Among the grizzled mercenaries of the frozen north, few are as strong as Reiz—a reputation his son, Almark, has not inherited. Casting off his timidity, Almark seeks to become a fighter worthy of his father’s recognition. But Reiz wants more for his son, hoping to spare him the cruelties of life in the north. Reiz sends Almark to the South’s prestigious Norkh Institute to hone his affinity for magic. Here, in this land that has forgotten war, a boy who has known nothing but conflict will strive to one day return home strong enough to bring prosperity to his homeland and make his father proud. *Source: Yen Press, Vol. 1*

**ONE BOY’S QUEST TO PROVE HIMSELF** Almark, the son of a mercenary, has known nothing but conflict in the war-torn North. Despite being told that he has an affinity for magic, he chose to hone his combat skills on the battlefield as a child soldier. But his father wishes for him to become a mage in the peaceful southlands, so Almark travels to the Norkh Institute for Magic where he quickly discovers that life in the South is unlike anything he’s ever seen. For one, Southerners view the Northerners as barbarians, a prejudice that may be as insurmountable as the rift between nobles and commoners. While hiding his mercenary lineage and getting help from his new friends, Almark takes his first steps toward becoming a full-fledged mage! *Source: Yen Press, Vol. 1*

Strike Witches takes place in a world similar to Earth, but where magic exists. Magic abilities appear almost exclusively among young women, and usually disappears with age. However, these abilities are generally limited to raising a simple protective magic field, or moving objects slightly at a distance, or for some, flying on a broom. Then, in the 16th and 17 centuries, humanity entered into an age of discovery, highlighted by the Britannian witch Jamie Watt's invention of the magic engine, a steam-powered mechanical device which could boost a witch's natural magic powers several times over, which could then be used to drive all types of machinery. The magic engine was soon put to use in all forms of industry and transport, increasing production to levels previously thought impossible. However, together with this huge increase in magic usage, sightings of the Neuroi, enigmatic lifeforms which had been spotted on scarce occasions for centuries, also began to increase exponentially. Appearing in countries all over the world, the Neuroi spread a noxious miasma, putrefying the land and consuming all types of metals, and they began encroaching on human territory. Normal soldiers could do nothing against that miasma, and humanity was on its last legs, with no choice but to retreat time and time again. It was then that it was discovered that a witch's protective field could block the miasma, and with the power of a magic engine, witches joined the battlefield. With the ability to easily wield weapons which would normally be far too heavy, imbue their attacks with magic, fly through the air freely, and block enemy attacks with magic fields, witches began to turn the tide against the Neuroi invasion. These witches, together with the Striker Units they wore, were known as "Strike Witches". In 1939, as the European mainland faced the crisis of a Neuroi invasion of unprecedented scale, Imperial Army and Navy Witches from the far off Fuso Empire were sent to the battlefield as volunteer soldiers. One such Imperial Army Witch, Anabuki Tomoko, an ace and hero to the people after her outstanding service during the Neuroi raid known as the "Fuso Sea Incident", had been expecting to be sent to Karlsland, where the heaviest fighting was going on. However, she was instead deployed to the northernmost extreme of Europe, Suomus. There she meets the rest of her future fellow squadron members, none of whom had ever made a name for themselves in their former countries, instead being treated nearly like outcasts, half-baked witches without any talent or motivation. It's now up to the "Misfits Squadron", or officially the "Suomus Independent Volunteer Air Squadron", to find out how they can stand up to the Neuroi menace. (Source: Baka-Tsuki)

When the adventurer party "Burning Soul" posted a recruitment call to fill a vacancy, the one who appeared was Helut—an elderly, frail-bodied mage who wielded nothing but elementary magic. Though outwardly nonchalant, he exuded a subtle yet ominous aura, and time and again, he saved the party from peril using utterly unexpected methods. Later in their journey, Helut encountered Catena—a young girl living in a village shrouded in mist—and the two soon found themselves traveling together...