#adam sargant

[moonpie2405]

Sorcerers and Primogeniture in The World of Ancient Magus Bride

Primogeniture is essentially the firstborn child's right to inherit.

This post began with me thinking about how Rian's mother Jade is heavily implied to be pregnant in the recent chapters: Rian, an only child who has loudly and repeatedly declared his desire to not join the family business or inherit his place as its head, and is adamant about learning magecraft instead. It's not that far-fetched to believe that the new child is meant to replace Rian, though whether it is because of kindness or disappointment towards him is up to debate.

That's when I realised that pretty much every major firstborn character in the College arc, especially from the younger generations, is in a sense 'failing' at what is demanded of the position, in one way or the other.

Let's get started with the rest of them, shall we?

1. Violet St George

Outright calls Jasmine the heir instead of him. Him wearing women's clothing is not something that is approved by their house, nor is him remaining unbothered by their criticisms. The elders seem to be prioritising shaping Jasmine for the role as his replacement. He also isn't as bothered by the house's issues as much as Jasmine is, repeatedly proposing that they should run away and become magi instead (in a chapter called 'Better bend than break', too, like???). Though he acts like he is joking, we don't know how serious he is about this.

2. Seth Noel

He was born with no talent for sorcery or the family trade, and was kicked out of his home with nothing to his name. Hell, even his last name was changed, and he was asked to never reveal his ties to the Websters and bring shame to their name, like what? Lucy was literally born as his replacement (parallels to what's happening in the Scrimgeour house 🤨?)

3. Adam Sargant

Ran away from home. He literally chose to die rather than return to his position in the family regardless of how good he was at it, that's how miserable he was in that place (not that it is surprising, with Lizbeth Sargant as his mother). Along this line, we also have:

4. Philomela Sargant

Let's be honest. Philomela was always set up to fail in the Sargant house, and would have never been in a position to actually inherit the title of family head: in the beginning she was raised by her parents with love and kept far away from the world of sorcery, and later under her grandmother's "care", she was only ever a scapegoat and a begrudging obligation at first, and then a sacrificial pawn in Lizbeth's plans. Heir in name only, there was literally no place for her in that house.

5. Torrey Innis

Changed his name, and even continents, to avoid his role as the heir. Would literally move halfway across the world than inherit the family business, much to Narciss's frustration.

6. Mikhail Renfred*

Did not even want to become a sorcerer, whatever happened with his father is what forced him into this path. I don't know what the family's exact duties are, but given his drunk ramblings, Renfred himself does seem to feel inadequate in his capability as a sorcerer.

7. Adolf Stroud**

Failed to follow the family profession of becoming a doctor. He seems to have had poor grades as a child, and later on he left home altogether. This might not seem terribly important, but I think that this directly fed into him feeling like he has failed Lindel.

The law of primogeniture constantly being subverted in the manga is just one of the examples of how the current generation is creating ripples of change, both within the rigid structures of the sorcerers and the world of Ancient Magus Bride itself as a whole.

*Okay, I don't actually have any confirmation about Renfred being a firstborn, but c'mon. Just look at him, he's literally the most only child ever. Can you blame me for the assumption? Welcome to the list, Renfred.

**Another exception, seeing that Adolf does not come from a sorcerer family at all. But he has firmly rooted himself in their world (Lindel's words, not mine), so I'm counting him too.

(If you've managed to make it to the end of this, thank you for reading my ramblings!)

[anicastes]

My duty is to destroy you.

[idontthinkimokaymentally]

Hello there Adam Sargant fans.

[xxcrossroadsxx]

About Veronica and the Testament of Carnamagos:

Because I have many questions and few answers (omitted manga content below)

This one could be super obvious, but after re-reading a few parts, I have a hard time believing some things.

Are these two really the same person? There are a bunch of things that -now- complicate it to tie them together, in terms of timeline, power/abilities or writing:

Lizbeth was planning Adam's resurrection for years, when Philomela's memories were already wiped. During Lizbeth's breakdown, the mysterious person "appeared" and showed her that she had to get the spiders. The thing is, they already had the book in their hands. Lizbeth also showed the book to Philomela after being summoned to the Sargant state (ch. 87).

Veronica was sixteen years in the College arc and Philomela one year younger. Both meet on Veronica's 9th birthday (ch. 75-76).

The Websters' massacre happened 8 years ago within the main story (ch. 63). Both Lucy and Philomela were children, so Lucy's current age should be on the same range as her and Veronica.

Philomela also wasn't the one that first stole and replaced the book with a copy (ch. 93). It's also worth mentioning that the Testament in the College was already a copy with weaker influence, the original is in an american branch (ch. 39, ch. 63)

The switch of the books was recent, days prior the campament (ch. 63), which coincides with the first time we saw the book being used (ch. 59). Philomela went to the Sargant mansion in that same chapter and, like stated before, received the switched book (confirmed in ch. 87).

Later in chapter 80 (and confirmed in the anime) we discovered that the Testament of Carnamagos was being hidden in Alcyone.

If the person in Lizbeth's flashback is actually Veronica, then the ages (at least appearance wise, comparing the younger Veronica with the supposed woman) don't match. In various possibilities, it could imply that Veronica was either using a disguise or is actually older than she looks. While Chise asked her if they were really the same age (ch.75), she also thought in the following chapter that Veronica wasn't lying in telling her story with Philomela and her own family, after smelling her scent. Although her own internal question (So that was all true, then?) raises certain doubt. But if we think about it, did a child really instigate a whole clan massacre? While we don't know Veronica's true intentions, so far we have a small hint in the same chapter (ch. 76).

On the other hand, of three aspects of the Testament mentioned in chapter 63, two were attempted to be carried out. For now, there is no correlation between Veronica's wanting to be free and the last one.

So what's up with Veronica? While we will eventually know, the remaining questions makes this particular storyline more confusing:

If Veronica is the hooded figure, how did she do obtain the book before and make the switch?

What was the point of switching the books if the mysterious figure/Veronica? already had a book? Did Lizbeth actually imagine the whole meeting?

If the switch was recent in the storyline, how did they have the book when Philomela was a child?

I understand why the Websters could have been killed (and the reason the book crumbled) or the reason why Veronica was able to have a familiar despite being someone that wants submission (ch. 49 + other hypothesis) but there's something missing about this particular point that has been bothering since last year.

But then again, as Lizbeth said:

[paperandsong]

In the tragic story of Alcyone and Ceyx, a happy couple endearingly (and perhaps arrogantly) call each other "Zeus" and "Hera", angering the gods, leading to their deaths. The character of Alcyone in Ancient Magus Bride isn't a part of a married couple, but she was created by Adam Sargant to protect his daughter, and he and his wife do have a very tragic end after angering his powerful mother, Lizbeth Sargant. Could Alcyone's name be a reference to the older story? Did Adam perhaps know that it was all going to end in tragedy some day?

This might be an unpopular opinion (and I would love to discuss it in the notes!), but I don't think Alcyone is very good at her job. She was created to protect Philomela from her grandmother. But all she seems able to do is hover over Philomela while she is abused by both her grandmother and Veronica. Her design is amazing, though. She looks more powerful than she really is.

It's interesting to me that we are encouraged to compare Elias and Alcyone. Because I don't think Elias is very good at his job of protecting his ward either either. Chise is in constant danger while under his care and he seems helpless to keep her out of it. But once she is in the midst of trouble, he shows himself to be monstrously powerful and quite capable of protecting her. He has saved Chise many times. What would Elias have done if Chise were in Philomela's position? Could he have defeated Lizbeth Sargant, with the right motivation?

Just as the great mystery of the series is "What is Elias?" we are meant to ask the same of Alcyone. She is an "artificial fairy". What does that mean? Is she a robot? An android? But magical? This conversation where she asks Adam if she is "growing" makes me think of AI. She's absorbing information around her and learning, but in her own artificial way. And the plans she spits out aren't always good ones, are they? (I don't think Adam's plans are very good either)

What?! This is a terrible idea.

[doublesama]

Chise (& friends) save Philomela from her fate in The Ancient Magus' Bride Season 2 Episode 22. But, the battle against Lizbeth and Carnamagos may have only just begun.

[ayzscream]

[highwarlockofhell]

The one time I am proud of my school

My school's motto is Excelsior. Same as Gansey's catchphrase. So proud, man.

[ardenetoile]

Fox way doodling/first panel of a comic page i don’t wanna finish 

[anicastes]

In the end, nobody stated by your side.

[doublesama]

In this review of The Ancient Magus' Bride Season 2 Episode 22, I explain why Lizbeth Sagrant is so obsessed with her son, Adam.

[acediathemelancholy]

There’s something incredibly sad about Curse Adam spending nearly all of his last moments dwelling on his hatred for his mother rather than even attempting to comfort his daughter

[ardenetoile]

Full House

Noah / Henry / Blue / Gansey / Adam / Ronan 

[anicastes]

Then it's time I carry out my duty, too.

[anicastes]

So please, do all you can to protect her.

[anicastes]

So I didn't think much of it.