Gyojeong Kwon – Netcomics – 2009 – 4+ volumes
YES. I got absolutely everything I wanted in this volume. The clear buildup in volume 1 pays off here in the form of a very romantic and tragic relationship, and the prologue section of the story finishes up spectacularly. When the final levels of light and dark magic were explained, I have to admit I saw the ending coming just a little, but that didn’t make it any less effective.
It was so effective, in fact, that I didn’t want the main story to start after it was done. I wanted the story of Lazarus and the Great Ferat to keep going, despite the events that happened. It ended exactly how it needed to, but even so. It’s a shame to waste a good romance like that one. I was quite attached to both of them.
The one thing I was having trouble working out for myself through the series of predictions the Gaderins were making was how, precisely, the dragon was summoned since it was very firmly established that the characters in the story so far have nothing to do with it. That’s left up in the air as a tantalizing mystery as the main story starts.
The prologue is made into the stuff of legends as the story starts in a village as far removed from the world of sorceres, magic, and prophecy as can be. The citizens in the village have no idea about Gaderins and magic and whatnot, and have their own legends, disbelieving “wise men.” Or whatever. The actual main characters in the story appear, Det and his friend Osen. They are pretty average boys leading pretty average lives in their small town, and eventually, while setting up a house for a sort of low-level sorcerer, the first Det has ever seen, he is struck with a strong wanderlust and he and Osen set out on adventure in the end.
Once again, the story with Det and Osen here mostly felt like exposition, but after the payoff at the beginning of this volume, I’m willing to consume all the exposition this series cares to give me. My copy of volume 3 hasn’t arrived, but I’m quite excited to continue reading as things move into a more adventure-monster-slaying atmosphere. And a character I’m still attached to is still floating around, so I hope that they somehow become connected to the party later on, too.
Excellent stuff. Pick it up if you’re at all inclined towards shoujo fantasy.
