Current TBNA theory

I caught up with the last 5 chapters of Tongari Boushi no Atelier yesterday, and I’ve been mulling a few things over.

If it is indeed Silverwood trees that are the source of magic ink, I’m sitting there wondering if all of them can produce the same kind of ink… or if it’s just the ones that parasitized a human.

My theory, for now, is that the ones that parasitize humans have ink with the amplifying power of human blood, which is the reason the Brimhats captured young Qifrey and buried him: To “plant” him.

We also see Custas’ hair grow white after his first “bloom”, but Qifrey’s hair was white when he was found in the coffin. Had he already sprouted at some other point, before they took his eye and memory? Was this why he was captured in the first place? Is this why the Brimhats wanted him?

Or: Did the initial sprouting also take his eye? Was that truly work of the Brimhats? Do they want blood-enhanced ink or do they know something about the Silverwood trees we don’t? The burden of proof is certainly with the Pointed Caps at this point, and they’re failing miserably; who’s to say that the Brimhats can’t tip the scales in favor of “we have a point” a little further?

If a sacrifice is necessary, and if the most vulnerable and desperate are used for it, is magic truly compatible with the kindness and wonder everyone promotes? Of course, the Ancients of Romonon already turned disabled people to gold statues for not being able to contribute to their society, I would not be surprised to find that Tartah for his Silverwash, Custas for his poorly healed legs (and his lumpen origins, see Beldaruit for alternatives) and Qifrey for his sight loss would’ve been considered assets to the magical world exclusively as carriers of the Silverwood seed. Even if it’s too on the nose, as far as parallels go.