Illumina

**Illumina** (共霊武装イルミナ, *IruminaKyōrei Busō*?, lit. *Resonating Spirit Armament*) is the name given to the item—usually a weapon—that an Arbiter manifests from their Personal Reality—and is the most common form taken by second-level substantiation techniques.*[citation needed]*

## Overview

Officially referred to as the **Second Substantiation** (第二顕現, *Daini Kengen*?), the Illumina is the crystallized materialization of a Personal Reality. It usually takes the form of a weapon, although depending on the depiction of one's Personal Reality, this may change. It is also considered to be a manifestation of one's soul as the form an Illumina will take is tied to one's interpretation of oneself. As such, Illumina are by default extremely durable, however, if damage is received by the Illumina, this damage is reflected in the wielder as mental damage. At worst, a broken Illumina will render its wielder unconscious (it is possible to train against this but it requires an immense mental fortitude most will be unable to manage).*[citation needed]* Most Arbiters summon one item as their Illumina but some are able to summon more than one Illumina or make multiple exact copies of their Illumina.

An Illumina can be deployed in two different forms, an **Illusive Form** (幻影形, *Genei-kei*?) and a **Real Form** (実質形, *Jisshitsu-kei*?)—the former of which is employed in sanctioned duels managed between students as the Illusive Form ensures the only damage taken is mental while the latter is employed in real combat, almost exclusively against Honkai.*[citation needed]* In its Illusive Form, an Illumina is set to the non-lethal, however, if the wielder harbors a sufficiently charged aggressive emotion, it is possible for it to physically injure a person if not render them unconscious completely from the near-immediate erosion of one's mental capacities.*[citation needed]* Also, Illumina are more often than not used as conduits through which an Arbiter uses more advanced substantiation techniques.

On rare occasions, an Illumina may change and/or evolve from its initial form as an Illumina reflects an Arbiter's inner spirit and thereby, everything about them. Therefore, if an Arbiter completely "rebuilds" themselves, their Illumina will express this change as well. This may also include adjustment of their ability to either summon multiple Illumina, whether they be separate entities or perfect copies, as well as the size and shape of the Illumina.*[citation needed]*

## Notes

1. ↑ As a member of the Fine Arts Club, naming the Illumina with a *yojijukugo* is standard procedure. This was a name suggested by Eisen Kitashirakawa and as stated, is used to refer to the four seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and fall.
2. ↑ As a member of the Fine Arts Club, naming the Illumina with a *yojijukugo* is standard procedure. This phrase means "in name but not in reality".
3. ↑ As a member of the Fine Arts Club, naming the Illumina with a *yojijukugo* is standard procedure. This phrase means "an infinite variety of", "multifarious", and "being extremely varied and wide-ranging".
4. ↑ As a member of the Fine Arts Club, naming the Illumina with a *yojijukugo* is standard procedure. This phrase means "fantastic", "bizarre", "incredible", and "unbelievable".

1. ↑ Inspired by Headmistress Fuyuka Wakabayashi, Kazunari's "bladeless" sword's "blade" is shaped out of his fire.*[citation needed]*
2. ↑ It is "bladeless" in the sense that the Illumina only takes the form of a hilt; the "blade" is shaped out of special "primordial water" that most commonly takes the form of a chokutō.
3. ↑ Eisen's keyring actually does not have any keys on it until he chooses to specifically summon one from his Personal Reality. Due to the nature of Eisen's ability, he is able to freely use essentially any other power.
4. ↑ Mirabelle only ever uses her parasol closed as by encasing it in gravitational power, it can properly function as a weapon. Whenever she's serious, she can "unsheathe" her umbrella as the pole actually serves as a scabbard for her rapier.

## References

1. ↑ Arc 1: Chapter 1.2
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Arc 17: Chapter 32.2
3. ↑ Arc 1: Chapter 1.3