Magic Knight Rayearth Wiki
Advertisement

Clef (クレフ Kurefu) is the chief of all sorcerers in Cephiro and was formerly Princess Emeraude's attendant.

Appearance[]

Clef has the appearance of a handsome, if slightly intimidating, young boy of about ten or eleven years old, with light purple hair, light blue eyes, fair skin, and an aura of mystery and wonder. However, his appearance belied his age, as every individual of Cephiro has the ability to "will" how they look; he is actually seven-hundred-and-forty-five years old. His usual attire consists of long, elaborate white robes, a diadem studded with aquamarine gems and a large blue horn at the center, and gold earrings. He carries a staff almost twice his height, the top of which is carved into a strange animal and embedded with two large gemstones, the top being blue and the bottom purple. Clef projects his magic through the blue gemstone, which glows every time he casts a spell.

Personality[]

Clef is known for his wisdom, mystique, and magical prowess. As the Guru, or rather Master Mage of Cephiro, he exudes an air of authority and knowledge. His demeanor is often calm and he carries himself with a certain elegance. Clef is dedicated to preserving the balance of Cephiro and guiding those who undertake important quests. His wisdom is a guiding light for the group, offering insights into the magical realm and the challenges they face.

Despite his pragmatic nature, there's moments where a hint of humor or warmth shines through, especially when interacting with the main heroines. He has some temper , as seen by his habit of waving his staff when annoyed, showing occasional demonstrations of displeasure, such as when he comically knocks Umi in the head with his sff a when she called him a child. Though, he usually maintain a collected demeanor. He is loved by many characters including Umi (in the anime), but he does not seem to express a particular interest in romantic relationships.

During the second season, he struggles with guilt over his role in the girls' fate, specifically not revealing the truth about their destiny and the role of the knights. Ultimately, it was him who kept the truth from them, thereby sealing their foreordained fates.

History[]

Nothing is revealed about Clef's family and past, but it is very likely that he was of royal or noble blood.

Clef is the most powerful magician in Cephiro, and personally taught Emeraude, Zagato, Lantis, and Alcyone magic. When Emeraude became the Pillar of Cephiro, Clef became her personal attendant, appointing Lantis to be her Captain of the Guard and Zagato to be her High Priest. At some point, Clef learned from Lantis that Emeraude and Zagato had fallen in love with each other, but only asked Lantis how truly beautiful Cephiro was if it required the Pillar's sacrifice.

At some point after Lantis's departure from Cephiro, Princess Emeraude informed Clef that she was going to summon the legendary Magic Knights. Horrified, Clef tried to dissuade her from doing so, but to no avail. After Emeraude imprisoned herself, she telepathically told Clef to help and guide the Magic Knights, while also entrusting Mokona to him.

With no other choice, Clef began preparing for the Magic Knights' arrival. He first went to Master Smith Presea and enchanted the door of her house, making it so that only the Magic Knights would have the power to open it, then entrusted Mokona to her.

Part I[]

When Clef first met the Magic Knights, Umi especially made a poor impression on him, which made Clef question Emeraude's decision to summon such young children. After blasting away a monster that had suddenly emerged from the ground, Clef explained the situation to the Knights, telling them about Cephiro, Princess Emeraude, and Zagato, their destiny to become the Magic Knights, and that they could not go back home until they had fulfilled their purpose. He was dismayed to hear that they had no magical powers at all, having apparently expected those chosen to already have powers, but nonetheless bestowed them with magic; his spell, however, merely awakened the magic that was dormant within them. Hikaru's genuine eagerness to help Cephiro and learn from him pleased Clef, who then taught Hikaru her first spell, Flame Arrow. Before he could teach her anything else, he sensed one of Zagato's minions arriving and summoned a griffin-like creature to take the girls to the Forest of Silence to meet Presea.

Clef managed to stall the minion, his former student Alcyone, before she in turn summoned a two-headed lupine monster to keep him busy and pursuing the girls. Clef maintained contact with the Magic Knights via the gem on Mokona's forehead, even teaching Umi and Fuu their first respective spells, Water Dragon and Winds of Healing.

Anime[]

After fighting Alcyone, Clef had been turned to stone by Zagato, but still managed to communicate with the Knights via Mokona throughout their journey, and even tried to tell them the truth about their purpose in Cephiro, only to succumb to Zagato's spell. After Zagato's death, Clef was freed, and he solemnly watched the final battle between Emeraude and the Knights. During that battle, he spoke to them telepathically, confessing to them that he knew the truth all along, and that unless the current Pillar disappears, a new Pillar cannot be found. He also pled with them to grant Princess Emeraude her true wish, knowing that her life no longer had any meaning for her with Zagato gone.

Part II[]

After Princess Emeraude's death, Clef and all the other magicians used their willpower to create a castle-like structure to house all the inhabitants of Cephiro, as the land was falling apart without a Pillar to pray for its wellbeing. Upon sensing that the Magic Knights had been summoned to Cephiro once again, Clef sent Fyula to again save them from their fall and bring them to the castle. He then apologized to the Magic Knights for having hidden the truth about their true mission and was surprised to see that the Knights didn't blame him. He was, however, unable to answer their question as to why they were summoned or by whom, as only a Pillar could summon people from another world. He then informed them of the three countries seeking to invade Cephiro to be the next Pillar.

Clef

Clef in ova


Later, Clef and sleepless Umi had a more private conversation, in which Umi apologized to Clef for how she treated him when they first met. Clef replied that it wasn't her fault, but his, since he did not properly aid them to begin with, and even led them to fulfil the Legend of the Magic Knights without telling them the full meaning. He then told her to first think about protecting herself, and to use the magic he bestowed upon her and the weapon that Presea made for her for her own self. He concluded by going to make Umi a sleeping potion, for which she thanked him.

Later, after remembering a conversation with Lantis about the nature of the Pillar, as well as the last time he saw Princess Emeraude, Clef informs Presea that he would tell the next Pillar candidate the full truth about Princess Emeraude, as he did not want to see history repeat itself. To Clef and Presea's surprise, Emeraude's brother Ferio agreed, even if this would dissuade the candidate from becoming the Pillar. Later, after the Knights return from their second encounter with the invading forces, Clef tried sensing the Road to the Pillar, but was unable to find it, and he mused to himself that he doesn't want to see another Pillar be named.

As the three countries fought each other within Cephiro's airspace, Clef collapsed as he sensed the Road to the Pillar opening, and after Mokona revealed his true identity as the creator of Cephiro and Earth, Clef's diadem completely melted due to Mokona's sheer power. After Hikaru's abolishment of the Pillar system, Clef regularly sought council from the other worlds about their strengths in order to make a "New Cephiro," while also helping Eagle recover from his illness and researching how to make Autozam more inhabitable. He then speculated that Mokona may have wanted to change Cephiro as well, hence its placement alongside other worlds, and that Mokona was the one to summon the Knights to help bring about this change.

Guru

clef in ova

Anime[]

Clef used his magic to protect and help the Knights in their numerous battles but ended up bedridden from the strain of repeatedly performing such powerful spells. Amidst all this, Clef also became increasingly curious about the mysterious Debonair, whom he was convinced was the true enemy, rather than the three invading countries. Unable to convince a brainwashed Alcyone to tell him more about Debonair, Clef left the task of asking Debonair's whereabouts to Sierra and wondered as to whom exactly the new Pillar was, given that the Proof of the Pillar was already changing its shape.

Later on, he had an unexpected conversation with Eagle and Hikaru, both of whom had proven themselves worthy of becoming the new Pillar. Eagle assured him that if he could become the Pillar, he would stay in Cephiro to ensure its stability, and he begged Clef to allow engineers from Autozam to analyze the Pillar system, since he had no time for strategies. Clef was stunned and impressed. As he examined him closer, he was able to sense that the Autozam commander was gravely ill, that he had a "warrior's" aura, and remarked upon Eagle's love for his country, which was the sole reason he was able to control his illness until this point. Clef then told them that the Proof of the Pillar would soon completely change its shape to best suit the next Pillar, and they would know who the true Pillar was at that time. He then asked Hikaru what she would do if she were the chosen one, though the viewer did not get to hear her reply. However, out of the kindness of his heart, Clef promised Eagle to aid Autozam in rebuilding whether or not Eagle was the Pillar.

He then went to the room where the Proof of the Pillar was, reflected upon how much everyone - including him - loved Cephiro, and decided to help the Magic Knights in their fight in his own way: using all of his powers to protect and support the castle. While starting to perform the magic, he made telepathic conversation with Sierra, informing her of his decision. Alarmed, Sierra begged him to stop, breaking down in tears as she did so, as she feared that he would die from the tremendous strain of performing his strongest magic. He gently assured her that he would not die, as there had already been too much suffering on the part of the Magic Knights. He then told her to keep asking Alcyone for Debonair's whereabouts, and to tell the Magic Knights once she found out.

OVA[]

Clefova

As seen in the OVA

In the OVA, Clef goes to Earth, rather than the Magic Knights being summoned to Cephiro.

Powers and Abilities[]

Clef is the most powerful and knowledgeable magician in Cephiro; in fact, he personally taught Princess Emeraude, Zagato, Lantis, and Alcyone the art of magic, and they all bloomed into highly accomplished, incredibly powerful magicians in their own rights.

Clef-ova-staff

Clef's staff in the OVA.

In the first episode of the first anime season, the audience can already deduce how formidable he was as a magician, with him displaying incredible powers, such as granting people the ability to use magic, summoning and banishing otherworldly spirit creatures, manipulating the element of lightning, conjuring a protective force field, and sensing impending dangers. Also, even after Zagato had turned him into stone, he was able fight the spell and maintain telepathic contact with the Magic Knights throughout their long and difficult journey (by means of the magical red gem on Mokona's forehead), a testament as to how strong his powers truly were.

The second anime season saw Clef's powers explored further. He was able to create a magical sphere through which he and the others could use to observe the Magic Knights in their battles, and consistently demonstrated the ability to read auras (which allowed him to sense intruders in the castle and detect their every movement), and to receive visions of the past and present. He was also shown to be able to manipulate the size of his protective force field, enlarging it to the degree where it shielded the entire castle, and employed a highly dangerous teleportation spell to transport the Magic Knights and their friends back to the castle (to safety) when Debonair was about to attack them. In the final two episodes of the second season, he used all his magical powers to protect and support the castle, enveloping it completely in a strange shower of pure, light magic; though it was not revealed as to what the spell he used was, it was so strong that his headpiece shattered as it took effect. When he stopped casting it, he was completely drained, as evident by his sweat-drenched head.

Relationships[]

Hikari[]

Clef's relationship with Hikaru is one of profound mentorship and deepening trust. Clef initially serves as a guiding figure for Hikaru, offering her guidance and training as she embarks on her quest. Over time, their bond evolves from a professional one into a more personal connection, marked by mutual respect and a shared commitment to their mission. Clef recognizes Hikaru’s bravery and growth, while Hikaru values Clef's wisdom and unwavering support.

Umi[]

Umi's fiery and headstrong nature often clashes with Clef’s more disciplined approach, leading to moments of tension and frustration. Clef, though occasionally express his exasperation with her by tapping her with staff. In the anime, as the story progressed, Umi's affection for him grew and she fell in love with him, yet Clef remains ambiguous about his own emotions.

Fuu[]

Clef’s and Fuu share a deep respect, with him providing her with significant mentorship. Their interactions reflect a blend of respect and camaraderie, with Clef acting as a stabilizing force and Fuu valuing his counsel as she navigates her path and grows into her role as a magical knight.

Lantis[]

Clef’s relationship with Lantis is grounded in mutual respect and understanding. Having once been Clef's student, Lantis became one of the finest swordmasters in Cephiro, and Clef acknowledges his skill and growth with admiration. Clef appears to support, or at least is not opposed to, Lantis’s ideal of abolishing the Pillar system, recognizing the validity of his perspective.

Emeraude[]

Clef's and Emeraude share a deep respect layered with some emotional distance. As her mentor, he guided her once with wisdom and support. Despite teaching role in her life, he honored her wish to end her own life, respecting her decision while guiding the Magic Knights to do so. Clef’s personal feelings toward Emeraude remain ambiguous, leaving his true thoughts about her largely unknown.

Zagato[]

Clef's opinion on Zagato is complex and somewhat ambiguous. Initially, Zagato's decision to turn Clef into stone suggests a strategic move rather than a desire to kill him. Despite this, Clef's actions reflect a resolute stance against Zagato, guiding the Magic Knights to confront him and ultimately end Emeraude’s life. This dynamic points that while Clef’s personal feelings towards Zagato may have some bittesweet affection between student and master, still Clef's commitment to the greater mission and the consequences of Zagato’s actions drive his decisions.

Presea[]

Clef and Presea share a close and supportive friendship, working together closely to aid the Magic Knights. Their alliance is marked by mutual trust and respect. Presea has romantic feelings for him. Clef’s response to her feelings remains ambiguous.

Mokona[]

Clef is well bonded with Mokona and entrusts Mokona with guiding and assisting the Magic Knights on their quest, demonstrating his strategic foresight and understanding of the mission's needs. However, it remains ambiguous whether Clef was aware of Mokona's true identity as the benevolent creator of their reality.

Alcyone[]

Having once been his student, Alcyone’s decision to use her skills for selfish purposes contrasts sharply with the values Clef instilled in her. He is disheartened by her betrayal of those teachings, reflecting a profound sense of loss over the potential he believed she once held. Clef's disappointment underscores the gravity of her fall from grace and the personal stakes involved in her actions.


Etymology[]

He is named after the Mazda Clef. Clef is also a french word, used to express the musical symbol clave.

Trivia[]

  • Clef's seiyuu, Nozomu Sasaki, also voiced Eriol Hiiragizawa of Cardcaptor Sakura, another CLAMP franchise.

Gallery[]

For other images, click here.

Advertisement