Louie the Rune Soldier 1 (novel)

Louie the Rune Soldier 1
Author	Ryo Mizuno
Illustrations	Mamoru Yokota
Japanese title	魔法戦士リウイ１
Romanized title	mahō senshi riui 1
Publication information
Original release	21 October 1998
Chapters	The Beginning of the Story Behind Closed Doors Broken Wand The Tartious Forest In the Name of Love...
Pages	256
ISBN-13	978-4829128459
Novels
← Previous	Rune Soldier 0
Next →	Rune Soldier 2

Louie the Rune Soldier 1 is a light novel written by Ryo Mizuno and illustrated by Mamoru Yokota. It is the third novel released in the Louie the Rune Soldier light novel series and the first volume of the first Louie the Rune Soldier light novel series (the two previously released novels were later reintroduced as part of the second series). Chronologically it is the second novel in the series. The novel introduces main hero Louie, an apprentice mage who goes on an adventure with three young women; Merrill, Genie and Melissa. The priestess Melissa had received a revelation by the god of war, Myrii, which she interprets involves Louie.

The novel was covered in episodes 1-4 and 6 of the Rune Soldier anime and volumes 1 and 2 (chapters 1-6) of the manga.

Synopsis

　Nineteen year old Louie, an apprentice mage for the kingdom of Orphan in Alecrast, is celebrating with four other students that they've become qualified magicians. They're just one step away from becoming fully fledged magicians, which is to be able to speak the magical ancient language.

　After the celebrations, Louie stralls around the city and encounters a brawl at a bar. Three young women are fighting with two Orphan knights-in-training. As Orphan guards were approaching, Louie interferes by disarming the knights and punching one of the women, a red-haired warrior-type, in the face. He tells the girls to get away, but Louie himself gets arrested by the guards. Louie is released the next day, after the guards found out he is the son of Carwes, the headmaster of the Magicians’ Guild. Later that day he encounters the three young women from the night before. They introduce themselves as Melissa, the warrior-priestess; Genie, the warrior, and Merrill the thief. Louie assumes they're after revenge for the punch the evening before, but Melissa explains they're looking for a magician to join them on their adventures. She had received a revelation from the god of war Myrii that Louie is her valiant champion. Both sides, though somewhat reluctantly, agree to take Louie in.

　Ten days later, Louie and the adventurers learn of an ancient ruin and decide to investigate. On their way there they are joined by Ila, one of Louie's former classmates. After a journey of five days they finally arrive at the ruins. They notice a town not too far from the ruins, which leads them to believe the ruins may have been visited before. Once inside the ruins, the party encounters a band of goblins. Louie manages to defeat them, but breaks his magic wand in the process, much to the displeasure of his companions. Later, he learns from Ila that magic wands are made from 500 year old wood and the best place to find some is the Tartious forest. At first, Louie was about to go alone with Ila, but Merrill, Genie and Melissa eventually had a change of heart and decided to go with Louie, instead of Ila.

　Once in the Tartious forest the party finds what they're looking for, but then meet with an elf girl called Celecia. The elf takes the party to her village, but once they arrive there the party is imprisoned. The elves of this tribe do not think highly of humans. Trying to figure out a way to escape, Louie remembers the magic demon summoning flute that Ila had given him. Louie uses the flute and the village gets attacked by a demon hoard. The elves release the party so they can help in the fight and after the demons are defeated the party is awarded their freedom, as well as some branches of the ancient tree.

　Back in Orphan, Louie and Ila meet up with a knight from Ramliearth who wants to visit the Myrii temple. Since Louie was planning on going there himself, he decides to let the knight tag along. Once at the temple, Louie, Merrill and Genie are surprised to learn that not only do Melissa and the knight, called Conrad, know each other, but she is also his fiancé. Conrad wants to be Melissa's valiant champion, but Melissa, who doesn't like Conrad, tells him she has already found her valiant champion: Louie. Conrad challenges Louie to a duel and whoever wins the duel will win Melissa.

　The duel takes place seven days later. Louie isn't optimistic about his chances and realizes he may die. Rumours that Conrad had defeated a gang of robbers all by himself didn't help his confidence either. Just before the duel begins, Ila hands Louie a magical sword. She tells him that it'll prove more effective if he says the phrase "dancing in the darkness". Once the duel begins, Conrad says "Dance, my sword" and he subsequently easily outmatches Louie. At some point, Louie realizes Conrad's sword must be similar to his, recalls what Conrad said at the start of the duel, and chants "Dancing in the darkness suits you very well". The sword suddenly flies out of his hand and towards Conrad, violently attacking him. Conrad tries to pull a knife, but Louie sees this and swings his right fist right at Conrad. Louie wins the duel and Melissa begins to believe that Louie, though not a champion yet, may one day become one.

Characters appearing

• Louie
• Ila
• Daryl
• Genie
• Melissa
• Merrill
• Carwes
• Jenny
• Shamsul
• Barb
• Celecia
• Conrad

Gallery

Artwork from the novel by Mamoru Yokota.

Louie, Merrill, Melissa and Genie Louie fighting goblins Conrad Merrill kicking Louie's leg Melissa seeing Louie when thinking of a champion Merrill and Louie Ila meets the adventurers Celecia, the elf from the Tartious forest The party imprisoned in the elf village Melissa and Louie Conrad challenges Louie for Melissa Merrill Louie besting Conrad