TV-Series
Description
Guru Clef is the master mage of Cephiro and the most powerful sorcerer in the land. Despite his youthful appearance as a young boy with light purple hair and blue eyes, he is actually 745 years old. In Cephiro, individuals have the ability to will their own appearance, which explains this discrepancy. He wears long white robes, an elaborate headpiece adorned with gems, and carries a large staff topped with a carved animal figure and two gemstones, the larger of which glows when he casts spells.
Clef possesses a complex personality that balances dignity and wisdom with a notably short temper. He can be easily frustrated by foolish behavior and has been known to lash out physically, even striking one of the Magic Knights with his staff when she pulled on his robes disrespectfully. However, this gruff exterior masks a deeply kind-hearted, selfless, and compassionate nature. He genuinely cares for the people of Cephiro, especially those he has taught, and treasures peace above all else.
His background reveals that he served as Princess Emeraude's personal attendant after she became the Pillar of Cephiro, and he was also the personal teacher to several key figures, including Princess Emeraude herself, the high priest Zagato, the magic swordsman Lantis, and the sorceress Alcyone. When Princess Emeraude fell in love with Zagato, Clef knew this was forbidden because the Pillar must dedicate every moment to praying for Cephiro's peace, but he kept their secret and tried to protect them. When Emeraude decided to summon the Magic Knights, knowing it would lead to her own death, Clef desperately tried to dissuade her, arguing that she deserved personal happiness. After she made her decision, he tearfully agreed to guide the summoned knights and apologize to them on her behalf.
In the second story arc, following Princess Emeraude's death, Clef takes on the leadership of Cephiro. The land begins to crumble without a Pillar to pray for its well-being, so Clef and all the other magicians use their collective willpower to create an enormous castle to shelter all of Cephiro's inhabitants. He works tirelessly to protect the survivors while searching for a new Pillar, nearly exhausting himself in the process of maintaining the castle's protective barriers.
Clef's key relationships are central to his character. He feels profound guilt for deceiving the Magic Knights Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu about their true mission of killing Princess Emeraude rather than rescuing her from Zagato. When the girls are summoned to Cephiro again, his first action is to sincerely apologize for his deception. He shares a close working relationship with Presea, the master weaponsmith, who harbors romantic feelings for him that he apparently does not notice. In the anime adaptation, a subtle romantic subtext develops between Clef and the Magic Knight Umi Ryuuzaki.
Throughout the story, Clef demonstrates significant development, particularly in his evolving perspective on Cephiro's Pillar system. While he initially served the system faithfully, he comes to doubt whether it is right for the Pillar to sacrifice all personal happiness for the country's sake. His guilt over deceiving the young Magic Knights weighs heavily on him, and in the second series, he urges them to fight for their own protection rather than sacrificing themselves for Cephiro.
As a master mage, Clef possesses numerous notable abilities. He can awaken the latent magical powers within others, as he does with the three Magic Knights when they first arrive in Cephiro. His offensive capabilities include powerful lightning-based attacks called Sole Lightning, defensive barriers known as Round Wall or Cresta, and the ability to summon magical creatures through his staff. He can communicate telepathically over long distances and even project his image through Mokona's gem. In the second series, he demonstrates the ability to create and maintain a massive protective barrier around the entire castle housing Cephiro's refugees, showcasing his immense magical stamina. Despite his power, Clef prefers to work behind the scenes, guiding and supporting others rather than taking direct action in battle.
Clef possesses a complex personality that balances dignity and wisdom with a notably short temper. He can be easily frustrated by foolish behavior and has been known to lash out physically, even striking one of the Magic Knights with his staff when she pulled on his robes disrespectfully. However, this gruff exterior masks a deeply kind-hearted, selfless, and compassionate nature. He genuinely cares for the people of Cephiro, especially those he has taught, and treasures peace above all else.
His background reveals that he served as Princess Emeraude's personal attendant after she became the Pillar of Cephiro, and he was also the personal teacher to several key figures, including Princess Emeraude herself, the high priest Zagato, the magic swordsman Lantis, and the sorceress Alcyone. When Princess Emeraude fell in love with Zagato, Clef knew this was forbidden because the Pillar must dedicate every moment to praying for Cephiro's peace, but he kept their secret and tried to protect them. When Emeraude decided to summon the Magic Knights, knowing it would lead to her own death, Clef desperately tried to dissuade her, arguing that she deserved personal happiness. After she made her decision, he tearfully agreed to guide the summoned knights and apologize to them on her behalf.
In the second story arc, following Princess Emeraude's death, Clef takes on the leadership of Cephiro. The land begins to crumble without a Pillar to pray for its well-being, so Clef and all the other magicians use their collective willpower to create an enormous castle to shelter all of Cephiro's inhabitants. He works tirelessly to protect the survivors while searching for a new Pillar, nearly exhausting himself in the process of maintaining the castle's protective barriers.
Clef's key relationships are central to his character. He feels profound guilt for deceiving the Magic Knights Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu about their true mission of killing Princess Emeraude rather than rescuing her from Zagato. When the girls are summoned to Cephiro again, his first action is to sincerely apologize for his deception. He shares a close working relationship with Presea, the master weaponsmith, who harbors romantic feelings for him that he apparently does not notice. In the anime adaptation, a subtle romantic subtext develops between Clef and the Magic Knight Umi Ryuuzaki.
Throughout the story, Clef demonstrates significant development, particularly in his evolving perspective on Cephiro's Pillar system. While he initially served the system faithfully, he comes to doubt whether it is right for the Pillar to sacrifice all personal happiness for the country's sake. His guilt over deceiving the young Magic Knights weighs heavily on him, and in the second series, he urges them to fight for their own protection rather than sacrificing themselves for Cephiro.
As a master mage, Clef possesses numerous notable abilities. He can awaken the latent magical powers within others, as he does with the three Magic Knights when they first arrive in Cephiro. His offensive capabilities include powerful lightning-based attacks called Sole Lightning, defensive barriers known as Round Wall or Cresta, and the ability to summon magical creatures through his staff. He can communicate telepathically over long distances and even project his image through Mokona's gem. In the second series, he demonstrates the ability to create and maintain a massive protective barrier around the entire castle housing Cephiro's refugees, showcasing his immense magical stamina. Despite his power, Clef prefers to work behind the scenes, guiding and supporting others rather than taking direct action in battle.