Episode 20

"Echos" (残響, Zankyō) is the twentieth episode of Fumetsu no Anata e, and the finale of the first season. It is followed by the upcoming premiere of its second season.

Synopsis
Fushi says goodbye to Tonari and returns to the port of Zedan, where Pioran awaits. However, his existence, which attracts the Nokkers, poses a danger to Pioran. It appears that it is still not time for reunion, but...

Characters
In order of appearance:

Summary
In an inn at the port near Jananda Island, Pioran is enjoying a dish of beans when the waiter asks of the friend she has been waiting to come. From outside one of the windows, Fushi, in the form of the Arctic wolf Joaan, watches sadly. He thinks to himself how separating from his old companion would keep her safe from the strong and restless Nokkers, as it is him that they seek to destroy. He returns to his default male teenage form, and makes the choice to distance himself from the elderly woman, but assure her of his wellbeing in the form of a letter.

Elsewhere, a kind man enters his home hut on a beach, only be attacked by the very person he had saved who extends her unusually powerful right arm and presumably kills him, which shows that she has merged with the Nokker that had attacked her earlier.

As months turn into years, Pioran gradually shows signs of dementia, which the Beholder had forewarned Fushi of but still does whatever he can to care for her. One day, the dying Pioran speaks to the Beholder and asks him to enable herself ("fey") be reborn as something that will help Fushi on his everlasting journey. As she enters Paradise, the Beholder takes a hold her vital essence through a white orb that looks similar to Fushi's true form. Fushi finds Pioran's lifeless body and mourns his lifelong friend and cherished companion; admitting just how happy he had been with her. Several decades later, a middle-aged Fushi laughs crazily as he has just overpowered and killed another pursing Nokker.

Anime Differences

 * Pioran had told Fushi that she was blessed with one child and grandchild, as opposed to several children and grandchildren.

Trivia

 * This episode marks the conclusion of the Jananda arc, as well as the season one finale. It is to followed by both The Guardians and Ureils Kingdom sagas/arcs, which is set in a four decade-time jump. It is said to premiere in the late winter or early spring of 2022.
 * Hayase makes her final appearance, albeit nonspeaking and faceless, after she is saved (off screen) by a man on the beach. It's possible she ruthlessly executed him using her Nokker-fused arm, or that she used him to grant her the child that would become the mother of Hisame. This act leaves her enduring, arduous journey regarding Fushi, and her adult life that ultimately lead to her natural death quite vague. However, what had happened to her as the decades passed is hinted, at times, by Hisame and eventually her own great-great-great granddaughters and only grandson.