In Volume 1, we met Lize, an accomplished young magician and magical instructor who takes an orphaned girl, Ellen, under her care as an intern. Ellen is deeply unsure of her place in the world, but her time with Lize gives her stability she has never before known and, as she tests into the school of magic, she asks that she be allowed to use Lize’s family name as her gift. 

Salvia no Bouquet, Volume 2 (サルビアのブーケ（下）) written by 4ka enpitsu and illustrated by Koga Yuto, Ellen continues to grow and change. She’s doing well at school, she’s made friends, she is becoming a competent and creative magician, building new magical tools that can help people and finding her answers to the “why” she wants to do magic. But something is still weighing on her. Although she now knows she is family, she’s coming to realize her feelings for Lize are more than just that of a mentee. But Lize has already told Ellen that when the girl graduates, she’ll be leaving on a journey. Ellen is torn between wanting to let the woman she loves go and to insist that she stay.

One night Lize confides in Ellen that she too was an orphan, and how glad she is to be able to share the kindness she received from her own mentor. Ellen strives to be worthy of that kindness. She shows Lize that she’s strong enough to see her off with  smile. Lize leaves to bring rain to a drought-ridden part of the world, but gives Ellen and herself matching rings to symbolize their bond.

Year pass and Lize is coming home. Ellen eagerly awaits her mentor while her best friend Stella supports her. And they smile happily at one another as they greet each other. 

This book was really quite cute, if you didn’t think too hard about the set-up of adopting an orphan, mentoring them, they fall in love with you…and lalalalala I can’t hear you~~~~ It really could have been played for ick. But, it is not. Ellen’s emotions are real and slightly raw, Lize is kind and loving and, in the end, you can see them making it work. 

The art’s still pretty rough, and the expressions look more pained thananything, but I found myself rooting for everyone to be happy. So that was nice.

Ratings:

Art – 6
Story – 7
Characters – 8
Service – 0
Yuri – 7

Overall – A solid 7. Nothing worldshaking, but overall very heart-warming.