Part 69: 7/10/09

7/10/09

Wasn’t feeling that well today, and having Edogawa in the morning didn’t help.



I plan on using the word “magic” in a very general sense.
But today, we’ll talk about the single most magical place and time.
Today’s topic is the magic of medieval Europe.
There are a lot of materials pertaining to western magic, from books to folklore.
We’ll cover all of it, including the changes it’s gone through.
As I mentioned last time, European magic has its origins in paganism.
Starting with Christianity, though, it’s been influenced by the influx of various cultures.
Some well-known examples are…
Kabbalah, the study of the mystical aspects of Jewish texts.
Gnosticism, a Christian sect formed by Simon Magus, the Sorcerer.
Greece’s philosophy and natural sciences were the fruits of magical researchers…
The same was true of Islam’s scientific advances, which surpassed Europe’s at the time.
Now, as for the circumstances of magic in this age…
It was an era where the rule of Christianity and the insight of the natural sciences collided.
Magicians bravely reached up for a connection with the gods…
…Are you all awake? You’re not daydreaming, right? Eeeheehee.
A little test, to see if you were listening…
Get it wrong, and you’ll get a scary guardian angel. Sebna uru quah…

It’s always me he asks these crazy things.



What is the mystical study of Jewish texts?
Kabbalah.
Very good.
The magicians of the age achieved great things…
Particularly the famous “grimoires.”
Grimoires are collections of a wide range of magical texts, and…
> You gave the correct answer!

I returned to the station to feed that poor cat.



> He seems to be very weak. Maybe he’s hungry…
> Give him Super Cat Food?
Weak Cat: …Mew.
> The cat slowly started to eat.
Weak Cat: ……
Meow… Meowww…
> The cat is purring loudly. It seems happy.
> The purring seems louder than it did the other day.
> If you come back and feed it some more, it might get healthier…

I swung back to school and met up with Yukari, we went down to the strip mall together.



…Wait, lemme see how much money I have…
Oh, no! Where’s my wallet!? D-Did I drop it…!?
But, when…? I had it when I pulled out my ticket at the station…
Wait… Someone bumped into me right outside the train station.
Sorry, I’m gonna go back there and look around.
I’ll go with you.
Huh? That’s okay. I mean, it’s just over there.
Wait here, okay? Well, I’ll be right back!
> Yukari runs off…
> ……
> You’re beginning to get looks from people passing by…
> It doesn’t seem like Yukari is coming back…
> Could something have happened to her…?

I’m glad I decided to go look for her, she was in trouble.



> You decide to go check up on her.
> Iwatodai Station…
> You hear a man yelling.
Gang Member: What’d you say? You better shut your mouth, bitch!
Lackey: Can I get a piece of that, Bro!?
……
> Yukari is being surrounded by punks!

I’m not even sure what I thought I could do but there was no way I wasn’t going to try and help her.



Aelita…!
Gang Member: Huh? You want in on this too, sis?
Lackey: Dude, they’re both hot, Bro!
> …The odds seem to be against you.
Girl’s Voice: Hey, what’s going on over there!?
Man’s Voice: Somebody call the police!
Punks: Shit, let’s split before the pigs het here!
……
Oh, Aelita…
Did you… call them?
…Thanks.
What the hell… Seriously!?
What’s up with those punks!? Total wastes of humanity!
Seriously, what the hell!?
Geez…
> Yukari is shaking…
> She must’ve been scared…

I know she doesn’t want to be like her mom, but everyone has to rely on others.



I thought, “Someone, help me!”
I said that I wouldn’t have to rely on anyone, but I needed somebody in a time like this…!
I’m pissed off at myself!
This… This is no different from my mom!
> Yukari is shaking in anger…
> You feel like you understand Yukari a little more now…

I mean we all need someone else…



…I’m gonna go back.
> Yukari left in a hurry…
> You decide to go back to the dorm.

Junpei’s so eager to avoid me he’s actually studying. It’s kind of creepy.



Uh…
…I better go study, since exams are coming up.

The Shadows and Junpei aren’t the only weird things going on around here.



Newscaster: A miraculous flower which only grows once every 100 years has bloomed.
It seems to be responding to the other strange events in town.

Ugh, I’m going to bed.