Genis Sage

Genis Sage is a character from Tales of Symphonia. Genis is the twelve-year old friend of the game's main characters, Lloyd Irving and Colette Brunel. He is the brother of Raine Sage, and a prodigy in academics and magic. Although at first, Genis seems somewhat off-putting and sarcastic, he can be one of the group's most mature members.

Character
Though he is often portrayed as a coward, Genis is actually a very strong boy. When he was born, his family was being chased by the research Laboratory in Sybak because of his sister’s astonishing intelligence for such a young age. About the time he was born, Genis and Raine were abandoned at the Otherworldly Gate by their mother in a last-ditch effort to save them from half-elf persecution by transporting them to Sylvarant. The two later came to reside in the village of Iselia, passing themselves off as pure elves. As a result of the heavy persecution directed towards half-elves like himself, Genis expresses a dislike of humans later in the game. He is very intelligent like his sister Raine, but unlike her, he is a superb cook whose skills are rivaled only those of Regal. Genis' intelligence is demonstrated more than once on the trip, from an incident on the Ossa Trail to an academic competition at the Palmacosta Academy. As he is a half-elf, he is sensitive to the amount of mana in the air, and is easily able to gauge how much of it there is.

Family
Genis was raised by his older sister Raine in the village of oracles, Iselia. At the beginning of the game, it is not known what happened to their parents, but Genis and Raine are very close and care about each other very much. Genis himself says that he has been raised by Raine as long as he can remember.

Later, as the game progresses, though, Raine reveals that she and Genis were born in Tethe'alla. However, they were abandoned by their mother in the Otherworldly Gate when Genis was just a newborn, and as such they were sent to Sylvarant. From then on, Raine did her best to raise Genis on her own.

In a side-quest, it is possible to know the whole truth by meeting their mother themselves and read her diary. His mother is an elf named Virginia who previously resided in Heimdall, and his late father was a human named Kloitz, who went to Heimdall to do research. They fell in love and eventually got Raine, forcing them to leave the village since elves do not accept half-elves. While his family was being chased by the Research Laboratory in Sybak for Raine’s intelligence, Genis was born after Kloitz died. Because Virginia did not want her children to live running away for the rest of their lives, she took them to a place known for taking people to the moon Sylvarant, where it is in some places known as a world with population on its own. Bidding them farewell, she sent them away. It is likely that she was supposed to follow them, but members of the Imperial Research Academy arrived, forcing Virginia to push her infant son and child daughter through the mysterious vortex and into Sylvarant without her.

Arrival in Iselia
Though young, Raine likely remembered the prejudice she suffered from being a half-elf, and avoided it by telling the members of the village that she was a pure-blood elf. She and Genis were then accepted into the village.

When he was of a proper age, Genis attended the Iselia schoolhouse, where he met Lloyd Irving and Colette Brunel. The three became friends, despite the differences in their ages and academic ability. Genis looked up to Lloyd, as he was strong, bold, and brave: an ideal role model. As he felt himself lacking in those qualities, he may have developed an inferiority complex, which he compensates for by ridiculing Lloyd whenever his friend made an academic mistake.

At some point prior to the story, for unknown reasons, Genis went to Iselia Human Ranch - an act forbidden to any member of the village. There, he met a kindly old woman named Marble who was being held prisoner. Genis took a liking to Marble, who thought of him as a grandson, and paid several more visits to the ranch to bring her food.

The Oracle Arrives
The day the Oracle of Cruxis arrives, Genis, Lloyd, and Colette decide to sneak out of school to go to the Martel Temple. Upon their arrival, they encounter a group of Desians who are attacking the temple. The party defeats the Desians with the aid of the mysterious Kratos, and the Oracle of Cruxis is successfully conveyed. The group then returns to the village.

Knowing that Lloyd's home lies on the other side of the dangerous Iselia Forest, Genis asks if he can accompany Lloyd halfway. Lloyd agrees, and the two set out. As they pass the Iselia Human Ranch, Genis tells Lloyd that it is his destination. Lloyd protests and tries to stop Genis, but the boy mentions that the Desians already violated their non-aggression treaty with the village. Lloyd reluctantly agrees and the two visit the Ranch.

When he gets there, Genis quickly finds Marble. He tells her about the Oracle that was conveyed earlier that day. As they speak, however, the Desian guards notice that Marble is slacking off. Genis and Lloyd climb to the top of a nearby cliff, where they watch the guards whip her. Unable to simply stand by and watch, Genis attacks them with his magic. The Desians retaliate, and Lloyd and Genis flee from the ranch.

The next day, Genis says goodbye to Colette when she leaves the village on her journey of Regeneration, before racing off to chastise Lloyd for missing it. The two hurry back to the village, only to find it in flames. The Desians are attacking to exact revenge for Genis and Lloyd's actions the day before at the ranch. The two friends are forced to fight and kill a hideous monster, only to learn that the monster is in fact Marble. The Desians then exit, and the mayor of the devastated village decides to exile Lloyd and Genis for provoking the Desians into an attack, and the two choose to journey forth together.

Genis also begins wearing Marble's Exsphere, embedded on his right hand. As well as being worn in memory of her, he uses it to augment his magical abilities so that he can fight on par with the rest of the group.

As Genis and Lloyd go on their journey, they eventually meet up with Colette and her guardians, Kratos and Raine, and the two groups become one.

Hopes for Regeneration
When the party journeys to Tethe'alla, Sylvarant's parallel world, Genis is amazed at the technology there. He also develops an immediate crush on Presea when the group visits the city of Meltokio. However, when he meets Zelos Wilder, the Chosen in Tethe'alla, he takes an instant dislike to him.

As the party progresses through the second world and Genis is exposed to the incredible level of half-elf prejudice, he begins to develop hatred toward humans. Near the end of the game, he acknowledges this, and admits that by hating humans, they will only hate him even more, and thus more hate will be spawned. He also admits that he likes the humans whom he has traveled with, but sometimes he is unable to help the feelings of anger he experiences when a human is prejudiced against him. By regenerating the world, he hopes to create a place where elves, half-elves, and humans can all live in harmony; a place where he can live happily without any fear of prejudice; a place that he knows Lloyd can create.

When Mithos infiltrates the party, he and Genis quickly become friends. Mithos is Genis' first half-elf friend, and the two possess many similarities, such as a prejudice against the humans who have wronged them. Both were raised by their sisters and are incredibly intelligent, and they have both a past for being half-elves. In fact, their relationship is symbolic: Mithos and Genis are each forced to choose one of two paths. Mithos chose to try and destroy a world that had wronged him, but Genis chooses the opposite and forgives the world.

Relationships with other characters
Lloyd Irving - Lloyd has been Genis’ best friend ever since they got to know each other. Even though Genis often teases Lloyd because of their intelligence differences, Genis looks up to Lloyd and wishes he too could be brave and sometimes thoughtless like him.

Colette Brunel - Although their relationship is hardly shown, Genis and Colette make two of the friendship trio, the third being Lloyd. Genis seems like he is at good terms with Colette and defends her when she is insulted, even blaming himself when she is hurt. Before knowing what Colette goes through, Genis was very excited about her becoming an angel.

Raine Sage - Raine is Genis’ older sister, and they both worry about each other at all times (in the game, both can get a “Brotherly/Sisterly Love” title). Overall, Genis hides almost no secrets to Raine.

Kratos Aurion - Genis and Kratos’ relationship is not clearly shown in the game, but they seem to go in good terms, Genis seeming like he enjoys the fact that Kratos is such a good swordsman. Together with Colette, he admires him in battles. It is also said in a skit that Kratos and Colette are teaching Genis some of the angelic language.

Sheena Fujibayashi - Although they were not in good term at the beginning, Genis and Sheena seem like good friends now, and Genis is usually the one helping Sheena when it comes to things like finding the location of Maxwell, the Summon Spirit of Birth.

Presea Combatir - Genis developes a crush on Presea at first sight, thinking her cute. Although it Presea only thinks of them as friends, Genis never gives up and is protective of her, not wanting her to get hurt.

Zelos Wilder - Genis hates Zelos the first time they met, and still has some dislike to him. Although they are in better terms when Zelos helps saving them regardless of knowing they are half-elves, they still argue over small things.

Regal Bryant - Genis sees a rival in Regal, as he has a connection to Presea. But regardless of this, Genis respects Regal as an elder and equal chef.

Mithos Yggdrasill – Mithos is not one of the protagonists, but he is regardless one of Genis’ best friends, and the first of his friends who not only is close to his own age, but is a fellow half-elf. When Genis understands that Mithos may be Yggdrasill, he does not tell this to anyone, not even to Raine, and chooses to believe in Mithos. Until they are about to face Mithos one final time, Genis is struggling about which side he should be on.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
Genis returns in the sequel Dawn of the New World as a playable character. Although still small, he has grown a lot in the last two years. He is extremely worried about Lloyd, so he and Raine split up to find him. The relationship between Genis and the new protagonists is complicated; although he is happy to have made friends close to his age once again, he feels sad about their hostility towards Lloyd.

Footfalls of Tomorrow
At the Triet Ruins, Genis eventually meets Emil, Marta, Tenebrae and Raine, and he helps them to look for the Centurions' cores, mainly Ignis'. He also tells Raine, in a short cut-scene skit, that he wanted her to notice he was "taller". When she asked how much, he says he grew a 16th of an inch. Genis, like Raine, also mistakenly calls Tenebrae "Tenebie" when they meet (due to speaking with Colette before hand). When he goes with them to Triet so they can enter the ruins, a short cut scene shows him remembering Presea after hearing Marta mention how walking in the recently snow covered Triet seemed romantic, showing he still has feelings for Presea. At the core's altar, they encounter Lloyd, and Genis asks him what is happening. Lloyd then threatens to attack them, but after hearing a howl from a nearby monster, he leaves. When talking about Lloyd’s possible plans, Genis is looking down with a sad look.

Light and Darkness
Although hurt and sad by his best friend’s rejection, Genis goes with the rest of the party to Izoold where they find Regal in prison. In order to prove his innocence, they go to the Camberto Caves to find some rosemary. After finding it and releasing Regal, he and Raine go ahead head to Flanoir, while Emil, Marta, Tenebrae and Regal try to find out the mystery behind the recent fires.

Genis and Raine are not seen again until the Temple of Ice, but leave afterward to go find Lloyd.

Reawakened Memories
Genis and Raine are met again at Mizuho after Regal is captured by the Vanguard. Together with Presea, Sheena, Emil, Marta and Tenebrae, they agree to go to Altamira and save Regal.

Eternal Bond
Genis and Raine permanently join afterwards, and in Genis’ conversation in Palmacosta, he tells Emil about the critics they all got after the Giant Kharlan Tree destroyed the city. He says that he is glad he and everyone have Lloyd, and that it is good that Emil now is friend with him.

At the end of the game, Genis says how cool it is that he made friends with a Summon Spirit before leaving the Ginnungagap.

Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 3
Along with the other Tales of Symphonia characters, Genis appears in the third installation of Narikiri Dungeon.

Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology
Genis appears along Lloyd, Kratos and Raine in Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology as a playable character, and is one of the few pure magic casters beside Arche Klein from Tales of Phantasia. He is classed as a Mage with the "Genius" title, making either very funny parallel with his Japanese name or a groan-inducing explanation of said name. Most of the time, he demonstrates his intelligence and wonders about his future, but is also trying to get taller, even asking Reid Hershel from Tales of Eternia for advices.

Together with Lloyd, with or without Raine, it is possible to fight him in a Trial Quest.

Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2
Genis appears as a playable character in the second installment.

Fighting style
At the beginning of the game, Genis has only the novice spell Fire Ball. As the story progresses, however, he develops and becomes a great mage, gaining powerful advanced spells such as Indignation or Prism Sword, and the mighty Meteor Storm. However, the spells he learns depend upon whether he is a Technical Type or Strike Type. For example, Genis can only learn either Eruption or Flame Lance, but not both without using a glitch. If they both are Technical Type, Genis and Raine can do the powerful Prism Stars in a Unison Attack.

His weapon is the kendama, a traditional Japanese toy. The strongest weapon he can get is One World, which he can get at the Tethe'alla Bridge after winning Red Light, Green Light with the little blue Katz. His Devil's Arm is the Disaster, which can be obtained in Altamira from a gambler. His gag weapon is Phantasmagoria, which can be bought in the rebuilt Luin.