The next morning came, Edward, Leonardo and Micaiah was searching the treasure room, looking for usable treasures before they depart to find Ashnard's son.
"Micaiah, I found this inside the pile of treasures, it's a vial of strength drop. You should give it to Ike." Edward handed over the Vial carefully, he wouldn't want something so valuable to break. "He's standing outside to guard."
"Sure…but, wouldn't this helps you as well?" Micaiah asked.
"I kept one already, don't worry." Edward smiled before he waived his hand.
"I heard that strength drop have a side effect…should I really give it to Ike?" the silver haired girl thought to herself before the bird left her shoulder.
Yune flew straight to the blue haired swordsman, Micaiah never knew that Yune gives her affection towards Ike, she hardly saw Yune left her side, let alone sitting on someone's shoulder whom they just knew a few days ago. The bird even rarely landed on Edward or Leonardo, or even Sothe.
"Hey, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you supposed to be with Micaiah?" The bird chirped as the blue haired swordsman played with it. "You are a weird one…you know that? I've never seen a bird so attached to people like you." Ike continued to play with the orange furred bird.
Micaiah watched him from afar, amused, he looked very kind and had the gentle smiled on his lip when he played with the bird.
"Ike." Micaiah called out to the swordsman. "Edward found this, he said to hand it over to you."
"Thanks but, it wouldn't help me much at this point, shouldn't Edward keep it for himself?" The bird landed on Ike's head, which still perplexed Micaiah so, since Yune became so friendly with Ike.
"I told him that as well, he said he found another one."
"I see, I'll keep it till I really needed it in battle then. Are we ready to leave?"
"Yeah, I think the boys will be finishing up soon."
"Actually, we're ready, we took everything we think it's necessary, we're ready to go." Edward came out of the ruin, followed by everyone. "So where are we heading next?"
"Volug said he sense battle to the south." Everyone nodded and followed what Queen Nailah told them, departing to find the rumor heir.
"Hmph!" A General let out a heavy heaved as pierced through the heart of a Begnion Fighter
"Impressive as ever, General Tauroneo. However, we can't hold out forever. We are seriously outnumbered." A young swordsman spoke as he sliced up the archer in front of him. "It's time we put these vermin in their place. Are you ready, Jill?"
"Just give the word!"
"All right then, let's get 'em!" The dragon knight nodded before they started to push the Begnion soldier back.
"What are these Begnion soldiers doing out here so far in the desert? Are they looking for something in that building? Edward said as the group watched the battle from afar.
"Look, over there. Someone is fighting them." Micaiah pointed toward the trio who stand out from the rest of soldiers.
"I know those people, let's help them." Ike said before took out his sword.
"Then all the reason to join the battle. Queen Nailah and Prince Rafiel, please stay here." The Laguz nodded before they wished them luck for the battle.
Begnion forces which got a pincer attack didn't last long despite their best effort, their general decided to retreat quite quickly to save their men.
The Dawn Brigade joined up with rest of solders who marched under the Daein's Flag
"Well, if it isn't General Tauroneo, Zihark and Jill." Ike greeted the trio.
"Sir Ike!? What business do you have in Daein?" The armor general asked.
"Hmm, let's say I was running an errand around here and I met them by chance and decided I'll stick with them." Ike flickered his eyes once. "Sounds good enough."
"I believe so, the fact that you're standing here already means something. So who are these young fighter behind you?"
"Let me introduce, this is Micaiah, Edward and Leonardo. They're from the Dawn Brigade." Ike introduced each one of them to Tauroneo, one by one.
"Did someone just say the Dawn Brigade?" A shady old figure ran out from the building in front of them. "Where, where, General! I want to meet them."
"They're standing in front of you, Lord Izuka." Tauroneo pointed out toward the group.
"Ooh hooo, so you must be the silver haired maiden with the touch of sacrifice." Izuka rushed out and touched Micaiah's hand as he smirked mischievously.
"Hey, take your hands off her!" Ike swat away Izuka's hand before he hid Micaiah behind him.
"Hehehe…What a coincidence! Or is it fate? Or maybe it's my unrivaled skill as a revolutionary organizer? With the Silver-Haired Maiden at our side, we'll surely win over the people of Daein! And then…yes! Incite scattered rebel movements, mm-hm, and then, further…the future of…changessss!" Izuka kept went on like a crazy mad man as he spoke to himself.
"Is he really all right, General Tauroneo?" Ike asked as he looked away from Izuka, shifting his gazed to Tauroneo, eyes filled with worry.
"He can be lost in his own world sometimes…but may I introduce Lord Izuka. He is advisor and close confidant to Prince Pelleas, Ashnard's son."
"So the prince is really here." Micaiah said as she stepped away from Ike's shadow.
"Yes, of course! Come, come, my dear maiden! You must meet the prince at once!"
"General Tauroneo, please inform the soldiers, we had a friends waiting outside, 3 Laguz in fact, one of them being a Heron, please make sure the soldiers won't do anything rash." Ike told Tauroneo.
"I will, Sir Ike."
The group followed Izuka deep inside along the building, the soldiers who wore Daein's armor could be seen inside the building, making patrol.
Izuka led the group onto the second floor, where he introduced everyone to the Prince.
"Look here! Before you stands the one and only, the grand Prince Pelleas, true-blooded son of the king of Daein."
Jill and Zihark waited outside of the room, along with Edward and Leonardo who seemed to distrust Izuka's character, they stood outside to make sure that this wasn't a trap and at the least, not everyone will be trapped inside.
"And here we have the consort and queen of our late King Ashnard, Lady Almedha. And look at you! You're standing? Did the desert dry out your brains? Kneel ye before these royal personages!" Izuka shouted and pointed his finger towards Ike and Micaiah.
"It's all right, Izuka. Please, don't stand on ceremony." Prince Pelleas said before he bow down his head towards Ike and Micaiah.
"My Prince! You must not bow down your head to commoners!"
"Izuka, please." The madman stopped speaking after Pelleas told him. "I didn't know I was a prince until very recently. So, really, I'm not used to any of this, either. I'm pleased to meet you, maiden of Dawn, your name is…?" Pelleas extended his hand as a form of greeting.
"I'm Micaiah, Prince Pelleas." Micaiah took the prince hand and shook it as replied of the greeting and bow her head as a courtesy.
"And whom might you be?" Pelleas turned himself toward Ike and extended his hand as well.
"My name is…Gawain, it's my honor to meet you, Prince Pelleas."
"Gawain, as of General Gawain who used to serve my father?"
"In fact, I'm his son. But I'm not worthy enough to give you my real name, and I wish to spread my father's name in Daein as the greatest swordsman or at least make myself reminded everyone of him." Ike took the hand, shake it, and step back to bow down his head.
"If that's what you wish, I shall call you Sir Gawain then."
"Thank you for your kind understanding, my liege." Both of them exchanged smile at each other.
"Ahem! Enough of the pleasantries, then. Shall we get down to business? Well then, Micaiah of the Dawn Brigade. I henceforth appoint thee to the post of Vice- General of the Daein Liberation Army!"
"Excuse me?! What do you mean by that?" Micaiah raised her voice. "I appreciate the offer, Izuka, but I'm afraid I cannot accept. I have no war experience and no knowledge of battle tactics. Daein needs a general with both." Micaiah protested.
"Are you not a member of the heroic Dawn Brigade, whose conquests precede them?! Do you not want to save the people of Daein?! Serve the prince, and you can step out of the shadows and face the empire boldly, without shame! Why hesitate?" Izuka tried to push his offer and reasoning towards Micaiah.
Ike watched as the scenes unfold in front of him, he did a quick twitched on his brow and bit his lips before he started to speak. "Then give that position to me then."
"I would really like to appoint you, judging from your character you would be more fit than the maiden but can't you see? People need a miracle and the maiden is the most fitted for that role!"
"Micaiah is not a puppet for you to pull the string and tell her what to do!" Ike shouted as he stand between Izuka and Micaiah, guarding the light maiden.
"Micaiah, please, wait! That isn't what we meant." Pelleas spoke up. "You're not the only one who knows nothing about battle. I don't either. But if I don't act, the devastation of Daein will grow ever worse. Please, I'm asking you to do the same, Micaiah… For the sake of the future of Daein, will you join our cause?"
"Prince Pelleas…please give me some thought about this, can I give you an answer by the sunset?"
"Please, by all means…I don't mean to force you, I just wish…I would be able to make you consider the options to help our country."
Ike twitched at the sentence Pelleas just spoken, it looks nicely put but in the end, it's like he's forcing Micaiah in a way, by using the word "country" to pressure her.
But before Ike could speak up, Micaiah pulled his cape, signaling him to not say anything. "If you please excuse me, I need to take talk about this with my friends."
"By all mean."
Micaiah bowed her head down, before she exited the room, with Ike followed. Edward and Leonardo who was waiting outside and heard the tension inside the room, follow Micaiah and Ike soon after.
"Edward, Leonardo…can you please leave me alone for now? Actually, can you bring Queen Nailah and Prince Rafiel here…?" The boys nodded before they parted way with Micaiah and Ike.
"Where are you going, Micaiah?" Ike said as he walked beside her.
"Somewhere quiet, I need to think about this…"
Micaiah exited the building from the 2nd floor, onto the balcony of the building. She placed herself on the rail and looked into the vast desert, thinking things over in her head.
"Ike…can I ask you something…?"
"Sure."
"Have you heard about the branded?"
"Yes, I do. Someone closed to me was a branded too."
"How was he…or rather how the branded was treated in Crimea or Gallia?"
"Well…in Crimea things are getting better but in Gallia…I don't really know, the boy was at our side, my side all the time but he never told me about what he has been through though."
"I'd suspected as much…if he told you what he have been through, you would be surprised."
"Why did you suddenly bring this subject up?"
"Because…I'm one of them, Ike. I'm a branded." Micaiah took off her glove and revealed her brand to Ike, but much to her surprise, Ike didn't flinch an inch. "You don't look surprise…"
"Why should I? There's nothing different between you and me in the end." Ike smiled before he raised his question. "Is this…part of the reason why you'd leave him behind 3 years ago?"
"I thought I was reaching the limit of how long I could stay with him. He grew each and every day, but I remained the same… I didn't want him to be harmed by the curse I lived with. Can you imagine how hard that would have been on him?"
"You mean the blood of the Laguz?"
"Yes, the prejudice against the Branded is the same whether it's Laguz or Beorc, they treated poorly…"
"Don't use that word. You're just like everyone else, we're are all people."
"People…now I see where Sothe comes from, the time he spent with you changed him…Thank you, Ike. I've made up my mind."
"Huh, but weren't we just talking…?"
"Yes, I'll bet on the bright side of the people…just like how Sothe could change…I once thought about wandering off somewhere faraway…but not anymore…"
Micaiah gave Ike her smiled, which Ike returned his gentle smiled before he pulled Micaiah into his arms. "Don't worry, Micaiah…I'll be with you to the end, I'll protect you."
"I-Ike!" Micaiah shouted.
"Just leave the fighting to me, you shouldn't get used to killing people, don't let your hand stained with blood before it's too late to come back."
"Thank you, Ike…to be honest, I was and still…scared of taking people life away. The emotions poured into me when someone was about to die, sometime it shriek or scream when the fire of their life flickers and about to run out."
"You could sense…people emotions just like the Heron?" Ike asked.
"Yes…but not as accurate as them, not from what I listened from you." Micaiah explained how she could only sense the changed in emotion of a person if she were to focus on.
"Did you…look inside me as well?"
"I did…" Micaiah could feel Ike's finger twitched. "I'm sorry, Ike. I didn't mean to do it but I had to…"
"It's ok, I understand why you had to do it. How about…you being more honest with me? Don't keep secret from me anymore, you can talk to me about everything, then I'll treat that as fair."
"That's fine by me, thank you Ike. It's a blessing that you came to us…"
"I don't know how to answer that…"
"It's okay. Just know that we're grateful to have met you."
Micaiah smiled and gazed up at him, Ike returned her gaze, she could see how high and noble Ike's soul was, so noble that she wanted to pinch herself for resenting him before meeting him.
It was so wrong of her to judge him before she even come to know him, in the end, she was the same as those people who had mistreated the Branded, judged the book by its cover, or in her case, she didn't even meet Ike before she made her assessment.
When Ike looked into the golden colored eyes, he felt captivating by it, he couldn't explained it himself but he felt he was drawn into it. And before he knew it himself, he had placed a kiss on the golden eyes owner's cheek.
After he realized what he did, he broke away immediately from the girl in his arm, apologizing for what he did. "I-I'm so sorry, Micaiah."
"D-Don't worry, Ike…I know you didn't mean it!"
Somehow Micaiah's word puzzled Ike, did he really mean to kiss her? Or was it because he was in drawn by the colorful eyes. When he thought about it, it was the former.
"N-No, I really mean it! Ah! Actually, I'll go and see if the boys have returned or not!" Ike rushed out of the balcony, leaving Micaiah's alone.
The turmeric bird flew down to her owner's shoulders. "Yune…what is this feeling, it's so different from what I feel towards Sothe…"