Part 47: 6/17/09

6/17/09

Edogawa is literally a crazy person I think.



We all need to start somewhere. Rome wasn’t built in a day!
The same goes for magic. It’s important to learn the basics.
So today, I’ll tell you about the origins of magic.
Long, long ago, at the dawn of civilization, man created primitive religions.
Animism, totemism, and shamanism all fall into this category. You learned them in world history, right?
That last one, shamanism, is important to the origins of magic.
Shamans would fall into a trance state and act as the intermediary between the worlds, but…
It counts as “magic,” where humans can have their power of the gods and spirits in their own hands.
This shaman-style magical tradition would later be embraced by witches.
Take the common European witch, as an example.
People today think witches derived their power from contracts with the devil…
But that’s just the image that Christianity imposed on them.
The witches’ predecessors were more like maidens serving the gods.
It was through prayer to those gods that they earned their powers.
They learned to control their magic without losing consciousness during their trance states.
That’s how they originally awoke to magic.

Although I guess I’m one to talk about magic not being real.



They were generically called “paganism.”
And for your information, the celebrations of Christians and Halloween have pagan backgrounds.
…Are you still listening? No trance states, now… Eeeheehee.
I’ll give you a little test to see if you’re paying attention.
Get it wrong, and your afterlife won’t be pleasant. Pallas aron azinomas…
Who should I pick…? All right, Aelita, I ask thee.
What formed the origins of magic?
Shamanism.
Very good… You’ll be born into your next life as a human again.
Now then, paganism and Christianity have a tighter connection to one another than you’d think.
As the Roman Empire grew stronger, so did the population of Christians in the empire.
At first, each religion carried on its own worship separately, but…

Somehow he did end up tying it all into something relevant to, um, anything. Anyway I headed down to the Student Council to help out a bit and walked right into some kind of ‘situation.’



Teacher: Alright Hidetoshi, I’m counting on you… for both our sakes.
…Yes, sir.
> The teacher left…
Oh, Aelita-san…
Student Council Member: …Hey, what did he mean by “for both our sakes”? What’s he talking about?
> The student council member is pressing Hidetoshi for an answer.
He just wants to create a better school environment, so he simply asked for help from an apt student.
Just like how the President asked Aelita-kun to join Student Council.
Student Council Member: What!? You can’t decide something like that without the President’s permission!
> The student council member is glaring at Hidetoshi.
Did something happen?
S-Someone found a cigarette butt in the boys’ bathroom…
…and th-that teacher wants us to look for the one who did it…
> Chihiro spoke in a hushed tone…
Well, someone broke the rules, and we should find out who. It’s our responsibility, right?
…Look, you have two choices. Either help out and prove you’re trustworthy, or refuse and raise suspicion.
We sure have a lot of B.S. around here, don’t we Aelita-kun?
> It seems like Hidetoshi is counting on you.
> Your relationship is stronger now!

So yeah I guess we’re going on a witch hunt now or something.



Now, if you’d excuse me.
Student Council Member: H-Hey! Don’t ignore me! You teacher’s pet!
> The student council member chased after Hidetoshi.
It’s not good for Student Council members to be fighting like this, right…?
I-I better go tell the President…!
> Chihiro ran out in a hurry…
> …Your work is done here; you decided to go home.

So Featherman will be at the Paulownia Mall. Or not. I’m honestly not clear on this.



Narrator: Phoenix Ranger Featherman R, every Sunday! Don’t miss it!
Newscaster: …And now, the news.

Junpei was especially morbid tonight.



Yeah, I think so.
Yeah, maybe if we defeat a Shadow, the spirits it ate will return to their owners.
But then again, they might just get digested.

Mitsuru was telling me about her Persona, since I haven’t had a chance to see it in person yet.



It’s strong against ice…
…but it’s weak against fire.
As you know, nothing is perfect. Just keep that in mind.

Fuuka wants me to help her with something, I should do that tomorrow after school.



I hope you can help me at school…

Oh and it turns out I was getting that thing from Akihiko because of a pun. Yeah.



So this type of protein does exist…?
Then the name “protein” doesn’t have anything to do with “professionals”… I see.
……
Thank you very much. I am sure this is valuable, so please take it back with you.
As a result of this request, my master has ordered me to drink an entire bottle of protein in one go.
Well, what’s done is done… And this way, I might be able to go professional someday.
Please accept your reward.
> Obtained Bladefist.

It’s a good thing she’s… whatever she is and will probably be fine. I’d hate for anything to happen to her.