Two Questions. 1)Any idea on how Raven's Slow Field Needles are made? I wondered for some time if they were just regular needles by enchanted by time magic or something. 2) Is it possible that Marlene, I-No's guitar, was created from the Backyard and falls into the same category as Ramlethal's swords and likely Happy Chaos' guns? I just realized it was never explained how I-No came across her guitar nor did it imply she created it.
I believe I've covered how "Instroments" work, yes?
Instroments are Objects imbued with Magic enchantment on a basic level.
Whether that's a powerful OutRage, or a Floor-based Seal (similar to Geomancy).
In Raven's case, his Needles are enchanted with a Barrier that restricts kinetic movement… the central crux of the spell can be dispelled if one simply pulls the needle out of where it was placed. This is exactly what Sol does in the original fight with Raven during GG2's battle. He had to slowly walk towards the needle and pull it out of the ground to dispel the field.
It's not a Time Magic, per se… that would be far too powerful and require too much Mana… instead it's similar to a Dimensional Seal (or as Sol calls it, an Ouroboros Loop). It's because Raven can produce a ton of these Needles that it's such an annoying attack.
The flipside is, Sol could actually grab the needle and throw it BACK at Raven if the timing was appropriate.
Secondly, Marlene has existed for as long as I-No has exhibited her powers, so yes… in a way it is similar to Backyard Weaponry… however, unlike conventional weapons that simply "enhance" the capabilities of the user…
Marlene has more of a symbiotic relationship with I-No… in essence Marlene is a part of I-No herself… the whole package deal. In one of the earliest pictures showing I-No (in Lighting the Argent Novel), Marlene is shown "wrapped around" I-No's waist.
That's also why, later on during Strive's events… I-No is so powerful she doesn't even NEED Marlene to fight. Because of the sentimental value the Guitar had to Axl Low… he managed to steal it from her.
It didn't really change the battle situation, but it was, in essence, a reminder of what kind of person I-No used to be.
While you COULD still say that Marlene (as a weapon/guitar/both) is technically a "supernatural instroment"… only I-No could really use it that way…
To anyone else, it would just be a normal Guitar.