Grimoire

A grimoire is a book that allows its user to cast specific spells that are far in advance of their own natural magical abilities. It is one of the primary sources of power for the Magic Knights and other mages on the continent of the Clover, Diamond, Heart, and Spade Kingdoms.

Mages from the distant Hino Country use scrolls instead of grimoires.

Description
Grimoires are special books made of mana that greatly enhance the owners' magical capabilities, enabling them to use more complex magic. These books also serve as written records for the owners' spells. Most of a grimoire's pages are empty at first; as a grimoire owner grows and develops as a person, the grimoire grows and develops with them, and new magic spells are inscribed into the book, filling the blank pages.

When in use, a grimoire levitates either in front of or beside its owner and follows the mage wherever they go. When the grimoire owner activates a spell, the pages in the grimoire turn on their own until turning to the page containing the spell that the mage intends to use. The grimoire will no long respond to the owner if it is taken or separated from the owner over a far distance. When not in use, grimoires are most often carried in satchels attached to the mages' belts or strapped to their chests or legs. While there are designers for grimoire satchels, poorer citizens tend to make their own.

Because a grimoire is connected to its owner's soul, a mage cannot use another person's grimoire, and a grimoire will disintegrate as its owner dies.

Grimoires of mages from the Clover, Diamond, Heart, and Spade Kingdoms have clover, diamond, heart, and spade insignias, respectively, on their front covers.

In the case of the Clover Kingdom, a grimoire with a three-leaf clover is common, while a grimoire with a four-leaf clover is rare. It is said that a four-leaf clover grimoire brings good luck and is only received by a truly exceptional mage.

Scripts
Normally, spells are written in scripts legible to the mage. Spells may be written in different languages if they draw magic from alternative sources, like devils and spirits. Additionally, Ultimate Magic that draws power from natural mana results in pages filled with runes.

Five-Leaf Clover Grimoires
When the owner of a four-leaf clover grimoire falls into absolute despair, the book is corrupted by its owner's deep despair and hatred, becoming what is known as a "grimoire of despair" (絶望の). During this process, the cover of the grimoire turns a darker color and the clover turns black and develops a fifth leaf.

These five-leaf clover grimoires can be taken and possessed by devils, who use the books to manifest their true powers.

Unlike ordinary grimoires, a five-leaf clover grimoire does not disintegrate upon its owner's death. Instead, it goes dormant until a new compatible user claims it.

Grimoire Towers
Before being claimed by their rightful owners, grimoires are stored in "grimoire towers" (塔), special libraries scattered around the kingdoms and overseen by "tower masters" (塔主). Once a person has turned 15 years old, they can attend the annual Grimoire Acceptance Ceremony in March in order to receive their grimoire. A mage who misses the ceremony after their fifteenth birthday can travel to any grimoire tower and receive their grimoire individually at any time.

Trivia

 * The grimoire term and concept come from real-world instructional textbooks on magic.
 * Most of the grimoires received by the people of the Clover Kingdom have a three-leaf clover on the covers. The leaves of the clover each symbolize certain virtues: Faith, Hope, and Love. The rare fourth leaf represents Good Luck. The fifth leaf is said to represent the devil.
 * Faith, hope, and love are the three theological virtues of Christianity.
 * The three-leaf clover symbolism is similar to the legend of St. Patrick using a shamrock to illustrate the Christian Holy Trinity.
 * According to superstition, four-leaf clovers are considered good luck.
 * Julius Novachrono's grimoire is the only known grimoire to have no cover.

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