Orufrey

Orufrey is the slash ship between Olruggio and Qifrey from the Witch Hat Atelier fandom.

Canon
Qifrey and Olruggio are lifelong best friends who were acquainted in their apprentice years and haven't separated since. Olruggio lives as the Watchful Eye for Qifrey's atelier, always keeping a close eye on residents and the status of things happening there. They both trust each other a great deal, built from many years together. When Qifrey acts rashly, Olruggio is the one to hold him back. Holding responsibility for the atelier, Olruggio prides himself on being a person in whom Qifrey can have faith in.

Watchful Eye Arc
Olruggio's first appearance is when he arrives at Qifrey's atelier. He glares at Qifrey when he hears the witch had gained another disciple. Qifrey hints at Coco's origins, who causes Olruggio to try and take her away to the Council of Magic Security. Without a hint of regret, Qifrey entraps them both in a circle of water, gaining Olruggio's attention. In astonishment, the black-haired witch asks why Qifrey would turn even his magic against a friend like him. Qifrey defuses the situation by temporarily suggesting they take shelter from the rain in his house.

Qifrey introduces Coco to Olruggio, describing him as their small atelier's watchful eye; the one assigned to guard their small community of witches. Olruggio warns Qifrey that it's not their place to investigate forbidden magic, it was the Council's job. The water witch then brings up an ultimatum: if Coco was brought to the Council and had her memories erased, then he should have his erased as well. Olruggio is taken aback by his statement and has no choice but to give in. He leaves Qifrey's atelier with the warning that he'll still be on the lookout for any problems due to his job as a watchful eye.

River Rescue Arc
As Qifrey is struggling with whom to choose for the flooding mission, Olruggio takes some of his load by suggesting that he go first and prepare the waypoint. Qifrey is evidently worried about Agott's choice, but Olruggio reassures him that she needs to experience the learning anyways.

At the river, Olruggio and Qifrey work together to save the drowning passengers. Qifrey uses his sword to cut apart the raging river, leaving Olruggio free to safely transport the villagers from the riverbed. They high-five after successfully getting them all out. They split up to check the status upstream and downstream, taking Tetia and Richeh with them. After the unknowings in the river incident had been transported away, Olruggio goes over to ask Qifrey whether he thought it was the right decision to give Agott a chance to take the second witch test. Qifrey reasons that because he saw how Agott finally started depending on her friends, he thought it would be okay. Olruggio calls him soft with no real intent behind it.

Twin Bottle Arc
When Qifrey sees the ink in Coco's jar, he makes a split-second decision and has Olruggio take the other children back with him. He acts like he's merely helping Coco get her new pen, which Olruggio accepts. Olruggio tells him to bring back tree-sap wine and they have a short exchange about payment and order details.

Second Pentagram Test Arc
Olruggio overhears Qifrey and his conversation with Richeh while he is on the couch dozing. He turns around and warns Qifrey that a student who doesn't listen to her teacher may fall off the path of learning completely. Olruggio drapes on his coat while listening to Qifrey explain Richeh's origins and stress over what his next course of action should be. Olruggio gives him a bit of advice—"Humans are not so simple as magic" before handing him a gift of his own. It's a 'Warmstone' of Olruggio's own making, a crystal that keeps the bearer warm to their core. He suggests that Qifrey put one by his bed for better sleep. When Qifrey compliments him, he turns red and hastily tries to brush it off by attributing it to his job.

Qifrey notices that Olruggio brought five, not four, and asks why. Olruggio turns around, hiding his face, and claims it is so Qifrey can have a good night's rest as the teacher. Qifrey is a little stunned by the show of kindness, faintly sending him off.

In Serpentback cave, Olruggio was notified of the problems arising within thanks to Richeh and appears just at the right moment to save Qifrey and Alaira from Sasaran's attack. His flames surround the Brimhat and himself, protecting his allies from further harm. When Iguin appears to whisk Sasaran away, Qifrey immediately jumps into action, summoning his waves to chase after them. Olruggio grabs onto his shoulder in warning, reminding him of his priority; the students. This grounds Qifrey, who is brought back to reality with an ashamed flush. Olruggio only pats him on the back, satisfied that Qifrey wouldn't be acting rashly.

Great Hall Arc
Olruggio supports the half-awake, injured Qifrey as they leave the Serpentback caves, but are immediately met with a summons to the Assembly. With Qifrey's arm over his shoulder, Olruggio vehemently protests the call, demanding that Qifrey should receive medical attention first. Suddenly, Qifrey slumps down into unconsciousness, becoming too heavy for Olruggio to hold. He collapses on the ground so the messenger, Luluci, wraps him up in a binding ribbon to transport him. He and the students follow her into the windowway to the Medical Spire.

When Olruggio sees Coco's surprised expression in the sea, he wonders why Qifrey didn't tell them about the Assembly. Though thinking about it, it makes sense to him, as Qifrey didn't have many fond memories of that place.

They arrive at the door of the Medical Tower, where Olruggio half-holds, half-carried Qifrey to the doctors, desperately explaining what he had already done to help (he stopped the bleeding). Qifrey lurches forward without Olruggio's balanced support, so Ermile takes over carrying the wounded witch. When Sinocia asks why Qifrey was so hurt, Olruggio just produces a vague answer under the glare of Luluci. Sinocia reappears out of the room to tell them that Qifrey will be fine and is sleeping at the moment, getting a relieved sigh from Olruggio. He makes the decision to stay with him and has to argue intensely with Luluci when she rejects his proposal.

Olruggio, Luluci, and the pupils end up staying the night under Sinocia's counsel. When they leave, Olruggio entrusts the responsibility of watching over Qifrey to Sinocia. After the meeting with Sage Beldaruit, Olruggio again thinks of Qifrey and has the students eat and clean before meeting in the Medical Tower again. He spends the night sitting by Qifrey.

Olruggio enters Qifrey's room after seeing what progress the girls have made and implores Qifrey to wake up soon, or he'll miss how fast his disciples are growing. Besides, he says, holding up Qifrey's glasses, they have something they need to discuss.

Jujy suggests to Olruggio that if she ever became a teacher, she would want somebody that helped her stay on track so that she'll never lean too far in one direction over the other. Even though Olruggio believes he's not suited to become a teacher, seeing as he isn't sure he could choose being a professor over doing something else, her words make him think. He takes out Qifrey's glasses and remembers how although he nearly chased after the Brimhat, the importance of his students came first anyways. Olruggio leans down, mulling over the words, seemingly seriously considering it.

Alone, Qifrey finally wakes up. He was dreaming of a flashback in which Olruggio and Qifrey, both as young children, are taking shelter from a storm in a little cave. A fire is blazing between them, keeping them warm. Qifrey confesses his fear of water to Olruggio, who consoles him by suggesting he learn more about it, to overcome his fear."If you're scared, then you should learn more about the thing you're scared of. Once you do, even when you're this close, you'll sleep soundly."

- Young Olruggio comforting Qifrey's fear of water, Chapter 36

In the present, Qifrey finds the cold pack that Coco created, wondering aloud what it was. Olruggio speaks up from his spot near the staircase, giving Qifrey just a bit of information about it. Qifrey smiles but then notices the dark expression on Olruggio's face and suddenly remembers his students. He frantically asks him if the children were still safe, and only relaxes when the witch reassures him that they are. Olruggio's sullen expression doesn't change. He asks Qifrey whether he really accepted Coco as an apprentice or if he was just using her as a tie to the Brimhats.

In Qifrey's time as Sage Beldaruit's apprentice, he would sneak out night after night, searching for the Brimhats with Olruggio. According to the Sage, Qifrey gave up his quest in finding the Brimhats only after he was able to access the Tower of Books, likely because he realized that to restore his eye & memories was to sacrifice the friend, magic, and everything else he had gained.

In the hospital room, Olruggio hands Qifrey the glasses that he repaired. Slowly, he reveals the spells he discovered while fixing them; ink made invisible to form light-focusing glyphs that aid one's failing eyesight. Olruggio fiercely confronts him about the dangers of chasing after the Brimhats with his fading eyesight, getting angrier and angrier until they're both suddenly interrupted by a burst of smoke. Sage Beldaruit appears and calls for them both in agitation. The moment he says that Coco is gone, Qifrey jolts out of his bed to follow her. Olruggio catches him just as he falls over his weakened limbs, even as Qifrey desperately says he needs to bring her back. Yet even as he stops Qifrey, Olruggio provides logical support by asking if he knew where Coco might've gone.

In the moments before Qifrey and Coco exit the portal back to the Assembly, Qifrey instructs Olruggio to use 'that' magic spell. Though he's hesitant, he knows it's the only way they'll arrive back safely.

With the spell done, both Coco and Qifrey rush through the portal and Olruggio closes it behind them. They're all out of breath for a moment before Olruggio erupts—yelling at their recklessness and lack of a plan. Even as he lectures them, he dries them with his rainflinger rings. Olruggio asks Coco if she really wants to stay under Qifrey as her teacher, yet seems uncertain when she confirms it. He hands Qifrey his hat and reminds him that they still have things to discuss.

Back at their atelier, Qifrey and Olruggio sit on a secluded hill to finally talk about what they've been through. Olruggio dictates that Qifrey will tell him his problems, and he will help in any way he can.

After hearing Olruggio's views, Qifrey is surprised. He had thought Olruggio would be angry with him, and he was, but as the witch explains, though he was absolutely furious at Qifrey for leaving his students behind and acting rashly despite his injuries, there was another side to it. In the end, Olruggio is just disappointed in himself, that he couldn't be someone that Qifrey thought to rely on. Of course, Qifrey immediately tries to counter his friend's assumption, but Olruggio continues on. As the atelier's Watchful Eye, he should've been more in tune with what was happening; even more so because he was Qifrey's best friend. Either way, because they were friends, he should support and advise Qifrey's choices.

Olruggio believes in the good that Coco saw in Qifrey, so he implores him to continue being the kind and dependable teacher that his students saw in him. In turn, he will go along with Qifrey, just like they used to do. They clasp their hands together and lean in. Olruggio finally asks the question. Why was Qifrey still trying to investigate the Brimhats, when his pursuit should've already ended at the Tower of Books?

Qifrey stops hiding and lets out a sad smile.

"Guess I'm just no match, for you..."

- Qifrey, Chapter 39

To Qifrey, he enjoys watching his disciples grow and he finds it peaceful here in the atelier, but then, that's all the more reason for him to chase down the thing that threatens to ruin the peace. Olruggio notices that his left eye is shining unnaturally brightly. Because of Qifrey's decreasing vision, he needs to do what must be done, to destroy the Brimhats once and for all before his time runs out and he can no longer conjure magic. Olruggio quickly realizes that Qifrey's ambition isn't just for show. He has a plan to eradicate the monsters that experimented on him with a new type of magic, something that appalls Olruggio.

Even while reminiscing about Olruggio's kindness, Qifrey takes off his hat and reveals the memory-erasure spell hidden behind the flap. Olruggio jerks back but Qifrey is faster, encasing the witch's head in the hat and then completing the glyph. Qifrey apologizes the whole time, falling down with Olruggio as the latter descends into an enchanted sleep.

Qifrey retrieves his hat from the ground as he sits beside the sleeping form of his best friend. To himself, he observes that Olruggio wasn't a good liar, he was the one who saw through the lies. Because Olruggio wanted him to stay as "Professor Qifrey", he had to do what he did.

Silver Night Festival Prologue Arc
Qifrey continues to do household chores like he normally does, but is stopped by a burst of pain in his arm. With nudging from his students and Olruggio, he hands the broom reluctantly to their Watchful Eye. Qifrey thanks him and asks after his preparations for the Festival. Olruggio brushes it off as nothing, sighing that his recent magical inventions weren't working so well anyways.

Qifrey explains to the students why Olruggio couldn't have such a harmless flame as an invention, because it may lure children into thinking that all flames are safe.

Silver Eve Arc
Olruggio enters Tartah and Mr. Nolnoa's shop with a shaved beard, looking much younger than he is. Coco shouts out in surprise, not recognizing the man, only realizing when Qifrey greets him with "Oru". Qifrey asks him over for a little talk about their wares but Olruggio has him hold it off until he's returned from his meeting with a client. Olruggio blithely tries to leave for the banquet, excited at the prospect of rare wine, but an alarmed Qifrey holds him back. He admonishes him for drinking alcohol while tired.

Olruggio and Qifrey hide behind a wall as they watch Coco and Agott finally begin bonding. Olruggio smiles, glad that those two were becoming friends. When he leaves and Qifrey isn't behind him, he asks if there's something still bothering him. Qifrey guesses that there's something that Coco is hiding from them; Olruggio agrees and brings up the metal bracelet on Coco's arm. Olruggio tells Qifrey that he shouldn't pry, but for a reason completely different from the professor's. Olruggio insists that it must be a matching bracelet that she got with Tartah and if they intervened, their budding relationship may just shrivel up and die. He's so empathetic that Qifrey wonders if something similar had happened to him before.

Qifrey considers his words but worries what may happen if it's a more serious type of secret. Olruggio teaches him that sometimes, they just need to be the person that another can confide in, instead of forcefully exposing the secret. The white-haired witch understands, but suggests that there may be some secrets that can't be told, no matter what. Olruggio expresses confusion before going back to his theory. He reminds Qifrey that when they were younger, they also kept a lot of secrets.

Moments

 * Olruggio breaks up the argument against Qifrey and Easthies, reminding them of their main purpose of being a witch.
 * Qifrey compliments Olruggio's pen that can sear magic glyphs into wood and stone.
 * Qifrey plans to call for Olruggio to protect Coco and Tetia when he senses his friend and disciple in danger.
 * In Richeh's flashback, she remembers how Olruggio and Qifrey ask what's wrong when they see her crying and how they extended a hand to her together.
 * Olruggio covers his face in exasperation when hearing that Qifrey didn't teach his disciples magical history, only practical skills.
 * Olruggio carries Qifrey's clothes and hat for him after they've been retrieved by the Council of Magic Security.
 * Qifrey dresses quickly and rushes with Olruggio to the Gate Hall to pursue Coco to the Tower of Books.
 * Olruggio heaves a sigh when he hears that Qifrey is planning on working in a tent for the witch festival.
 * While Coco and Agott as sneaking out, Qifrey, Olruggio, and Mr. Nornoa are gathered around a wine barrel, drinking out of casks.

Fanon
is the most popular ship within the Witch Hat Atelier fandom. It has 230+ works in its slash/romantic tag, and 70+ works in its general/platonic tag.

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Trivia

 * Qifrey and Olruggio have contrasting designs; Qifrey's hair, cloak, dress, and hat are all white, and vice versa for Olruggio. Qifrey's black top is also form-fitting, while Olruggio's is white and puffy. Olruggio's tassels are small and on his hat—Qifrey's is a long singular ribbon. Finally, Qifrey wears simple boots and Olruggio wears black flats.
 * Their magic specialties are also opposites, as Qifrey specializes in water magic, Olruggio works best with fire magic.
 * Qifrey has finished the pentagram test, allowing him to teach disciples as well. Olruggio stopped at the fourth test, the test to pass him from underneath his teacher's care.
 * Qifrey has a nickname for Olruggio—"Olly".
 * Their MBTIs are nearly opposites; while Olruggio is an ISTP, Qifrey is an INFJ with only their first letter being the same.
 * Their birthdays are about two months apart. Olruggio's is on September 20th, Qifrey's is on November 19th.
 * Qifrey can hold his liquor well and is careful to stop himself before getting too tipsy. Olruggio is a happy drunk that can also more or less hold his liquor, but he has a weakness for strong, sweet stuff that makes him fall asleep.
 * As children, the tassels on their hats are switched. Olruggio had the longer ribbon, while Qifrey donned a short tassel, unlike their present selves.
 * Olruggio became Qifrey's friend during the time that he was an apprentice under Sage Beldaruit's teachings.
 * Qifrey is approximately 179 cm tall. Olruggio's height has not been revealed yet, but it is likely that he is around 170 or so cm tall.