Japanese); Corey Pettit (English) Will's classmate and one of his few friends. She has a crush on him, which is obvious to everyone except him, but is too shy to confess. She also constantly worries about him risking his life in the dungeon and interferes whenever their classmates bully him. After graduating, she joins the Earth Faction and is later made their mascot, much to her displeasure. She specializes in earth magic and is known as the "Earth Princess" for her skill; a nickname she despises. Sion Ulster (シオン・アルスター, Shion Arusutā) Voiced by: Masaaki Mizunaka (Japanese); Brandon Acosta (English) One of Will's classmates who used to bully him for his lack of magic aptitude. However, after being saved from a monster by him and witnessing his true strength, he develops a one-sided rivalry with him. He also has unreciprocated feelings for Colette, further driving his rivalry with Will. After graduating, he joins the Fire Faction. He specializes in fire magic and his skills have only grown since starting his rivalry with Will. Julius Reinberg (ユリウス・レインバーグ, Yuriusu Reinbāgu) Voiced by: Tetsuya Kakihara (Japanese); Aaron Michael (English) One of the three top students in Will's class. Being a noble, he initially had a very arrogant demeanor, humiliating those of weaker power and status. After Will publicly defeated him, however, he mellowed out and even agreed to team up with him for the sake of graduating from the academy. After graduating, he joined the Ice Faction but was later killed by a mysterious serial killer. He specialized in ice magic, being the only person capable of replicating one of Elfaria's original spells. Wignall Lindor (イグノール・リンドール, Igunōru Rindōru) Voiced by: Kengo Kawanishi (Japanese); Blake McNamara (English) One of the three top students in Will's class. He is an elf shunned by his peers since his magic is weak by their standards. Initially presenting an arrogant facade, he comes to respect Will after he helps him overcome his self-esteem issues. He is also the childhood friend of one of the Magia Vander, Ellenor, mirroring Will's relationship with Elfaria. After graduating from the academy, he joins the all-elf Fantasy Faction. He specializes in wind and illusion magic and later becomes capable of using his race's unique ability to turn illusions into reality. Lihanna Owenzaus (リアーナ・オーウェンザウス, Riāna Ōuenzausu) Voiced by: Lynn (Japanese); Erin Kelly Noble (English) One of the three top students in Will's class who aims to become a Magia Vander to save her noble family from ruin. She is rather aloof and, unlike her peers, has never bullied Will, having instead mostly ignored him. After learning of his true strength, however, she allies herself with him, Sion, Julius, and Wignall to graduate from the academy. After graduating, she joins the Thunder Faction along with Will. She is a close combat mage known as a "magic knight" specializing in lightning magic, which she uses to enhance her physical abilities. Rosti Nauman (ロスティ・ナウマン, Rosutii Nauman) Voiced by: Unknown A student at Rigarden and Will's roommate who professed to have been in love with him and had a slightly androgynous appearance. He was killed in a terrorist attack during Christmas, after which his body shattered like ice, implying he was a gender-bend clone of Elfaria that she created and remote-controlled using her magic. He was a talented magic artificer who made magical items for Will to use. Kiki (キキ) Voiced by: Aoi Inase (Japanese); Lynsey Hale (English) Will's pet familiar, a carbuncle capable of casting reflective magic.

= Teachers

= Workner Norgram (ワークナー・ノーグラム, Wākunā Nōguramu) Voiced by: Tomokazu Seki (Japanese); Jim Foronda (English) A teacher at Rigarden Magic Academy. He believes in Will's potential and oversees his progress in the dungeon. He specializes in handling magical familiars. Edward Serfence (エドワルド・セルフェンス, Edowarudo Serufensu) Voiced by: Kōji Yusa (Japanese); Phil Parsons (English) A teacher at Rigarden Magic Academy who is infamous for his strictness. Having failed to become a Magia Vander in the past, he wants Will to give up on his goal, not wanting the boy to suffer the same failure as himself, even if it means having to sabotage him. He is the strongest teacher at the academy, specializing in dark magic. Caldron Anouve (コルドロン・アヌーブ, Korudoron Anūbu) Voiced by: Reiko Suzuki The headmaster of Rigarden Magic Academy. She is 64 years old but can use magic to appear much younger than she is in order to live a double life. She helps Will train and learn Wis in order to impress scouts and join a faction.

= Magia Vander

= Aaron Masterias Oldking (アロン・マステリアス・オールドキング, Aron Masuteriasu Ōrudokingu) Voiced by: Hōchū Ōtsuka The leader of the Magia Vander and its oldest member, leading the Light Faction. He often goes on long expeditions, leaving Cariott in charge in his absence. He specializes in light magic and is noted to be the strongest of the Magia Vander. Cariott Incindia Wiseman (キャリオット・インスティア・ワイズマン, Kyrariott Insutia Waizuman) Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama One of the Magia Vander, leading the Fire Faction. He is often left in charge of the group whenever Aaron goes on one of his lengthy expeditions. He specializes in fire magic. Ellenor Ljos Alf (エルノール・リヨス・アールヴ, Erunōru Riyosu Āruvu) Voiced by: Sora Amamiya An elf and one of the Magia Vander, leading the all-elf Fantasy Faction. She is also a former childhood friend of Wignall until they were separated after her magical talent was discovered, mirroring Elfaria's relationship with Will. She specializes in her race's unique fantasy magic, which can turn illusions into reality. Zeo Thorzeus Reinbolt (ゼオ・トルゼウス・ラインボルト, Zeo Toruzeusu Rainboruto) Voiced by: Makoto Furukawa One of the Magia Vander, leading the Thunder Faction. Following Will's graduation from the academy, he recruits him into his faction after beating Elfaria in a game of rock-paper-scissor for him, having sensed the boy's potential. He uses lightning magic and specializes in a technique called "wrathbolt", which enhances his physical abilities using pure magic manipulation.

= Others

= Iris X. Stellamaris (アイリス・X・ステラマリス, Airisu X Sutera Marisu) Voiced by: Rumi Okubo (Japanese); Monica Rial (English) One of the students in Rigarden. Though she presents a sociable and clumsy facade to her peers, she is actually a serious girl and a Watcher, talented young magicians who serve as scouts to recruit new members for the Magia Vanders' factions, a position regarded as an urban legend among the student body. She is also a member of the Ice Faction and told by Elfaria to assess Will's progress. When scouting for talented students in the dungeon, she meets Will and witnesses him defeat a powerful dungeon boss single-handedly. During a meeting with the Magia Vander, she deems him the only student of note and recommends he be immediately scouted for a position in the Tower. She has a crush on Will due to his capability. Gordon Baret (ゴードン・バレー, Gōdon Barē) Voiced by: Kazuki Ura (Japanese); Michael Stimac (English) Lyril Marze (リリール・マース, Rirīru Māsu) Voiced by: Tomohiro Ōno (Japanese); Tristan Bonner (English) Renaisse Arette (ルナイス・アレート, Runaisu Arēto) Voiced by: Shinya Takahashi Jorua Moraine (ジョルア・モレーン, Jorua Morēn) Voiced by: Atsushi Tamaru Logwell (ログウェル, Roguweru) Voiced by: Akio Ōtsuka Aaron's assistant.

Media

= Manga

= Written by Fujino Ōmori and illustrated by Toshi Aoi, Wistoria: Wand and Sword began serialization in Kodansha's shōnen manga magazine Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine on December 9, 2020. The series ended its first part on May 8, 2023. Its chapters have been collected in 11 tankōbon volumes as of November 2024. During their panel at Anime NYC, Kodansha USA announced that they licensed the manga for English publication, with the first volume releasing in Q4 2022.

Volumes

Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

These chapters have yet to be published in a tankōbon volume. 45. "Figures of the Tower" 46. "A Party Among Kin" 47. "Feel, Weave, Roar"

= Anime

= An anime television series adaptation was announced in February 2024. The series is produced by Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures and directed and written by Tatsuya Yoshihara, with Sayaka Ono designing the characters and Yuki Hayashi composing the music. It aired from July 7 to September 29, 2024, on TBS and its affiliates. The opening theme is "Fire and Fear" performed by Penguin Research, while the ending theme is "Frozen" performed by True. Crunchyroll streamed the series. Muse Communication licensed the series in Southeast Asia. Following the airing of the final episode, a second season was announced.

Episodes

Reception

The series was nominated for the seventh Next Manga Awards in 2021 in the print category.

Notes

References

Further reading

"Wistoria: Wand and Sword". Anime News Network. September 27, 2022.

External links

Official manga website at Magazine Pocket (in Japanese) Official anime website (in Japanese) Wistoria: Wand and Sword (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia