Carl Clover

Carl Clover is the current wielder of the Nox Nyctores – Deus Machina: Nirvana, an unfortunate victim of circumstance, and an exceptionally talented young man. Carl is a top rate vigilante who masterfully snares his targets with Nirvana to help bring them to justice. His sister, Ada Clover, is the subject of his admiration, but her transformation into the Nox has forced him to seek ways to save her. For this reason, Carl seeks out the Azure Grimoire as it might be one of the only viable methods towards saving her.

Appearance

Carl is a young, pale boy in his early teens with blue eyes and nose-length blonde hair. He wears thickly rimmed glasses and a large purple top hat on his head. His usual attire consists of a purple cape tied around a long-sleeved white shirt with an ‘X’ shaped fixture, from which a large bell dangles from. Deep purple shorts with white cuffs are part of his usual attire, as are purple military styled boots with a screw fixture attached to the cap of the boot. As well as all this, Carl also wears white gloves.

After looking into the Boundary, something happened to Carl's left eye, and he now covers it with a mask. His right eye now has a monocle covering it instead of his glasses.

Personality

Headstrong and intelligent are two words that succinctly describe the bravado that Carl often shows. His behaviour is often courteous and gentlemanly to both friends and enemies alike, and he will often demonstrate his linguistic capabilities. That said, his manner belies that of a child who has lost his family, and he’ll often be driven to the very edges of his mental limits thanks to the cruel circumstances that plague his life. As a wielder of a Nox Nyctores, Carl has side effects that often come into play, such as an incredible and insatiable desire to attack others under the guise that his sister commanded him to attack. This mental instability clashes heavily with his, otherwise, sophisticated behaviour.

Being inside the Embryo changed Carl deeply. He became truly obsessed with saving Ada, and was ready to murder anyone in his way - something that his sister would do to stop, even if it was for her. Eventually, Carl had cut off ties to everyone, and now views them as objects, becoming the perfect heir to his father's legacy.

Biography

Carl was born to Relius and Ignis Clover in the 2nd Hierarchical City of Iwatsuchi. He grew up in their family household, becoming fond of playing chess and the violin, but most of all, playing with his older sister, Ada. At some point, he was enrolled into the Novus Orbis Librarium's Military Academy.

Remix Heart

In the short span when Carl attended the Military Academy but had yet to realise that Ada had been turned into a Nox Nyctores, he was invited over by Makoto Nanaya to have lunch with her group (Team Remix Heart) on one day. He was introduced to Mai Natsume, who he took an immediate shining to as she reminded him strongly of Ada herself. He struggled to keep track of the conversation regarding Mai’s feelings towards Taro Sasagae, and wasn’t seen in the manga for the rest of the series afterwards, presumably because he dropped out at some point to take care of Ada.

Puppeteers

Escaping from the family household with Ada in tow, Carl arrived at his uncle and aunt's house 3 days later in the dead of night. Having woke up his uncle and aunt, Francis and Rosenne, they took him and Ada in. After Rosenne called Ada a 'doll', Carl had an explosive outburst, claiming that she was unchanged, and still family; he then began to explain what Relius had done to her and was driven to heart-felt tears. Rosenne stared at her niece, unable to imagine how someone so beautiful and bright had been turned into an expressionless doll, she then asked that the two do not stay in the same room when he slept as she was wary of his safety, with this, Carl's eyes pleaded with Francis to say otherwise. Eventually, Francis complied and allowed the two to stay together regardless. When the two went to bed, Ada tilted her head in an attempt to make a gesture; Carl eventually fell asleep studying the gesture.

Calamity Trigger

Now an established vigilante, and hearing about Ragna the Bloodedge being the possessor of the Azure Grimoire, Carl travelled to the 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi in the hopes that the grimoire could somehow help return Ada back to her original state. He wandered into Orient Town to find information, and stumbled into Taokaka; the young Kaka was confused about what a vigilante is, so Carl attempted to teach her, but upon discovering that she failed to understand what a vigilante is, the two fought as a physical lesson. Carl won, but Tao’s stamina encouraged her to ask for an immediate rematch with newly found vigour, forcing him to flee. At some point, he came across Noel Vermillion while attempting to discover new information, and fought her in order to try and coerce NOL-exclusive intelligence from her. He lost, and travelled elsewhere.

Trigger Shift

Carl is only briefly seen when he was resting in the fields of Kagutsuchi, with Nirvana carefully watching him and keeping guard.

Continuum Shift

Stumbling around Kagutsuchi eventually lead Carl to Ragna by pure chance. Determined to take the Azure Grimoire for himself, Carl attacked but had a crippling loss, but Nirvana managed to deal a deep blow to Ragna. Carl was found by Bang Shishigami and was taken to Litchi Faye-Ling’s clinic, but since Litchi was nowhere to be seen, Linhua saw to Carl’s treatment. Noel served as Carl’s target when he awoke as Nirvana’s emotion amplification had twisted his mind into believing her as a genuine threat, when all she was attempting to do was help the young boy. Bang interrupted the unfair duel which sent Carl scampering away.

Once in the Hanging Gardens far away from Orient Town, Carl consumed a healing Ars Magus potion that he bought from a street shop vender. Soon afterwards, he came across Tsubaki Yayoi, and demanded that she tell her more about her his father, Relius Clover. Tsubaki refused, which lead to Carl violently attacking her, and eventually, even beating her. Before dealing a further blow, Makoto intervened, saving Tsubaki from Nirvana’s crushing claws; seeing a perfect opportunity, Carl asked if Makoto, a member of the Intelligence Department, would help him in his search for Relius. Instead of handing over the information, Makoto picked up Tsubaki and fled.

Nirvana sensed Litchi in the NOL branch, and lead Carl to her. The doctor expressed immediate concern for the young man since the effects of the drug he took has a crippling after-effect on its users, and was developed for soldiers on the frontlines of the Ikaruga Civil War. He began an assault on Litchi but the drug forced him to stop, and not long afterwards, he began to weep in Litchi’s arms as the reality of his life and Ada’s condition finally hit him.

Relius entered, forcing Carl to immediately strike him out of pure hatred – his father completely ignored him, instead marvelling at Nirvana and Ada’s “cooperation” with the experiment to turn her into the doll. Carl and Nirvana reared back and began to attack, however, this was blocked by the Fluctus Redactum: Ignis. Before Relius could truly attack, Nirvana transported both Litchi and Carl out the area. Tears streamed down Carl’s face as he screamed, having realised that the Ignis is his own mother, Ignis Clover.

Chrono Phantasma

In Ikaruga, Carl discovered that both Ragna and Kokonoe were in the Federation, leading him to pursue them both for the Azure Grimoire, and answers towards his sister condition, respectively. Soon enough, he arrived in the 8th Hierarchical City of Wadatsumi, and met Bang and Platinum the Trinity. Platinum made an inappropriate comment about Ada’s condition, making Carl’s anger explode into an attack towards Luna, and he rejected Bang’s offer of showing off the city. He left them both as he explained that he was destined to travel to the 6th Hierarchical City of Yabiko.

He followed Nirvana’s guidance, finding himself face-to-face with Relius and Ignis. They talked about Litchi and her decision to join the NOL, finding himself so enraged with Relius’ personality, Carl attacked as soon as possible, but was unable to even scratch the man. Relius left with the promise that he would rebuild Ada should the time come. Leaving the area, Carl ventured to the 7th Hierarchical City of Kazumotsu where Amane Nishiki brashly approached him, begging the young man to join his travelling troupe. Carl gave him a little chance, and left as soon as the opportunity arose since he was in no joking mood after what had happened with his father.

Near Kushinada’s Lynchpin, Carl deflected a blow from Ragna directed towards Relius. Litchi and Bang begged him to not join the fray, but he ignored them in pursuit of the cure for Ada. The tag-team between Nirvana and Ignis prevented any advancements from the opposition, but they were soon split up, with Carl taking arms against Izayoi. When they lost, Carl protected Relius and evacuated him out of there, insistent on him fulfilling his promise to save Ada from her mechanical condition. Litchi aided him in taking his father out of the area.

Powers and Techniques

Carl is a gifted wielder of the Deus Machina: Nirvana despite his young age and fragile appearance. The two make a perfect pair as Nirvana’s wide array of options are perfectly complimented by Carl’s different knights that he keeps with him to attack an opponent; as a testament to this, Carl’s strength is enough to even keep up with the likes of Izayoi. When fighting alongside his parents, Relius and Ignis, Carl and Nirvana are nigh unbeatable.

However, Carl is, as mentioned before, rather fragile, and can easily succumb to his wounds. His single-minded determination to acquire something can make him overlook crucial information at times. On top of this, Hakumen has suggested that Nirvana amplifies his bloodlust, making this crux additionally difficult to overcome. When desperate enough, Carl will even enlist the help of sketchy narcotics in order to temporarily amplify his strength, even if they have devastating side effects.

Library Entry

Carl Clover

A young boy who is one of the highest-ranking Vigilantes.

Due to his talents, he was invited by the NOL to attend the Military Academy as an honor student. His aptitude for Ars Magus is unprecedented. Although he was in the academy while Noel and Jin were there, he eventually left.

His thought process is mature for his age, and he is able to swiftly and cleverly perform in almost any situation. The abandonment by his own kin results in distrust towards all adults, festering certain aggression within him. However, he maintains a graceful façade in front of his targets, never letting them see his true colors.

He fights alongside the automation, ‘Nirvana,’ and has a deep, abnormal affection for her. Perhaps because his sister Ada is in fact the framework upon which Nirvana is constructed.

Carl seeks the Azure Grimoire, believing it is the only way to save his sister Ada from her fate. He sets his sights on two targets: Ragna the Bloodedge and Kokonoe…and his journey takes him to Ikaruga.

Though full of hatred towards his father, Relius Clover, Carl lowers his blade with his father’s promise that he will one day reconstruct Ada.

Appearances in other Media

• The mobile game, Mabinogi Duel, stars Carl as a playable card