Vermeil in Gold

When I started watching this anime, I expected something fairly predictable. A fantasy school with some lewd themes, and an awkward protagonist. Just before I started this show, I had abandoned one fairly similar, because it had nothing compelling to it. This one however, brought enough that not only did I finish it, but teared up a few times by the end.

Vermeil in Gold is an ecchi anime that at first glance looks like a big pile of dirty jokes and stereotypes. Children are going to school to become magical aids to their country, and see what talents and skills they have. Our protagonist begins the show unable to summon a familiar, which would be grounds for failure and expulsion if it doesn't happen by a certain date. He happens upon a book, and uses it to summon what winds up being a demon, which he now has as an apparent familiar, despite it breaking the laws of the country.

This allows him to continue in school, with the understanding that she would need to keep her identity a secret, and claim to be human. We discover that the boy is very analytical, but lacks a lot of the raw power in magic, which is helped by the demon, who of course happens to be a succubus. She both recharges her own energy, as well as transferring some to him via smooches, which he finds uncomfortable for a very long time.

Over time though, with both of them learning how they feel on many things, overcoming the obstacles of the school, and spending time together, start to form a genuine bond. This allows them to navigate something akin to an interracial relationship that would exist today in some homes, or like those that need to be in the closet to protect themselves. It's that delicate dance of trying not to reveal anything while being present and caring. Likewise, that space of feeling like any contact or admittance of feelings may be considered taboo or wrong, and the guilt involved in that.

As the series goes on though, you learn about the trauma that our succubus endured prior to the events of the series. Some truly damaging things that happened to her, and cause he to behave the way she does. The pain she both caused and felt which make her feel unworthy of love, or like she should be punished for her actions from her childhood. Instead, she is met with gentle care and compassion, in a way that can help her heal, and allows them to become even closer.

It reflects on those of us who may have experienced harmful things, and believe we're undeserving of help or love. For anyone who is on the path of healing and growth, this series, while rather plain at first, is incredibly affirming. Despite all the cookie cutter moments, it teaches us that the people worth fighting for, the ones worth keeping around will see us for who we are. They will love us because we do deserve it, and that whatever we have dealt with in our pasts doesn't make us "less than" in any way. I truly found myself in tears during the final episodes as things resolved.

I may have walked into this show expecting a lighthearted fun time, but I left it finding something with a message that I couldn't ignore. This show wound up being so much more that it appeared to be. In many ways, I feel like everyone could get something from this show, if they're willing to look past the boob jokes and plain beginning.