- "A Heartbeat that lasts for eternity. Lives consumed in soundless balls of fire. No one can tell when the world is displaced and the Flames of the Crimson World sweep over all."
- —Alastor's opening narration of the first season.
Alastor (アラストール Arasutōru ) is the Crimson Lord to whom Shana is bound. His true name is "Flame of Heaven" (天壌の劫火 Tenjō no Gōka ) and he is the God of Retribution (天罰神 Tenbatsushin ), a God of the Crimson Realm who governs judgment and condemnation. Greatly feared by Denizens, Alastor is the strongest of all Crimson Lords. He is one of the Crimson Lords that oppose Denizens, trying to stop them from consuming Power of Existence. His previous Flame Haze was Mathilde Saint-Omer.
Appearance[]
In his sealed form, Alastor expresses his will through the Divine Vessel Cocytus. Under Shana's contract, Cocytus is a pendant formed from a black sphere adorned by crossing gold rings and fastened to a silver chain.[1] In Mathilde's case, it took the form of a hand accessory which also had a pitch-black gem.
Alastor's true form is a massive creature with powerful limbs and horns that resembles a Minotaur. He has large wings with membranes the color of the night sky and burning eyes. He is completely covered in flames which are powerful enough to incinerate everything in his path. A black mass is hidden inside those flames.[2][3]
He has a voice resembling the roar of distant thunder.
Personality[]
Initially, Alastor shared Shana's apathy and prejudice towards Torches; he was confused as to why Shana was embarrassed to be naked in front of Yuji, claiming it was no different than being naked in front of a rock or a tree. However, he was also shown to be exasperated by Shana's stubborn attitude, such as when she refused to assume the identity and personality of Junko Ōgami during their investigation before coming to Misaki City. He starts to tolerate Yuji around the same time Shana does and even starts to use Shana's name himself, saying it comes in handy when talking about her, though eventually he just does it out of habit. Despite this, he is still quite cold to Yuji, though this is more prominent in the novels than in the anime. He is especially critical of his initial lack of progress during training, calling him clumsy and incompetent.
Alastor is like a father-figure to Shana and cares for her deeply, as he had watched over the future "Flame-Haired Burning-Eyed Hunter" as she grew up and usually tells her stories (particularly about his former Flame Haze and lover, Mathilde Saint-Omer). He seems to have the personality of a typical king (in his case, of another world), as he speaks in a regal tone and is ever mindful of disciplining Shana, especially when she's being overly stubborn. He is also very wise, as one would expect from a centuries-old god.
Despite his serious nature and regal mannerisms, like a hapless father struggling to deal with his child, he tends to neglect what some would consider to be common sense and stumbles when it comes to matters he is unfamiliar with, like human relationships. He is also shown to be very uncomfortable talking about "how babies are made" when Shana becomes curious after learning Yuji is going to have a new sibling, pleading Kazumi to not make him tell Shana how it comes about. As a result, it is not uncommon for him to be reprimanded by his closer associates, in particular Wilhelmina and Tiamat, a treatment he would sheepishly endure. He is commented by the Snake of the Festival as the "one who wishes for judgement" or simply "retribution-crazy one" by Denizens. Unlike Wilhelmina, however, he recognizes his mistake in not teaching Shana how to be sociable, describing it as one of their mistakes during training.
Although he and Shana generally have a parent-child dynamic, Alastor is aware that Shana must grow up and may be trying to adapt, especially after she meets Yuji, and as such doesn't hold her hand through situations, as he knows better than to babysit her. However, like any father figure, he isn't above scolding her at times, such as when he calls her out for avoiding Yuji and leaving his training to Wilhelmina due to all the time he was spending with Fumina Konoe, saying that she would have to face him at some point, advice she ultimately takes to heart.
Alastor is also very protective of Shana, which is shown when he assumed his true form after she was severely hurt by Friagne and killed him without remorse. This protective nature is noted by Yuji and the Snake of the Festival; when Hecate attempts to kill Shana, as she believes her mere presence is a huge threat to her master, the two of them intervene and call her out for being short-sighted, knowing full well that if Shana dies, Alastor will make another contract and seek revenge on all of Bal Masqué.
Background[]
Alastor is a God of the Crimson Realm, known as the "God of Retribution". Other epithets include "True Demon God of the Crimson Realm" (“紅世”真正の魔神 ) and even "True Flame Demon God of the Crimson Realm" (“紅世”真正の炎の魔神 ).[4] His flame color is described as the "color which burned everything into ashes".
The Great War[]
Before the Great War, Alastor chose to not participate in the sealing ceremony of the Snake of the Festival. However, he actively participated in the conflict following the Snake's sealing, where he, under a contract with Mathilde Saint-Omer, defeated the forces of the Crimson Realm, and ultimately, the leader of the Crimson Realm organization Töten Glocke, Asiz. Unfortunately, the victory was due to a sacrifice in his contractor's part, as his beloved Mathilde perished the moment she summoned Alastor through the ceremony called Tenpa Jōsai.
The Search[]
After the end of the Great War, with Wilhelmina Carmel and Merihim, they headed off to the Tendōkyū, where he stayed inside a Treasure Tool called Caina. Alastor began to seek a "pure Flame Haze" who lives solely for their mission, rather than a "normal Flame Haze" who fixates on vengeance, despite this being a contradiction to their original nature. Together with Wilhelmina and Merihim, who reserved his remaining Power of Existence in a form of a skeleton known as Shiro, they started their search for the candidates for the next "Flame-Haired Burning-Eyed Hunter".
Year after year, the trio had picked up, trained and assessed many candidates; they were children who had been dropped out and were left to disappear in the world. However, all of them failed to meet their expectations and were sent back outside with no one had ever stayed until reaching adulthood: those who excelled in strength became intoxicated by it; those who excelled in intellect became arrogant; the talented ones could only judge events based on their likes and dislikes; the untalented ones were satisfied with their efforts alone without reflecting on the results; those who understood the meaning of the mission were fearful; those who couldn't understand it were rebellious. In the worst cases, some even sought unlimited kindness and indulgence from them.
These failures made them feel that their desires might be nothing but illusions, and their efforts might be in vain. However, after hundreds of years, they finally found a child perfectly fit to be the vessel of the true Crimson God.
Plot[]
Second Great War[]
After Shana's defeat, he follows Yūji and a few member of Bal Masqué then travel to the rift between the human world and the Crimson Realm, the place where the body of the Snake of the Festival is sealed to know his intentions.
Through various battle and tactical planning, Shana reunites with him and her team returns to fight Yūji Sakai as they realize the new world would cause an imbalance of Power of Existence in the far distant future if Denizens consumes Power of Existence recklessly. Through ensuing battles, Shana and Margery Daw successfully re constructed the Unrestricted Spell to include a Law that humans can never be consumed in Xanadu. This is a last ditch effort as Shana's team is too small to prevent the creation of Xanadu, so they merely wanted to protect the Xanadu humans instead. As they feel relieved that their plan worked, Shana is agitated to see Yūji Sakai smiling.
Yūji Sakai, having foreseen such a plan, revealed that the Unrestricted Spell is a secondary effect. In reality, the only requirement is to wait till midnight so that the Reiji Maigo would refill, during that time he ask the Professor to place a special Unrestricted Spell to obtain an extremely vast amount of Power of Existence under his control, where he can direct it to the creation of Xanadu and nullify the Law placed by Shana. Shana and her team has not won, but clearly lost, and can only watch helplessly on the creation of Xanadu. However, Yūji Sakai, as the God of the Festival hears the Denizen's wish as well as the Flame Haze's wish, and did not undo the Law placed by Shana.
Post-Second Great War[]
He, together with Shana and Margery Daw, in the aftermath, faces Yūji. During the battle Yūji activates Lamie's Unrestricted Spell and cast it on Kazumi Yoshida, with the last plea for her to agree. The spell activates and it repairs the distortions caused in Misaki City and restored the existence of those eaten by Crimson Denizens.
Shana asked Sakai Yūji what his intention is, and he replied that in order to atone for the killing of many Flame Haze and, indirectly, Humans on his quest, he will travel to Xanadu alone to teach Denizens and humans to coexist peacefully, even if it takes thousands of years so that he can finally be together with Shana without guilt. Shana and Alastor, however were furious with his philosophy of severe self punishment, They used their tremendous strength to overpower and defeat Yūji. Later, after Shana and Yūji embraced and kissed, the Spiral Organ's Unrestricted Spell activated and Sakai Yūji becomes a "solid existence", as prophesied by himself - something more than a normal Torch or a Mystes. As Yūji Sakai and Shana delights at this revelation, he, Yūji and Shana departed to Xanadu.
Other Appearances[]
Anime Appearances[]
Shakugan no Shana-tan[]
Dengeki Bunko 2007 Movie Festival Special[]
When Yūji and Kazumi were going to the movies together, Alastor misinformed Shana that the movies are a place where couples fall in love. Later, in the theater, he is appalled to see Yūji with his head against Kazumi's breasts, even though Yūji was unconscious at the time.[5]
Relationships[]
Shana[]
Alastor loves Shana like a father does his daughter and guides her, as she is still mentally immature.[6] In turn, Shana has a great deal of respect for Alastor, seeing as he is known by many prestigious titles, and she has confessed her daughterly love for him.
Yūji Sakai[]
As Shana's guardian, Alastor's surface and primary disposition is to act unpleasantly harsh and severely towards him. However, in truth, after overcoming many battles with him, he grows to have the same amount of trust in him as Shana does, though he would never tell this to Yūji and would still act severely towards him.
Alastor uses the rude pronoun "kisama" (貴様 ) when talking to him and often calls him a fool. The severity of his language towards Yūji is toned down in the anime series.
Mathilde Saint-Omer[]
He loved Mathilde with all his heart. Even then, he would not set his responsibilities aside just for love.
Powers and Abilities[]
Alastor is the most powerful Crimson Lord. He is a "God that can kill Gods (神をも殺す神 Kami wo mo Korosu Kami ) and is considered the only being capable of destroying the "God of Creation", Snake of the Festival.[7] He is also capable of destroying things considered indestructible, including the Perfect Insignia and even the Nietono no Shana itself if he is properly summoned.[8]
Divine Summonings[]
Tenpa Jōsai (天破壌砕 , Heaven-and-Earth Sundering): Tenpa Jōsai is the summoning of Alastor himself, capable of burning everything to ashes. Unlike other lords that requires a lot of Power of Existence from human to manifest their forms, Alastor's contractor can perform a summoning ceremony of the God of Retribution that, instead uses Denizens around him as the source of the Power of Existence. This method is his Flame Haze's last resort; as no Flame Haze had survived after using it before. But Shana can endure it due to her power. In the novel, the only time Tenpa Jōsai is performed is in the final battle of the Great War. Mathilde summoned Alastor as the last resort the stop Asiz from succeeding his plan to create the entity from Tis (his beloved contractor) and his own existence aka the "Heir to Both Worlds".
Unrestricted Spells[]
Flame of Heaven: A heavenly fire that burns and extinguishes everything.[citation needed]
Tatsui no Gen (達意の言 , Speech of Conveying): A spell which allows Alastor to "read" into other people's intentions and minds. [citation needed]
Quotes[]
- (To Shana) "Would you be embarrassed to be naked in front of a rock or a tree. This is out-of-character for you."[9]
- (To Yuji) "Goodness, you're clumsy."[10]
- (To Friagne about Shana (novel)) "This girl should have been an artist who carves her name in history; a politician who shakes the whole nation; a warrior who bravely rushes into battlefields; a criminal who wins the hearts of wrongdoers; or the mother of such people. For this girl is "The Great One"; a Vessel that spans through space-time; whose size is plenty enough to hold my lordly existence, the 'Flame of Heaven'. Did you actually think the 'Flame of Heaven' would not choose his contractor? Take it, the fire of retribution."[11]
- (To Friagne about Shana (movie)) "This girl will not explode; for she is "The Great One", the bearer of Vessel that accepts me and still has space left. Did you actually think that I, the Demon God from the Crimson Realm, would not choose my contractor? Take it, the fire of retribution." [12]
- (To Shana after the contract) "I welcome you for landing onto the Scene of Carnage, the Garden of Battle. My Flame Haze."[13]
Trivia[]
- Alastor's title is widely translated as "Flame of Heaven" while, in its Japanese form, more literally means "The Conflagration That Incinerates Both Heaven and Earth".
- Alastor is originally a name used for a class of demons in Christian demonology. A variation of this name is used by Edward Alexander Crowley in his new name Aleister.
- Interestingly, Alastor (translated as "avenger") is an epithet of Zeus, the Greek god of sky, lightning, thunder, law, order and justice; he is also described as an avenger of evil deeds, specifically the bloodshed in families. Other source describes that the name is used to designate any deities or demons who avenge wrongs committed by men.[14] In the story, Alastor has a voice resembling the roar of distant thunder[15] and is the Crimson God of Retribution, who punishes Crimson Denizens for devouring humans.
- Alastor briefly appears in A Certain Scientific Railgun (Special 1); Ruiko Saten tries to buy a Gekota toy from the stand, but is instead offered the necklace that Alastor takes the form of.
- The name of his vessel references a river that resides in the underworld in Greek Mythology, and in Dante's Inferno Cocytus is the ninth and lowest circle of Hell, which is divided into four sections, one of them is called Caina, which is also the name of the Treasure Tool he resided on while searching for successor to the title of "Flame-Haired Burning-Eyed Hunter".[16]
Gallery[]
Notes[]
- ↑ RGB code sourced from crimson (紅) on colordic
References[]
- ↑ Shakugan no Shana Final Guidebook/Shana Glossary
- ↑ Shakugan no Shana Light Novel Volume 01 Chapter 5, page 271-2: The Manifestation of Alastor.
- ↑ Side Story: Reshuffle, Guren page 111: Yūji remembers the Manifestation of Alastor.
- ↑ Shakugan no Shana Guide Book Nyūmon-hen page 13
- ↑ Dengeki Bunko 2007 Movie Festival Special
- ↑ DVD Special Book Grand Grimoire page 09
- ↑ http://www1.atwiki.jp/sslibrary/pages/292.html
- ↑ Shakugan no Shana Light Novel Volume SIV page 230
- ↑ Shakugan no Shana Episode 10
- ↑ Shakugan no Shana Episode 10
- ↑ Shakugan no Shana Light Novel Volume 01 Chapter 5 pages 272-273
- ↑ Shakugan no Shana The Movie
- ↑ Shakugan no Shana Episode 15
- ↑ Article about Alastor at Wikipedia
- ↑ Side Story: Reshuffle
- ↑ Article about Cocytus at Wikipedia
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