He rode to the front lines only to avoid the commander's harsh orders to "get the hell out there", his hand gripping his lance tightly enough to snap it in half. It was either this or an untimely death, Machis reminded himself, though some days he wondered if going up to the chopping block would have been easier. But then he would think of his sister's gentle face.

"Rena..." He approached the fortress, guarded by a figure in white. "Where are you, Rena? Just once, I wanted to see you before I die..."

He charged forward, lance poised to rest in his target's heart. Suddenly, the figure threw back her hood and gasped.

"Machis?! Brother, I-aaaaah!"

She fell to the ground, panting and gasping as she just narrowly managed to avoid his attack, and Machis's blood ran cold.

"Rena...?! No, what have I..." He could have killed her, if his aim had been more precise or she hadn't dodged just in time she would be dead and it would be all his fault. Machis jumped off his horse and rushed to her aid. "I'm so sorry," he choked. "Why couldn't I have recognized you faster? Please forgive me, please forgive this useless brother!"

Rena smiled, throwing her arms around him.

"It's okay, Machis. I'm not hurt," she said. "What are you doing here? Why are you fighting?"

"After you ran from Prince Misheil, he forced me to join the army under the threat of execution," he said. "I hate fighting, but..." He shook his head. "What are you doing here?"

"I was captured by the Samsian bandits, but the Alteans rescued me," Rena said. "Brother, you shouldn't have let the prince force your hand! Macedonia is wrong to ally with the Durhua Empire, and you know that!"

"I'm a coward, Rena," Machis sighed. "I'm weak, I'm useless...I might have been better off dead."

She glared at him, but there was sadness in her eyes.

"Don't say that!" she scolded. "I'd be very upset if I found out you were dead!"

"Rena..."

"Why don't you join us?" she suggested. "Prince Marth and the Altean Alliance are good people, you would be welcome in our ranks. Don't die, Machis...I'd hate to lose my only brother after we've just found each other again!"

Machis glanced over to where Prince Marth was helping one of his knights stand after having taken a fall, while a young woman on a pegasus tossed a vulnerary to a bright-eyed bowman and a heavily armored knight helped a young mage fight off some reinforcements. These people didn't seem to have much in common at first, but from one look he could tell Rena was right.

"If you think so, sister," he finally said. "Then I'll say my farewells to the Macedonian army and join your ranks." He embraced her, burying his face in her hair. "Don't leave my side, though, okay? For a sweet-tempered healer you can be pretty stubborn sometimes..."

"Brother..."

He never did say his farewells to the army, only feeling a tiny sting of regret when his old comrades fell.