Way of the Arcanist

Murie

Well? Have you decided to enroll in our guild? Or are you now intimidated by the thought of excessive thinking?

You are, of course, free to ponder your decision for however long you like. I will be waiting should you choose to embrace a life of academic exertion.

Your sound judgment is to be commended. Now, standard practice dictates that I introduce you to our guildmaster that you might convey your intentions in person...

• DE Dann musst du nur noch deinen Namen und deine Geburtsdaten auf diesem Äthergramm eintragen, mit deinem eigenen Blut unterzeichnen und beim nächsten Vollmond ... Haha, kleiner Hermetikerscherz. ‘Then you just have to enter your name and your birth data on this aethergram, sign it in your own blood and at the next full moon ... Haha, a little Hermeticist joke.’ Murie jokes that joining takes a dark blood ritual, then laughs it off. The English Murie only speaks of standard practice.
• DE Dann musst du nur noch deinen Namen und deine Geburtsdaten auf diesem Äthergramm eintragen, mit deinem eigenen Blut unterzeichnen und beim nächsten Vollmond ... ‘Then all you need to do is enter your name and birth date on this aethergram, sign it with your own blood, and at the next full moon ...’ English cites standard practice; German jokes you must sign an aethergram in your own blood.

Due to extraordinary circumstances, however, he is...unreachable at present. Instead, you may speak with Mistress Thubyrgeim. She has shouldered full responsibility for the guild's leadership in the interim.

• DE ... aber dieser Posten ist zurzeit nicht besetzt. ‘... but this post is currently vacant.’ English says the guildmaster is unreachable at present; German says the guildmaster post is currently vacant.

You will find her just over there, by the bookshelves. You needn't be shy─though her mind is sharp and critical, her manner is always most welcoming.

• JA 彼女は、我らギルドの母ともいえる頼もしい御方。 ‘She is a dependable lady, you could call her the mother of our guild.’ Murie calls Thubyrgeim this. Thubyrgeim's own speech is warm and homely, where the English makes her a formal scholar.
• FR Tu vas voir, c'est quelqu'un de très serviable, et nous la considérons tous un peu comme une mère. ‘You'll see, she's very helpful, and we all see her as something of a mother.’ Like in Japanese, Murie sees Thubyrgeim as a mother. The English Murie praises her sharp, critical mind.
• DE Sie ist eine höchst liebenswürdige Person, die sich um die Belange der Gilde mit mütterlicher Hingabe kümmert. ‘She is a most amiable person who looks after the guild's affairs with motherly devotion.’ English says her mind is sharp and critical; German says she cares for the guild with motherly devotion.

Thubyrgeim

Yes, I am Thubyrgeim. Greetings, and welcome to the Arcanists' Guild. As Murie has doubtlessly explained, I am serving as acting guildmaster until our wayward leader deigns to return. I assume our capable receptionist also spoke of our art's origins?

• FR Je vous ai entendu(e)s discuter, Murie et toi. ‘I heard the two of you talking, Murie and you.’ French has her say she overheard you; no jab at the "wayward" guildmaster.

Allow me, then, to expound upon its nature. Arcanima taps into the living energies of aether. The evidence of this is represented most aptly, perhaps, by our ability to manifest the arcane entity Carbuncle, and the manner of magic which this aetherial ally employs at our command.

• FR Comme on te l'a déjà expliqué, notre discipline fait appel à des pentacles pour canaliser l'énergie de nos corps et utiliser la magie, notamment en faisant appel à une créature éthérée du nom de Carbuncle. ‘As you've already been told, our discipline makes use of pentacles to channel the energy of our bodies and work magic, notably by calling on an ethereal creature named Carbuncle.’ Pentacles are drawn magic shapes. The English speaks only of tapping aether's living energies.
• DE Dann hast du gehört, dass die Hermetik den Geheimnissen des Lebens auf den Grund geht. ‘Then you have heard that Hermeticism gets to the bottom of the secrets of life.’
• JA 説明の通り、巴術は生命の神秘に迫った魔法さ。 ‘As explained, arcanima is magic that closes in on the mysteries of life.’ Japanese describes the art as probing the mysteries of life, not tapping aether's energy.

The core of the discipline, however, is found in the pursuit of definitive solutions to any potential quandary. Even on the field of battle─nay, especially on the field of battle─this principle takes precedence.

• DE Wenn man das Wesen des Problems einmal in aller Klarheit versteht, präsentiert sich die Lösung von alleine. ‘Once one understands the nature of the problem in all clarity, the solution presents itself on its own.’ German says understanding a problem reveals its solution; the battlefield point is not made in this line.

If one wishes to make certain the question of victory, then one must apply the most effective strategy. An arcanist is measured by her/his ability to calmly analyze a situation from moment to moment, and respond with the most appropriate spells at hand.

The study of arcanima will test your mental faculties to the point of perplexity. Are you prepared to reason your way through predicament after predicament?

• DE Hast du dich als Kind gefragt, warum der Regen auf die Erde niederfällt, nicht aber die Regenwolken? Warum ein Ast im Feuer brennt und auf dem Wasser schwimmt, aber kein Stein? ‘As a child, did you wonder why the rain falls to the earth, but not the rain clouds? Why a branch burns in fire and floats on water, but not a stone?’ Thubyrgeim asks you the puzzles a child asks about the world. The English only warns that the study is hard.
• DE Hast du dich als Kind gefragt, warum der Regen auf die Erde niederfällt, nicht aber die Regenwolken? ‘As a child, did you wonder why rain falls to the earth but the rain clouds do not?’ English asks if you can reason through predicament after predicament; German asks childhood questions about rain and clouds.

Thubyrgeim

I see. Though I commend you on coming to such a realization before joining the guild, I must admit to a measure of disappointment. Should you have a change in perspective, pray do not hesitate to seek me out once more.

• DE Hoffentlich unterschätzt du dich nicht, denn du hast einen hellen Eindruck gemacht. ‘Hopefully you are not underestimating yourself, for you made a bright impression.’ English admits disappointment; German hopes you don't underestimate yourself, since you seemed bright.
• FR C'est bien dommage... mais il est préférable que tu me dises non maintenant, plutôt que de fuir devant de réels défis au cours de ton apprentissage. ‘That's a real pity... but it is better that you tell me no now, rather than flee from real challenges during your apprenticeship.’ French is blunter: better refuse now than run away from challenges later.
• JA まぁ、ヘタに入門して逃げ出すよりはマシか。 ‘Well, I suppose it beats joining clumsily and then running away.’ Japanese is blunter: better than joining and running away. No commendation.

An unambiguous response─the kind I most prefer. Let us now see if the clarity of your words is matched by the sharpness of your mind.

• DE Du wirst hier unter deinesgleichen sein. ‘You will be among your own kind here.’ English proposes testing whether your mind matches your words; German says you will be among your own kind.

In lower La Noscea, you will find, among others, three species of pest: wharf rats, little ladybugs, and aureliae. I ask that you employ your skill in arcanima to eradicate three of each type of creature.

Leave the city through the Tempest Gate, and you will soon encounter the potential targets in abundance. As long as you remain focused, I do not foresee these opponents causing you or your budding abilities undue difficulty.

• DE Du wirst dabei lernen, wie unterschiedlich drei Lebewesen, die den gleichen Lebensraum bevölkern und über Kampfkraft von etwa gleicher Stufe verfügen, auf äußere Bedrohungen reagieren. ‘In doing so you will learn how differently three creatures that share the same habitat and have roughly equal fighting strength react to external threats.’ English says you'll find plenty of targets; German says you'll learn how three similar creatures react differently to threats.
• DE Diese Lektion wird die Grundlage für deine Entscheidungsstärke im Gefecht bilden. ‘This lesson will form the foundation of your decisiveness in combat.’ English reassures you these foes won't trouble you; German says the lesson builds your decisiveness in combat.

Once you return from completing this preliminary trial, I will welcome you as an official member of the Arcanists' Guild. May your judgment remain swift and clear.

I see the creatures beyond the city walls posed you little threat. It is with great pleasure, then, that I formally recognize your initiation into the guild. From this day forth, you may proudly bear the title of “arcanist.”

• JA 今日は、巴術士[name]の誕生日だ。 ‘Today is the birthday of the arcanist [name].’ Thubyrgeim calls today your birthday as an arcanist, and the hunting log is her gift for it. The English speaks only of a formal initiation.
• DE Werde nicht überheblich und konzentriere dich voll auf deine Aufträge, denn jedes Detail, das sich dir in meinen Aufgaben offenbart, kann dir irgendwann einmal im Kampf die Haut retten. ‘Don't get arrogant and focus fully on your assignments, for every detail revealed in my tasks may one day save your skin in battle.’ English invites you to proudly bear the title of arcanist; German warns you not to get arrogant.
• FR Je vois à la lueur de satisfaction dans tes yeux que tu as pris du plaisir à faire cette épreuve. ‘I see by the gleam of satisfaction in your eyes that you enjoyed doing this trial.’ French remarks that you enjoyed the trial; English that the creatures were no threat.

And to commemorate this occasion, I gift you with this hunting log.

• JA 誕生日祝いと言っちゃなんだが、お前さんに、この「討伐手帳」を贈るよ。 ‘It's not much of a birthday present, but I'd like you to have this hunting log.’

The enemies marked within its pages have been specifically chosen to challenge your abilities in arcanima. When you devise a new strategy or tactic, you now have a ready source of opponents on which to test it.

I suggest you continue your forays into the wilderness, and keep the pages of your grimoire turning─there is no finer teacher than the harsh mistress of experience.

• DE Bald wirst du überall die Äthergramme und magimathematischen Zusammenhänge sehen, die anderen verborgen bleiben. ‘Soon you will see everywhere the aethergrams and magimathematical connections that remain hidden from others.’ English says experience is the finest teacher; German says you'll soon see hidden aethergrams and magimathematical links everywhere.

And when you feel you can command Carbuncle as easily as you might move your own limbs, return to me for further instruction. I will be waiting.

• DE Es gehört zum Hermetiker wie die Axt zum Marodeur. ‘It belongs to the arcanist like the axe to the marauder.’ English: command Carbuncle as easily as your own limbs; German: it belongs to an arcanist like an axe to a marauder.