Crystania: Legend of the Drifters 2 (novel)

WE HAVE A FAN TRANSLATION OF THIS WORK.
Want to read it? Click here for more information.

Crystania:
Legend of the Drifters 2

Author

Ryo Mizuno

Illustrations

Satoshi Urushihara

Japanese title

クリスタニア　漂流伝説2

Romanized title

hyōryū densetsu kurisutania 2

Publication information

Publisher

MediaWorks

Original release

10 December 1993 ^[1]

Chapters

Lycanthropes
(獣人)
The Fang of the Animal
(獣の牙)
Premonition
(予兆)
The Cycle of the Animal God King
(周期の神獣王)

Pages

272 ^[1]

ISBN-10

978-4073005292 ^[1]

Novels
← Previous	Next →
Legend of the Drifters 1	Legend of the Drifters 3

Crystania: Legend of the Drifters 2 is a light novel written by Ryo Mizuno with illustrations by Satoshi Urushihara. It is the second novel released in the Crystania light novel series. Chronologically it is the fifth novel.

The story continues directly from the end of the previous novel; on top of the Gods’ Wall above Da’nan where Rails and his companions had just beaten Grael, the Blade Fang Duke of the Beldian army.

Summary[]

　After having beaten Grael and losing Surge, Rails and his party, with Maris, notice five men approaching them. One of them is Turnill, the lone survivor of a Beldian attack on his village Eslo, and, like Maris, a member of the Tribe of the Silver Wolf who follow the animal god king Feness.^[2] Along with him are Garshun, Nahns, Isari and Callio. Garshun explains they are from a mercenary group called the Fang of the Animal and that refugees from Maris' village have made it to their fort, however because of their fight with the Beldians they can't really afford to aid the refugees.^[3]

　When it becomes clear to the five mercenaries that Rails and his companions aren't native to Crystania a dispute ensues between the two groups, until Rails exclaims he is here to stay and fight Grael and the Beldians. The mercenaries believe him and take Rails and his companions, along with Maris, to their fort.^[4]

　Maris and Turnill take some time together. They were promised to each other by the chieftain of Sirene. Turnill tells Maris what had happened to his village: one day they got attacked and he engaged in battle with a host of enemy soldiers. During the course of the battle they drifted off into the woods and by the time he had dealt with his enemies, the raid on Sirene had been completed and everyone was killed, except Turnill. Maris notices Turnill has changed. Suddenly, they sense enemies approaching, including a kin animal of the Tribe of the Fierce Tiger. Garshun, Rails and others arrive to help.^[5] During the battle, Garshun, Callio and Turnill morph into a wild boar, a lion and a silver wolf. Rails is surprised, as he had never seen something like this before. The enemy is swiftly beaten, with Rails killing the kin animal. Garshun explains that he, Turnill and Callio are so-called animalmasters—servants of animal gods who have been bestowed with a talent of the god they follow. It allows them to take the shape of their gods' animal.^[6]

　The story picks up three months later; the party of Rails, Sia, Bean, Basso and Shiron have been living in the Fang of the Animal fort living a mundane life. Rails is practicing with his sword and is being watched by Garshun and Orgens. Watching Rails reminds them of the six adventurers from ten years ago. Six people from Da’nan came to the fort asking for help to free the rightful ruler of the Great Swan tribe, but when the Beldian invasion began their request couldn't be granted. They were also pursued by the Great Snake tribe for trepassing Rumiss' barrier and branded as chaos by the Seal tribe. They have vanished since, but sometimes tales are heard of people that may be the six adventurers. Because of her silver hair, Maris reminds them of a certain Aderishia, one of the six.^[7]

　The next day Rails receives his first assignment. Among others, he is selected to be part of a group that is to chase after a group of Beldian invaders that attempted to attack a nearby Silver Wolf settlement. He is joined by two mercenaries of the Tribe of the Antler; Dill and Fred. When the two groups meet and the battle is in progress Rails begins to wonder why a human life is precious and the life of the goblins they are facing isn't. Pondering on this issue, Rails is unaware the goblin lord is approaching. Fred snaps him out of his thoughts and begins duelling the goblin lord, leaving two other goblins to Rails. With ease, Rails takes out the two goblins, but Fred is killed by the goblin lord. Rails attacks the goblin lord and kills it with a deep cut from the shoulder to near its heart.^[8]

　When the party returns to the Fang of the Animal fort, a gambling game is being held. A certain warrior called Gilliam is about to break Turnill's record as he is about to defeat eight opponents in a row. Garshun drags Rails in the ring as Gilliam's next opponent and he manages to end Gilliam's winning streak.^[9] Rails goes on to defeat four more opponents, including Garshun, but ultimately loses to Turnill.^[10] Garshun says he will recommend Rails to become Centurion.^[11]

　A month after Rails' promotion to Centurion, the Beldian army was attacking villages nearby the Fang of the Animal fort to cut off supply and starve the mercenaries.^[12] Rails recalls from stories about the War of Heroes and the War of the Destroyer’s Resurrection that food precurement is an important part of war and decides to talk to Captain Orgens. After listening to Rails and Maris, Orgens decides to let Maris make contact with the Silver Wolf settlement in Sirene, while Rails is tasked with maintaining food supply from neighbouring villages, despite Beldia's presence.^[13]

　In Da’nan, Captain Russell and a knight named Norva have been searching for the fugitives Basso and Shiron and it has led them to the Gods’ Wall. They believe the fugitives used the crack in the wall to climb to Crystania and plan to go after them.^[14]

　In a Beldian camp, set up in what formerly was the Silver Wolf settlement of Eslo, Grael receives information from a spy called Cadera, delivered to him via the knight Dillant. The report mentions a blond-haired man from the Lost Land (Da’nan) who is causing the Fang of the Animal to act in a way they hadn't before.^[15] Dillant also informs Grael that the Gods’ King Barbas has ordered them to withdraw from the Fang of the Animal fort and attack Sirene. As Dillant leaves Grael's presence, a knight named Begg asks Dillant what kind of trap he is setting for Grael. Dillant responds they will be rid of Grael soon.^[16]

　Maris arrives in the village of Sirene to meet with the village chieftain, Elder Loff. She is guided to his residence, to find him in the presence of another elder, Tario of Meilen. Maris explains the situation and requests soldiers and one year worth of food from Sirene. Elder Loff refuses both requests, but provides her with one hundred days worth of food, thinking they won't need more than that. Maris asks him to clarify and Loff informs him that reports indicate Beldia is planning an attack on the fort.^[17]

　As Maris tries to leave Sirene, she encounters a kin animal in the shape of a silver wolf. She follows the wolf to the animal god king Feness' temple and prays to him. Feness responds to her prayer. Maris has questions for her god, but Feness responds he cannot anwer them, saying “I can't answer your questions... you will be the one to answer your own questions.” Feness also tells her to come to the Site of Origin. Maris doesn't know what Feness meant when he said she will find her own answers, but she decides to return to the Fang of the Animal fort, thinking she might find a clue there.^[18]

　Meanwhile, Rails, Sia and the others have engaged in battle with an army of Barbas' followers. They manage to route the enemy forces with just one casualty. After the battle, however, Rails learns that the Beldian army stationed at Eslo may be planning to move their entire force. Before this, Isari, a follower of Arkena, and sometimes able to correctly predict the near future, told Rails that he saw the Fang of the Animal fort in flames.^[19] Should Rails return to the fort realzing that Isari's prediction may be true?^[20]