Disclaimer: This will be a crossover of an original character that comes from the Negima Universe and the Suikoden IV World. Depending on how things turn out, I might just write sequels into the other Suikoden Series too. But enough of this. Mahou Sensei Negima belongs to the famed manga artist Ken Akamatsu and Suikoden belongs to the wonderful people at Konami.
Chapter 1: Questions… and Proposal
Pain… it was the first sensation that he felt all over his body. It was the proof to him that he was still amongst the living. His body felt so heavy, and sore, and his last memory before being knocked out was being hit by something.
He slowly stirred awake, wincing a little at the pain that shot through his body, and he sat up, taking a brief look around him. He was in a small room, which looked like the interior of a castle of some kind. He then looked to the side, and saw a person dressed in a military outfit. "Oh, you are awake! It's been two days since you were out cold."
Nodding slightly, Martin began to think. Two days? Whatever knocked me out must have been something powerful. I have never been out so long, even in worse battles. He then turned to the person. "Pardon me, good sir… may I enquire as to where I am now?"
The soldier just smiled at him. "Patience, good sir. I have instructions to report to the Commander and the Vice-Commander when you are awake. I believe they have some things to ask you, and you may ask questions with them as well." The soldier bowed and said. "If you will excuse me…" He then turned and left the room.
Martin nodded absent-mindedly as he sat against the headboard of his bed, his analytical mind began to process the senses he was feeling. Being in tune to the elemental spirits he found this place, and its surroundings to be filled with magic, of a kind he had never encountered. He could even feel the residual traces of healing magic performed on him, but strangely, it felt like the elemental spirits of water that was responsible for healing his wounds.
Before he could analyse the information, he heard the sound of a door opening, and saw two people walk into the room. One was a middle aged looking man, with dark brown hair, brown eyes and a beard. He was also wearing the same brown and yellow motif of clothes as the soldier before. However, he exuded an aura of command and leadership, and by the way he walked, Martin knew he was in the presence of a battle-hardened warrior. He deduced that this man was the 'Commander' that the soldier had mentioned before.
The woman, whom he deduced was the vice commander, had light blonde hair, which she secured in a bun and had a headband tied around her forehead. She wore and orange robe, with white sleeves and leggings and a purple leather breastplate, that looked to him like an amalgam of a warrior and a mage's outfit. She also held a staff with a blue coloured orb on this tip. But what got his attention was he felt something familiar, the feeling of the elemental spirit of thunder and lightning around the woman, and his senses pointed it out to her left hand.
(Note: I kind of forgot where the Lightning Rune that Katarina has at the start of the game, so I put it on her left hand. So, if anyone has any idea if I got it right or not, just mention it in your reviews. Thanks.)
The man approached his bed, and then spoke. "Good to see that you are awake, stranger. How are you feeling?"
Martin looked at the man warily for a moment, but sensing that he had nothing more than a feeling of goodwill, and a little bit of curiosity, he decided to speak. "I feel fine, though it feels like I've been fighting a few rounds with a dragon. By the way, you have my thanks for healing me. Thought I wasn't going to live through my last battle." He paused for a moment and said. "May I enquire as to where I am right now?"
The man nodded and said. "You are welcome, stranger…" Though he looked at the woman, who had a puzzled look on her face, before turning back to Martin. "My name is Glen and I am the Commander here at the Knight Academy in the port of Razril, in the kingdom of Gaien. The woman beside me is my Vice-Commander, Katarina. Now that formal introductions are made, we do have some questions to ask you."
He turned to the woman and said. "If you will, Vice-Commander."
Katarina nodded and looked at the young man, trying not to notice how good looking he was. She then shook her head. He was younger than her, for Rune's sake! She then spoke to him. "Ahh, yes, Commander. Young man, we found you unconscious, badly out of shape and lying on a beach, in one of the few uninhabited islands near here. From your clothing, I assumed that you are not a native of the Island Nations. Where do you hail from, and what is your name?"
Martin looked at the woman and said. "My name is Martin Evans… and I am without a home… demons destroyed my village… and I am the only survivor. I only remember that my home is somewhere far from here… it is a country called Wales… in a larger island group known only as United Kingdom." He told them as briefly as possible, knowing that if he told them he was from another dimension, they would most probably freak out and think he was crazy or something. He did not fancy being locked in an asylum any time soon.
Both Commander Glen and Katarina were puzzled by his answer, since the names he gave them were unfamiliar to them. But before they could ask him more, the young man said. "Excuse me, Vice-Commander… I do not want to sound rude, but I sense some kind of power, an elemental one coming from your left hand? May I see it?"
This question took them by surprise, but Katarina nodded and removed her glove, and handed her hand rather reluctantly to the young man.
Martin was fascinated at the sight. He saw a small glass orb, embedded on the back of the Vice-Commander's hand, not noticing the way Katarina blushed as he studied the Lightning Rune on her hand. The motif inside of the orb was a jagged sword-like lightning bolt, and this was the object that was giving out the elemental spirit-like feeling.
Commander Glen, however was feeling different, his features was a mixture of amusement and curiosity at his Vice-Commander's reaction. He was amused at her features, figuring that this would be an event he should remember, and to use to tease her. She's a good assistant to him, but at times, he feels he should lighten up a little.
But at the same time, he felt curious. He was examining a rune, something that is commonplace in this world, and regarding it as something that he have never seen before, which in itself, is an absurd idea.
After examining the glass orb for a moment, martin let go of the woman's hand and turned to the Commander. "This is interesting… I have never seen one of these before… what is it?"
Both of them wore a surprised expression on their faces at his question. Commander Glen looked at him and said. "That is a Rune, young man… one of the means that magic is performed in this world. Are you saying that you have never even seen or heard of Runes before?"
At Martin's nod, Commander Glen said. "Now this is interesting, and rather impossible at that. Even the most backward people of the Island Nations would have at least seen or heard of Runes before. Hmmm… I wonder."
He paused for a moment and turned to Katarina and said. "Vice-Commander, I leave this young man into your care. Once he is fit enough to walk, I want you to assign him one of our Knight Trainees as a guide to the port of Razril. And please send a message to your old Master, Konrad as well. He is the most knowledgeable person we have here when it comes to Runes and their history so he should be able to inform young Evans here all about them."
"Understood, Commander." Katarina replied, not looking at Martin.
Glen just smiled to himself and then looked at Martin. "Well then, now that is settled, I need to return to my duties. Mr. Evans… you will stay with us as my personal guest. Please feel free to ask Katarina here if there is anything that you might need. If you would excuse me…" He then turned around and left the room.
Martin nodded and looked at Katarina, who had composed herself, and summoned a Knight. A young man entered, dressed in the garb of a trainee knight of Gaien, with blue shirt and pants, steel breastplate, boots and wrist guards. The young knight had short brown hair and blue eyes and a red ribbon tied around his forehead. "You called… Vice-Commander?"
Katarina nodded. "Yes, Lazlo… I did." She then gestured to Martin and said. "This is Martin Evans… a personal guest for the Commander. No doubt you had heard about his arrival yesterday."
The young man called Lazlo just nodded silently, as Martin studied him. He seemed to be a quiet person, not really speaking much and looked a bit serious, which reminded him of some of his friends that were like that… at that memory, the painful memories that had been buried deep inside of him came to the surface once more, and he gripped the edges of his bed, and he shook with grief, letting out soft chokes, the emotional dam that he built to control his emotions broke apart as tears ran profusely down his cheeks.
Alarmed at this predicament, Katarina turned to Lazlo. "Lazlo, I want you to go to the inn and bring my old Master, Konrad here. I'll stay behind here and comfort this grief-stricken young man…"
Lazlo nodded and looked at Martin briefly, recognizing the look in those eyes. He has eyes just like mine… there is a deep loneliness and sadness within them... perharps… I might have found someone that I can relate to. He thought as he exited the room.
Meanwhile, Katarina was at a loss on what to do. Even though she has seen much death, as her duty as a knight, but she has never someone so distraught. Granted that in recent times, there were no major battles or wars that are fought, thus she had no experience at all at comforting the loved ones of those that have died in battle. Nevertheless, the sight of this young man, shaking with grief struck a nerve deep inside of her. A protective instinct, almost either sisterly or maternal welled up deep inside of her, and she walked over to the bed, and sat beside Martin, and gently slipped her arms around him, pulling him against her, letting him rest his head against her shoulder.
The gentle gesture from Katarina, whom Martin felt was akin to being in the arms of his late mother, made him lose control. He sobbed openly against her shoulder, letting out all the pent up feelings of grief and despair of losing everything and everyone that he loved and held dear. Katarina just said nothing, gently stroking his back, while whispering soft, soothing words to calm him down.
It took Martin some time to calm down, and then he disengaged himself from the hug. He stayed silent for some time, not saying a word. He then looked at Katarina and said. "Thank you, Vice-Commander… I needed that."
Katarina gave him a gentle smile, which further reminded him of his older sister. "You are very welcome, Mr.Evans. I am rather new at this, so I do not know if I did it right." She blushed slightly at that.
Martin just smiled and said. "Just call me Martin, please… I do not like to be too formal in greetings."
"Then you may call me Katarina, Martin… all my friends call me that." She then shyly extended her hand to him. "Friends?"
Martin looked at the extended hand and then back at Katarina, before giving her a dazzling smile, and shook her hand, and then gave her a friendly hug. "Friends…"
Katarina just smiled shyly as she hugged the younger man back, and they stayed that way for some time, and let go, just as Lazlo, and an older man entered the room.
Martin looked at the new arrival. He was also a middle-aged man, with thick reddish brown hair and a beard. He wore a set of dark brown shirt and pants, with orange cuffs and shoes. He was also holding a mage's staff, which had a diamond-like bauble, and ending with a spear-like point at the tip. He also wore a circlet on his forehead.
The older man approached the bed and spoke to Katarina. "I heard you sent for me, my student?"
Katarina nodded. "Yes, Master Konrad." She then gestured to Martin. "This young man here is my new friend, and a personal guest of Commander Glen. I found him lying unconscious on a deserted island not far from Razril on the way back from one of my routine patrols of the area."
Konrad nodded and studied the young man before him. Although his expression doesn't change, he was very surprised that this young man in front of him possesses immense amounts of magical energy, and more importantly, the feeling that he gets is that is closest to the energies of both the Wind Rune and the Lightning Rune. Such power for one so young…
He then stepped back and said. "You are a prodigy, aren't you, young Evans? Even a Rune Master like myself can feel that you possess the power equivalent to a Lightning and Wind Rune."
Katarina gasped and Lazlo had a surprised expression on his face. This young man does not possess any Rune at all, not that they can tell, but Master Konrad had actually made a statement about the young man's power.
Martin's face had the same puzzled expression he had before. "Pardon me, Master Konrad… I am afraid I do not understand. I do not know anything about Runes, and I have only seen them today. Could you tell me more about them?"
Konrad fell silent for a moment to digest the young man's words. It is practically impossible for anyone to be totally ignorant or uninformed about the Runes, but somehow, he knew that this young man is telling the truth. Moreover, his clothes don't resemble anything that might come from the Island Nations, or even the Scarlet Moon Empire.
He then nodded and said. "Very well, young Evans… I shall inform you of the Runes. All Runes, are created after the Sword fought against the Shield, and they both broke apart, giving rise to the 27 True Runes. All bearers of True Runes, are said to be immortal, as it gives them eternal youth, and only will age, when those True Runes are removed from them. There are five Elemental True Runes, Fire, Earth, Wind, Water and Lightning respectively. All our elemental Runes that exist somehow are inferior to them, and lack the power that the True Runes possess; since it is said that all elemental runes are 'birthed' or derived from their respective True Runes."
He paused for a moment and said. "You have seen the Lightning Rune that is affixed to my pupil's left hand. That is an example of a low-level elemental rune." He then held out his right hand and Martin could see another glass orb embedded in it. But this time, was the picture of a flame, only slightly bigger. "This is an example of a high-level elemental Rune, young Evans. It is called the Rage Rune."
He then withdrew his hand and said. "Of course, Runes are not confined to elemental Runes, and there are many types of Runes out there. You just have to keep your eye out and ask around about any Runes that you might see or find in the future to know of their properties. Now…" He looked at Martin and said. "I have a proposal for you, young Evans. You have a lot of potential… and a lot of power for one so young. I propose you take up a teaching or instructional post here at the Gaien Knight Academy as a magic instructor. Meanwhile, I can try to help you to obtain some basic low-level elemental Runes for you to attach to your hands."
Martin nodded as he considered the proposal. "I think I would like that…"Not to mention it might boost my own spells, for that matter. He thought. He then looked at how the runes were imbedded inside the skin of both magic users, and he couldn't help but feel curios. "I just have one question… all this time I have seen the Runes, or should I say the glass orbs that contain the Runes embedded in the skin of its bearers. Does it hurt when the Rune is attached?"
"No, young Evans… it does not." Konrad replied. "The attachment of runes does not hurt at all. Oh, and one more thing… there are Rune Pieces, or shards of a Rune, that can be embedded in a weapon, giving them the same elemental properties of the Rune piece that is attached." He then turned to Katarina. "Katarina, I think you should go to the Commander and tell him what I proposed for this young man. Tell him that I have concluded that this young man is an honest person, and that he will be a great asset for the Knights."
Katarina nodded and said. "Yes, Master Konrad. Come Lazlo…. We have to find the Commander and report this to him." She then bowed to Konrad and then to Martin, before leaving the room with Lazlo.
Konrad waited until his pupil had exited the room, and then turned to Martin. "Well, I suppose I had better get going as well. Remember young Evans… if there is anything at all that you do not understand, regarding Runes and other things, you can ask the attendants in the Rune shop in town, and if you still had some doubts, you can come to the inn to find me." He too left the room, leaving the room, leaving Martin all by himself.
As soon as they left, Martin thought. So… this is it. I am stranded in a new land… but then again, this might not be a bad thing. That Katarina… she seems to be a nice woman… she feels to me like my older sis… His features hardened for a moment, a look of determination on his face. I swear to you, sis… I will not fall into despair… I will get over this, and I will live for all your sakes… and mine. With that thought, he has decided for himself. He will grow stronger from his loss, and build a new future from it, and live a new life here in this place.
Unknown to him, the spirit of his deceased sister watched over him for a time, giving him a smile. Thank you, little brother… and goodbye. She soon disappeared, her spirit now at peace.
End of Chapter 1
Please Read and Review