Magecraft

Magecraft [Others]
A general term representing activities that artificially re-enact Mysteries/Miracles.
Although there were some differences depending on traditions and schools, the basic principle was still "the transformation of the magical energy that exists within the practitioner or the environment".
The practitioner would issue Commands according to the Foundation (System) of his school, and this would cause the execution of a predetermined Program.
Magical energy was the electrical current required to deliver the command.
Although magecraft gave the impression of omnipotence, it fundamentally produced Mystery through the principle of equivalent exchange.
It was possible to transform one thing into another, but it was impossible to produce something from nothing.
However, the essence of magecraft as a discipline was to challenge that "Nothingness", and endeavor towards the impossible. Large-scale spells such as the so-called Grand Sorceries, Grand Rituals were really purposeless if not for attempting to reach " " (Kara) or True Magic.
Kara no Kyoukai was a story of one magus' attempt at challenging "Nothingness".

Magecraft [Term]
A general term for the act of artificially reenacting mysteries and miracles.
Although each school has its individual differences, it is basically a mechanism for using the magical energy in the practitioner's body or the outside world, in order to reenact a predetermined phenomenon. The practitioner sends an order (command) to the foundation (system) controlled by their school, and a pre-made function (program) is executed. The "electrical current" needed to send that command and execute the program is magical energy.
Though sorcery may seem almighty, it is basically the bringing about of mysteries by means of equivalent exchange. Accordingly, sorceries powerful enough to interfere with Nature will obviously require enough magical energy (mana) to fill Nature just to execute them.
There is a limit to the sorceries that can be executed using an individual's magical energy alone.

Spellcasting [Others]
A necessary step in the activation of magecraft.
While utilizing an established school of magecraft, one must strictly follow a set protocol. Spellcasting is one step in this protocol.
An analogy would be the application process of a document, which would include application, acceptance, review, and finally issuance. Spellcasting would be the "application" step.
In the case of utilizing magecraft with a broad Foundation, spellcasting is mostly a convention. However, for those who practice their own style of magecraft, spellcasting has potent self-suggestive powers.
In the bodies of magi, the Magic Circuits which shape magecraft already exist.
Incantations are the "personal adage" that help the magi transform themselves. They are a method to efficiently activate and mobilize the Magic Circuits.
Spellcasting is not a method to speak to the World, but a method to speak to oneself. Even for the same spell, different magi will utilize different incantations due to their distinct natures.
As an aside, spells that speak to the World rather than oneself are classified as Grand Spells or Grand Rituals, and it is impossible for an individual to use such spells.

Magecraft [Term]
A general term for the act of artificially reenacting mysteries and miracles.
Although each school has its individual differences, it is basically a mechanism for using the magical energy in the practitioner's body or the outside world, in order to reenact a predetermined phenomenon. The practitioner sends an order (command) to the foundation (system) controlled by their school, and a pre-made function (program) is executed.
The "electrical current" needed to send that command and execute the program is magical energy.
Though sorcery may seem almighty, it is basically the bringing about of mysteries by means of equivalent exchange. Accordingly, sorceries powerful enough to interfere with Nature will obviously require enough magical energy (mana) to fill Nature just to execute them.
There is a limit to the sorceries that can be executed using an individual's magical energy alone.
Also, sorceries that affect other people's minds and change the course of their thoughts require no physical compensation, but the practitioner will inevitably find their own thoughts being pulled in that altered direction as well. As the saying goes, before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves. Because the study of curses is looked down upon as unscholarly by the Association, they have fallen far behind the Middle East in that particular field.

Magecraft [Magecraft]
A general term for the act of artificially reenacting mysteries and miracles.
Although each school has its individual differences, it is basically a mechanism for using the magical energy in the practitioner's body or the outside world, in order to reenact a predetermined phenomenon.
The practitioner sends an order (command) to the foundation (system) controlled by their school, and a pre-made function (program) is executed.
The "electrical current" needed to send that command and execute the program is magical energy.
Though magecraft may seem almighty, it is basically the bringing about of mysteries by means of equivalent exchange.
Even the exceptionally talented Rin, in exchange for her versatile sorcery trait, will find herself afflicted by a chronic lack of money her entire life.
Also, sorceries that affect other people's minds and change the course of their thoughts require no physical compensation, but the practitioner will inevitably find their own thoughts being pulled in that altered direction as well. As the saying goes, before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.
Because the study of curses is looked down upon as unscholarly by the Association, they have fallen far behind the Middle East in that particular field.

Taiji [Others]
A philosophy originated in ancient China, a graphical representation of the Yin-Yang theory.
It attempts to capture the essence of everything on a conceptual level: those that are active are defined as Yang (white), and the opposite are defined as Yin (black).
The Taiji symbolizes opposing concepts such as day and night, light and darkness, male and female. At the same time, you may also call it a condensed version of the ever-changing, dynamic World.
Furthermore, there is a dot of Yin in Yang, and conversely a dot of Yang in Yin. This indicates that the distinction between Yin and Yang is not absolute. There is darkness even in light.
Taiji is the "one" at the beginning, the Yin and Yang that divide the "one" are called Liangyi (Ryougi).
As an aside, the magi in this story were all practitioners of Western magecraft who were incompatible with Chinese philosophies.

Magic Circuits [Others]
The pseudo-nerves existing in the body of a magus.
They are the paths that convert life force into magical energy, as well as the paths which connect to the foundations underlying Grand Rituals.
The number of Magic Circuits is determined at birth. Mage lineages will resort to any means to alter themselves in hope of giving their descendants just one more Circuit.
This is why magi from older lineages are more powerful.
In terms of the number of Magic Circuits, and the quality of the lineage, Cornelius Alba is undoubtedly a first rate magus.
In fact, neither Aozaki Touko nor Araya Souren have many Magic Circuits. Touko has about 20, Araya about 30.
Still, the two are considered geniuses: Touko has talents that are independent of her lineage. Araya's overwhelming power is probably a result of the anguish that he ceaselessly accumulated through the ages.

Magecraft
Many magi, and the magecrafts they use, appear in Fate/stay night. What is a magus, and what is magecraft? The section aims to address these questions and many more that arise in the story, in an organized and easily understood format.

What is Magecraft that Enacts Mysteries?
“Magecraft” is a general term for activities that seek to artificially reproduce mysteries and miracles. Regardless of how mysterious or supernatural it is, a phenomenon that occurs naturally is not magical. Mystic energy is required to use magecraft, and one who brings forth this energy and manipulates it is called a magus. Since antiquity, magi have endeavored in magical research. However, the existence of magi is known to few. “Reveal nothing to the world ignorant of mystery” is the absolute law that magi have imposed upon themselves.

Keywords to learn about magecraft
Magecraft is a grand area of study which involves systematic research. Thus, there are many technical terms that are unfamiliar to the lay reader. This section will provide definitions of magical jargon that appear in Fate/stay night, to aid readers seeking a greater understanding of magecraft.

•Incantation
An action required to activate magic. These originated as verbal chants, but also include hand and body movements.

•Gandr
A magic passed down in northern Europe. It is a curse on the target that the user points at, inflicting discord on the mind and body. Because one must point at a target within one’s field of vision, it is also called the “Gandr shot.”

•Origin
The orientation of something at the time that it sprang into existence. An Origin is what defines an existence as itself. In magical contexts, it is also used to refer to one’s magical alignment.

•Reinforcement
Magecraft that flows energy to “elevate the existence” of the target. This has effects such as increasing the sharpness of bladed implements and the nutritional value of food.

•Barrier
Magecraft that partitions inside from outside, and operates on the boundary or the inner portion of the affected region. It is primarily used to protect one’s body or property.

•Reality Marble
Innate barrier. The projection of one’s mental landscape onto one’s surroundings, painting over the real world. It is very costly to magically create a Reality Marble.

•Life force
The source of mystic energy. Magi use the magic circuits running throughout their bodies to convert life force into mystic energy.

•Alignment
The magical orientation that determines the specialization of a magus. One’s alignment also influences one’s social standing as a magus.

•Projection
Magecraft that creates an imitation of something that exists (or existed) in reality, using mystic energy. The projected item only persists for a few minutes, so Projection is viewed as an extremely inefficient magecraft.

•Attribute
One of the factors determining the effect of one's magecraft. There are multiple types like reinforcement and projection.

•Noble Color
A special, magical quality that one is born with. This term is not widely heard; it is primarily used by the magi of the Mage's Association.

•Jewel magecraft
A general term for magecraft utilizing jewels. Tohsaka Rin specializes in this type of magecraft. Rin normally stores her mystic energy in jewels, and uses (spends) them as powerful magic projectiles.

•Mystic Eyes
Magecraft that enacts effects on the target just by looking at it. Also known as “Evil Gaze” or “Evil Eyes.” If the target makes eye contact with the user, the effects are rapidly amplified. The use of Mystic Eyes is viewed as proof of being a first-rate magus, but truly powerful Mystic Eyes are a rare, inherent trait.

•Magic circuit
The apparatus that converts life force into mystic energy. Circuits are like internal organs or nerves, such that people who lack circuits cannot use magecraft.

•Magic foundation
A system engraved upon the world in advance to make it possible to use magecraft. This takes the form of academia or religion.

•Magic crest
A crest created to pass on the results of magical research to the next generation. By engraving the crest on the body, a magus can pass on generations of research and magecraft to one’s successor.

•Magus
A person who possesses magic circuits and can use magecraft. Magi who do not conduct research are called “spellcasters” to distinguish them from the magi that do.

•Magic formula
Something included in a magic foundation and in which the function of magecraft is recorded.
The magus sends a command to the magic formula, puts magic power into it, and thereby activates the function of magecraft incorporated into the formula in advance.

•Mystic Code
Tools magi use to assist the use of magecraft, or which have magical effects. These encompass a broad range of artifacts, such as the Noble Phantasms carried by Servants.

•Magic
Mysteries of a different kind than magecraft, that produce phenomena considered impossible to recreate in the modern era. Ultimately, magical research aims to reach Magic. In the modern era, only five things are called Magics.

•Mystic energy
The energy that is acquired by converting life force via magic circuits. Magi use this energy to activate magecraft.

Baptismal Chant [Magecraft]
The only miracle allowed to be practiced by the Holy Church.
It was a simple ritual that sublimed lost souls through the Lord's teaching, and returned them to the appropriate "Throne".
The Foundations of each mage school's arcane principles were carved onto the World. Spells were activated by taking control of the Rules and System (through the Foundation).
Spells with a feeble belief system and small Foundation were often weak, and could not function in foreign lands.
Amongst faith-based spells, the one with the broadest Foundation was the Church's teaching of God, i.e. Words of God.
Its ability to interfere with physical objects was weak, but its ability to interfere with spiritual entities was great.
The teachings of the Church were widespread, because this miracle that "speaks to the soul" had mended the hearts of many.

Land and Thaumaturgy

To use magic, a magus must first establish contact with a magical foundation engraved in the world, send a command to the foundation, and then execute a pre-constructed function. At this point, mystic energy fuels the execution of the function, so the magus must send the command and supply energy simultaneously.

Magic foundations are magical theories that schools of magic have engraved in the world, and magic is started up in accordance with those rules and systems. For example, the magical theory with the largest foundation is the “Teaching of the Lord” of the Holy Church. Magic foundations engraved in the form of academia and religions fuse intimately with the veins of the land, and the magus using that magic foundation can perform magic anywhere in the world. However, if the magus leaves the land where his magic foundation was engraved in, he loses the backup of his land, and the magic’s power is certain to deteriorate.

Additionally, this effect differs with magic foundations that are neither academia nor religion, but are instead exclusively inherited from person to person, such as in oral tradition or clan teachings. As long as the rules of those foundations are met, it is possible to exhibit the same basic effect irrespective of geographical location.

Matou Zouken
The Makiri clan emigrated from their homeland to Fuyuki, and subsequently declined. It is extremely risky for magi to leave their own land, as it also means departure from their own magic foundation.

Magical Foundation [Magecraft/Other]
A magical theory engraved into the world. Its strength is greatly influenced by the faith and the collective unconscious of the people.
As a Mystery propagates, it loses power. However, the reason they become more stable as knowledge about them spreads, though it may seem contradictory at first glance, is because of this system of Magical Foundations.
In the present day, the most widespread and most powerful Magical Foundation is the “Teachings of God,” used by the Holy Church.
Of course, there also exist families who develop magical formulas entirely independent of such Foundations, and weirdos like Flat who “build an entirely new formula from scratch every time.”

Q: In Overlooking View, Touko mentioned "even I can't fly without a broom", please tell us about the details of the magecraft involved in flying with a broom.

A: Basically it is a transportation method involving using magical energy as fuel. Within it, there is the Jet Method, which achieves maximum air speed transiently. There is also the low-cost Ether Sail method. The current new method of transportation involves planting a magical anchor at the destination, and the magus will be pulled toward it, like being pulled by a retracting elastic band. This is the Anchor Attraction Ascension method designed by Touko Aozaki (Patented, commonly referred to as "Touko Travel").
... Although Touko was only half-serious there, broom is still a Mystery that is supported by "Magic Foundation - Black Magic" over the entire world. Female magi can easily achieve magical properties such as "foot not making contact with the ground" and "repelled by the earth" when employing a broom. Furthermore, gravity can be reduced to about 1/6 of normal by using an ointment of witchs' which enhances the effect of "repelled by the earth" mentioned previously.
In other words, a broom is an item that enables "hovering". The source of propulsion varies depending on the magi. Nowadays there is a trend among female magi to research new methods of flight. However, in recent years, there has not been any new innovation that could trump Touko's ridiculously sophisticated method of travel.

Magical Attribute
Magecrafts of the Five Great Elements form the fundamentals of magecraft. This is magecraft where the magus directly controls elemental magecfraft that corresponds to the magus’ alignment; e.g. fire magecraft if one’s alignment is fire, water if one’s alignment is water, etc.

Attributes add meaning to elemental magecraft and expand its versatility. The Reinforcement attribute is an easily understood example. When the Reinforcement attribute is given to fire elemental magecraft, fire will burn more intensely, while applying the same to water elemental magecraft will cause water to flow with greater momentum and volume. This is true for the simplest cases, but at advanced levels, the attribute becomes more obvious than the alignment, which becomes more difficult to discern by outside observation. Illya’s “visual perception transfer” illustrates this — while one can tell that it is magecraft with the attribute of Transference, the magecraft’s original alignment is not apparent. However, no matter how incomprehensible it may appear, all magecraft has an original alignment.

Examples of attributes
This section surveys examples of magical attributes such as Reinforcement, Projection, and Conversion. Types of magecraft in which attributes are used are highly versatile with a wide range of applications, so the following cases are not representative of all magecraft using said attributes, but merely a few, limited scenarios. Among these, there are some types of magi, such as Reinforcement, with a high degree of freedom even within their own attribute and no fixed form of execution.

Generally, each magus’ lineage is specialized in a certain attribute. This is dependent on generations of research, and the types of Mysteries engraved in the Magic Crest. Thus, family attributes cannot be changed in the short term. However, just as Tohsaka Rin can use the Reinforcement attribute in addition to the Tohsaka specialization of Conversion, first rate magi tend to possess multiple attributes. Contrast this with alignments; a magus can only use magecraft of the same alignment as oneself. To use magic of a different alignment, the alignment of the magus must also be changed, as in the case of Matou Sakura.

Reinforcement
A magical attribute that primarily uses tools, improves materials, and fortifies fragile components. At a high level, an item’s very existence can be elevated, such as changing a knife of mediocre construction into a masterwork blade. It is also possible to enhance traits such as physical might.
Shirou punching after Reinforcing his fists. Reinforcement specializes not only in strengthening the physical, but in amplifying the significance of an existence.

Projection
A magical attribute that brings out a reflection of one’s inner image into reality. Because Projections are made of energy, it is not possible to create long-lasting objects. Furthermore, if the image collapses, the Projection will disperse.
Shirou specializes in Projection, but this is merely a byproduct of his Reality Marble, “Unlimited Blade Works.”

Conversion
The magical attribute passed down through the Tohsaka line. Tohsaka magi use this attribute to store their own magical energy in jewels, and can draw it out to use magecraft when needed.
It is possible to use large-scale magecraft without expending one’s own magical energy, by storing large quantities of magical energy in gemstones.

Absorption
The magical attribute passed down through the Matou line. A characteristic of Absorption magecraft is that it has absolute effects on the body. Absorption can be used to bind and control others.
Matou Zouken makes direct use of this attribute to suck the life force from other people for sustenance.

Flow/Transference of power
The magical attribute that Einzbern magi are specialized in. Using this attribute, they excel at the transmutation and creation of materials — that is, alchemy — and are highly skilled in the production of homunculi.
Illya often uses magic of the Transference attribute to move the consciousness of a target to something else.

Family lineage of Magus
A magus lineage refers to the Magic Crest relay that passes down a Magic Crest through unilineal succession. Because this “relay” is so important, even if a family’s biological lineage has ceased, the magus lineage will be considered continuous if the crest is engraved onto somebody else’s body. Conversely, if the Magic Crest itself is lost, that magus lineage will be considered to have been severed even if a child with Magic Circuits still lives. Under normal circumstances, a magus selects the best qualified heir from within the family, and gradually passes on the Magic Crest to the successor.
The chosen successor to a magus lineage undergoes harsh training from a young age. Because an abnormal mindset and body are required to use magic, the training to instill these qualities is extremely severe, and it is not unusual to employ inhumane measures such as brainwashing and bodily modification. Thus, as the heir matures he or she inherits the lineage’s magic, knowledge, and research. Finally, a new master is born when the entirety of the Magic Crest is passed down from the predecessor.

Increasing the number of Magic Circuits
Magic Circuits are organs that one is born with, so there is no way to increase their number after birth. There are ways to transfer circuits, but it is rarely done because the success rate is low. Therefore, magus lineages will modify the parents’ bodies or take every measure possible at the moment of a child’s birth to create a successor with even one additional Magic Circuit. Therefore, the children of older lineages tend to have more Magic Circuits.

Inherited Magic Crests
Magic Crests are heirlooms within which the entirety of a lineage’s research is inscribed, from the first ancestor to the present. The crest contains the regrets of previous family heads’ inability to master their magic. A Magic Crest with a long history is a cursed crystallization impregnated with the feelings of countless preceding magi.

The Tohsaka family
Rin is the heir to the Tohsaka family, while Sakura was adopted by the Matou family as a successor. Because Tohsaka Tokiomi, the family head, died in the Holy Grail War, Rin inherited Tokiomi’s estate, including his magical patents, businesses in Fuyuki, and other assets. However, at this point most of Tokiomi’s magic crest had not yet been transferred to Rin. Tokiomi’s crest was extracted from his body by the Clock Tower, and given to Tokiomi’s next of kin to be transplanted into Rin.

Great magical families

Heine Istari [Person]
One of the invitees to Adra, the Castle of Separation.
He has the double elemental affinity of Fire and Water. His specialty in magecraft is “Change.”
For a human magus, he is in the strongest class of combat ability. A pure and noble “Knight.”
Furthermore, as was mentioned in the Kadokawa paperback edition, he mentions that the title of knight wasn’t given to him by “her Highness the Queen.” His reasoning for the use of “Her Highness” rather than “Her Majesty” is that, “someone who is only a member of an earthly royal family isn’t qualified for the highest title.” A very magus-like sentiment. At any rate, he has a background in France, and the character of one who was once a member of the Holy Church.
The fate he reached at the Castle of Separation could only be described as a result of coming up against the wrong opponent. An issue of compatibility, as is so often the case in Type Moon.
Taking care of Rosalind up until the very moment of his death, his wish was entrusted to Seigen. Though ultimately Seigen was the culprit behind the Adra case…even so, there was no betraying the wish of that knight.

Lord El-Melloi II [Person/Title]
It goes without saying, the main character of this story.
His real name is Waver Velvet. One of the few survivors of the Fourth Holy Grail War.
His elemental affinity is Earth. His specialty in magecraft is Counteraction1. A destroyer of Mystery — though his talent for magecraft is mediocre, he was blessed with an incredible talent for deconstructing.
In reality, he doesn’t really possess all that much more knowledge than other magi. When he became the head of the Faculty of Modern Magecraft, he gained access to an incredible amount of materials, but with the amount of work he is saddled with, the amount of those materials he actually has time to study is limited.
His real talent is the speed and accuracy with which he can connect the people and events happening before him with his knowledge.
Just as Gray pointed out several times, rather than the Mystery or the incidents themselves, he looks more at the magi behind them. Why does such a Mystery exist? Why did they reach for such a Mystery? His eye for judgment is, in the end, reserved for judging people.
In particular, his impression that “this riddle is meaningless” that he expressed at the beginning of the Castle of Separation incident shows how well that ability of his was suited to that incident. In contrast, after the Rail Zeppelin incident, once he began pursuing Heartless, that same eye for judgment is what allowed Heartless to drag him along. Without cooperating with Heartless, the riddle couldn’t be solved — such a methodology was the perfect kind of hacking to use against El-Melloi II.
After the events of Case Files, in order to stop Gray’s transformation, he turned to the numerous thesis and essays left behind by his predecessor, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald. As a result, he ended up reanalyzing and reclassifying the huge number of theories his predecessor had idly scribbled down…
And that was the beginning of the grimoire known as “Lord Kayneth’s Encyclopedia of Secret Arts,” which would someday be written.

Adashino Hishiri [Person]
The snake of the Faculty of Law. Her elemental affinity is Water. Her specialty is Poison.
In this story, she was El-Melloi II’s first rival. If Heartless is his Moriarty, then she is his Irene Adler. Though the chance of developing a romantic relationship with someone was never there for El-Melloi II.
In reality, much of her life was shaped by her desire for revenge against her father. Heading into the depths of the Spiritual Tomb of Albion on his own, he abandoned his ex-wife and son entirely out of nowhere upon his return. Giving birth to her through his second wife, he died a coward. In order to prove the worthlessness of her father, she joined the family of Norwich before slipping into the Faculty of Law, the easiest route for a magus with no pressure from their own bloodline.
As a result, she coincidentally received information from the Faculty of Law’s Information Division, and became strangely obsessed with a certain Doctor Heartless. She began pursuing him, thinking there was a possibility he was her long lost brother, Adashino Kurou.
If El-Melloi II had “a first rate sense of being a magus but a second rate skill,” then Adashino was “a magus of first rate skill, but no sense of being one.” Though her nature is closer to that of a Spellcaster, her place in the Faculty of Law which has given up pursuit of the Root fit her perfectly.
Though not explicitly stated within the work, her glasses are Mystic Eye Killers.
Just as her brother Heartless (Adashino Kurou) once possessed, she bears Mystic Eyes of Finding. In her investigations, the reason Hishiri was able to reach such precise results so quickly was because of those eyes. Of course within the Faculty of Law they were of great use, but they were also used to help find her brother.
As a bit of a digression, she has been entertaining herself greatly with the arrival of the new, plump, and somewhat out of place member of the Faculty of Law.

Svin Glascheit [Person]
One half of the El-Melloi Classroom’s legendary duo.
His elemental affinity is Fire, but it’s been somewhat changed. His specialty in magecraft is Regression.
Many believed that if it were not for Flat, he would be an entirely ordinary person, but with Gray’s arrival that illusion was put to rest. The incident that made the El-Melloi Classroom aware that their title of legendary pair extended to their weirdness was one month before the Adra incident.
Magecraft that borrows the abilities of animals exists all over the world, but the Glascheit family’s strain of magecraft is rather eccentric. It functions not by drawing out a powerful bestial nature, but by transforming oneself wholesale into an animal. Nerves, muscles, bones, and even the cerebrum are rebuilt in a process rivaling the theoretically extinct werewolves.
Speaking from the conclusion, rather than a magus, it would be more accurate to describe Svin Glascheit as a vessel for magecraft. That was why he became so captivated by Gray, who was similarly created to be a vessel for a past hero.
This is, in a certain sense, similar to Karabo, who was constantly being overtaken by the memories of others due to his Mystic Eyes. Having managed to overcome this unique facet of his nature, if Svin had come to meet Karabo at some point, perhaps he could have given him some advice.
Within the story, Svin acquired the rank of Pride. This is not just an acknowledgement of his personal abilities, but Svin himself, who was the crystallization of the Glascheit family’s research, was also taken into consideration. On top of that, having achieved the rank in his teens is a feat rarely seen in the Clock Tower, so it was understandable for El-Melloi II to be struck by such deep feelings on that occasion.

Inorai Valueleta Atroholm [Person]
Aozaki Touko’s teacher. Head of one of the Three Great Aristocratic Families, Valueleta. Lord of the Faculty of Creation, she was a Brand, a magus of the highest practical rank.
As that consequently places her as the teacher of Araya Souren and a certain other individual, more care was taken in writing her for Case Files than any other character. That being said, when asked about her general image, the response that came back was. “Got it. I’ll leave it all up to you, Mr. Sanda.” The insane image Type Moon had garnered up to that point had just been reinforced. One could say that was the point the author came to terms with the fact that Case Files was going to be accelerated as a whole.
She possesses a triple affinity for Earth, Water, and Wind. Her specialty is Sympathetic Magecraft. Though she only showed a brief look at her abilities in the series, she is especially skilled with magecraft using sand, and the small bag she carries around with her at all times can spill out an immeasurable amount of it. Within the series, Touko says something along the lines of “Please spare me one of your pictures at least.” That is because she knows full well what fate awaits those who are drawn in her sand pictures.

◆

In a manner of speaking, she is the idealized image of a magus. She navigates the political sphere as easily as she breathes, and progresses her research in magecraft as easily as she walks. The fact she strongly supported the Sealing Designation of her favorite pupil Touko is a simple manifestation of that nature. Thinking there were issues of greater importance that took precedence, such a conclusion was only natural for her, and so she didn’t hesitate for a moment in her decision. Feeling no sense of contradiction or conflict in her own character, she is like a mountain ascetic still entrenched in the ways of the world, a perfect and powerful woman.
Personifying the concept that what the people of any given age loved was to be considered art, unlike many magi of her advanced age, she thoroughly enjoys brand new technologies, like her iPod and her personal computer. Though she as an air of approachability to anyone regardless of their relative standings, her total lack of any pretense has the terrifying effect of feeling like she can see through you right down to your very core.
By nature, such pretense and complexity is necessary for humans.
These are inventions created by humans so that society can move along unhindered, after all.
For a member of one of the Three Great Aristocratic Families, removing that necessary element from everything is a suitable kind of monstrosity, don’t you think?
Additionally, her name was given by Nasu Kinoko.
As someone in a position of such enormous power in the Clock Tower, like putting the eyes in a Buddha, the author begged Nasu to be the one to name her.

Origin [Others]
The direction of everything that arose from fundamental cause. The α that enabled the existence of α, the absolute order that existed at the very core.
For instance, something with the Origin of "taboo", regardless of being born as a human, animal, or plant, would always exist to go against the morals established by the collective.
It was the idea that, independent of the process of reincarnation, humans acquired bodies and wisdom from the directional force at the point of origin, and acquired personalities that were only slightly different from their prior lives.
Individuals who awakened their Origins would be consumed. This was due to "personality" being something merely on the magnitude of one hundred years; it would be overwritten by the directional force born from the origin. However, humans (human bodies) who were overwritten by their Origins would acquire great powers.
Araya Souren learned the technique to awaken Origins during his research into the root of humanity.
Of course, he only awakened the Origin of one person.

Magus
The everyday life of a magus is mostly spent conducting research. Magi who use magic outside of a research capacity, such as those who use magecraft to work and profit for themselves, are few in number. People who treat magecraft as a tool, such as assassins, are called “spellcasters,” and are looked down upon with disdain by the magical establishment.

Furthermore, it is precisely because they are magi that few magi use magecraft in their daily lives. The cost of using magecraft for mundane tasks is indeed high, but above all, this is avoided for the purpose of concealing mysteries. The Magic Association is extremely wary of allowing knowledge of magecraft to reach the outside world, so magi who are overly conspicuous in the use of magecraft are purged.

Magical families are essentially unilineal, in which one child inherits the parents’ assets and teachings in order to carry on the magecraft and research. These types of families are called magus lineages. Children other than the chosen heir may not even be told that their parents are magi. However, magic circuits are not wholly hereditary, and magi do not always produce children. In these cases, a child possessing magic circuits is adopted into the family. A major reason for the unilinealism of magecraft is that magic crests cannot be duplicated. The sole heir inherits all of the family’s magecraft.

•Magic circuit
Magic circuits are the pseudo nerves that a magus has inside himself. These are paths that generate magic energy and access the magic foundation engraved in the world. Magi make magic energy with the magic circuits and use the magic energy to run the magic foundation and thus put magery into effect. To do either of these, the magic circuits are necessary.

As suggested by the description pseudo nerves, these are split into cores and lines joining these together and are spread throughout the body.

The number of magic circuits are fixed at birth and the number won't increase by other than external factors.

•Magic crest
The product of stamping the anchored mystery that a magus had spent his entire life building up. Can be said to be mystical inheritance that defines the magus line as a magus line. While the inheritor is young, it is necessary to implant this little at a time while at the same time having the body adjust to the magic crest by medicine and rituals. The magic association also has technology for extracting just the magic crest from the body and storing it.

•Magus alignment
What determines what kind of attributes a magus' magic is going to be likely to have, or what kind of magic the magus is going to have good chemistry with, is going to be the element aligned with the magus.
In addition to the five great elements of earth, water, fire, wind, and sky, there's the imaginary elements of Hollow and Nothing, for a number of seven.
Some of the five elements will differ according to the school of magic. A famous one is a style in which the five great elements are formed from wood, fire, soil, metal,and water.
Basically, one magus has one alignment, but sometimes there are magi with two alignments (like fire and earth, wind and water) and there are also those called "Average Ones" who have all the five great elements.

Matou Sakura normally would have been a holder of the imaginary element of Emptiness. However, through her magic training, hers had been changed to the water alignment of the Matou line, so she couldn't exhibit her true talent.

•The absoluteness called Origin
If alignment determines the root of one's magic, then even deeper than that, is the origin which determined the root of one's existence. The origin is not only for magi, but is the orientation that all things are born with and it's existence itself is thought absolutely necessary.
Those magi with an origin that is strongly expressed outwardly are sometimes removed from the normal alignments and there are times that the origin itself becomes the alignment. Most of those magi exhibit their talents as extreme specialists.
Because of that, it's said that they can reach higher grounds than normal magi.

•Noble Colors
Of the alignments, wind is called "noble" and fire is "normal". By the way, the term "Noble Colors" is used to refer to special and innate things where he workings of the magic circuit are close to the movements of a celestial body (normally they're closer to the movements of the crust), and is innate and special.
Noble Colors are often used to refer to mystic eyes, and Rider's petrifying mystic eyes are also a noble color.

Q: What’s that red loser Cornelius Alba’s origin? <Miya Jōsōji>

Takeuchi: Everybody loves Alba! Of course, his origin is chocola- *PUNCHED*
Nasu: The socially-awkward mushroom is going to answer this one seriously, it’s “Refutation”.

"I failed 2 years ago. That person was too different. What was needed were those who had diverged from the same 'Origin'.
That's right. Be happy, Ryougi Shiki. Those two were sacrifices that I prepared for you."

Q: What is Kurogiri Satsuki’s origin? <Mafty>

Nasu: Nostalgia.
Takeuchi: You can’t return to the forest of cats.
Nasu: Ah, good one. But if we’re bringing up Taniyama Hiroko, I’d have to recommend “elfin”.

Q: What is the limit of replication in UBW? The highest level of NP (sword types) is probably Ea, but while it might be impossible for Shirou, could Archer make it? Also, under the meaning of weapons, to what extent can he make modern weapons? Must it be only blade types or can he make guns and mobile weapons?

A: Divine constructs like Ea and Excalibur are non-replicable. There might be some degraded NPs with similar performance in stock though. Also, since sword is becoming his origin, the weapons that he has stored are fundamentally limited to close combat.

Noble Colour [Others]
A name for inborn special talents, used within the Association.
Primarily used in reference to those who possess mystic eyes. For instance, the mystic eyes of Tsukihime's Shiki are an example of a Noble Color.
Rider's mystic eyes of petrification fall under the classification of "Jewel", which exceeds even the "Gold" possessed by the highest class of bloodsucker.
Further, beyond Jewel lies "Rainbow". These ultimate mystic eyes, which blend and mix all seven colors of the rainbow like a kaleidoscope, are considered to be the mark of the King of the Moon.

Philosophy Magecraft
For the Clock Tower in the Occident, there is the Luo-Xuan Guan in the Orient. Philosophy Magecraft is the main magecraft employed by this Luo-Xuan Guan, spread from Asia to the Middle East.
Unlike the Clock Tower's Western Magecraft, this one doesn't employ Magecraft Foundations. Instead, it's utilized by connection to a giant Greater Mystic Code fused with planet Earth, the Philosophy Foundation - sort of a pseudo-Root.
The currently distributed Philosophy Keys enable access to restricted territories of this Philosophy Foundation.
Philosophy Keys are passed down from teacher to student, and inheriting a Philosophy Key essentially means shouldering a part of the world.
It's worth special mention that the Philosophy Key leading back to the founders are said to enable connection the Privileged Domains.

Thought Key [Magecraft/Other]
Thought Magecraft’s version of a Magic Crest.
They are access rights to a vessel—the Thought Foundation.
They are passed down from teacher to student, and unlike Magic Crests, aren’t restricted to families and bloodlines. The magecraft inscribed in this Key is like marks painted in a bowl. The bowl remains unchanged but is observed differently depending on what’s painted on it. Long story short, the whole world can be deceived by this. Just watch out for when the world retaliates.

However, inheriting a Key means constantly taking influence from the “bowl”. One who inherits a top-class Key and succeeds at fully drawing out its abilities is called a Tianxian and is past halfway through a process of fusing with the world. Those who managed to reach this point gain a level of influence somewhat similar to that of a Ghost Liner, but at the same time, struggle to maintain the self-identity necessary to brandish their powers.
Side note: It’s possible to access the Thought Foundation without a Key, but the usable magecraft is limited to the basic spells (It’s still possible to achieve advanced spells by compiling basic spells together). The access rights provided by the Keys are to a form of privileged domain. This is similar to how the spells contained in a Magic Crest are, almost without exception, secret arts directly connected to one’s family.

Thought Foundation [Mystic Code]
The concept which composes the crux of Thought Magecraft. Called “the Disc” for short.
It’s an ultra-giant Mystic Code fused with Earth, and can also be considered the simulation of an artificial deity, or in a sense, an artificial Root. Users of Though Magecraft are connected to the Thought Foundation from beginning to end and use it as the medium to activate their magecraft.
Therefore, the goal in Thought Magecraft is not to reach the Root, but to make this Disc reach the Root’s level of accuracy. Although that act is akin to attempting to fix a long broken plate without having all the missing parts…
Now, despite the name “Disc,” it is somewhat like a path and somewhat like one of those particle accelerators from modern science. It’s the cloud computing of thoughts humans can’t fully utilize, but this Disc does more than only collect the thoughts, it accelerates the thoughts nonstop, and continues to expand to this day… or it’s watching the fantasy where it continued to expand (The changes to magecraft at the end of the Age of Gods reached everyone equally, including Thought Magecraft, and that brought about major losses and minor benefits).

The Mage's Association [Organization name]
An organization created to protect those who seek to learn sorcery, regardless of nationality or field of study. (On paper, anyway.)
Their mission is the management, concealment, and advancement of sorcery.
In order to protect themselves from that which would threaten them (be it the Church, rival organizations of magi, or the monstrosities that punish humans who break taboos), they accumulated military might.
In order to further the advancement (degeneration) of sorcery, they built research facilities.
And, in order to deter crimes committed with sorcery, they created laws.
Their headquarters is located in London, and goes by the unofficial name of "The Clock Tower".
It seems that in the beginning the Association was divided into three great branches, including the original associations that predate the Clock Tower. That is, the "Giant's Pit" of Egypt, and a cluster of associations based in northern Europe called the "Sea of Estray". However, ever since the Clock Tower became the headquarters, mingling between the branches has been on the decline.
Also, they are fundamentally incompatible with the sorcery foundation of the Middle East and the ideological sorcery of mainland China, and the three groups are currently feigning nonaggression.

Divine Body
Fragments of gods. Literal parts of what once were gods.
Most of them withered, failing to withstand the mana drought of the Common Era, but there are a few rare fragments that retained their properties.
Rumor says a form of magecraft in the Far East employs those.

Japanese Magecraft [Magecraft]
In the magecraft used by the Clock Tower, the caster utilizes magecraft by first using their Magic Circuits to generate magical energy, then in most cases, connecting to magecraft foundations to lead them to spell formulae.
In contrast, Japanese magecraft shares the first step of using their Magic Circuits to generate magical energy, but from there they don’t go into magecraft foundations or spell formulae. Instead, it functions by drawing Authority from their respective contractors, the god worshipped in their organization (in most instances, only a part of it, such as a piece of flesh).
Consequently, the Clock Tower views their magecraft as a sham. After all, while what they do is minuscule in scope, it’s identical to magecraft from the Age of Gods—a completely backward process where they first use a god’s Authority to ensure a result, and then enlarge this result through a chant.
They exploit a god, but how real their faith in their god is varies wildly from person to person.
Incidentally, the idea of every member of the organization sharing a fragment of a god was inspired by the Thought Magecraft in the continent.

Yakou [Organization]
A Japanese magecraft force in possession of a Divine Body—a living fragment of a god.
The number of people directly contracted to the Divine Body is slightly short of 100, but that only makes them the third biggest magecraft force in Japan at best.
The name Yakou means “night eon.” In simpler terms, it Yakou signifies an endless night. And as this name suggests, their god’s nature is intimate with the Japanese underworld.
To pay respect to their god, all members of the organization generally wear black, be it on a suit or a kimono.
They had deep ties to gambling dens, and because there's little to no need to protect people from fiends in the modern day, managing the gambling houses now became their main activity.
Although limited to a few locations, their Boundaries are extremely vast and they have powerful techniques that can be used only within their Bounded Field, thus giving them unparalleled defensive power.
Incidentally, Japanese organizations never say the name of their gods without reason or use an alternative name known only within the organization. This is an attempt to prevent the deterioration of Mystery by not banalizing the name. The Four Demon Hunter Families of old were believed to have employed this same method.

Divine Body [Magecraft/Other]
Officially called Preserved God Bodypart. Fragments of a god.
Those items had already appeared in other entries in several different forms, but The Adventures of Lord El-Melloi II was the one that gave them main focus. They deteriorate if neglected, but if utilized correctly, they can enable Age of Gods’ magecraft, otherwise impossible in the modern era. However, it’s extremely difficult to operate a Divine Body from a completely different mythology from your ancestry. The main reason why the Clock Tower ignores the eight Divine Bodies allegedly still functional in Japan is that even if they did obtain them, the idea that they could adequately operate them is implausible.