Why is Frieren a Disgrace to Mages?

Summary

Frieren conceals her mana for survival against demons, but it challenges cultural pride and the essence of magic.
Demons see mana concealment as shameful, Flamme critiques it as a deviation, and mages find it dishonorable.
Frieren’s mastery of concealment is a controversial shortcut to power that undermines traditional mage principles.

As a seasoned mage with centuries of battle under my belt, I can appreciate the pragmatism and adaptability that Frieren embodies. Her use of mana concealment is a testament to her survival instincts and resilience in the face of constant threats. It may ruffle feathers among traditionalists or demons who value cultural pride, but for Frieren, it’s a matter of life and death.

In the series “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End,” mana serves as the standard for measuring a mage’s power and prestige. However, this hidden aspect of their strength can be seen as a double-edged sword, as it is often viewed negatively by both demons and fellow mages. Mastery over mana makes Frieren an exceptionally powerful mage, yet it also challenges cultural norms and philosophical beliefs among the demonic and magical communities.

Nevertheless, Frieren’s motive for hiding her mana signature is not only deep but also pragmatic, an accomplishment worthy of recognition. However, for reasons that remain unclear, the mage community finds it difficult to accept this, labeling it as “cowardly” and a “disgrace.

The Demon Perspective

Pride in Power

To demons, mana isn’t just an instrument but rather a symbol of who they are. The greater the amount of mana one possesses, the higher the prestige and recognition they receive. Hiding mana for them is comparable to concealing wealth in a society where flaunting it is customary.

To beings of the underworld, concealing their energy, or mana, is not simply deceitful, but an embarrassment beyond measure. It challenges their deeply rooted conviction that might should always be displayed boldly, serving as evidence of their honor and supremacy.

I despise geniuses. They lack the beauty of accumulated effort.

Frieren’s skill in concealing her mana undermines this principle significantly. She doesn’t merely hide her strength; she has honed her ability so masterfully that not even the sharpest demons, such as Aura the Guillotine, can discern her real power. This means that her victories appear as underhanded tricks to her adversaries, more like a surprise attack than a fair fight or a noble duel.

Flamme’s Philosophy

Betrayal of Magic’s Essence

Flamme, who serves as Frieren’s guide, presents a refined perspective on critique. To Flamme, magic embodies beauty, self-expression, and communal sharing – principles deeply connected to the tranquil and imaginative uses of magic. However, concealing mana is an ability that originated from violence and survival, solely employed to bypass demonic mana detection skills. By focusing on mastering this “cowardly” method over centuries, Frieren seems to deviate from Flamme’s vision of what magic stands for. It appears as though Frieren places revenge above the enchantment of magic itself, a path that Flamme subtly criticizes. This tension becomes apparent when Flamme instructs Frieren in casting the spell for cultivating a field of flowers – a poignant symbol of magic’s peaceful roots.

The Mage Community

Undermining a Lifetime of Work

Among human spellcasters, the skill of hiding mana is a subject of debate. Many practitioners spend their entire lives building up their mana stores, showcasing their accomplishments with pride. Frieren’s proficiency in concealment, which enables her to seem frail yet possess immense power, seems almost like a shortcut – a challenge to the time-honored mage code of diligence and open display of strength.

When Frieren wins against Lügner by secretly using her mana, his reaction reflects his feeling of being outwitted rather than defeated fairly. To him, it seems more like an underhanded tactic than a true battle, as traditionalists believe that Frieren’s approach diminishes the honor and authenticity of magic. While it effectively solves the problem at hand, this shortcut is seen by many as undermining the hard work and dedication required to master magic in a more conventional way.

Frieren’s Self-Reflection

A Lifetime of Losses

Frieren grapples with the consequences of her decisions, often pondering over instances where she was vanquished by mages who had less magical energy than herself. This experience has led her to understand that raw power isn’t always the key to success. Her ability to hide and evade, which helped her survive, doesn’t necessarily make her a stronger mage in terms of conventional strength.

For eons, I’ve been immersing myself solely in mastering this craft, foregoing chances to broaden my repertoire with diverse spells and abilities. This focus leaves me susceptible to those who maintain a more versatile, well-rounded practice.

Group/Individual	Perspective on Mana Concealment	Reasoning
Demons	Cowardly and shameful	Mana represents pride and power; hiding it undermines their cultural values and sense of superiority.
Flamme (Mentor)	A necessary but tragic betrayal of magic’s essence	Magic should be beautiful and peaceful, not reduced to tactics born from violence and deception.
Human Traditionalists	Dishonorable and undermining to the mage’s craft	Concealment feels like a shortcut, disregarding the lifelong effort to accumulate and display mana.
Frieren	Practical survival technique	A pragmatic response to the constant threat of demons; prioritizes victory over tradition.
Lügner (Demon Opponent)	Frustrating and unfair	Believes concealment exploits the opponent’s misjudgment, turning battles into tricks rather than tests.
Modern Mages (e.g., Fern)	A new-generation technique worth mastering	Seen as innovative and effective, marking a shift in how battles are approached by younger mages.

Yet, this trait doesn’t count as a weakness in the conventional sense, given that, being an elf, Frieren possesses an abundance of time to grow and fulfill her mage journey.

A Necessary Evil

Frieren’s employment of mana concealment is a practical solution to the perilous presence of demons, but it carries a price. To demons, it’s a disrespectful gesture towards their cultural dignity. To Flamme, it’s a departure from the core principles of magic. To conventional mages, it’s an affront to their lifestyle. However, for Frieren, this ability has enabled her survival for over a thousand years, allowing her to pay tribute to her companions and persist in her adventure.

In the final analysis, it was her unwavering resolve and readiness to employ any means that ultimately enabled her and her group to vanquish the Demon King – a task that not even the powerful mage Serie has managed so far. However, given the contrast between Frieren’s objectives and those of Serie, it seems unlikely that this will happen anytime in the near future.

2024-12-24 05:06