The Four Kings of the World are a powerful group of four great spirits that dwell deep in the Astral World, acting as benevolent figures who love and protect humanity. They are documented as the four cardinal guardian angels in the Holy See's scriptures, though most priests still deny the existence of magic.[2] The "Formation of the Four" is powerful, but it is one of the most basic spells.[6] Still, it may take a year for a magic student to conjure it.[7] Once the spell is fully in effect, the caster need only maintain subsconscious bearings regardless of cardinal position.[6] Though it can effectively stop astral creatures and ethereal body, it's only half as effective against anything with physical substance and it has no effect on physical objects.[2][8]
Each of the Four Kings is addressed in their joint incantation:[1][9]
- "Oh blessed King of the East, whose spirit rises over the mountain as a zephyr, and whose golden raiment gleams like the sun."
- "Oh blessed King of the West, whose name trembles even the water spirits who caper beneath the waves."
- "Oh blessed King of the South, brilliance greater than everlasting flame is thy majesty."
- "Oh blessed King of the North, it is for thy rule that all living beings of the earth rejoice."
Story[]
The Four Kings are summoned for warding purposes by Schierke.[4][10] In particular, they are summoned for assistance by the young mage to ward off evil creatures attacking the church of Enoch Village.[1] Eventually, Farnese learns how to summon them and does so to protect the Seahorse.[9] After the Corridor of Dreams ritual is over, and as Casca rests, Farnese summons them so as to demonstrate her magical aptitude.[7] As the island of Skellig and domain of Elfhelm are in ruin, the Four Kings are briefly present along the remnant island's perimeter.[11]
Notes[]
- The Berserk Official Guidebook explicitly names the kings' elements: the King of the East presides over wind, the King of the West over water, the King of the South controls fire, and the King of the North controls earth.[12] (NOTE: The Berserk Official Guidebook is highly questionable in its veracity.)
- The incantation Schierke uses to summon the Four Kings comes from the Kabbalistic Cross, the first part of the lesser banishing ritual of the pentagram. It is commonly spelled as "Ateh Malkuth Ve-Geburah, Ve-Gedulah, Le-olam" ("For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever"). Alternative translations are "You are the kingdom and might, the Glory, forever" or "You are royalty, and mighty and great forever".
- The second part of the ritual includes an incantation Schierke used to ward the trolls off in Enoch Village.
- The third part of the ritual deals with invoking the four elements and the presence of the archangels Raphael, Gabriel, Michael and Uriel, each guarding a cardinal point.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ^ a b c d Berserk :: Volume 25, "Magic"
- ^ a b c d Berserk :: Volume 25, "Arcana of Invocation"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 25, "Qliphoth"
- ^ a b Berserk :: Volume 28, "Familiars"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 29, "Vandimion"
- ^ a b Berserk :: Volume 36, "Full Moon (2)"
- ^ a b Berserk :: Volume 41, "Cherry Orchard"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 36, "Sea God (3)"
- ^ a b Berserk :: Volume 36, "Beast Warrior"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 39, "Fragments of Memories"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 42, "Fading Isle"
- ^ Berserk Official Guidebook, p. 120
Appendices[]
| Prominent
Apostle (Pseudo-Apostle) · Elf · Daimon · Four Kings · God Hand · Human |
| Secondary
Brownie · Centaur · Chimimoryo · Cockatrice · Daka · Dead Spirit · Dragon · Dwarf · Elemental · Faun · Garuda · Goblin · Golem · Harpy · Hydra · Incubus · Jötunn · Kelpie · Kundalini · Makara · Merrow · Ogre · Pishacha · Troll · Unicorn |
| Groups
Four Kings of the World |
| Mages
Schierke · Flora · Farnese · Gedfring · Ginnar · Thraein · Skirbil · Molda · Kukka · Theuene · Iony · Volvaba · Lady Priestess of the Cherry Blossoms |
| Elves
Flower Storm Monarch · Puck · Ivalera · Peekaf · Puck's Relatives |
| Other Spirits
Hanarr · Isma · Isma's Mother |
| Magic Items-Only Users |
| Interstitial Characters
Guts · Casca · Moonlight Boy · Skull Knight |