Shiny Rod

The **Shiny Rod** (シャイニィロッド, *Shainī Roddo*?) is Chariot's name for the **Claiomh Solais** (クラウソラス, *Kurausorasu*?), a magical staff with the power to break the seal of the Grand Triskellion. It was previously used by Chariot before coming into the possession of Atsuko Kagari.

## Description

### Appearance

The Shiny Rod is a beige medium-length staff, with a golden ornament at the end and seven crystals known as the Seven Stars that glow when used. Each one of these crystals corresponds to one of the stars of the Big Dipper constellation, as well as with one of the Seven Words of Arcturus of the seal of Grand Triskellion.

### Abilities

The Shiny Rod is a very powerful magical object. Like a wand, the Shiny Rod can channel magic energy to cast spells, however, since the Shiny Rod also feeds on the spiritual and emotional energy of its owner, the spells used with it appear to be much more powerful and can activate magic even in places where magic cannot be used. It also demonstrates the ability to absorb and store magic energy like the Sorcerer's Stone.

The magic of the Shiny Rod only activates in response to synchronization with its wielder's emotional energy, reacting to strong feelings of her heart. The Shiny Rod can be transformed into different weapons, each of the Seven Stars can transform the Shiny Rod into a different weapon by conjuring up one of the Seven Words of Arcturus. It's implied that the Rod has some form of sentience as the staff shocked Croix, hinting that it was aware of Croix's agenda, as well as being the one who chooses the witch who becomes its owner and abandoning her to consider that she no longer has the right to be.

The true purpose of Shiny Rod is revealed to be the key to break the seal of Grand Triskellion, a kind of magic with tremendous power that can change the world. The Nine Olde Witches sealed it within Arcturus Forest due to dangers that it posed if fallen into the wrong hands. And thus, the Shiny Rod (at that time known as Claiomh Solais) exists as the only key to unlock it, if its wielder is able to revive the Seven Words of Arcturus.

#### Transformations

*Main article: Seven Words of Arcturus*
* Shiny Arc (attack spell)
* Shiny Arc (overpowered)
* Shiny Arc (attack spell, *Chamber of Time* ver.)
* Shiny Arc (portal)
* Shiny Ballista (*Enchanted Parade* ver.)
* Shiny Ballista (*Chamber of Time* ver.)
* Shiny Ax
* Grappling Hook
* Shiny Sprinkler
* Shiny Balai
* Shiny Rod-Grand Triskellion
* Shiny Rod-Grand Triskellion Part 2
1/12
* **Shiny Arc** (シャイニィアルク, *Shainī Aruku*?): When its wielder chants the first Word of Arcturus, "*Noctu Orfei Aude Fraetor*" (ノット オーフェ オーデン フレトール, *Notto Ōfe Ōden Furetōru*?) ("*Makmur Mikmur Mektoral*" (マクミル・ミクミル・メクトラル, *Makumiru Mikumiru Mekutoraru*?) in the first short film), the Shiny Rod turns into a bow that can form one or more magical arrows at the user's will. In addition of opening portals that allow travel through the Ley Lines, the conjured arrow can also be released in form of a powerful magical attack where it detonates into a powerful (often firework-like) explosion strong enough to decimate a monster around the size of a Briton Red Dragon upon hitting its mark.
	+ Should the caster excessively overpower the staff while chanting the first Word in full anger, the Shiny Rod instead turns into a giant bow which lower limb planted to the ground. Instead of magical arrows, the bow projects a blast which powerful enough to scar a moon. The act of scarring Earth's moon was a mistake which costed Chariot her worth to wield the Shiny Rod.
	+ **Shiny Ballista** (シャイニーバリスタ, *Shainī Ballista*?): Alternate version of the Shiny Arc accessible via. Fusion Magic performed by 3 casters at once and incantation "*Makmur Mikmur Mektoral*" (マクミル・ミクミル・メクトラル, *Makumiru Mikumiru Mekutoraru*?). The Shiny Rod turns into a giant ballista that forms a single giant magical arrow loaded with the combined power of its casters which strong enough to put the Titan dormant and even crippling Molly's Ghost Witch form in one hit. Two supporting casters would pull each ends of the ballista as the main caster set the magical arrow loose.
* **Shiny Ax** (シャイニィアックス, *Shainī Akkusu*?): When its wielder chants the second Word of Arcturus, "*Phaedoari Afelgorr*", the Shiny Rod turns into a great Axe which can be used to launch a frontal attack, strong enough to damage Woodward's monstrous form.
* **Grappling Hook**: When its wielder chants the third Word of Arcturus, "*Arae Aryrha*", the Shiny Rod turns into a magical grappling hook that can be used to hold and pull large objects. Arae Aryrha is also a powerful metamorphosis magic spell.
* **Shiny Sprinkler** (シャイニィスプリンクラー, *Shainī Supurinkurā*?): When its wielder chants the fourth Word of Arcturus, "*Mayinab Dyssivyrdd*", the Shiny Rod turns into a sprinkler that can quickly mix and spray any liquid.
* **Shiny Balai** (シャイニィバレイ, *Shainī Barei*?): When its wielder chants the fifth Word of Arcturus, "*Civilladura Lelladebura*", the Shiny Rod turns into a Magic Broom which has incredible speed.
* **Grand Triskellion-Claiomh Solais** (グラントリスケル-クラウソラス, *Gurantorisukeru-Kurausorasu*?): When its wielder chants the seventh Word of Arcturus, "*Fasannciel Shearila"*, the Shiny Rod can merge with the Grand Triskellion, changing its form to a golden and beige cross with its Seven Stars arranged towards its center. In this form, the Shiny Rod is able to use the power to change the world of the Grand Triskellion. This form also improves Shiny Rod's previous transformations, notably the Shiny Arc where its bow form now much larger and even forms a single, proportionally huge arrow loaded with the power of Grand Triskellion itself, which in turn bolstered by entire nation's believing hearts. It was through this arrow that the power of Grand Triskellion was released, both to restore magic back to the world and destroying Noir Rod once and for all.

## History

### Background

Shiny Rod is proposed to be a very manifestation of the power of the stars (specifically of the Big Dipper constellation) as well as of the Seven Words of Arcturus. The staff is manifested in the world to choose a witch to become its owner. In the past, the Olde Witch Woodward was the one who carried it and probably resorted to it to seal the Grand Triskellion. After many centuries, Chariot du Nord was chosen to become its new owner and to revive the Seven Words to break the seal of the Grand Triskellion. However, being unable to revive the last word, Chariot used the Shiny Rod as part of her magic shows. In the last of these shows, Chariot made the mistake of damaging the moon with the magic of the Shiny Rod when giving in to the pressure of the public, which caused that the Shiny Rod disappears when having lost the right to own it.

In short films continuity, on the other hand, the origin of the Shiny Rod is still a mystery, only that it came into possession of Chariot du Nord whom harnessed its powers in her shows. One day, the staff's powers mysteriously fade, leading Chariot to hide the staff in Luna Nova's underground labyrinth while she herself went into hiding and assumed the identity Ursula Callistis as one of Luna Nova's professors.

### Little Witch Academia

    In *Little Witch Academia*, Akko uncovered the staff among the rubble while she looked for treasures for the class just as Diana and her teammates unintentionally released the Ancient Dragon from its seal. Thanks to Akko for believing in Shiny Chariot, the Rod was activated, much to Ursula's surprise as she had believed its powers completely faded away. Ursula then assisted Akko from behind the scene to utilize its powers to stop the dragon from consuming Sorcerer's Stone, the nearest source of magical energy.

### The Enchanted Parade

In *The Enchanted Parade*, Akko has the task of preparing a parade about witches, but her plans to make a magic spectacle to show a good image of witches was frustrated by the inability to use magic outside of school. Because of that, Akko decides to use the Shiny Rod to take some of the magical energy from the Sorcerer's Stone and thus be able to use it during the parade in the town. On the day of the parade, some children steal the Rod, and its energy release the danger of a great Titan. Akko, with the aid of her friends, recover the Rod and they manage to defeat the Titan.

### TV Series

#### A New Beginning

As in the first short film, the Rod belonged to Shiny Chariot, but after her disappearance it arrived at the hands of Akko when she was trying to escape the Cockatrice in the Arcturus Forest. Thanks to the power of the rod and help from Ursula, Akko manages to activate the Shiny Arc and open a leyline to Luna Nova, unknowingly unlocking the first Word of Arcturus in the process.

#### Blue Moon

When Akko set out to find all-knowing spirit who only appears on the night of a blue moon and takes the Shiny Rod with her to a place where the supposed spirit present during that time, Blue Moon Abyss, the future teller spirit instead tested her whether she willing to sacrifice her past for achieving her dreams. Akko choose to keep her past and instead, reviving the second Word of Arcturus and defeated the spirit with a powerful strike of Shiny Rod's axe form.

#### What You Will

After a prep talk with Ursula, Akko notices the Shiny Rod emanates a beam that leads her to the Fountain of Polaris. There, the Fountain shows her a vision of Chariot practicing some form of Metamorphosis Magic through the perspective of someone she knew from her youth, revealing that her role model never coveted the Moonlit Witch title to begin with, as her original intention was to impress the person in question. When that vision ends, Akko realized that she must prove herself through her own qualities and learned the Third Word of Arcturus at the same time.

#### Samhain Magic

Akko uses Shiny Rod as part of her Trick or Treat plan to appease Vajarois through entertaining her instead of traditional means that had since forgotten the ghost's true nature and unjustly treated her as mere instrument of Samhain Festival, but it's clear that something kept her from regaining peace she had lost in life. It took Ursula who, through Alcor, tells Akko, Lotte, and Sucy about Vajarois' situation which prompted them to allow themselves to be devoured in a bid to reach Seed of Sorrow within. With her roommates' help and Shiny Rod's rope form accessed through the Third Word of Arcturus, Akko tore the Seed from Vajarois' ghost form, allowing her to unveil her true form at long last before passed on.

#### Chariot of Fire

As per Croix's suggestion, Akko brings Shiny Rod to her lab so the former can scan it with her magitronics in a bid to find the clues for Shiny Chariot's whereabouts. Though Croix has a hidden agenda of her own and even dares not to touch it because it rejected her in the past, the modern magic professor nevertheless tell Akko of how the staff is fueled by the user's emotional and spiritual energies, explaining not only howshe can use it when her heart calls for it, but also why spells casted through it much stronger compared with other magical instrument. Unknown to Akko (whom Croix put under the trance so she could scan her memories) and Ursula (who breaks her way into the lab to save both Akko and Shiny Rod), Croix has learnes everything she needs for her Noir Fuel Spirit Plan.

Shortly after Akko recovers at her room, Ursula eventually tells the young witch regarding Grand Triskellion, Shiny Rod's true nature, and Seven Words of Arcturus, though she kept her true identity in the dark for that moment. As they review all Words Akko unlocked so far, the staff emanates a surge of magic which highlighted the Japanese's unmistakable magic potential much to the two's awe. Now understanding that her role model is still searching for the Words' meanings, Akko makes up her mind to find the rest along with Shiny Chariot.

#### Pohjola's Trial

Akko brings Shiny Rod along so she can unlock the next Word as soon as it appears while visiting Lotte's residence at Finland, which eventually does and proved crucial in both containing and ending the sudden outbreak of Greenman Disease that takes place in the region later on. After a painstaking effort in gathering all necessary ingredients and winds up on her own (Lotte and Sucy got succumbed to the disease), Akko begins to cook the antidote and uses Shiny Rod to stir it. As she does, the Japanese recalled on the clue Ursula told her regarding the Fourth Word of Arcturus; something that she severely lacks. Realizing it to be patience, Akko's resolve to persevere against her odds strengthens, allowing her to unlock the Fourth Word and turn the staff into Shiny Sprinkler which, to her surprise, spreads the completed antidote throughout the region, saving her friends and ending the outbreak.

#### Cavendish (episode) and Intelligence and Sensibility

Akko brings Shiny Rod with her when she set out to Cavendish Manor at Wedinburgh to convince Diana to return to Luna Nova and dragged into the latter's household crisis in process. Moved by her friend's commitment to preserve her family's selfless legacy, Akko tells Diana that she must believe in her heart, having faith that the latter can be the Head of Cavendish family and still continue her study at the very academy she cherished at the same time. To their surprise, Diana's realization about it caused the fifth orb in the staff to react and knowing what it means, the latter revealed an old saying passed throughout generations of Cavendish family's head that is none other than the very Fifth Word of Arcturus. With it, they unveiled Shiny Balai, Shiny Rod's broom form with which both girls set out for the shrine where a new head of Cavendish family may hold succession ritual all while eluding Daryl, Maril and Merrill who attempted to stop them. In the end however, Diana chose not to conduct the ritual in a bid to save her aunt and nieces from being consumed by the curse for their transgressions.

Despite losing her chance to become the proper head of House of Cavendish, Diana's selfless decision is not only earned her Beatrix's approval, but also reinvigorated Anna's faith in House of Cavendish and humbled Daryl, thus ensuring the family's future.

### Wagandea

After learned from Croix that Chariot unlocked the Sixth Word of Arcturus while climbing at Wagandea, Akko decided to do the same only to be dissuaded by Ursula due to its dangers. Even so, Akko sets out for the tree anyway with Croix accompanying her while carrying Shiny Rod, unaware of what the modern magic professor had stored for her. By the time Ursula catches up with the Japanese, the two had a heated argument because Croix had placed seeds of doubt inside her about her mentor before continue climbing the tree, oblivious to both teachers' ensued fight and the tree's flowers just have released their pollen as Ursula said previously. She discovered the latter too late upon getting surrounded by clouds of pollen before slips and plummeting to another cloud pollen below her. Fortunately, Ursula managed to save her at the last moments, all while sacrificing her ability to fly with broom for the sake of her beloved student's future.

Upon awakening from the crash, Akko is horrified to see what had transpired and tearfully apologized to her injured mentor. Ursula confessed to her protégé that none of these would happen had she (Ursula) not pushed her hopes and dreams to the Japanese without knowing what she felt. Akko however, argued that she chose to collect the Words in her own volition from start and that not only she had yet to grow as a proper witch, but also lost her sight upon who truly deserved her gratitude. To her surprise, her realization over the latter allowed her to unlock the Sixth Word and with it, the Japanese healed Ursula's wounds, though it cannot restore her damaged broom flight ability.

### Yesterday

As the gang set out to find Akko, Sucy notices Shiny rod Akko left behind and decided to take it with her. She then returned the staff to its who, by that point has her resolve to achieve her dreams rekindled by Diana, much to the Japanese witch-in-training's joy.

### The Road to Arcturus

Having Sucy returning Shiny Rod to her proved to be crucial for Akko in overcoming troubles ahead. Interfering Chariot and Croix's hopeless fight against Noir Rod, Akko utilizes the power of First Word of Seven Words Arcturus to seemingly destroy Croix's out of control creation and save the former from it along the way. Shortly after a heartfelt conversation between Akko and Ursula where the Japanese witch-in-training returns Shiny Rod to her idol and mentor and thanks the latter for inspiring her despite carving her a difficult path to achieve her dreams in the process, Shiny Rod's final orb suddenly glow as the sign for her to recite the Final Word. Doing so in conjunction of Grand Triskellion which seemingly appeared as an unassuming-looking branch, Akko not only transmogrifies Shiny Rod to a sword-like form, but also revitalizes the entire Arcturus Forest into more lush, vibrant state.

### Tree of Leaves

In a bid to stop Noir Rod which revealed to have regenerated by assimilating an ICBM missile and now on its way towards Great Britain's rival country, Akko combines enhanced Shiny Rod's Shiny Balai configuration with multi-staged broom in order for her, Lotte, Sucy, Amanda, Constanze, Jasminka, and Diana to chase it. One by one, Akko and Diana's friends detach from the composite broom after exhausting their respective part's magic energy reserves so the two can reach the magitronic monstrosity. When Shiny Balai itself begins running out of power right at the moment Noir Missile evolves further, heartfelt support from everyone back at Blytonbury and later, entire planet thanks to Ursula rallying them see those people passively transfer their own Fuel Spirit to provide it, Akko, and Diana with seemingly unlimited extra magic power, allowing both Luna Nova witches to continue the pursuit in the earnest. A battle ensues between Noir Missile and Akko and Diana with the former seemingly winning until Shooting Star joins the fray. Bringing their fight to the stratosphere with Noir Missile's split form reassemble into the next form which increasingly draconic, Akko and Diana unleashed final Shiny Arc against it where the spell fueled by combined power of Grand Triskellion and worldwide support from their friends and the rest of the world, destroying it once and for all as well as reviving Yggdrasil at the same time.

With Shiny Rod's purpose on Earth fulfilled, the staff of seven stars returns to Big Dipper from where it came in form of light particles.

## Etymology

Claíomh Solais, literally "Sword of Light" or "Shining Sword", is a trope object that appears in a number of Irish and Scottish Gaelic folktales. It appears commonly as a quest object in the Irish folktale of a hero seeking "The One Story" (or the "Cause of the one story about women"), which culminates in the discovery of a "Tale of the Werewolf" (a man magically turned wolf by an unfaithful wife). However, the sword is uninvolved in the man-wolf portion, and only figures in the hero-adventure frame story.

The sword has been regarded as a legacy to the god-slaying weapons of Irish mythology by certain scholars, such as T. F. O'Rahilly, the analogues being the primeval Celtic deity's lightning-weapon, Lugh's sling that felled Balor, the hero Cúchulainn's supernatural spear Gae Bolg and his shining sword Cruaidín Catutchenn.

## Trivia

* **Shiny Ballista** appears in *Little Witch Academia: The Enchanted Parade* and *Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time*, whereas the rest of the forms appear in the TV series, *Little Witch Academia*.
* The Shiny Rod's transformation process is different between short films and anime: In short film, the staff mechanically reconfigures its form to another whereas in anime, the Shiny Rod unravels into threads of emerald light and its orbs glow in yellow as it assumes a form accessed via Seven Words of Arcturus.
* The shape of axe head of Shiny Rod's Shiny Ax configuration resembles that of bearded axe, a type of axe which most commonly associated with Viking Age Scandinavians.

## References

2. ↑ Little Witch Academia Chronicles, Chapter 2, page 43