If there’s one thing Sousou no Frieren has taught us, it’s that for a millennial elf, a couple of years are nothing, but for us, mere mortals living on shipping and theories, waiting for our dose of fantasy feels like a condemnation. While half the internet is still processing the end of the second part, the main voice actors came forward to confirm that the journey is just beginning, though the path to 2027 will be filled with much anticipation.

Are Fern and Stark one step away from being canon?

What really set the networks on fire in this interview was when Kana Ichinose, the voice of Fern, decided to drop the definitive analysis of her character. According to the actress, the Fern we knew at the beginning would never have dared to ask Stark to spend time with her, and that invitation to “go out” is proof that our favorite mage is finally opening her heart. For Ichinose, Fern is becoming much more human and dependent on her friends, something that Stark has known how to take advantage of with his charming clumsiness.

For his part, Chiaki Kobayashi defended Stark’s growth, ensuring that his character is no longer just the comic relief who runs from dragons. The fact that Stark openly admits that “he just wanted to make Fern happy” demonstrates an emotional maturity that few expected at this point. The voice actors made it clear that this “dysfunctional family” dynamic is the engine that keeps the series alive, and that the bond between the warrior and the mage will be fundamental for what comes in the future.

The torture of waiting until October 2027

But not everything is sweetness, because here comes the reality check. The cast confirmed that the third season, which will adapt the highly anticipated Golden Land Arc (El Dorado), is scheduled to premiere until October 2027. Yes, you read that right; we have more than five hundred days of total drought before seeing Denken take a leading role and witnessing what promises to be the pinnacle of animation by Madhouse.

Despite the long wait, Atsumi Tanezaki (Frieren) assured that the team is already excited to see the new scenarios animated and that the quality will not drop even a millimeter. Ichinose, who has already read the manga, anticipated that the Dorado arc will be a religious experience for fans and that we might even see some original scenes that expand what was seen on paper. For now, we can only apply the elf’s technique: sleep for a decade or simply rewatch the series until the calendar marks 2027.

Now that Fern has finally taken the first step toward Stark, do you think that by the time the third season premieres, we will see them as a formal couple or will Madhouse keep us in the eternal friendzone?