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Legend of Lodoss: The Eternal Returner is a light novel written by Ryo Mizuno and illustrated by Akihiro Yamada. It contains four short stories that shed light on several characters and story aspects of volumes 1 to 4 of the Legend of Lodoss series, such as Reena and Nasher's relationship and a more detailed account of Nasher's quest to become a Dragon Knight.
The first two stories were previously published in 1996's "mini" light novel Legend of Lodoss: Prince of the Sun, Princess of the Moon and before that appeared in Kadokawa Sneaker magazine. The third story was also published in Sneaker magazine, but did not appear in the mini novel, while the fourth and final story was newly written for this book.[2]
Mizuno said that this book completes the story of Nasher. About the ending of the fourth story, Mizuno said that it is not a dream, but a reality.[2]
Synopsis[]
Story 1: Prince of the Sun, Princess of the Moon
A short story that takes place about half a year before the release of the demons. Princess Elanta of “Dragon Flame” Harken visits Skard. She seems interested in Nasher right away, much to his sister Reena's disliking, who is very fond of her older brother. Elanta and Nasher seem unseparable and one evening at a banquet, after again being unable to get to spend time with Nasher, a depressed Reena takes off on his brother's horse. When the horse later returns without Reena, Nasher gets worried and begins looking for Reena. He arrives just in time to save her from a wolf.
Reena is left with a guilty conscience, because of her actions Nasher got badly wounded in his fight with the wolf and he probably lost favour with Elanta for leaving her suddenly to look for Reena. Moreover, she lied about an ankle injury to get Nasher's affection, and Nasher had to carry her back to Grain Hold. He needed several days to revover and was balancing between life and death. She would gladly sacrifice her life to make up for everything.
Story 2: Bonds of Blood
Through his court mage Wort, Bruuk learns of the demon army—an army believed to be strong enough to conquer all of Lodoss. The demons were summoned to the human world by sorcerers of Kastuul, but sealed away in the labyrinth 500 years ago. In ruins of the ancient kingdom, Wort has uncovered the secret to liberating them: a blood-relative of the liberator needs to be sacrificed to release the demons and control their king. Other demons would be under the control by the one who controls theb Demon King.
Meanwhile, relations between Venon and Skard are worsening. Elanta had returned to Harken and told her father she had been hit by Nasher (a lie) and Venon, being Skard's protecting duchy, took the blow of their attack. Moreover, Prince Alondo of Venon had officially asked for Princess Reena's hand. Reena did not want to marry Alondo, but regardless of whether she would or not, it wouldn't favour Bruuk or Nasher. If she were to marry Alondo, Venon would probably assassinate Bruuk and Nasher. If she wouldn't, Venon would probably attack Skard. Bruuk believed that Skard couldn't win a battle against Venon, because it would cut off their one and only traffic road.
Bruuk learned of Reena's vow to give her life for Nasher. With such a forlorn situation impending, Bruuk and Reena went to the Deepest Labyrinth to summon the Demon King. With the demon army under their control they would be able to defeat Venon and fulfill Nasher's talent. When Reena was sacrificed by her father, the Demon King emerged from her body. Much to Bruuk's surprise, he had no control over the King. The Demon King explained he and Reena are not blood-relatives. Bruuk understood his promiscuous ex-wife Natasia, known for her many bed-partners, must've conceived Reena from another man. Bruuk attacked the Demon King and sliced the body of his daughter open, but the Demon King was unaffected. In response, the Demon King used the Demon Sword “Soul Crusher” to decapitate Bruuk.
Story 3: Dragon’s Heart, Demon Soul
The story tells of how Nasher managed to tame the wind dragon Whirlwind, a story that was originally skipped in Legend of Lodoss volume 2. The story is told through the eyes of Princess Raffinia, as she conveys the story to her and the deceased Nasher's child.[3]
Nasher, together with King Flaibe, set out to the Albora Mountains to find a wild dragon and tame it, by capturing its heart. Nasher spends about a month in the mountains, traveling up to find the dragon and back down to discuss his observations with Flaibe. Eventually, Nasher understands what is required to tame the dragon and when he approaches the dragon with this knowledge, he finally subdues it.[4]
Story 4: Demon of the Soul
This story takes place during the Demon Wars, after Nasher tamed Whirlwind. Nasher and his fiancée Raffinia have been given territory a three days' travel from the royal capital. The territory is governed by Heisel, a Knight of the Guard and an old acquaintance of Raffinia. The villagers' have accepted Heisel as their lord, and weren't happy when Nasher was appointed to replace him. Apparently, a short while ago a demon had attacked the village looking for Nasher, thus the villagers have come to believe Nasher lordship will attract more demons. At night, a demon of the soul attacks the village and Heisel deals with it swiftly.[5] The villagers chant Heisel's name and tell Nasher to return to Skard. Raffinia, senses Heisel has changed since the last time they met. Nasher announces he will make a decision about his lordship the next day. When that moment arrives, with Heisel and all villagers in attendance, Nasher draws his sword and kills Heisel, revealing him to have been possessed by a demon of the soul. With Whirldwind's aide, Nasher destroys the demon, but the villagers did not come to accept him.
The story then leaps to a time after Nasher's death. Raffinia has moved away from Moss, presumably to Valis, and is now with a child. Suddenly, in the distance, a young man appears who she believes to be Nasher.[6]
Characters appearing[]
- Story 1
- Story 2
- Druke Bruuk of Skard
- Wort
- Herbalist Tatus
- Princess Reena of Skard
- Demon King
- Story 3
- Princess Raffinia of Highland
- Unnamed child of Raffinia and Nasher
- Prince Nasher of Skard
- King Flaibe
- Whirlwind
- Story 4
- Prince Nasher of Skard
- Princess Raffinia of Highland
- Knight of the Guard Heisel
- Apprentice Adol
- Whirlwind
- Unnamed child of Raffinia and Nasher
Notes[]
Images from the novel (in order)
.jpg "Demon of the soul (Eternal Returner).jpg (778 KB)") Demon of the soul .jpg "Intertitle (Eternal Returner).jpg (468 KB)") Intertitle .jpg "Reena running away (Eternal Returner).jpg (441 KB)") Reena running away from Grain Hold castle .jpg "Tatus and Duke Bruuk (Eternal Returner).jpg (482 KB)") Herbalist Tatus and Duke Bruuk .jpg "Bruuk sacrificing Reena (Eternal Returner).jpg (463 KB)") Duke Bruuk sacrificing Reena .jpg "Nasher (Eternal Returner).jpg (346 KB)") Nasher .jpg "Nasher and Whirlwind (Eternal Returner).jpg (555 KB)") Whirlwind flying over Nasher .jpg "Raffinia reunited with Nasher (Eternal Returner).jpg (160 KB)") Nasher returning to Raffinia |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 KADOKAWA, "ロードス島伝説 永遠の帰還者"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mizuno, R. Legend of Lodoss: Eternal Returner. Afterword.
- ↑ Mizuno, R. Legend of Lodoss: Eternal Returner, page 87 (fan translation)
- ↑ Mizuno, R. Legend of Lodoss: Eternal Returner, page 126 (fan translation)
- ↑ Mizuno, R. Legend of Lodoss: Eternal Returner, page 153 (fan translation)
- ↑ Mizuno, R. Legend of Lodoss: Eternal Returner, page 168 (fan translation)