Before started, I'd like to question the complete lack of Rune Soldier 
fics.

Like David, I'd never heard of Rune Soldier before this 'fic.  I'm glad you 
wrote it, because it made me curious enough to go look for it.  I noticed 
the series was on-sale at rightstuf.com, so I picked it up.

I've now finished watching it.  Sorry for not replying sooner.

Part 1--That Magical Feeling

I'm presuming that this actually happens *after* the series, since being 
missing for four days would have been noticed in the series.  I'll mention 
here that, at the end of the series, I thought that Melissa, Genie, and 
Merrill had actually come to respect Louie, at least a little bit.

"WHERE IS THAT IDIOT?!"

Which isn't to say that Merrill would react any differently.  Which is why 
I don't have a problem with this line.  Or most of Merrill's others.

"I was just thinking that maybe the reason you do that is because you
secretly want me."

Not Merrill.  Not Genie.  Maybe Melissa.  And definitely Ila... though she 
probably still thinks Louie slept with Melissa.  Louie is *such* an idiot 
for just ignoring Ila like that.  But that could be personal preference - I 
always had a weakness for redheads. ;-P  Especially *intelligent* redheads.

Speaking of whom, I'd love to see more of her around.  Yeah, I know she's 
always messing around with magical objects and auctions for the same, but 
if someone would drum into her head that if she went along on some of these 
adventures and got some extra experience, she might get her hands on these 
magical objects *without* having to buy them...

Not to mention, she could spend a lot more time with Louie (see above).

"You should have seen him," Merrill told them.  "He's out there trying to
learn some of the most basic magic in existence, and he gets so proud of
himself whenever he performs a spell without injuring himself in some 
way."

It might not hurt to put a little rueful smile on Merrill's face here. 
After all, she's just talking with the other girls now.

"I'll just have to learn the most kick-ass magic in the book!  That'll 
shut
those girls up for sure!  I won't have to listen to anymore of Genie's 
'You
stupid greenhorn!', or Melissa and her 'Oh Mylee, this is against my 
will!',
or Merrill and her 'What kind of magician can't use magic?'.  I'll be the
greatest damn magician they've ever seen!  EVER!  BWAHAHAHAHAHA!"

I suspect that Genie, at least, would quit on the 'newbie', 'greenhorn', 
etc bit at this point.  Or, at least, not do it as often.  She strikes me 
as the type for whom once respect is given, it takes a lot to take it away. 
And if he was out there for four days straight trying to better himself 
(and she doesn't know it's because they keep insulting him), she'd respect 
that.

For Melissa, I think the 'against my will' would start applying more to 
situations than to Louie himself.  As for Merrill... I can see her reacting 
exactly as written...

"Louie, this is serious!  The Magician's Guild has been overrun by 
demons!"

Demons.  I'm of two minds on this one.  Demons do fit, in general, to the 
fantasy-style setting of Rune Soldier, but demonic forces also seem to have 
an 'otherworldly' feeling to them as well.  Goblins (though they were more 
like ogres/oni to me), Dragons, Golems -- all these are creatures of 
physicality over magic.  Demons don't feel like they have that same 'feel' 
to me.

"Believe it or not, Louie," Ila told him. "There are actually some 
students
who use their days off to _study_ rather than hang around bars all day. 
And
yes, there were approximately a hundred students in the guild at the time 
of
the attack."

They should get out more.

"I hate when he acts all heroic like that." Merrill fumed.

Merrill recognizes it.

"This is against my will." Melissa said.
"This is so against my will." Melissa said again.
"This is really, really, against my will!"

But think of the opportunity, Melissa!  If Louie saves the Magician's Guild 
from raging demons, he'll be lauded as a Hero, with that capital 'H'!

"-This might be a good opportunity to make up for that Magical Weather
Control Device quest that you all had to keep quiet about.  I'm sure that
people near and far would cheer for the hero who saved the Magician's 
Guild

>from an army of monsters."

Good point, Ila.  Gee, do I hear an echo? <grin>

Melissa's eyes slowly glazed over and an unhealthy-looking smile appeared 
on
her face.

Heh.


Joel 

             .---Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List----.
             | Administrators - ffml-admins@anifics.com |
             | Unsubscribing - ffml-request@anifics.com |
             |     Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject     |
             `---- http://ffml.anifics.com/faq.txt -----'