Wistoria: Wand and Sword

Wistoria: Wand and Sword (杖と剣のウィストリア) is a Japanese manga series written by Fujino Ōmori and illustrated by Toshi Aoi. It began serialization on Kodansha's manga magazine Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine in December 2020, with its chapters collected in 10  volumes as of June 2024. The series follows a boy with no talent for magic, working his way up in a magical institution with his swordsmanship skills only in order to reunite with his childhood friend. An anime television series adaptation produced by Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures premiered in July 2024.

Plot
Hundreds of years ago, invaders from the sky ravaged the land and almost destroyed the world. To repel the invaders, five mages joined together and cast a powerful barrier to ward the invaders away, atop a huge tower, the "Mercedes Caulis", becoming known as the first "Magia Vander". The Regarden Magical Academy is focused on training magicians, including those strong enough to become Magia Vander themselves and continue the legacy of maintaining the barrier that protects the kingdom.

Will Serfort is a student from Regarden who swore to become a magician strong enough to be accepted into the Mercedes Caulis and reunite with his childhood friend, Elfaria Albis Serfort, the youngest magician ever to become a Magia Vander. However, Will has no magic aptitude at all, having managed to progress on his studies so far with the perfect scores on written tests and the extra credits obtained from hunting monsters in the school's dungeon, but only a few people know his true power, as what he lacks in magic, he makes up with his swordsmanship, capable of defeating powerful monsters that even the strongest magicians have difficulties against. As Will keeps pushing toward his dream, he makes friends and enemies along the way while showing his true powers which shake the very foundations of the world.

Main Characters

 * Will Serfort (ウィル・セルフォルト)
 * The main protagonist, he is a sixth year student at the Regarden Magical Academy shunned by most students and faculty due to his lack of magical aptitude. To make up for his lack of magic, Will trains his body and swordsmanship in the dungeon, becoming capable of countering any opponent's attacks after witnessing them once. He later discovers that he has the power to infuse his sword with magic in order to strengthen his attacks. While he normally needs another person to cast the magic for infusing, he eventually learns to infuse it himself by drawing power from his memories and able to replicate any magic sword he wielded before, albeit with less proficiency.
 * The main protagonist, he is a sixth year student at the Regarden Magical Academy shunned by most students and faculty due to his lack of magical aptitude. To make up for his lack of magic, Will trains his body and swordsmanship in the dungeon, becoming capable of countering any opponent's attacks after witnessing them once. He later discovers that he has the power to infuse his sword with magic in order to strengthen his attacks. While he normally needs another person to cast the magic for infusing, he eventually learns to infuse it himself by drawing power from his memories and able to replicate any magic sword he wielded before, albeit with less proficiency.


 * Kiki (キキ)
 * Kiki is Will's familiar and pet. Kiki is a carbuncle, capable of casting reflective magic to protect Will in emergencies.
 * Kiki is Will's familiar and pet. Kiki is a carbuncle, capable of casting reflective magic to protect Will in emergencies.


 * Elfaria Albis Serfort (エルファリア・アルヴィス・セルフォルト)
 * Will's childhood friend, she is the youngest magician to become a Magia Vander, having mastered ice magic. She commands the ice faction in Mercedes Caulis but is known for slacking and relegating her duties to her subordinates, spending her days waiting for Will to fullfill their promise and reunite with her.
 * Will's childhood friend, she is the youngest magician to become a Magia Vander, having mastered ice magic. She commands the ice faction in Mercedes Caulis but is known for slacking and relegating her duties to her subordinates, spending her days waiting for Will to fullfill their promise and reunite with her.

Students

 * Colette Loire (コレット・ロワール)
 * Colette is Will's classmate in the academy and one of his few friends. She always worries about Will risking himself in the dungeon and has feelings for him. She is specialized in earth magic.
 * Colette is Will's classmate in the academy and one of his few friends. She always worries about Will risking himself in the dungeon and has feelings for him. She is specialized in earth magic.


 * Sion Ulster (シオン・アルスター)
 * One of the students in Will's class, Sion always bullies and belittles Will for his lack of magic skills, until learning his true potential. He is specialized in fire magic.
 * One of the students in Will's class, Sion always bullies and belittles Will for his lack of magic skills, until learning his true potential. He is specialized in fire magic.


 * Julius Reinberg (ユリウス・レインバーグ)
 * One of the three top students in Will's class, Julius is a noble who does not trust others and always humiliates those of weaker power and position. He is specialized in ice magic.
 * One of the three top students in Will's class, Julius is a noble who does not trust others and always humiliates those of weaker power and position. He is specialized in ice magic.


 * Wignall Lindor (イグノール・リンドール)
 * One of the three top students in Will's class, Wignall is an elf who is shunned by his peers as unlike them, he was not previously selected to ascend into Mercedes Caulis. He specializes in wind and illusion magic.
 * One of the three top students in Will's class, Wignall is an elf who is shunned by his peers as unlike them, he was not previously selected to ascend into Mercedes Caulis. He specializes in wind and illusion magic.


 * Lihanna Owenzaus (リアーナ・オーウェンザウス)
 * One of the three top students in Will's class, Lihanna aims to become a Magia Vander to save her family from ruin. She specializes in thunder magic.
 * One of the three top students in Will's class, Lihanna aims to become a Magia Vander to save her family from ruin. She specializes in thunder magic.


 * Iris X. Stellamaris (アイリス・X・ステラマリス)
 * One of the students in Regarden, she is actually a member of the Ice Faction sent by Elfaria to watch over Will.
 * One of the students in Regarden, she is actually a member of the Ice Faction sent by Elfaria to watch over Will.


 * Gordon Baret (ゴードン・バレー)


 * Lyril Marze (リリール・マース)


 * Lunais Alerht (ルナイス・アレート)


 * Jhorua Moraine (ジョルア・モレーン)

Faculty

 * Workner Norgram (ワークナー・ノーグラム)
 * Workner is Will's teacher who believes in his potential and oversees his progress in the dungeon.
 * Workner is Will's teacher who believes in his potential and oversees his progress in the dungeon.


 * Edward Serfence (エドワルド・セルフェンス)
 * Edward is a teacher specialized in dark magic who believes that Will does not belong in the academy. He once tried for the position of Magia Vander and almost achieved it, which is the reason he wants Will banished from the academy so he does not suffer with his failure like him.
 * Edward is a teacher specialized in dark magic who believes that Will does not belong in the academy. He once tried for the position of Magia Vander and almost achieved it, which is the reason he wants Will banished from the academy so he does not suffer with his failure like him.


 * Caldron Anouve (コルドロン・アヌーブ)
 * The headmaster of Regarden Magic Academy. Her age is unknown and uses magic to look much younger than she is.
 * The headmaster of Regarden Magic Academy. Her age is unknown and uses magic to look much younger than she is.

Magia Vander

 * Cariott Incindia Wiseman (キャリオット・インスティア・ワイズマン)
 * One of the Magia Vander who specializes in fire magic.
 * One of the Magia Vander who specializes in fire magic.


 * Ellenor Ljos Alf (エルノール・リヨス・アールヴ)
 * An elf and one of the Magia Vander who specializes in illusion magic.
 * An elf and one of the Magia Vander who specializes in illusion magic.


 * Aaron Masterias Oldking (アロン・マステリアス・オールドキング)
 * The oldest and strongest of the Magia Vander who specializes in light magic.
 * The oldest and strongest of the Magia Vander who specializes in light magic.


 * Logwell (ログウェル)
 * Aaron's assistant.
 * Aaron's assistant.


 * Zeo Thorzeus Reinbolt (ゼオ・トルゼウス・ラインボルト)
 * A reckless and impulsive man who is one of the Magia Vander, specialized in lightning magic.
 * A reckless and impulsive man who is one of the Magia Vander, specialized in lightning magic.

Manga
Written by Fujino Ōmori and illustrated by Toshi Aoi, Wistoria: Wand and Sword began serialization in Kodansha's manga magazine Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine on December 9, 2020. The series ended its first part on May 8, 2023. Its chapters have been collected in 10 volumes as of June 2024.

During their panel at Anime NYC, Kodansha USA announced that they licensed the manga for English publication, with the first volume releasing in Q4 2022.

Chapters not yet in tankōbon format
These chapters have yet to be published in a tankōbon volume.
 * 41. "From Knight to Thunderbolt"
 * 42. "For Whom the Bird Flies"

Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced in February 2024. The series is produced by Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures and directed and written by Tatsuya Yoshihara, with Sayaka Ono designing the characters and Yuki Hayashi composing the music. It premiered on July 7, 2024, on TBS and its affiliates. The opening theme song is "Fire and Fear" performed by Penguin Research, while the ending theme song is "Frozen" performed by True. Crunchyroll licensed the series outside of Asia. Muse Communication licensed the series in Southeast Asia.

Reception
The series was nominated for the seventh Next Manga Awards in 2021 in the print category.