Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 17 Guardian of the Spirit: The Waterwheel Burns

The show Seirei no Moribito revolves around Balsa, a skilled and fearless warrior who takes on the role of a bodyguard to protect the young prince Chagum. The series is set in a fantasy world where spirits and magic coexist with humans.

In episode 17 of season 1, entitled "The Waterwheel Burns," Balsa and Chagum are still on the run, trying to evade their pursuers. However, Chagum's sickness worsens, and they desperately need a place to rest and recover. Balsa decides to take him to the village of Namuyan, where they can seek the aid of a water spirit named Rarunga.

When they arrive at the village, they are greeted with hostility by the villagers, who are suspicious of outsiders. However, Balsa manages to convince one of the villagers to take them to the house of Rarunga's chosen one, a young woman named Saya. Saya is willing to help them, but she warns them that the water spirit only appears at night.

As they wait for nightfall, Balsa and Chagum rest in Saya's house. Chagum's illness causes him to hallucinate, and he sees visions of the past and the future. Meanwhile, Balsa talks to Saya about her role as Rarunga's chosen one and about the history of Namuyan.

When night falls, they go to the river, where Rarunga is supposed to appear. However, instead of the water spirit, they find a group of men in boats, setting fire to the village's waterwheel. Balsa immediately springs into action to stop them, but Chagum's illness flares up again, causing him to collapse.

As Balsa fights the attackers, Saya tries to help Chagum by performing a ritual to communicate with Rarunga. She succeeds in reaching the water spirit, but Rarunga warns her that Chagum's fate is intertwined with the fate of the kingdom. Saya realizes that Chagum is the Guardian of the Spirit, the only one who can save the kingdom from disaster.

Meanwhile, Balsa manages to defeat the attackers and put out the fire on the waterwheel. However, she realizes that their opponents were all wearing the same symbol, the symbol of the Hunters. She realizes that they must be after Chagum, and that they will not stop until they capture him.

As the episode ends, Balsa and Chagum leave Namuyan, knowing that their enemies are still after them. Saya decides to accompany them, as she feels a strong connection to Chagum and believes that she can help him fulfill his destiny as the Guardian of the Spirit.

"The Waterwheel Burns" is a tense and action-packed episode of Seirei no Moribito, as Balsa and Chagum face new challenges and enemies on their quest to stay alive and fulfill their mission. The episode also introduces new characters and expands the mythology of the show's fantasy world, while keeping the audience engaged with the story's twists and turns.