Flying Witch - Vol. 5 Ch. 29 - The weather isn't always bad on a rainy day

[MangaDex]

 

[Taper]

The ending sequence with the manta is hugely reminiscent of some of the old Windsor McCay Little Nemo in Slumberland comic strips from the 1920s, though I'm not sure why.

Also, folklore facts! This kind of salve shows up in traditional fairy stories in Britain — the best known involves a woman who steals some (not knowing what it does) from her friend, who is supposedly a witch, and rubs it on her left eyelid — and suddenly, with her left eye, she can see fairies. Later, she meets a fine lady that she can only see with her left eye and bows to her; the lady is shocked and asks which eye she's being seen with.

"My left eye," the woman answers — and the lady reaches out and, *snatch!* And, well, the woman never did see fairies with her left eye again — or anything else, for that matter

 

[Mr_Stizblee]

@Taper Thanks for the story! It's always fun comparing modern depictions of fairies with how the fae folk actually acted in the old legends.

 

[Backha]

Please don't touch mantas so casually.

 

[w33btr4sh]

Y'all think that manta was blonde? 🤔

 

[Tonikill1]

@Taper can you tell me what is the name of that Britain folklore? It sounds interesting so I want to read it

 

[Taper]

@Tonikill1 The version I gave is called "How Joan Lost Her Sight in One Eye", and is Cornish in origin; variations are called "The Fairy Ointment" or "Midwife to the Fairies", from Wales. I don't have specific cites, but they're in various fairy story anthologies.

(I came across it from a reference in game designer Kenneth Hite's "Suppressed Transmission" column in the old Pyramid web magazine; I don't think the specific column is available on the internet anymore.)

 

[Tonikill1]

@Taper Thanks anyways. I've been into folklore these days so I really appreciate new recommendations

 

[moshimoshx]

it's fun when the abbreviation works in both languages! (mato=magic tools <- mado=mahou dougu?)
unless i'm wrong then nevermind lol i don't actually know what it says on the original