~ Sitting, waiting, wishing.

This is also known as "Guardian of the Sacred Spirit."



Synopsis: Balsa the spearwoman is a wandering warrior, who takes on the task of saving lives in atonement for a past sin. On her journey, she happens to save a prince and is tasked with becoming his bodyguard. And he is going to need one, for his own father, the emperor, wants him dead.
(from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardian_of_the_Sacred_Spirit)

Genre: Fantasy, drama, adventure
Status: Anime - Ongoing (11 episodes as of 06/16/2007)
             Manga - 10 volumes, completed

Thoughts / Review:
TO START OFF... The opening song, "Shine" by L'arc en Ciel, is pretty catchy. It may sound a bit too pop-ish for some, but it sounds okay. I especially like the beginning of the song. I think it captures the relationship between Balsa and Chagum well. The ending theme is "Itoshii Hito e" by Sachi Tainaka.

The story centers around Balsa the spearwielder and her quest to protect and save others, her "road to redemption."  She is a female warrior who has recently undertaken the job of a bodyguard. It is later revealed that she herself as a young child was entrusted to a bodyguard (a man named Jiguro) to protect her life and in that process, Jiguro's friends became enemies as a bounty was offered in exchange for Balsa's life when she was young. She grew up to be a warrior and has decided to be a bodyguard to make up for all the lives that was taken for her sake. Balsa is around 30 years old. She is a very skilled warrior and clever as well. Since she began her road to redemption, she has not killed a single opponent.

Have you seen it too? What can you say about it?