Raine Sage

Raine Sage, also known as Refill Sage (リフィル・セイジ) in Japan, is a protagonist in Tales of Symphonia. She is Genis Sage’s older sister, and also Iselia's school teacher.

Character
Raine's knowledge is even greater than that of Genis, and she is often seen correcting Lloyd or Genis whenever they misbehave, often accompanied with a kick or slap. She is a horrifically bad cook, and supposedly cannot do laundry either, causing her to rely on Genis to do housework and cooking.

Raine is a cool, calculating thinker. She is relatively pragmatic, and tends to think of longer term consequences rather than the short term need to help someone; when Cacao is to be executed, she opposes intervening, because doing so would possibly result in the Desians attacking Palmacosta. She is also somewhat cautious, and is hesitant to help Sheena in Luin, fearing that the assassin’s possible comrades will ambush the Chosen’s group. Later, it is shown that Raine is generally distrusting of virtually everyone, which may be a result of the feelings of betrayal toward her mother and the general mistreatment she experienced as a half-elf.

Above all, she hates not being able to save people's lives, and will attempt anything to change that. After Governor-General Dorr dies after her attempts to save him with healing arts, she deeply regrets her failure.

Ruin-Mode
Raine is also completely and utterly obsessed with ruins and magitechnology, something Genis uses to call Ruin-Mode; whenever she sees a ruin, she loses her cool and calm state and becomes extremely fascinated by the slightest thing about something old or scientific.

It is revealed later in the game that she was always looking for the Otherworldly Gate, the ruin at which she and Genis were abandoned, and which she subconsciously associated with going back home. However, even after finding the ruin she has been looking for, her obsession remains; in a skit when one character brings up the legend of an underwater ruin, she becomes fascinated with it, while another has her berate Zelos for breaking an ancient vase.

Family
Raine’s family is not well known at the beginning of the game. The only known fact is that she has a younger brother, Genis, and that she has been acting like a mother for him. Later in the game, when the group travels to Exire, the floating city of half-elves, Raine discovers that her mother, Virginia, is actually living there. She and her friends go to visit her, but when they arrive they discover that Virginia is in a greatly disturbed state, and thinks a doll she is cradling is a baby Raine. They realize that Virginia has become delusional and amnesiac, perhaps from the trauma of abandoning her children, and is permanently stuck in her own past (when the group asks her about Genis, Virginia is surprised that they knew what she would name her second-born if it was a boy). Furious at her mother’s amnesia, she yells at Virginia before running out in tears.

However, Raine receives Virginia's diary from the elder of Exire, which reveals the reason she was abandoned with Genis. The Imperial Research Academy from Sybak was desperate to take the already very intelligent Raine, and possibly Genis as well, to raise and study at the Academy. In order to prevent the Imperial Research Academy from reaching them, Virginia and her husband, Kloitz, constantly fled. It was while they were escaping from their pursuers that Raine fell from a ship into the ocean, causing her hydrophobia.

Eventually, Virginia decided to put Raine and Genis through the portal of the Otherworldly Gate, hoping to give them a brighter future in the fabled land of Sylvarant. Shortly thereafter, she and her husband collapsed in the Ymir forest, presumably in an attempt to return, and were found by the Elder of Exire. Kloitz died, and Virginia was taken to Exire. Raine and Genis are pleased to learn that their mother abandoned them because she loved them, not because they were a burden.

History
Raine, like her brother, is a half-elf, a race whose people are scorned in Sylvarant and Tethe'alla alike. When her parents abandoned her and Genis in the Otherworldly Gate, she was forced to be not only an older sister, but a mother-figure for Genis. One should note that Raine is 23 years old at the beginning of the game, and Genis is 12; Genis was an infant when they were sent to Sylvarant, therefore one can assume that Raine was only eleven or so when she was abandoned and forced to care for her younger brother. This helps explain her high level of maturity. There is a gap of 5-6 years which are uncounted for, because Genis himself states that he and Raine only arrived in Iselia 5-6 years before the game actually begins. It is therefore possible that he and Raine may have been abandoned somewhere near Palmacosta, for it is implied that they have traveled, and she does have quite a number of artifacts and knowledge that can't really be explained by their remote location in Iselia. Raine, though young, must have remembered the prejudice she suffered from being a half-elf in Tethe'alla, for she told the members of the village that she was a pure-blood elf. Raine and Genis were then accepted into the village. After taking some tests, Raine became a certified teacher for Iselia.

Sacrifice
She is willing to sacrifice herself for her beliefs if necessary. After Zelos betrays the party and kidnaps Colette at the Tower of Salvation, it is Raine who realizes that the party might have to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to achieve Lloyd's goals. She discusses this with Regal, the companion she considers most rational, in a Z-Skit at the time, saying that they must take the course with the highest odds of success - which is ensuring that Lloyd, with the power of his special Exsphere, survives the trip to the Great Seed Chamber. Raine believes his Exsphere, with the powers it gained from the Angelus Project, is the only real chance they have at defeating Mithos and rescuing Colette.

That time comes, and Raine sacrifices herself to save Lloyd by operating a machine that opens the doors that Lloyd passes through, but causes the room she is in to collapse. She says that she believes in his ideals, in a world free of discrimination. Even if she dies, she says, her soul will live on in the world Lloyd creates. Lloyd is forced to leave her, but she is saved from the trap by either Kratos or Zelos, depending on whom Lloyd spoke to in Flanoir. Clearly, her goal for trying to regenerate the world is to end the discrimination that she, as a half-elf, has suffered from all her life, the discrimination that drove her to pose as a pure-blood elf.

The end
In Welgaia, Raine confronts her resentment towards her mother before rejoining Lloyd. She also seems to appreciate Lloyd's focus on the individual; she notes that he came to save them rather than head directly to confront Mithos when they all disappeared. This scene may assume that Raine visiting her mother did not take place before she went to Welgaia, although the group must go to Exire before traveling to Welgaia for the first time to trigger the scene; Virginia is labeled as "Mother", and Raine refers to her as "a mother who was too weak to stand up against the world's hatred" regardless of whether or not the party has met Virginia.

In the end, she travels around the world with Genis to help half-elves to gain acceptance, but knowing that Iselia is their home.

Relationships to other characters
Lloyd Irving - At first, Raine treats Lloyd as her student. Her attitude towards Lloyd is somewhat cold, but sincere, once stating in a skit "I only say these cold things because I know you'll overcome them Lloyd". It is not until Lloyd accepts her, and Genis as half-elves that her respect for Lloyd begins to flourish. In the story plot where Raine is Lloyd's most affectionate character, although displaying no direct romantic interest, she states that Lloyd has changed her (in the Flanior scene). She makes the analogy between her and a snowflake; how a simple change of heat, will change the snow's pattern. Near the end of the game, she undoubtedly becomes warmer towards Lloyd.

Colette Brunel - Raine is extremely protective of Colette though she tries her best to hide it. Even in the beginning, Raine acts as Colette's adult figure and confidant. She's always thinking of Colette's safety and her well-being, even to the point where she suggested to leave Sheena to die in Luin after the Desian attack, pointing out that she tried to kill Colette, and might try to do so again if healed. In the animation OVA, Raine was the one who stopped Lloyd and Genis from stopping the Journey of Regeneration, ensuring that no one got in the way of Colette's resolution to complete the Regeneration ceremony.

Genis Sage - Genis is Raine's younger brother. The two are very close to each other, ever since they were abandoned by their mother at the Otherworldly Gate. (They can even earn a Brotherly/Sisterly Love title.) Genis isn't as intelligent as Raine, but he far excels her abilities in cooking and housework. He's also embarrassed by Raine's obsession with ruins, as he tried to hide it from others. He called it her "Ruin Mode." At the end of the game, both he and Raine traveled around the world to help half-elves gain acceptance.

Kratos Aurion - Raine has always been suspicious about Kratos, and is reluctant to trust him because she does not truly believe his reasons for following them, as she does not believe that he coincidentally was at the Martel Temple when the Desians (later revealed to be Renegades) invaded. As a result, the few times they talk to each other in private includes Raine with a questioning tone in her voice when she speaks to him. Although it is revealed that she is disappointed in his betrayal, possibly suggesting that she did eventually start trusting him.

Sheena Fujibayashi – Sheena is the first character that Raine shows her "Trust issues" with. When Sheena was near death after the Desian attack on Luin, Raine was wary of healing Sheena, despite the concerns of the rest of the group. However, as Sheena comes clean about her mission to kill Collete, Raine slowly begins to trust Sheena.

Presea Combatir - The relationship between Raine and Presea is never fully confirmed, but they seem to get along.

Zelos Wilder - Like most of the protagonists, Raine thinks Zelos is a careless idiot at the beginning, but eventually trusts him the job of teaching the others when she discovers his knowledge in mathematic. However, she is always on watch, warning him never to betray them.

Regal Bryant - Regal is possibly the one who Raine trusts the most after he confirmed his loyalty. As they both are the most mature and oldest (since Kratos left), although they do not exchange much dialogue throughout the game.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
Raine reappears in the sequel Dawn of the New World as a playable character. She still has the ability to use healing arts, and has gotten the Mystic Arte from the PS2-version of the original game, Sacred Shine.

After the last game, she and her brother began to journey around the world to make it easier for half-elves to be accepted. In this game, Raine is worried about Lloyd's whereabouts, so she and Genis separate to track him down.

Footfalls of Tomorrow
Emil and Marta first meet Raine Sage at the Martel Temple after the two talk to Dirk. She will ask them if they've seen Paul from the village, the two reply saying he went to the Human Ranch and she'll leave after. After in the ranch after Emil and Marta are attack by the monster inside Rain will show up in time and cast Photon on the monster. After the battle she'll go up to Paul then spank him for not listening to the rules and she formaly introduces herself, then joins the party. After returning to the village she tells the two to wait at the school while she drops Paul back home. At the school Raine explains Paul and Lloyd's history and what happen between Lloyd and Paul's mother, Lilia. Later she will explain how the two must calm down and how she believes Lloyd could have attacked Palmacosta that angered Marta and caused her to leave while Emil runs out. When two return to apologize she explains how she knew them already and wants a explanation of what they are doing.

Raine accompanies them to the Triet Ruins where she goes into Ruin Mode of how the area is damage, then inside she will be reunited with Genis and goes into the further areas of the ruins. There there the four will find Ignis' Core, she'll go into Ruin Mode once again and order Marta to hatch the core. After Lloyd arrives and threatens to attack them, when Genis is shocked she starts to question Lloyd, but Lloyd leaves after.

Light and Darkness
After these events Raine will still go around with them to Izoold. There she and the others find Regal imprisoned for a crime he did not do. After this Raine tries to Emil through to much anger to study his Ratatosk mode. Marta and Genis notice this, but Raine tries to change the subject in order not to answer. At the Camberto Caves Raine explains all of Lloyd's beliefs during the Journey of Regeneration. At the end after discovering the Rosemary the return to Izoold to free Regal and to leave to Flanoir. Before the agree to separate Raine gives Regal a love letter, but in reality it is the letter explaining her theories about Emil's true memories and past life.

She will depart with Genis to search for Lloyd. She then returns at the temple of ice, but soon after will leave again with Genis. After Emil and Marta meet up with Presea, Genis and Raine will meet you in Mizuho and agree to go to Altamira with them when they travel to the head building's basement she, Presea, and Genis will leave while Emil and Marta go the other path to the top, but she is reunited with the others before the party must fight Brute.

Reawakened Memories
After the fight she helps Brute by healing him while Marta gets the core from Decus. At the Tower of Salvation she speaks to Yuan along with the rest of the party and goes to the Martel Temple.

Eternal Bond
During Emil's visit throughout all of Aselia he can find Raine in Sybak and explain how she feels that Emil is going to do something desperate to save the world. At the Ginnungagap she with all of the other original Symphonia cast will be turned into stone, but eventually freed by Emil. Raine serves two roles in the endings of the game, in the perfect or good ending she will bid farewell to Emil with the words "I was proud to be your teacher", and in the bad ending she will attempt heal Emil, but is stopped by Tenebrae in the proccess.

In Battle
Raine specializes in healing, protective and limited offensive magic. When she first starts out, she only knows the basic healing ability First Aid, which Kratos already knows. Because of this, players may ignore Raine in the beginning. However, once she levels up, her healing arts grow progressively more powerful, especially when she learns abilities such as Cure or Revitalize. She becomes one of the most useful allies in the party, as she is the only playable character that uses support magic such as Acuteness or Barrier. More importantly, she is one of the few that can use light-magic.

Like Genis, Raine's spells have variations depending on whether she is a Technical or Strike Type. Technical abilities such as Healing Circle and Ray focus on healing, supporting, and damaging multiple people, while Strike abilities like Permaguard and Holy Lance focus on single allies and enemies. Raine's weapon of choice is staffs and rods. Her Devil's Arm is Heart of Chaos, which she receives from Koton of Hakonesia Peak, in exchange for one of her own relics (she mysteriously says it holds "too many memories"). Her gag weapon she can buy after fully restoring Luin is the Deck Brush. Her strongest rod in strength is the Crystal Rod, though the strongest in intelligence is the Heart of Chaos.

Later in the game Raine proves to be very useful in combat, especially for boss battles, due to her large amount of TP and her useful spells. It is best to have her learn Technical Type healing spells (such as Purify and Revitalize) and have her support and light-based spells as S-type (Permaguard, Holy Lance and Keenness). Raine has a high elemental defense due to her high intelligence. It is best to not have her and Genis in the same party at once due to the effect of Genis casting a mid/advanced spell causing her spell to be delayed, which can result in a healing spell being to late to save a party member. Raine will definately become a must-have if she possesses both T and S type skills, such as having Revive as well as Revitalize - making her very versatile.

Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 3
Raine appears in the 1st Mission with the main protagonists, Frio and Kyaro. She guides them through the first mission by telling facts and tips about it and how to complete it.

Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology
Raine appears along Genis and Lloyd in Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology as a playable character, and her specialty is healing artes. She is classed as a Priest with the "Professor" title. She gives the Player quests in the Ad-Libitum's Ailily chapter.



Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2
Raine and most of the Symphonia characters appear as playable characters. Raine arrives on the Van Eltia along with Lloyd, Zelos, and Colette after finishing a mission assigned by Jade Curtiss. Raine reports to Jade and she takes permanent residence aboard the ship so the player can take on missions. Raine plays a large role in the story in certain parts in the third story mission she and Genis go along with the Protagonist to the mines to investigate the causes of the earthquakes going on. In the mines they find out a army is using the mana from the World Tree in weapon experiments. During the second trips to the mines she goes along with protagonist to find out if the can find any clues to the experiments going on. When they go further in they are forced to fight a monster guarding a research area, after defeating the monster they meet Janis, but before Raine can get any information out of him he runs off. Raine after is ordered by Jade to go with Kratos and Lloyd to find anymore information about who attack Asch.

Later Raine goes to the tower in the middle of the ocean. There they are introduce to Niata a resident from the world of Pasca. Raine speaks to Niata about the world's current situation, but the conversation is cut short when Niata becomes unresponsive and shuts down. After certain event she sends the player, Kanonno, and Guy Cecil to the tower to revive Niata. After recieving the crystals from Janis in the mines, Raine along with Harold Berselius, Philia Felice, and Jade devise a way to use them with antennas they made to erase the negative energy made from Guede. After the antennas are place in their designated areas, Raine and they others attempt to erase the negative energy, but this back fires and causes Guede to reveal his hiding place the Negative Nest to them. After Guede is finally defeated, she is seen with the other Symphonia cast on the Van Eltia looking at the mana spreading across the world.

Trivia

 * Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World identifies her as being a Water-elemental character. Ironically, Raine has a fear of water.