The group was sparse without Oscar and Rhys. Even Boyd and Mist seemed to be too distracted by each other to care about company matters. The only people who were left were Ike, Soren, Titania, Shinon, Gatrie, Mia, and Rolf. Shinon and Gatrie were only there occasionally, instead using up their time other ways; Shinon being a showoff while Gatrie was a flirt. Mia and Rolf were still loyal, but Titania didn't want them to continue fighting in the company unless Mist went with them.

Ike was not very happy. In fact, he hated it. One day he let out a deep exasperated sigh. Soren's ears, keenly aware of anything that Ike said, picked up on this from across the room. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Oh, it's nothing," Ike said.

"Liar," Soren remarked.

"Okay, do you really want to hear me whine?" Ike asked.

"You listened to me whine to you…" Soren responded.

"Alright, fair enough," Ike said. "I'm bored."

"I'm not surprised. Nothing much has happened since the war except some of our people going off and doing other things," Soren said.

"I knew you'd understand," Ike said, "You always understand. You understand me more than anyone else ever could." Ike put his arms around Soren's shoulders.

"Well, I try…" Soren said humbly.

Ike whispered to him, "I love you." Soren blushed harder than even he thought was possible.

"I… uh…" Soren responded. "I love you too…" He turned away.

"Wait, Soren," Ike said, "I think I know a way I can stay excited."

"Umm," Soren said, "I'd like to hear it."

"Run away with me!" Ike proposed, out of the blue and boisterously. He grabbed Soren by the arms.

"Wh-what? You're just asking me? Just like that?" Soren was incredibly surprised. "Isn't it a bit… sudden?"

"I don't think so," Ike said, holding Soren's hand. "We've been friends for over a decade, and we have feelings for each other. We should act on them."

"But by eloping?" Soren asked.

"If you want to call it that, yes," Ike said. "I mean… why not?"

"You have family here," Soren responded.

"Eh, I trust Boyd to take care of Mist for me," Ike said, "And frankly, I would rather go far away where people won't think hey, look it's Ike! He's here to solve all our problems for us."

"I admit," Soren said, "That does sound like an improvement for both of us."

"So, what do you say?" Ike asked, looking pleadingly into Soren's eyes. It was almost as if Ike thought the answer was in doubt. Soren smiled and tears welled up in his eyes.

"I…I…I have to go," Soren said, exiting the room swiftly.

"Wait, Soren!" Ike shouted.

"Come on, Ike," Soren said, somewhat unimpressed at Ike's lack of inference skills. "Bags don't pack themselves. And if they did, I can't say I trust they would have overabundance control."

"Heh…" Ike said, "You remembered that conversation we had, didn't you?"

Soren was taken aback. "Of course I did," he said, "But you did? I guess I'm not as unmemorable to you as I used to be," Soren teased.

"I told you it wasn't my fault that I forgot!" Ike said.

"I know," Soren said, "I'm just pulling your leg."

"Soren," Ike said, "You're…you're great."

"Thank you," Soren said awkwardly. "Shall we go pack?"

"Yes, we shall," Ike said.

Ike and Soren, due to the smallness of their cargo, were finished packing almost immediately. Ike couldn't leave without saying goodbye. Soren probably could have, but Mist didn't want him to. She gave both of them hugs, crying.

"Please, take care of each other," she said, "And don't you dare treat each other badly!"

"I wouldn't dream of it," Ike and Soren said at the same time, and then smiled at each other, reveling in their matched choice of diction.

"Well, Titania," Ike said, "Will you take care of what's left now?"

"Oh, absolutely," she said. "And who knows? Maybe we'll get a new set of mercenaries?"

"Mist," Ike said, turning to his sister, "I have to ask… would you be willing to become the figurehead for the Greil Mercenaries in my stead? I mean, I obviously can't expect you to become a commander if you don't want to…"

"Hey, hey, hey!" Mist said, "Don't worry, Ike! I've always been good before, right? How is this any different?"

"Well, I mean…" Ike said, "If you want to I won't stop you. Tell you what, why don't you guys decide together who becomes the next commander? I mean, Mist is the same lineage, but Titania has more experience…"

"Ike," Titania said, "I'm sure your father would be happy if you exercised your own freedom to choose your heir."

"My choice is that it's your choice," Ike said, "I'm done. I want to retire. I want to go to a place where no one knows my name." He looked at Soren and said, "Well, almost no one." Soren smiled.

"Oh, Ike," Mist says, "I'll miss you so much."

Ike gave Mist a peck on the cheek and said to Boyd, "Promise me you'll treat her well?"

"Hey, do you really think I'm capable of anything else?" Boyd asked. "Goodbye, Ike." Boyd gave Ike a hug. "I love you, man." He saw Soren glaring at him. "Don't worry. That way he's all yours, Wizard of Snark."

"Well, remember guys, no matter how far away we are, we'll always be your family," Ike said.

"Th-thank you," Soren muttered, to the utter surprise of everyone present. "For… accepting me."

"No problem," Titania said, "I mean, you're a little difficult sometimes, but never anything we can't work out."

"Now, Ike, haven't our niceties run a bit long?" Soren asked.

"Well, I suppose you have a point," Ike said, "We'll never make our boat at this rate. You go on ahead. I'll catch up."

"You don't intend to strand me," Soren said, "I trust you."

The words "I trust you" uttered from Soren's lips were even more meaningful to Ike than the "I love you." Ike headed out the door. "Never forget me! I'll never forget you!" he said.

"Ike, we have to go!" Soren shouted, "Hurry!"

"Coming!" Ike said, and then he ran off.

"How could we ever forget you, brother?" Mist asked rhetorically after Ike left.

"Indeed," Titania said, "Enjoy your retirement, son of Greil. Who managed to become just as kind and strong as his father."

"Naw," Boyd said, "He's even better."