Mandrake infiltrates the Academy to assist Olive on Triumvirate's orders, and he doesn't intend to hold back like she was.
- All for Nothing: Parsley and Sage split up to rescue the burning library. Shortly after they're done, Mandrake just uses another Area of Effect fire spell.
- Broken Masquerade: The girls finally decide to tell Caraway about the Rot, and with Mandrake's defeat, the Witch Country's involvement becomes apparent to the authorities.
- The Call Knows Where You Live: The Witch Country are now not above destroying the High Guardian Academy just to get rid of anyone looking into them. By the end of the episode most of the Academy is a total wreck.
- Cannot Keep a Secret: Despite being told by her mom (Mandrake in disguise) to not tell anyone, Rosemary easily slips to her friends that Lavender is here, and they together go investigate.
- Diving Kick: Rosemary and Sage temporarily knock Mandrake out by kicking him on a broom together.
- Establishing Character Moment: One of the first things Mandrake says is commenting how fabulous his is and asking if he can break Olive's cat's neck.
- Foreshadowing: Olive comments that Lavanda is currently in the Witch Country, so it can be used as a bait for Rosemary. In The Stinger she's revealed to be one of the Triumvirate's high-ranking knights.
- Heal It With Fire: Mandrake fixes his stab wound by hitting it with his flame sword.
- Heel–Face Turn: Right when they have the Guardians at their mercy, Olive stabs Mandrake because she's not a murderer.
- Important Haircut: Sage's ponytail gets stuck in the rubble, so she cuts it off. Rosemary later fixes her bob cut to a fluffy one.
- It Never Gets Any Easier: Rosemary and Sage reflect on the past few episodes and comment that being a Guardian involves too many killings for their liking. Still, when fighting Mandrake, the two show no hesitation using lethal attacks.
- It Only Works Once: Once the Guardians learn that Mandrake is a Shapeshifter, they correctly assume Caraway asking all students to gather at a specific location is a trap.
- Jerk with a Heart of Jerk: It seems like Mandrake is willing to go with Olive's Thou Shalt Not Kill plan despite being her superior. Just as she leaves, he sets the room with kidnapped students on fire.
- Karma Houdini Warranty: Mandrake survives by disguising himself as a firefighter and escapes. But when he reports to Triumvirate, it's implied they do execute him.
- The Leader: Amaryllis rallies up the trapped students, splits them by ability and organize the escape from the burning room.
- Leave No Witnesses: Mandrake is specifically told to take care of anyone else who notices that he's here.
- Make It Look Like an Accident: Mandrake gathers all teachers and students Locked in a Room and intends to burn the school to the ground, with it being potentially reported as a magic practice accident.
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Despite her Heel–Face Turn, Olive still gets arrested for being one of the attackers until recently.
- Obviously Evil: Rosemary's Missing Mom suddenly appears at the Academy and asks her to tell everything she knows about the Rot and keep it a secret from her friends. While being accompanied by Olive in her cat form. Totally not Mandrake in disguise.
- The Red Mage: Caraway fends off Mandrake with an Old Magic shield while using the New Magic staff to draw a spell to blast him away. Sage is impressed it's even possible and learns how to use it while fighting Mandrake.
- Title Drop: Continuing from last episode, Rosemary comes up with another name for the team: High Guardian Spice. They like this one.
- Thou Shalt Not Kill: Olive comes up with non-lethal ways to hide their involvement while making sure Mandrake doesn't kill anyone. Him still trying to kill everyone regardless pushes her to betray him.
- Shape Shifter Guilt Trip: Mandrake transforms into Lavender to distract Rosemary while confronting her. She doesn't fall for it.
- Shapeshifting Trickster: During the confrontation with the Guardians, Mandrake mimics their voices to lure them into an attack. Rosemary comes up with a secret phrase to navigate. Unfortunately Olive knows the answer by reading her Secret Diary last episode and Mandrake manages to take Thyme hostage.
- Spot the Imposter:
- Mandrake disguises as Professor Caraway and with the two of them on a stand-off, Sage aims at them and Rosemary tries to get one of them to to recall which monster the real Caraway and Lavender fought. Mandrake doesn't entertain the question and shoots Rosemary.
- Happens again with Olive. She asks how could Rosemary tell, and she just guessed. Though the one of the two holding a weapon would be a clue.
- Tickle Torture: When Rosemary admits to hiding a secret, Thyme asks Parsley to tickle her until she fesses up. Rosemary tells everything before she even tries.
- You Have Failed Me: Smokeface has convinced Triumvirate to change Olive's execution for earlier failures to being turned into Mandrake's sidekick, but it's her last chance. When Mandrake returns to the Witch Country alone, he is not forgiven.
