Happiness was in the air throughout the entire fort. Even the least personable people (Shinon and Soren) couldn't help smiling. Although, neither one of them thought that the time was to last. And they were right. As a matter of fact, there were two imminent announcements that would change the mood completely.

Rhys and Oscar avoided looking at most of the people most of the day. When they did catch sight of other people, Rhys would begin to weep. Oscar, on the other hand would merely cover his head in shame. But each of them knew that they would have to break the news eventually.

"Guys," Oscar said, "I have an announcement to make."

"I do too," Rhys followed. "You go first."

"No, I insist, you go first," Oscar responded in kind.

"Alright," Rhys said, "Attention, Greil Mercenaries… I have found a vocation… in a safer environment. Now, it breaks my heart to leave you all, but I promise you that I'm only doing so to extend my life a few extra years… I realize that's a terribly selfish reason, but…"

"Rhys," Titania said, with tears in her eyes, "It's okay, I'm sure. You have never been selfish. As long as I've known you, you have been the epitome of unselfishness; the paragon of sweetness. So, where are you working?"

"Well, as you know, the Greil Mercenaries were greatly famous, and so someone decided to name a chapel after me," Rhys said, "I really didn't expect to be treated so well… I don't even come close to deserving it…"

"Aw, come on, no one deserves it more than you!" Rolf exclaimed. He gave Rhys a hug.

"But you were telling us about a vocation?" Titania tried to nudge the conversation, quivering with anticipation.

"Oh, yes, well at the…" Rhys blushed before he continued speaking, "St. Rhys Chapel, I have decided that I'm going to teach Melior children about the goddesses. The truth about them. The whole truth. And about how persecuting mixed race people is terrible."

"Rhys, I hate to see you go," Soren said, "I mean… you always were the one of the bunch who acted as the group conscience. But I approve wholeheartedly of your attempt to stop Branded-persecution."

"I do too," Ike said.

"I knew you two would understand, as I expect Oscar to… and Mist, and Boyd, and Titania. And all of you really… even Shinon," Rhys said smiling.

"Yeah, sure, whatever," Shinon said. He was obviously broken up.

"Please, Shinon…" Rhys said, "It'll all be okay."

"Crap," Shinon said, "I… I never know what to say in these moments."

"Don't say anything," Rhys said, "Your tears are enough."

"Aww!" Gatrie shouted, "Shinon hasn't gotten this sentimental since Rhys saved Tita…" Shinon punched him in the stomach. "I see he remembers too…"

"It's okay, Shinon," Titania said, "Rhys told me…"

"Damn," he muttered. "Well, I guess there's not much I can do to hide it anymore."

After everyone hugged Rhys goodbye, Boyd said, "Man, what a tear jerker! I hope Oscar has good news."

"Well, umm…" Oscar said, "Kind of?"

"Kind of? Kind of?" Boyd asked, "What kind of an answer is that?"

"A pretty cruddy one, all told…" Oscar said, "Well, I was all prepared to resign and go back to the Crimean Knights, but then Rhys went and said that he was leaving too, and now I feel awful…"

"You should!" Boyd cried. "I mean, what's next, Mist is getting a divorce with me so she can marry Tormod or Zihark?"

"I don't think Zihark's interested…" Mist mumbled, leaving out Tormod's name, which meant nothing to her but too much for Boyd.

"Oh, no… you are interested in Tormod," Boyd muttered.

"Not at all!" Mist insisted. She then kissed Boyd to make it clear.

"Alright," the flustered Boyd responded, "I believe you."

"I… well, I was invited back to the Crimean Knights, and well… I think I miss those guys. I'm going back," Oscar said.

"But I thought you liked being a mercenary," Ike said, choking.

"I do, but…" Oscar said, "Let's be honest here. Do you really want Kieran to get a promotion?"

"No," Boyd said, "That'd be worse than the end of the world! And trust me, I've been there."

"Well, you see, if I'm there, I can block him from doing so…" Oscar said.

"Does that mean… I'll never see you again?" Rolf asked.

"Of course not!" Oscar said. "I promise to visit often, and you guys can visit me whenever you want…" He sighed loudly.

"Don't feel bad," Rhys said, "If anyone deserves to feel bad about this, it's me."

"No!" Oscar said, "You have something great… I don't have anything great… I'm just trying to make my way as a knight."

"Neither of you should feel bad," Shinon said, "An opportunity as good as what you've been given, most of us would be lucky to have."

"I hate to admit it," Soren said, "But I agree wholeheartedly with Shinon here."

"And besides," Ike said, "People go off and do great things all the time. You two should hear what I said to Gatrie a few years ago. I said to him that if he worried, then that means that he never actually abandoned us. And as for you two… if you didn't worry, I'd worry about you."

"Ike's right, there, isn't he?" Boyd asked, remembering all the times that Oscar and Rhys worried about small mistakes that no one else cared about, following orders, conscientious behavior, and even whether they had thanked or apologized to someone enough times.

"Then, I'd say, we take a vote. There are three simple rules: no overstatements, Soren. No joking, Boyd. And you have to vote, Shinon," Ike said. "Okay… hands up if you think that Rhys and Oscar leaving is an unforgivable sin."

Rhys sighed sadly and Oscar did too: Both were expecting a unanimous or nigh-unanimous result from the rest of the group. They got one, but it wasn't the one they expected.

"Now, hands up if you think they should follow their dreams," Ike said. Every single person raised their hand.

"Really?" Oscar asked.

"Yeah," Ike said. "Go get 'em, you two."

Absolved of their guilt, Rhys and Oscar both went on to their city work. And as promised, they visited often. Unfortunately, not even their visits could help the empty feeling throughout the fort.