Champignon

After this incident, he lost all his charm and could no longer cast magic. I don't know what exactly happened; it was probably magical exhaustion, and he simply lacked the strength for his soul to fully return to his body.

However, things changed when Henri fell in love with Luna. Since 'The power of love is a source of strength for White Witches', it worked again—even multiple times—and he managed to magically write his thoughts into the air.

But unfortunately, this kind of magic placed too great a burden on him, causing him to fall severely ill.

To protect Henri, Luna decided to end their relationship and extracted all their shared memories and his love for her from his body.

Years went by, and by the time they finally crossed paths again, much had changed. Among those changes, Henri now claims he cannot use any magic at all.

This raises the question: What actually happened to his slight magical ability, which now goes completely unmentioned?

Does Henri still possess magic but simply can't use it, or did he lose it completely since then?

In the manga, it is mentioned that it's possible to lose your magic naturally over time, but it can also be stolen.

White Witches can seduce Black Mages and steal their magic. However, it is extremely rare for a Black Mage to do the same. We know of only one Black Mage, Ellroy, who was capable of stealing magic.

Like Ellroy, Luna possesses the rare ability of extracting poison from people's bodies. So, could Luna also be capable of stealing magic?

Could it be that when Luna extracted Henri's love and memories, she unknowingly ended up stealing his magic along with them?

Even though the stones are his known weakness, they alone wouldn't have been enough to sway him. As a proud Familiar, he could have resisted the gems on their own—but his expression betrays that Luna's sheer effort and her pleading gaze are what truly shatter his resolve. Ultimately, it is this emotional connection that drives him to give in and help her with the boy.

From that point on, Claude remained his usual prickly self, yet he became slightly gentler and even caring. This subtle shift likely gave Luna the courage to ask him to stay silent about the incident.

But this request was impossible. Luna knows that as a Familiar, his loyalty to his Master should always come first. Her asking for a favor that directly challenges this loyalty is so illogical that Claude is momentarily stunned. Yet, she keeps pleading.

The moment Claude finds himself in the middle of the 'Black Witches' Emergency Conference,' he is frozen in shock. He instantly senses the gravity of the situation, dreading that his Master might be watching him from behind one of the masks. When he finally spots him among the back rows, Claude’s eyes go wide in absolute, horrified realization. He stands frozen, staring fixedly at him—until his Master steps forward and greets him with a phrase that carries a chilling double meaning:

"You’ve arrived at just the right time to check on Luna, haven't you?" (「ちょうど ルーナの様子を 見に来てくれて たんだね」)

After a brief, tense pause, he adds: "Good work." (ご苦労)

Tori’s greeting is a calculated psychological game. While it initially hints at personal concern, the subsequent use of 'Gokurō'—a term reserved strictly for subordinates—decisively shatters any personal interpretation. It is a tactical power move; instead of thanking Claude, he frames the visit as a mere mission. He is indirectly telling him: "I know you are here for your own reasons, but I am choosing to see you only as my servant doing your duty."

Claude flushes with shame, bowing low in submission. But then his Master demands specific details about the incident, placing him in an impossible position. Even though Claude had told Luna her earlier request was impossible, her desperate pleading and her look are again his weak point.

When the Flame Mage asks Claude whether Luna is telling the truth, he is hesitating. Turning a solemn gaze toward her and looking into her eyes, he realizes he is unable to turn her down. Despite not knowing her reasons or the full truth, he refuses to betray her. His simple "Yes"—devoid of the details his Master explicitly demanded—is a quiet, absolute act of defiance. By withholding the information, Claude chooses Luna over his contract, his Master, and his own pride.

In the charged silence that follows, the connection between them reaches its peak.

Luna gazes at him in stunned disbelief, her eyes filled with deep, visible sorrow as she recognizes the absolute sacrifice he has just made on her behalf.

His Master, visibly dissatisfied and deeply disappointed, punishes him with silence. Claude remains deeply dejected, his head bowed in a posture of total resignation. He never intended to betray his Master, yet he finds himself utterly unable to turn away from Luna’s desperate plea and his own visceral need to protect her. Overwhelmed by shame for this perceived weakness, his sharp, bitter 'tch' is the sound of pure self-dissatisfaction.

As the truth about the boy’s danger breaks, Claude’s composure finally shatters. He realizes with horror that by honoring Luna’s plea, he unwittingly became an accomplice to her own peril. First, he loudly proclaims his ignorance to the council, desperate to distance himself. Then, he turns to Luna with a gaze of pure contempt, unable to believe she used his trust while knowing the truth all along.

He orders her to surrender the boy, but when she still refuses, his restraint vanishes. Exploding in fury, he is driven by a violent, desperate need to protect her—even if it means saving her from the consequences of her own judgment by force.

His resentment only fades when he finally learns the tragic history behind Luna’s actions. The revelation that she once shared the same dark fate as the boy softens Claude’s gaze; he finally understands her unwavering resolve and sees her in a completely different light.

But when the Flame Mage launches an attack on Luna, Claude’s last bit of control vanishes.

Seeing her in immediate danger, he nearly runs amok, ready to charge the assailant regardless of the consequences. However, a sudden command from his Master brings him to a halt just in time. Realizing that Luna has fled, he brings her back, unwilling to let her abandon her responsibilities—or him—to face the consequences alone. Back in the circle, he finally vents all his pent-up emotions on her in a fury, his pride wounded by the realization that his blind trust has left him utterly compromised. Unaware that his Master is already facing open criticism for his behavior.

Following the Council's decision to grant the boy a three-year grace period, Claude is summarily disciplined.

Accepting the weight of his failure, he is demoted from Renraku-yaku (observer) to Kanshiyaku (strict warden)—a transition he accepts as a severe test of his absolute loyalty. This new role is a grueling, thankless assignment. Stripped of his former freedoms, Claude is forced into round-the-clock surveillance, haunted by the knowledge that his Master could be watching at any moment.