Arata Kasuga

Kasuga Arata is the protagonist of the manga Trinity Seven by Saitou Kenji and Nao Akinari. He is a Magic King Candidate who possesses The Astil Manuscript, the Legendary Grimoire.

Appearance
Initially, Arata usually wore his first high school uniform, the top half consisting of a black t-shirt, worn over by a white dress shirt and an unbuttoned black gakuran jacket. The bottom half was a simple black pants and penny loarder

When he transfered to the Biblia Magic Academy, he mainly started wearing the Academy's uniform, which also consisted of a white dress shirt, black t-shirt underneath, penny loafers, dark suit jacket with the school symbol on the breast pocket, and pants. However, he now includes a vest over the dress shirt and and a red tie. Normally, he was the dress shirt top button unbuttoned and untucked with the tie loosened. In casual attire, he wears a looser variation of his school attire. Arata also usually wears his grimoires in the fashion of a necklace or tied around his hand.

Magus Mode: Originally, Arata wore a black mandarin collared shirt, a jacket with ruffled sleeves, dark pants and shoes, with a white sarong. After copying Akio's Mantra Enchantment magic, his magus mode changed to a white mandarin collared sleeveless shirt, worn over by a black sleeveless stand up collared jacket. The bottom half consists of white pants wrapped around by a sarong and tied with an abrasive belt.

Trinity Form: Signifying that he has become a true magic king, Arata's attire in this form includes a white long-sleeved shirt, under a shoulder cape and collared vest with arm gloves. He also wears again white pants with knee length boots, wrapped around with a waistcloth, sarong and belt. The shoulder cape, vest, sarong, waistcloth, booths and arm gloves have a black with white edges or cuffs design.

Personality
Arata has a carefree and cheerful personality most of the time, usually cracking jokes and teasing others even in dangerous situations. He is also noted to be very perverted, often finding himself in risque situations or confessing his desires towards a girl. During these situations, he usually quotes: "Thanks you for the treat" or something to that effect. This often earns him a scolding from Lilith and scorn from Mira Yamana, the Top Seat of Grimoire Security, who calls him filthy or impure. Other girls such as Revi, Akio, or Liselotte don't particularly mind and often goes along with his remarks. However, he knows where to draw the line, as he refuses a kiss from Yui because that is only for "when we're closer". In times of need, Arata can become very dependable. Arata is very calm under pressure, in both perverted and dangerous situations. His natural level headedness allows him to make rational decisions and develop solutions to problems that otherwise others would panic to. Arata cares very deeply for others, especially his friends. He is willing to risk his life and become stronger to save those he cares about, such as Yui, Lillith, Liselotte, etc.

There are two known instances that can cause Arata to lose his cool. The first is Kasuga Hijiri, who is his entire motivation for becoming a magician and his driving force for most of the story. Liese was able to shake him mentally by offering information on her whereabouts, and when the two of them finally do meet he singlemindedly tries to take her back. The other is someone disappearing due to his own powerlessness, a trauma developed by Hijiris apparent "death". The first time this happens, he triggers Astral Trinity's awakening to prevent it.

As Astral Trinity much of his personality becomes quite different from before. Unlike Arata, Astral Trinity is cold, ruthless and arrogant. He would intentionally go so far as to erase the magic of his Grimoire if she tries to attack him and is visibly more assertive, demanding, and forceful when dealing with the things he wants. In one instance, he told Mira that she was worthy of him, demanded that she submit to him, and was clearly very shocked when she slapped him in response. Astral Trinity also seems more serious than Arata, although he can still be seen as rather carefree and whimsical. He is also something of a show off, summoning and manipulating a Breakdown Phenomenon to face off against foes, even when he clearly didn't need to.

During the Sky Library Arc, Arata admits that the Trinity Seven are nearly as important to him as Hijiri is, showcased by one of his very rare shows of anger towards the Magic King from an alternate dimention for what he did to Akio.

Superbia -  Imperium
Arata's Thema is Imperium or "Rule" from the Superbia Archive, meaning that his magic is used to dominate and "rule" other. Arata's primary magical ability is dispelling other magic, often with the result of stripping any nearby victim's clothes, thus earning the nickname of "Stripping Magic". This magic is also capable of easily dispersing his own Breakdown Phenomenon. As a Magic King Candidate, as well as possessing the Astil Manuscript and later the Ilias Fragment, Arata is awarded numerous powerful abilities. One of which is the ability to copy other magus' magic, even those from different Archives and Themas. Simply his grimoires rearranges another magic into something Arata can use. This process to copy another's magic has three steps:
 * 1) "Concept" - Grasping the basic concept of the magic or Thema. Arata must confirm both the name and execution with his own eyes and ears.
 * 2) "Understanding" - Understanding the foundations, the "genealogical tree" of the magic by learning the name of the magic's founder from a currently using magus.
 * 3) "Reasoning" - Analyzing the magic's fundamentals and disassembling it's chemical structure, which simply means dismantling the magic's "nature" through the use of logic. This is done through Arata's stripping magic.

When all three steps are completed, Arata is then able to use that magic with his own twist. Currently, he as copied three different magic:


 * Luxeria - Abies: The first magic he copied was Lilith's Abies Thema or "Outer Alchemy" from the Luxeria Archive, allowing him to use alchemy to form guns and firearms as she does. He uses this to direct his Anti-Magic abilities rather than throwing them randomly at everything in his vicinity. Using this directed version of his magic, he defeated a D-type demon dragon and dispersed his second Breakdown Phenomenon.


 * Gula - Fides: The second magic Arata learned was Akio's Fides Thema or "Mantra Enchantment", which gifts him the ability to enhance his body for defensive or offensive use, namely he manifests a dragon-like entity based on the D-type demon he had defeated before. Using this magic requires him to have a very strong determination.


 * Acedia - Stagna: The third magic Arata completes was Liese's Stagna Thema or "Logos Arts", which grants him the ability to manipulate time. He is able to transport himself small distances and momentarily freeze time for a moment.

Arata fulfillment of the Trinity (mastering three Themas and three Archives) grants him the ability to use the Magic King weapon, the Black Imperial Sword Judecca. Along with his Imperium Thema of the Superbia Archive, he becomes a "real" magic king, gaining the Trinity Form and even performing Paladin level techniques.

When Arata's magic goes out of control, he forms a very powerful Breakdown Phenomenon. A black sun appears in the sky above and proceeds to reduce everything below into base particles which it then absorbs, effectively wiping out a city in the first incident of its manifestation.

Astral Trinity
The "True Magic King" is Astral Trinity, who resides within Arata. When placed into a situation of particular stress or danger Arata undergoes the change into this being. Astral Trinity possesses all the same powers as Arata, Specifically his power to "Rule", however the sheer scale and malice behind their uses of this power is considerably greater in the case of Astral Trinity. He can direct his Anti-magic ability with simple gestures, defeating two grimoires and Mira, a specialist in deflecting all magics used against her, with overwhelming ease. He can manifest and control the "Black Sun" Breakdown Phenomenon just as easily, effectively destroying an entire sealed dimension in moments. It has also been implied that Astral Trinity is capable of some form of hypnosis as Hijiri noted he will someday "suppress" the Trinity Seven.

Hijiri noted that Astral Trinity, the Magic King's, purpose is to unite the Trinity Seven and destroy the world with them, effectively hinting at the sheer enourmity of his power.

Grimoires

 * Astil Manuscript - A legendary grimoire that once belonged to Hijiri, the Astil Astil_Manuscript.pngcript has since contracted with Arata once he became a magus. Said to "contain "information from another world", the grimoire is able to perform numerous magic, giving Arata a great deal of abilities. Originally, she was capable of granting Arata's wish of returning to his normal days by restoring his destroyed hometown and inhabitants in an alternate dimension. After undertaking with him, Arata received the ability to copy other people's magic, under the right conditions, even from different Archives and Themas. This is possible through the Astil Manuscript modifying the magic in way that Arata can use it. Furthermore, having it's own will, the Manuscript can also take on a multiple forms, transforming into Hijiri or her true appearance, Sora. As Sora, she is able to act independently from Arata, performing her own magic which allows her to support Arata externally. When he becomes Astral Trinity, she was able to revert him back to normal.
 * Illias Fragment - Another legendary grimoire, the Illias Fragment also originally belonged to Hijiri before joining Arata. Like the Astil Manuscript, she shares many numerous abilities such as transformation, world construction, magic analysis, etc. She was also capable of controlling a group spectres and even managed to trap Sora. Described as a "support type grimoire", she mainly assists Arata through increasing his offensive power, stabilizing his magic and healing any wounds. LIke Sora, she is able to transform into different forms such as Hijiri, who she often took her place when Hijiri had to leave to magic business, or her true appearance as Illya. In her human form, Illya is also able to act seperately and support Arata with her magic externally as well.

Weapons

 * Black Imperial Sword Judecca - a Magic King weapon originally sealed away in the Sky Library to be used against the Magic King, Arata would ironically release the sword and become it's master. Also having a will of it's own, usage of Judecca required the user to have the Trinity, which Arata initially failed and almost forcefully reverted back to Astral Trinity again. Eventually, he would surpass the requirements by mastering four Archives, and become owner of the weapon. With his acquisition of Judecaa, Arata's magic increases tremendously, allowing him to fight on par with powerful opponents. The sword also allows him to use multiple magics from he copied at the same time to perform even Paladin level techniques. Judecca is also capable of changing it's appearance, shrinking into a smaller version of itself as well as an unknown human form.

Alchemy

 * Realize - Activating a macro in the Astil Manuscript, Arata can use Outer Alchemy to create a weapon such as a handgun or rifle.


 * Meteo Punisher - Using a gun, Arata can shoot a large blast of anti-magic towards a directed path. This attack is capable of erasing a Breakdown Phenomenon.


 * Meteo Dragonar

Relationships
Kasuga Hijiri - A mage from Royal Lieber Academy who originally posed as his cousin and took care of him in place of his missing in place of his parents. Despite the two not being blood related, they have an extremely strong bond built over time and care very deeply for one another. When the Breakdown Phenomenon was destroying their hometown, Hijiri prioritized saving Arata first, kissing him before allowing herself to be disintegrated. As a result, Arata, desiring to save her, chooses to become a magician on the small chance of bringing her back. Even when revealed that they are enemies, they are still joyful to see each other and remain on friendly terms despite thier circumstances. They both have a strong desire to protect each other; Arata wants to bring back Hijiri from being trapped in time and space, while Hijiri wants to save him from his fate as the Magic King who will eventually destroy the world.

Azami Lilith - As the first mage (besides Hijiri, whom he didn't know was a mage initially) and member of the Trinity Seven that Arata encounters, Lilith was the person responsible for introducing Arata to the magic world. Initially investigating a Breakdown Phenomenon site, she was surprised to discover the area undestroyed. Investigating further, she discovered Arata as the source and demanded that he give up his grimoire. Refusing, Arata instead convinced her to make him a magician and as a result, enrolled him at the Biblia Academy. Out of the Trinity Seven, Lilith is probably the closest to Arata and interacts with him the most. As his teacher, Lilith tends to act strict towards him on his behavior and actions. Although, she often becomes very flusterd by his perverted teasing and antics, causing her to become extremely embarrased and sometimes act out violently. Interestingly, Levi once stated that her personality was more of an ice queen before meeting Arata, hinting that he was someone special to her. However, despite her frustrations, Lilith deeply cares and respects Arata, willing to support and protect him. Arata, likewise, also feels the same; he considers her and rest of Trinity Seven just as precious to him. It is implied that Lilith may have feelings for him, often blushing when around him and becoming jealous whenever he interacts with other girls.