Conjuring Ink

Conjuring Ink
Kanji	魔墨
Rōmaji	Maboku
Status
Type	Tool
User(s)	Witches
Manga
Debut	Chapter 1 (first appearance) Chapter 3 (introduced)

Conjuring Ink is one of the fundamental components for drawing magic.

Description

Conjuring ink is made from processed woodcruor, a special substance derived from the silverwood tree. While commonplace sumi-style ink is made from burning wood, and then processing the resulting charcoal, conjuring ink is made from boiling the withered, black branches of a silverwood tree, and then processing the resulting liquid. This extraction is known as woodcruor, or the "blood" of the silverwood tree. Only magic seals drawn with woodcruor will activate, and processing it into ink imparts additional benefits.

Woodcruor extraction process

A Vapor Bubble Spell can be used to remove water from a woodcruor extraction, altering its concentration into a usable ink. The raw ink can then be mixed with magical dyes to produce inks with added effects. Some magic stationers, like the The Starry Sword, sell both ready-made, as well as made-to-order inks.

Conjuring ink is typically stored in non-magic, resealable bottles, which can be conveniently transported on a witch's belt. The ink is usually paired with dip pens (also known as "wands"), and it is one of the few items allowed to be used by prospective Pointed Cap Witches during their first major test: the Consent of the Crown.

Conjuring ink has a distinctive smell, and is known to attract brushbuddies.

While forbidden by the Pact, conjuring ink can also be used to permanently tattoo magic spells on the body.

Magical Dyes

Magical dyes can be added to conjuring ink to impart unique attributes, such as different colors or improved durability. Some magical dyes have medical or possibly even culinary use, but are not used to cast magic on their own. A component pestle can be used to grind solid ingredients into powders more readily mixed with conjuring ink.

Examples of some magical dyes and their added effects include:

• Azuremoon flowers make spells last longer.
• Blushing Bride butterfly scales make ink transparent, so seals can be hidden in plain sight.
• Roaming Scallop shells prevent ink from running when wet.
• Golden Blaze Wyrm scales make ink glow-in-the-dark.

Plot

Young Coco shows off her newly acquired wand

As a young child, Coco purchases a magic book and receives a free conjuring ink-filled "wand" from Iguin at a festival. Using both years later, she unwittingly transforms her mother into stone.

Coco then receives a set of magical components, including new conjuring ink, from Qifrey as a gift welcoming her to his atelier. However, during her Consent of the Crown trial, Coco accidentally breaks the conjuring ink bottle. The spilled ink ends up attracting a Brushbuddy, who later makes his home at the atelier. Coco manages to complete the trial by using her ink-stained pouch to fashion a Pigment Stone instead.

After demonstrating the production of conjuring ink, Mister Nolnoa provides Coco with a sample of raw ink with which to test out new pens. Shortly thereafter, Iguin manages to slip a Twinned Bottles' seal into her sample bottle, allowing the Brim Cap witch to secretly refill the bottle with his or her own blood. When the tainted ink is discovered to supercharge any spells drawn using it, Qifrey confiscates the dangerous ink bottle, lying to hide its secrets, and gifts Coco with a witch's belt and new ink bottle to make up for the loss.

Scalewolf Curse tattoo on Euini's neck

During Agott and Richeh's Sincerity of the Shield trial, the participants are attacked by the Brim Cap, Sasaran. In the midst of the attack, an apprentice witch from another atelier, Euini, is branded with a conjuring ink tattoo, and Agott narrowly avoids the same fate. The forbidden spell reacts unpredictably, transforming Euini into a scalewolf. With no way to remove the tattooed seal from his body, the young apprentice is forced into exile to avoid having his memory erased.

Ahead of the Silver Eve Procession, Coco once again breaks her ink bottle. Qifrey repairs it temporarily using a Counter-Clock seal, allowing Coco to easily transfer the spilled ink into an unbroken bottle.

Trivia

• According to Nolnoa, the black, withered silverwood branches from which woodcruror is derived are poisonous. It is unclear whether or not processed conjuring ink retains any of that toxicity.
• In his brief autobiography, Brushbuddy specifically indicates that he is attracted to conjuring ink due to its "alluring" scent, and he is shown both sleeping and happily walking through fresh ink.
• While the Japanese name for conjuring ink, 魔墨, literally means "magic (sumi) ink," the production of conjuring ink seems to have more in common with that of oak gall ink—the most common type of ink produced in Europe for around 1,400 years.