Reena

Reena(リィーナ, Ryīna)
Other names	Princess of the Moon
Race	Human
Lifespan	NRC 459 - 473
Nationality	Skardian
Allegiance	Skard Highland
Highlights	Helped liberate the demons Became host for the Demon King
Novel
Novel appearances	Eternal Returner

Reena (リィーナ, Ryīna) was a princess of the duchy of Skard in the south of Moss. She was the daughter of Duke Bruuk of Skard and his promiscuous late wife Natasia, making her a half-sister to Prince Nasher. The siblings were well-known for their beauty and together they were referred to as “Prince of the Sun, Princess of the Moon”.

Where Nasher was characterized as a bright young man with outstanding talent, with matching blond hair and bright blue eyes, Reena was characterized as standing in his shadows, seeming somewhat easily lost in depressing thoughts, and with matching dark hair and dark eyes. The two siblings didn't look a like.

Reena serves as the main character in the first story of Eternal Returner, and as a major supporting character in the book's second story. In the main Legend of Lodoss novels, Reena and her father's sudden disappearance, serve as a catalyst for the story.

History

　Reena was born in Skard to Duke Bruuk and Duchess Natasia. She was the younger half-sister, by one year, of Crown Prince Nasher, whose mother was Bruuk's first duchess Eliza. Nasher and Reena didn't look alike, as Reena had inherited traits from her mother, such as her dark hair and dark eyes. Reena was likely to be married off into the royal line of another country some day, for political reasons.

　Reena was unusually fond of her elder half-brother. When Reena was thirteen years old, the Skard royal family was visited by Princess Elanta of “Dragon Flame” Harken, who seemed particularly interested in Nasher. Reena struggled with the fact that Elanta was absorbing all of Nasher's time. During the banquet to welcome Elanta, Nasher and Elanta appeared to have a great time dancing together. When she approached Nasher to ask for a dance, Elanta rebuked her. Nasher followed Elanta, but winked at Reena, who didn't understand the gesture. Reena became sad. In her mind, Nasher was hers. Negative thoughts took over Reena's mind and she left the banquet on Nasher's horse. When the horse returned without Reena, Nasher became worried and went looking for her. He found her just in time to save her from a wolf. Unarmed, he sustained serious injuries in his fight with the wolf. Reena also lied about an ankle-injury, so Nasher had to carry her back to castle Grain Hold. Nasher needed several days to recover and was balancing between life and death. Moreover, he had probably lost favour with Elanta for leaving her behind. Elanta wasn't pleased Nasher left her to look for his sister, and when she returned to Harken, she lied that Nasher had slapped her. Harken attacked Skard, but Venon, Skard's protector duchy, held off the Harken army. Now with a guilty conscience, Reena would gladly give her life to make up for everything.

　Some time later, Reena a marriage proposal from Prince Alondo of “Dragon Scale” Venon. When Bruuk informed his daughter of this, Reena was adamant that she didn't like Alondo for many reason and didn't want to marry him. Bruuk figured she'd rather die, and explained the difficult situation Skard was in. Bruuk believed he and Nasher would be assassinated if Reena married Alondo. If he refused, a war would break out and Bruuk didn't fancy Skard's chances. Reena believed Skard might stand a chance, because Beld and Wort had recently joined their ranks. Bruuk was certain they wouldn't be able to win. Not only that, he was certain Venon was out to conquer all of Moss as well. Either Reena would live and lose Nasher and her father, or all three of them would die.

　Bruuk sensed Reena would rather end her life and Reena told him of the vow she made the previous year after Elanta's visit. Bruuk, believing Skard's future rested exclusively on Nasher's shoulders, reciprocated Reena's feelings.

　Bruuk, Reena went to the deepests depths of the labyrinth. Reena wore a pure white dress of soft cloth. She took place on a magical sigil—a double circle surrounding a pentagram—in the center of the hall and took off her clothes. Bruuk began to recite the spell for summoning the Demon King, and then stabbed Reena in the chest. Reena called for her brother, but couldn't complete his name as she passed away.

　For a moment, Reena's body remained motionless, until suddenly the Demon King took possession of it. Bruuk attempted to command the Demon King, as he believed he could control it due to his blood-ties with Reena, the sacrifice and host of the body. But Bruuk was unable to control the Demon King, who said Bruuk has no connection to the sacrifice. Bruuk then understood Reena's mother, Natasia, had received Reena via another man. The Demon King decapitated Bruuk on the spot and began his conquest of Lodoss in Reena's body.

　During the Demon War it was believed Bruuk, who was seen on the front lines at the battle of Skard—the first battle between Moss and the demons—was leading the demon army. His son Nasher suspected Bruuk might be a doppelgänger, and confirmed this when he killed "Bruuk". He was subsequently pierced in the stomach with the Demon Sword “Soul Crusher”, by "Reena". Nasher then understood that the one in his sister's appearance had been the Demon King. Part of Reena still remained within the Demon King, and it expressed its love for Nasher. The Demon King was eventually slayn by the Six Heroes. After his death, the Demon King and Reena's body completely vanished.

Gallery

Eternal Returner artwork by Akihiro Yamada

Eternal Returner artwork by Akihiro Yamada

Saint of the Supreme God artwork by Akihiro Yamada

Prince of the Sun, Princess of the Moon artwork by Akihiro Yamada

Prince of the Sun, Princess of the Moon artwork by Akihiro Yamada