List of My-Otome terminology

This is a list of the terminology used in the My-Otome anime and manga series. Many terms differ slightly between the anime and the manga.

Otome
Otome are elite female warriors, employed by important political figures as bodyguards. On the planet Earl, where the series takes place, only one place exists where Otome are trained: Garderobe Academy in Windbloom Kingdom, where the ancient technology powering Otome is kept.

Otome receive their powers from nanomachines injected into their blood. However, said nanomachines are vulnerable to the prostate specific antigen (PSA); acting as an antigen, PSA causes an Otome's body to develop immunity against nanomachines (and any future injections), rendering her permanently powerless. Therefore, Otome cannot engage in sexual intercourse with males.

The Japanese word "otome" (乙女 otome) means "maiden", which can be considered to the Otome's forced virginity. This is, however, not the way it is spelled in the original title of My-Otome (舞-乙HiME), which only uses the first kanji of the word. In the manga, Otome are officially called 乙-type HiME (乙-type Highly-advanced Materialising Equipment), and this designation is briefly seen on a GEM screen (but never addressed) in the anime.

Contract
A contract is a pact between an Otome and her master, whom she is appointed to protect. It is enforced by the Otome's GEM. The contract restricts the use of Otome powers, only allowing it upon the master's explicit authorization. It is not merely a technical term; the Otome and her master share their pain, and if one of them dies, so does the other.

If an Otome without a permanent master faces a need to utilize her powers, she can forge a temporary contract to allow her interim master to grant the needed authorization. Interim contracts are logged in Garderobe Academy.

GEM
A GEM (Generable Enigmatic Matrix) controls an Otome's access to her powers. The name "GEM" is actually a pun, as GEMs are named after actual gemstones and resemble them. It is worn on an Otome's left ear.

Except for the Five Columns, the GEM requires authorization from the Otome's master before it allows her to materialize her Robe.

REM
Reinforceing (sic) Enigmatic Matrix. A Schwarz-modified version of Garderobe's GEM. Used by Midori.

Element
The weapon of an Otome, which she is able to materialize.

Butou
Formal ceremonial battles between Otome. Students may also engage in them. All of these special battles must be approved first, as they are subject to strict rules and procedures.

Five Columns
The Five Columns are Meister Otome who do not have masters, and can activate their powers at will. They are numbered #1 to #5. The Five Columns are:
 * 1) Sara Gallagher (Galacticamarine)
 * 2) Natsuki Kruger (Ice Silver Crystal)
 * 3) Shizuru Viola (Bewitching Smile Amethyst)
 * 4) Juliet Nao Zhang
 * 5) Mahya Blythe (Swirling Dance Fluorite)

MAID
Multi-purpose Assistant-type Independent Droid. A series of robots based on Miyu that are being developed in Aries.

Beautiful Power (Miryoku)
A form of energy that powers special attacks by the Otome. Some otome have special charge-up attacks such as Arika's 'Bolt from the Blue' and Natsuki's 'Howling Silver Wolf' but are much different from Miryoku. The special attacks an Otome use that are powered by this are unique to each and usually one Otome only has one, but more powerful Otomes like Arika and Nina have multiple.