#Mahoyaku

[tomose]

[thesagesjournal]

[Birthday] Lennox (May 16th, 2025)

Twitter thread | Bluesky thread

Is something the matter, Master Sage? I apologise that you must see me like this... ...This is the first time you've seen me fresh out of the bath? Haha, I don't mind you looking. Besides, having you all to myself this morning, makes today feel that much more special.

Birthday morning

Lennox: Ya–wn… Ah, it’s you, Master Sage. Can I help you?

Lennox: You needn’t have come all the way here so early in the morning, but thank you nonetheless. It means a lot to me.

Lennox: You’re the first to wish me a happy birthday today. That alone makes me feel blessed.

Voicelines

Lennox: It’s incredible to see wizards from every country celebrating my birthday alongside a human such as yourself. I want nothing more than to protect the wonderful life we have made here.

Figaro: Happy birthday, Leno. Say, care to share a drink once the party’s over and the kids are asleep? We could have a pleasant conversation like the good old times.

Rutile: Mister Leno~, can you hear me? It’s not like him to get so drunk, but then again, everyone was scrambling to share a toast with him… What should we do, Dr. Figaro? Should we take him back to his room with a bit of magic? …Leave him be? Well, he does look pretty merry!

Mitile: Mister Leno! Mister Le–no–? What are you doing here, leaning against the wall and smiling to yourself? The party needs you! Come on, let’s go and see what everyone’s up to!

Oz: Take this wine. It’s a specialty from the South that I happened to have a bottle of at my castle. I recall that you prefer spirits with a Southern taste, so I thought it would make a good gift. It has endured the frigid North for many years. I hope it’s to your liking.

Arthur: Happy birthday, Lennox! …Ahaha! It’s not every day I get a hug from you! …Did Lord Figaro put you up to this? I figured as much. But there’s merit to that. After all, we express joy not only through words, but also actions, and this hug tells me everything I need to know.

Cain: Aw, hi sheepie! Know where I can find your shepherd? It’s his birthday and I gotta congratulate him! …Whoa, I didn’t know sheep were this fast. And your eyes look a little funky, like you’ve got glasses on… Ah, Faust! Doesn’t this sheep remind you of… Wait, that’s Leno?!

Riquet: Happy birthday, Lennox. Here, I made you these special birthday glasses as per tradition in the Master Sage’s world. Look, they match the decorations on the cake and the sheepies! Cute, right? …And they look great on you, too!

Snow: Oh, you simply had to see how pleased Lennox looked just now with his homemade birthday crown! The Southern folk are making today as memorable as possible. Even the sheepies are looking spiffy with their own crowns to match! Hohoho, today shall be a most fun day indeed.

White: ‘Tis Lennox’s birthday today. We just saw Faust pass by with a wine bottle in his hands and a smile on his lips. Hohoho, without a doubt, he’s headed in Lennox’s direction. Perhaps we ought to give him something to show our appreciation for his ceaseless efforts as well.

Mithra: I heard they’re hosting an arm wrestling contest at Lennox’s birthday party, but I think I’ll pass. Those toddlers are overly excited about it, but I’m just fine with watching and eating. If I lose by any chance, I might end up killing them, I’m afraid.

Owen: <Cur Memini>... Happy birthday, Lennox. Feeling sheep-ish already? Being the one herded isn’t so bad once in a while, don’t you think so, hmm? Only I can understand you normally now, though. …Huh, wait. Where do you think you’re going? …Hey!

Bradley: Yo, Mister Shepherd. Been thinkin’ ‘bout that one time ya caught me changin’. Don’ think I didn’t feel ya ogglin’ me up an’ down. If ya wanna see my scars that badly, I don’ mind showin’ em to ya. …Yer doin’ it again. Jus’ to make it clear, that was a joke, ya hear?

Faust: Happy birthday, Lennox. I spent a lot of time thinking about how to thank you for… Ahaha! Never thought I’d see the day when you'd respond with a ‘ya~y’! Be honest, did someone set you up? …Oh, well, it wouldn’t be a birthday without a bit of unbridled joy, would it?

Shino: Happy birthday, Lennox. Listen, whatever Faust gives his gift to you, make sure he knows you liked it. Just say something like ‘yay’ or ‘wahooo’. He picked your gift with lots of care.

Heathcliff: Happy birthday, Lennox. Every time I catch sight of fish near the shore, I’m reminded of when you taught me to fish. The longer you wait for a fish to bite, the sweeter the reward feels. Handling the bait still feels a bit gross, but I’ll get used to it eventually…

Nero: ‘appy birthday, Mister Shepherd. Though, gotta say, ya make a pretty good fisherman, too. The fish ya bring is always fresh as can be. …Ahaha, don't tempt me with the offer. With how good yer skills are, I might take ya up on it someday.

Shylock: I must let you know that one of your sheep paid a visit to my bar earlier today, undoubtedly to celebrate your birthday. They make for rather noisy, but nonetheless adorable patrons.

Murr: Wo~wie! Not skipping leg day even on your birthday? That’s routine for ya, alright! …Putting strain on the lower half of your body, I see, I see. So that's how you get those perfect legs! …Join you? Me? Ahaha, thanks, but no thanks! I’m more of a brains guy, ya know!

Chloe: Do you remember the last time we were peacefully enjoying a drink at Shylock’s bar? Because I do! You looked so cool and composed, it gave me just the inspo I needed! I’ve been working on a design with that image of you in mind since then. I hope you’ll like it!

Rustica: What's a birthday without some music, so, allow me to perform something for you. …Indeed, you've sung this to us once, and ever since, I’ve become infatuated with your voice. Now, shall we take it up a notch? Put out your hand, as if you're inviting a loved one to dance.

[figurecollection]

Owen 1/7 Scale by Prime One Studio, from Promise of Wizard

[mobageheroine]

Masaki Akira - 真木 晶

【Mahoutsukai no Yakusoku】

[majunju]

after death and then even after that

[yuukels]

[manytoonepoet]

I really do love these kinds of characters: characters who are confident yet insecure, harsh yet kind, genius yet could also be clueless at times, so sure of oneself and one's abilities, yet could also not know how they could contribute to something bigger in this group project called life.

Perhaps it's the mystery that surrounds them. No, not the "tall, dark, and handsome" kind of mystery, but the kind of mystery that billows like smoke whenever you open the packaging to a puzzle, or the heavy fog that guards the gates to a new world, or even a new universe that you're about to step into. The contradiction, the beautifully enigmatic beings that are these characters, the warring sides that long and strive for domination of their bodies presents something thought-provoking that it could invite the most prestigious of scholars to study them.

You see, these characters are not just characters; they're journeys that one must experience to understand, but even then, you can't confidently say that you know them 100% because it seems as though each day adds yet another layer of complexity to their character, a new level that one must go through to proceed through the next. And the best part of all this, you are rewarded with something so profound that it coaxes you to look at your own self.

Because, you see, these characters can be so complex that only a few people would willingly try and understand them; these characters can be so complex that only fewer people would willingly try to accept them. These characters can be so complex that they feel more human than the majority of the people in this world of ours.

They don't conform to trends, they don't conform to standards, even if they long to be accepted into something there is always a part of them that recolis whenever they are being placed into a bucket in an effort to "fit in" because some unconscious, maybe subconscious, part of them understand that an adjective or two is simply unable to even begin to describe who they are, what they represent, and what they contribute to this plane of existence.

They have brains, they have hearts, they have souls, they have humanity, even.

That is why I refuse to believe that these characters have no other purpose than fleeting entertainment.

While, yes, there are no such thing as mages or fire-breathing dragons or fairies or mermaids or whatever fantastical creature you can think of. But there are people who are vain, who are selfish, who are ruthless, who are liars, who are murderous, who are evil. And there are people who are humble, who are selfless, who are kind, who are truthful, who are good. However, human as we are, it's impossible for us to be purely good; there are times when we make mistakes, whether intentionally or not for example. And these characters represent that. They embody the nuances of what it's like to be human, to war between desire and longing and desire and longing. They are the soldiers sent to war to kill to protect and bring peace and not even know if they've managed to include the ones so dear to them in that bubble of protection and peace. They are the fathers who fully understand their sons are in the wrong, but even amid a stern lecture, they can't help but worry about whether or not they're harmed. They are the child who had to lie and adjust for a friend, only to ask them if they can drop the act in private later because they know it's wrong.

They are the lessons we understand that we should learn and implement, but we just can't seem to find it in ourselves to empty our cup to leave room for those said lessons because we are too afraid of the unpredictable and different.

That is what makes these characters important. That's what makes these characters human.

That's what makes these characters so difficult to understand. And that's why I love them.

[the-fridge-orange]

[curmemini]

hi hiii, i saw you complaining about bad owen takes and i wanna ask about your owen takes! What are the biggest misconceptions you see people have about him? What are some things that more casual fans tend to miss/not notice? What do you think of the normal owen and kizu owen split?

feel free to make this as detailed or as simplified as you wish ~☆ i just like seeing people talk about their favorite wizards!

OMG IVE been thinking about how to answer this for days IM SO EXCITED TO YAP!

I will start though that I don't have a lot about Kizu atm, because there's a LOT there but we really don't see Kizu!Owen very often. I know we're a tad behind on event translations, but.... I don't think he's been in an event or card story since Main Story 2 wrapped up, other than Owen's Walpurgis 4koma.... can we have a moment of silence for Kizu!Owen likers? I miss our sweetie. And more.. hi this is Cee after writing all of the below I got really inspired to start working on a handful of character essays so expect those in the tag at some point..

In terms of misconceptions, I think the biggest ones I see are that Owen is incapable of knowingly doing a positive thing. Or that he isn't capable of being kind, compassionate or merciful. (dodges rocks). I get why people who aren't total Owenheads come to this conclusion. It's easy to take what is said about Owen (and the Northies as a whole) as gospel, in fact, I think the Northerner's serve a really interesting role in the thematic relevance of prejudice against wizards. After all, in MS1, the reader gets one small look at Owen after the Calamity battle where he is with the other Northies plus Oz as an introduction, four lines of dialogue and then he is gone for forty-thousand words. While he is off-screen, we only ever hear negative things about him - Heathcliff says he's scary, Cain tells Akira about his eye and to not listen to a thing Owen says, the Previous Sage calls him maddening and creepy and basically every other character who talk about the Northies calling them the Worst Ever. Not a great first impression, and there is a lot of time for that perception to sink in and go unchallenged. And I'll admit, even after they officially make their debut at the party, the Northies don't go out of their way to challenge that perception obviously - why would they? after all, words are a curse and titles a burden; they've all carried the title of Northerner for so very long, can someone please write something about Oz's Balcony speech I think there are a lot of reasons for why Owen's role in the party was so fraught (and I go into them a little here although that post is more part-vent part-summary of an event card spurred by an ex-oomfs twt vague than proper analysis)

But it's not just how long that we are only told of the Northies vices or their lack of defense; even after their introduction and all throughout the stories, trusted figures, like the Twins (which trusting them is dubious...) and Oz, reinforce the idea of Owen being entirely malevolent and insane. Owen is evil because Owen is the Northern Wizard Owen. He seeks to twist your heart into a withering husk. But does he really?

I think the biggest misconception is that Owen's one and true goal in life is to cause chaos and misery, to reap untold amounts of violence. That's a goal he would never deny having, but he didn't deny killing Nicholas either, did he? This perception about what Owen wants (when he doesn't even really know it himself) puts on blinders, where the times that he is benign or even kind or compassionate get overlooked, over explained and twisted into wickedness by other wizards. Those words might be slightly too warm for him, but I know for a fact there is a case to be made for him being merciful and having a more nuanced relationship with killing and death than others would believe. I think there are many events which showcase the nicer parts of his personality (one of my faves is Winter 2022; his part in it is relatively small but it showcases a unique facet of his relationship with lies/truths as well as the gap between him causing misery versus, but we've seriously had so many banger events.)

But luckily, even if one doesn't want to scour through the backlog of miscellaneous events to see these traits on display (or are one of the people who only take Bunta's writing as law of the world), we see Owen act in contrary ways to the ideal of a wicked Northern wizard all throughout the main stories and anniversaries, in big and small ways.

In particular, I think in all of the excitement of the final showdown in the second Anniversary, the details that Bunta had written in regarding Owen's involvement is overlooked. They are, after all, small things compared to the great feats of magic that Akira is witnessing.

Spoilers below for anni2 for any anime-onlys or fandom newcomers, welcome and I hope dearly we get to see that animated one day.

First, and this is so important to me, throughout the fight, Akira states that Owen is keeping one hand on his hat to prevent himself from losing it. At this point, they have already made the transformation into their event outfits. As in most events, Anni2's clothes were tailored by our dear Chloe. Owen does have a bit of a fashionista streak (that's something I think can be missed too, that he has a genuine interest in style) but not to the extent that he is typically that cautious with his outfits. There have definitely been times he's allowed clothes to get ripped, torn or otherwise ruined. So him going to the effort to make sure he doesn't lose this accessory is noteworthy. After all, he does have other hats. While Owen is stated to be using a rapier in this fight, typically the stance used for it has the other arm lowered; as I understand it, that aids balance and power. Owen isn't using the rapier as a channeling tool, he is actively slashing at Oz with it. So, he is putting himself at a disadvantage by keeping his arm in that position. That is - Owen cares more about keeping the hat that was given to him by Chloe than he cares about giving 100% to a fight against the strongest wizard in the world, when he comes from a place where strength is the defining characteristic.

Then, ironically, this hat then serves as a way for Owen to shield his heart from the western wizard once the fight is over. As the fighters are recollecting themselves and going off to lick their wounds, Owen stumbles in pain. To everyone's surprise, Chloe catches him. This is a moment of kindness, but it is also a direct acknowledgement of Owen's current weakness. Yet, despite such a thing being a direct jab to any Northerner's pride, Owen barely lashes out at him at all. Even though he was irritated from the results of the battle, he simply stares, likely just as surprised as everyone else that someone would support him, then tells Chloe to leave him alone. Akira says an expression of hurt crosses Chloe's face and, seeing that, Owen pulls the hat over his eyes and looks away before disappearing.

Owen would have the entire world believe he loves misery of all kinds, loves being the cause of it. These negative emotions are the driving point of his magic and he certainly just used a lot of mana in the fight against Oz. So, why would he just walk away - not just walk away, look away - from a chance to not just push back against Chloe's kindness, but a way for him to generate negativity and "refuel"? An argument could be made that his lack of his typical wordy rejection, laden with insults, is just a consequence of the fight - he's tired, humiliated, not even desserts can lift his mood. Owen just wants to go and sulk.

I think if that was the case, this would be an isolated incident. But we see him look away from or react similarly to other's true multiple other times. He looks similarly irritated (or even guilty) in his affection story after he told Akira he hated them.

This post is getting pretty long so I'm going to wrap up quickly, but another incident happens during the fight that I think should be focused on more:

When faced with the opportunity to kill Arthur, and deal a horrible wound to Oz's heart by doing so, Owen hesitates. The wizard who doesn't care about anyone or anything, who is alone completely, who loves violence and bloodshed, who wants to see nothing more than Oz's face twist in agony has a chance to inflict utter despair upon many of the wizards in the manor

and he hesitates.

What a crazy good character. I could make an essay off of a single line of Owen's dialogue if needed, he's so seriously rich in layers.

Other things I think can get missed: his sentimentality (see: his efforts to keep his hat, but also how he has reacted when handed certain gifts (also talked about that above), the multiple times he's exorcised or otherwise helped souls move on (unfortunately one of my favorite examples is a now-deleted card story if anyone backed up his 2nd mahopa or would be interested in translating it..), the multiple times he acts as an impromptu teacher for the younger wizards. There's definitely more and I can expand on all of these but I'm getting sleepy... thank you for the question and feel free to let me know if i should clarify something or if im forgetting something major. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION!

[pawberri]

🔮💜💖💕

[chloeatelier]

A collection of recent expressions! All requests from friends

[tomose]

[ydotome]

I am Murr, a wizard from the Western Country. It's an honor to meet you, my beloved Great Sage. - Mahoutsukai no Yakusoku - Episode 1

[solmarisidae]

Muah ><

[mobageheroine]

Happy Women's Day

Let's appreciate these strong and hard worker ladies!! [1/2]