Note: This story has some somewhat similiar-elements with Persona 4, as I'm a fan of it, as well as Persona 3, as well as Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, in fact. Anyway, this is a slightly different story with a different main protagonist other than Crevanille, wherein it's someone with reddish-hair like the former, and it's a character with the name Souji like the P4 protagonist, in the manga, that is, and it's the first name I came to refer to him first. Anyway, this will follow the plot of the Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time with different plots, all the same. I suppose Souji, the character in this story, is like someone you can picture in the appearance of turning Minato/Makoto, or P3 protagonist, basically, having reddish-hair, but don't have the same personalities, so no worries...
Disclaimer: I don't own any.
Growlanser: Summoning Intertwined
Chapter 1: Moving Onto New Heights... ...
... ...At northern forest, at a certain clearing... ... ...
...Regina and Souji are passing through the clearing, with Regina enjoying the scenery about as they go about here-She playfully spins around, then, playfully turned to Souji, "Hey, Souji, come on, hurry it up! We don't have all day! Do you really hate shopping with me that much...?"
"Sigh, you know, of how much Robson seems to dislike it as much, I can't seem to tell whether I'll like it or not, too... Well, I suppose I can be happy to come along for this furlough, while I can enjoy it while I can."
"Heh, now that's the spirit. Okay, then, let's get going. I'm your sister, after all, so it's your job to do the lifting."
Souji frowned at that, a bit, "Sister...?"
"Pretty much. Since we've known each other that well. Hey, since how long have we known each other? Was it really fifteen years ago when Dan brought you to the brigade? Do you remember those days?"
"Hm, no. Well, it was pretty long, so I don't remember all since I was only very young, at the time." Souji passed by her, and continued on ahead, with Regina following,
"Haha, thought so! I don't remember much all of it, as well. But I'll never forget that day when I first met you, do you remember Dad saying, "Without this child, mankind has no future." Still, it was a surprise that dad brought a child into the brigade member like that, and he still refused to tell anyone what he meant by that. But now...? No matter how special you were, you turned out to be a normal guy, after all."
"Hm," Souji smiled at that, and turned to the direction ahead, as they continued walking. "I like being normal, it pretty nice to be lumped with everyone else when you need them. Besides being special is... troublesome."
"Eh?" That got Regine stopped, and Souji stopped and turned around, as well.
"...Being special is kinda out-of-place, so I rather be normal, when I can be as much with you all, as possible." He said, then, he started heading forward, again.
"Being... normal... eh? Hm," That got her pondering... "If you put it like that," She kept following, afterwards, while still pondering, but then she got a bright idea of what Souji just said, "yeah, you know what? It's kinda nice living a normal life. Other than the fighting we endured, we can all act like normal people, without standing out from the rest."
"Ah, that's exactly how I feel."
"Haha, thought so, but you know, you never did shared much of what is in your mind, always. You seem like you're on your own little world."
"..." Souji turned to Regine while still walking beside her, "Hey, I was just thinking. Besides, there are a lot of things... in my mind..."
"Hm... Well, okay... Well, never mind about that, let's go-!" She said, hopping cheerfully with Souji running after her, afterwards... ...But then... ...
... ...along the way, as they come across near the waterfall, as they were walking and discussing of what is to shop for, "Huh...!?" "Huh...?" ...Both of them spotted an injured young man by the water path... ...
"Hey, hang in there, are you all right!?" Regine quickly tended to the injured young man, with Souji also approaching them-
"Hey, Souji, let's go back to camp."
Souji nodded, "Of course." ...He ought to carry him on his back... ...
...And so, Souji and Regina returned to camp with the young man. ...The young man's name is Remus, according to him, and he told of what has occurred when he was travelling with his father, an adventurer. ...Apparently, they were struck by bandits along the way, and Remus's father was killed on the run, with Remus barely able to escape. Since Remus was around Souji's age, he was tasked on looking after him... ...Then, Six months have passed on... ... ...
... ...At a nearby camping site, where a bunch of tents have been set up, where Alten Schwart, the name of this mercenary brigade, is currently set up camp with. ...
...Souji has just gotten back from outside the camp, as a tall man in a fully-get up armor has approached him, it's Bauer. "Hm? Remus is not with you today?" He asked, as Souji put down some plastic supplies nearby.
"Ah... I asked him to fetch some water for everyone."
"Ah, I see. Speaking of Remus, I had my doubts about him at first, but it seems like he's doing better than I think. I saw him borrowing some books from Pamela and the boss, looks and sounds like medical stuff, though. I bet he's studying to make himself useful to us..."
"Huh, so I heard. It seems like he's getting by, with everyone else fighting, and he doesn't want to be left out or feel helpless for not being able to fight."
"Ah... Ah. It was the same for you last time, ha ha ha! Well, anyway, it seems like he's snapping out, and he once said, "Since I cannot fight alongside you all, the least I can do is mend your wounds", heh, looks like he still has some confidence issues. But he's getting there."
"Huh... I see..." He said, making sure that the plastic supplies are on the cargo, nearby... ...on these.
"It's all thanks to you, for being so kind to him. I bet, you're glad to have a younger brother like him, right? Whoops, I almost forgot, the boss is calling for me. Well, see ya!" Bauer waved goodbye, as suddenly, Remus popped up, running while carrying a bucket of water.
"Souji! I got the water from the river."
"Hm, good job, Remus." He said, patting him on the shoulder as he has approached him.
"I'm glad to be able to help! I cannot fight like you all, but I want to make myself useful to all of you fighting as mercenaries! What's our agenda for today? Is our furlough over...? I'll follow wherever you go." He said, as Souji walked pass him, with him following. Furlough would soon be over, so everyone is packing as much as they can... ...
"Hey, Remus, how it goes?"
"Okay... I guess." Remus and Souji stopped to converse her with,
"Damn, you sure don't sound like it. ...Confidence issues? You still have them, huh? Listen, even if you aren't seen or into real combat yet, you're still a part of this mercenary brigade, Alten Schwart, just knowing that you are there to fix us up is reassuring. And it's a great progress, I might add."
"Y-Yes... Thank you." He said, in a very grateful bowing,
"Hm, don't mention it. Oh, that's right." She reaches out to the cargo behind her-where a set of box are stocked-"Here, take these."
"Weapon... rings?" Remus asked,
"Ah. It's what keeps us in shafe nowadays. Supposedly, they were only sold in the black market corp. That's when they get around, and most mercenary corps have bought a lot of them. Supposedly, some nation did sold them, though I don't know who... Dulkheim, Valkania... or maybe Marquelay, uh, I don't know... ...Anyway, can you make it working? You did it once, right...?"
"W-Well, I got it working, right, last time... ..."
"Let us see it, then... ..."
"O-Okay... ..." He put the ring on his fourth finger, and tried to manifest out the ring weapon; a bow, out of the ring's "shelter" as one can put it, ... ... ...it glowed partially, but then, it instantly glowed out... ...he couldn't make it out, as he sighed, downcast, at that... ...
"...That could have been better. Here, Souji, why don't you show him...?"
"Hm, all right... Though..." Souji easily manifested his long blade, which is kept on the ring's "shelter", with him just using his own mind or will, at that, will power, as one call it, is what amplifies the rings.
"Wow! I'm amazed you can manifest it out, so simply like that-!"
"Supposedly, it is through experience you can manifest it out, so quickly. It can be activation by the will of self-preservation, or through battle experience, which is might why you haven't been able to manifest yours, so quickly." The mercenary told Remus,
"T-Then, what should I do...? ... ..."
"You'll just have to use large sword, I guess. Hm, well then, do be careful now." She said, as she waved goodbye, as she left.
"Okay." "Ah..." Both Remus and Souji waved back,
"Ara ara, Souji-kun and Remus-kun. I'm back, I've just returned from the village to look out for some herbs, here, give me your hand." ...Souji extended and held out his hand, with Pamela giving some medical herbs, "They're medical herbs, they're the last ones, so use them sparingly."
"Yes, thank you very much, Pamela-san."
"Ah, my pleasure. Well then, I suppose I should meet the boss," She said, as she goes about to meet with the current meeting of Bauer and the boss, with them discussing at the side corner,
"Oh, it's you two! You two are always together, as usual. Dad's in there, talking with Bauer about our next job." She said, pointing at the tent where Bauer and the boss, with Pamela coming to join in the mission briefing conference, have gone to,
"Our next job...?" Remus asked, curiously.
"Do they know where?" Souji asked,
"It seems so. Go on in and inform me about the details, should you find some. Well, see ya!" She said, waving goodbye as she just left hopping about,
"Regina-san is so kind, hard-working, and, pretty, at that, too. Isn't she?" Remus said, looking after her,
"...Are you kidding?" Souji felt perplexed at the sudden comment of Remus,
"You don't think so? She's strong as the boss's daughter, but she's still a woman..."
"Hm, maybe. I just saw her as a warrior, at first, but, I guess she does have her own charms..." Souji admitted, walking towards the tent of the boss,
"Yes! I thought so, too!"
...They, the three who are present, Dxion, Bauer and Pamela, are inside, discussing of the mission briefing in this entire operation,
...Remus and Souji are nearby, overhearing the conversation from here, "Lamplast Island, huh... ...I see." Bauer said, pondering...
"Ah, the land is said to have gold mines that the kingdoms are fighting over, there are two factions, involved."
...Pamela spoke up, "There are two factions involved: one is helping the natives, and the other is the invading armies. Apparently, it got caught up in the heat of battle, that everywhere is a battleground, now."
"Ah, that's right. With this much resources, we could it make it there for a week..." Dxion said, informing of the endurance they may have to muster and/or endure... ...
"Hm, I see... Then, is there any reason why we're siding with them...? Oh, sorry, whose side are we on? The outsiders, or the natives...? Boss..."
"The latter, this time. The deal is closed, to the very least, I am very sympathetic to the natives of this island, we have an even chance of victory, but with all of your support, I'm sure we can turn the tides."
"Hm, all right, then, it's our job to meet your expectations." Bauer said, sounding determined and eager, at this.
"Hm, I don't doubt you will. We'll be departing for tonight," Dxion said, as he has stood up, along with Pamela and Bauer, "Go on, and spread the word,"
"Roger! I'll go and spread the word," Bauer said, running off.
"Then, I'll make sure our supplies are good to go, for the long run." Pamela excused herself, as well.
"Did you hear that?" Remus asked, with he and Souji having been listening for a while,
"Lamplast Island... eh?"
"Hm?" Dxion took noticed of their presence, "Did you hear all of that...? ... ..."
...Souji frowned, a bit, since he was sort of planning to head out of here, without alerting of their presences from the boss, as well as Pamela and Bauer, who already left. "...We are heading immediately, to the battleground?" Souji asked, as Dxion exited the tent, to greet them, as well...
"Ah, we'll be leaving early tonight. So be ready for it," Souji just nodded at that, while Remus was having a downcast gaze, as if contemplating for a while, then he spoke up to it-
"Um, boss, I-I want to ask something..."
"What is it, Remus?"
"...Um, p-please, I want to fight, too!"
"...Remus..."
"I'm a part of this mercenary brigade, too! I can't just remain a burden to everyone around, everyone is fighting... and getting hurt, so that's why, I... ..."
"Remus... Hmgh, very well, then... Souji, you look after Remus, okay?"
"Hm, yes, Sir."
"I-I'm sorry for being an inconvenience to you, the last... P-Please, look after me!" Remus said, in apologetic manner, then he had asked to be taken care of,
"There is no need to apologize, last time I recall, it was Bauer who accompanied you in your first Campaign, Souji. Well then, grab what you need, we depart for nightfall." He left, informing the other mercenaries about that, as well.
"The boss somewhat reminds me of my father... He was more reticent, but there was kindness in his brusque manner. The is boss is somewhat familiar. I'm quite envious of you, for having a father like him. Yosh, I'm going to try my hardest to repay the boss's kindness-!"
"...Don't get overhead of yourself, fighting is something you don't look forward to, ahead."
"Ah-S-Sorry, I got ahead of myself there..."
"Hm," Souji pat him on the head, "Let's go. The others are waiting..."
"Yes-!" Remus followed suit, as they both left to join in on the others... ... ...
End of Chapter 1