"So have you found your answer, Micaiah?"
"Yes, Prince Pelleas…I'll accept your offer." Micaiah smiled and bowed down. "I'll see to it that Daein is restored to its former glory."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"So what are we going to do next?" Micaiah asked.
"We'll wait for tomorrow, now the rumors should be spreading about Prince Pelleas and you, maiden of dawn joining forces to liberate Daein. We'll wait to see how things pan out and that's when we decide where to strike our enemy!" Izuka snickered. "I'm a Genius! Everything is according to my foresight!"
"You may go and rest now, Micaiah. General Tauroneo, if you would be so kind to show them to their room?" Tauroneo kneeled down before he accepted his order with pleasure.
"If you would please follow me, Lady Micaiah and your company."
"By the way, Micaiah. Where's Queen Nailah and the others." Ike whispered.
"They said Prince Rafiel didn't feel comfortable with Izuka around, so they decided to stay outside, away from the maniac counselor." Micaiah whispered back.
"I totally understand how Prince Rafiel would feel."
"You can use this room; I hope you don't mind sharing a room? It's a separate bed." Tauroneo pointed to the bed inside the room.
"I don't really mind and it's easier for me to protect her from you know who." Ike expressed his idea.
"I don't really mind… I guess, I have been with Sothe and others for a long time, being the lone lady in Brigade, I already get used to it." Micaiah said
"Oh, so you know young Sothe as well."
"She's the one Sothe was looking for actually." Ike chuckled. "Who would ever thought he got ditched by a girl." Ike teased.
"Ike!" Micaiah shouted.
"Sir Ike, I believed you know how scary woman can be when they upset, just like your sister. I recommend you to not…stir them up."
Ike laughed and agreed with what Tauroneo said. "Now, if you excuse me, I need to bring your young fighters to their room as well. I would really like to hear your tales with Sothe sometimes, lady Micaiah."
Tauroneo left the way they came from, the boys were in the armory, repairing and checking their equipment.
"Ike, I think you should go and talk to Prince Rafiel, he would like to hear your stories about his family."
"Sounds good to me, I'll be right back then. If anything happen, just scream, ok? Then I'll rush to you." Micaiah nodded as Ike left the room.
"I feel like today such a long day, Yune. But at least the visions I see…most of them is filling with hope. At least I can feel at ease for one thing."
Micaiah dropped herself down on to the bed, before she slowly fallen asleep. It's been a while since she could have a good sleep; they have been running around for so long that she couldn't feel safe while she was sleeping.
"I'm back Micaiah…Oh…" Ike entered the room but as he closed the door and released his grip from the door knob, he turned back to see the maiden sleeping peacefully on her bed.
Ike slowly walked towards the bed as he sat beside Micaiah softly so he wouldn't wake her up. He gently combed her hair before he touched the pale skin. "How crazy the world has slowly become, does every girl need to come out and fight in the frontline? I hope Mist is doing okay while I'm away."
Ike said as he looked into the broad horizon, in the direction of Crimea.
Same day, in the morning under the sky of Crimea territory.
"Sigh…I wonder how's Ike doing. That meathead always so reckless and dense." The girl pouted while she's gathering herbs not so far from the Mercenary Fort.
"He'll be fine, Mist. Don't worry."
"Oh, I'm worry. At least you get to see you off, Rolf." Mist glinted her gaze over the young sniper. "You could have told him to wait for me first!"
"I-I'm sorry! But it's Ike we're talking about. I'm sure he'll be fine."
"At least I hope I could write letter to him." Mist let out a heavy sighed, it's been a few days but she's already over worry about Ike with no mean of communication.
"I have a mean to deliver letter for you, young lady. Are you interested? Not for free of course."
Both the cleric and the sniper jumped when they heard the big voice from behind. "Bastion! Please don't sneak on us like that…" Mist said
"Hahaha, I'm sorry. Anyway, is every members of the Greil Mercenary is present? Except Ike of course."
"Yes, I think so? You got a work for us?" Mist asked the count.
"Yes, and I'm afraid it's one a big and difficult job."
The next morning.
"So have we decided where will be going next?" Micaiah asked
"Yes, my dear maiden. We will be marching for Umono; with the rumors spread all the prisoners and labors are in high hope of getting rescued. We'll use this momentum to incite revolt and rebellion against Begnion."
"Umono is a prison labor camp? By the way, where's prince Pelleas?" Ike asked.
"Worry not, Son of Sir Gawain, There's no need to distract the prince with the war's petty details. He won't be coming to the war meetings. From now on, consider my words the prince's own." Izuka said and smirked.
"But that's-" Before Micaiah could raise her voice to protest, Izuka cut her short as continued to talk with Ike.
"But to answer your question, yes, Umono is a prison camp. Most of the prisoner get sent there for various reasons, either slave, pleasure or entertainment for the Begnion officers."
"Can our forces handle that?" Ike asked the crazed man.
"Of course! With my genius brain and intellect, I have developed a strategy! Behold this lake next to the camp that provides fresh water to all there." Izuka pointed to the map surrounding Umono. We can dump deadly toxin in there and then! We will sit back and wait till the enemies get weaken or die and finish them off!"
"What are you saying?! Poison is inexcusably vile! I will agree to no such plan!" Micaiah raised her voice.
"Why do you worry, my Maiden. Don't you have the hand of sacrifice? You can save them with a simple touch! And they will praise you as the ever goddess who save their life! Your miracle will give hopes to every Daein Citizen!" Izuka grinned.
"Wait, what is this hand of sacrifice? I've never heard of such a feat of miracle." Ike pointed out.
"Oh, sir Gawain, how you haven't heard about the miracle this maiden of dawn can work about. Perhaps it's a sign that she doesn't trust you enough to tell her secret? If that's the case, maybe we shouldn't trust you as well!" Izuka pointed out his crazy logic.
"Wait, Lord Izuka. I can ensure that we can trust this man, as I guaranteed he's the son of my friend, Gawain." Tauroneo stepped in to stop Izuka crazed idea.
"Fine then, if you would guaranteed it." Izuka turned to Ike before he started explained about the hand of sacrifice. "Basically put, she only needs to spend her strength or in other words, her life force to heal any wound she wishes."
Ike looked at Micaiah while she avoided looking at him, worried and mumbled to himself. "So that's what you did back then…" Before turning back to look at Izuka. "If that's the case, wouldn't that put her life in danger?"
"But this is war, a little sacrifice or risk is normal, shouldn't you know that yourself? Being the son of the famous four riders, I think you should know everything carries a risk in itself." Izuka pointed out.
"No, I won't agree to such idea. If this was the plan, then I'll just take Micaiah away from here." Ike said while he made a glanced at Izuka. "Lord Izuka. You said everything carries a risk right?"
"Yes, of course!"
"Then have you consider the risk of Micaiah getting killed in the process? Wouldn't that give opposite effect of what you wished?"
"Wha-wha-what was that?! You! You! How dare you question my plan! Conceived in a state of exalted meditation! I have already accounted the Maiden's strength into my plan!"
"If I may lord Izuka, I agreed with what Sir Gawain said, if something fatal were to befall lady Micaiah, people would lost hope instead of getting encouraged."
"Errrrrgh…Fine, fine, fine! How about I just changed it to sleep inducing toxin? So we can reduce their fighting strength."
"No, if what you really want is a miracle, then we'll fight them fair and square. If we can win from our current fighting forces; that would be a real work of miracle that people will be talking about."
"Hmph! Do as you see fit then! You can come crawling back to me after you have lost!" Izuka said as he stormed out of the room.
"I really want to know what he's scheming inside his brain." Ike let out a heavy sighed after only three of them were left alone.
"I'm sorry, Sir Ike, when Lord Izuka get excited thinking about his idea, he can lose all sight of reason"
"I guess, we'll just have to be careful about him."
"So, any ideas about how we're going to attack the prison?" Tauroneo asked.
"Yeah, how about we split our forces into two, one will be decoyed and another one will go in to kill the commander, knowing Begnion soldiers, as long as their commander fall, they should surrender." Ike explained.
"Simple plan, yet it should be effective enough when enemies thought our forces are small to begin with. That'll do. We'll start marching in 3 hours, I'll go inform the troops."
"That's settle it then. Oh right, Micaiah, by the way. Queen Nailah and Prince Rafiel said they won't be coming with us for a while." Ike said Micaiah. "They don't want us to be seen with Laguz since they can't transformed all day long but Volug will be coming with us in their stead."
"Will he be alright?"
"Yeah, apparently Queen Nailah said he can halfshift and retained his wolf form all day so there'll be no problem."
"I see, I'll need to thank them later."
"Sir Jarrod, we have words from our scout reporting that an army under Daein flag is on the move, they're marching from the Desert of Death towards Umono, sir." A man red heavy armor whispered to his commander. "They called themselves Liberation Army according to the rumors by the villagers."
"Hmm, send words to Umono to prepare for the attack and send the Wyvern Riders to follow this "army" closely and keep reporting to us."
"Yes, Sir!"
"Hmph, let's see if you can keep me entertain for a while."
Somewhere around the edge of the desert of death, Daein's Liberation army is marching, Micaiah and her friends, including Ike and Pelleas are staying in the middle of their formation while General Tauroneo, Zihark and Jill is riding in the front.
"So we are really going to war, huh?" Edward said as he rode on his horse. "I wonder if we'll be all right."
"We'll be fine, Edward, but still, make sure you don't be too reckless ok?" Micaiah said
"I will, don't worry!" Edward shouted and smiled like usual.
"Idiot, you're the one whom worries us the most, don't worry Micaiah. I'll make sure to keep an eye on him." Leonardo joined the conversation on another horse. "But where did they acquired these war supplies, equipment and horses."
"The supplies probably came from the people, Prince Pelleas must have been hiding for a long time now. They even have the weapons, horses enough for us." Micaiah said.
"Well as long as it's not from robbing the villagers, its fine I guess." Leonardo said
"Prince Pelleas is trustworthy, I could feel from the bottom of his heart he wants to save Daein, he's a kind and gentle person…unlike his advisor." Micaiah said.
"Yeah, I guess we need to be careful around that crazy old man." Ike said.
"By the way, I didn't know you were the son of Sir Gawain, Ike. Or was that just a covered up?" Edward asked.
"Uhh, well, Gawain is my father, he went by the name of "Greil" in Crimea, and hence our mercenary group is known as 'Greil Mercenaries'."
"Hey, Ike, do you think you can give me a sword lesson!? I mean after I left the war I just try swinging my sword here and there." Edward asked, his eyes full of enthusiasm.
"Sure, but you'll get no mercy from me." Ike grinned, the myrmidon quickly took up his offer.
"So where were you born, Ike? Daein or Crimea?" Micaiah asked from behind as she was riding on the same horse with Ike as usual.
"Crimea, my father and mother ran away from Daein after something happened."
"I see…" Ike didn't sense the bitter tone of Micaiah's voice, one way or another, Micaiah was happy for Ike but to herself, she felt kind of faraway, as Micaiah herself didn't know where she was born.
Micaiah shook her head, for a brief moment there, she wished Ike wouldn't know his birthplace so at least, they would be the same, and maybe Ike would understand her more but that's just a selfish, and bitter part of her.
She tried to push this topic back into her deepest part, she grew up in Daein and she met many kind person, and Micaiah saw how everyone helped each other, struggling to survive, for a long time, she began to call Daein's her home.
But every now and then, this topic always submerged back up in her mind, where was she born, why she was given this ability, it kept haunting her until Sothe was able to make her mind at peace, telling her the same thing Ike told her.
We are all people at the end of the day. That sentence kept Micaiah going for a long time, it was giving her hope that one day people would reach the same conclusion and there would be discrimination against the branded anymore.
Ike turned out to be better than what she had expected, never did she know Ike would be this caring and gentle in his own way. He was unique in his own way and his uniqueness slowly touched her hearts in many way.
"Finally, it's good to see forest again. I really hate desert." Ike said.
"Yeah, it's hot and you can't maneuver much on desert terrain." Edward added up.
"Lady Micaiah, General Tauroneo wants me to inform you we will be taking camp ahead, at the edge of forest, and we'll attack the camp by nightfall." A soldier rode from the front to inform them.
"Thank you." The soldier blushed before he returned to his post.
"Did he just blush?" Ike asked.
"He did." Both Edward and Leonardo replied at the same time. "Are you-"
"I'm not." Ike replied before Edward could finish his question.
"But I haven't finished."
"I know what you think, Edward."
"Aww, that's no fun, right, Micaiah?"
Micaiah let out a heavy sighed. "Boys…"
"General Djur, seems like they're setting up a camp at the forest outskirt, sir. Should we attacked them now?"
"No, let's see how good they are, they're just a puny resistance, we won't be throwing our pride away to defense this place. Did General Jarod say anything?"
"According to our spies, they heard that the Liberation army is planning a night raid, sir."
"I see, warned the men then but be careful to not let the prisoners know or they might time the revolt or do something reckless."
"Yes, sir!"
Later that night before the raid, inside the camp.
"Are you nervous?" Ike asked.
"A little bit. I'm scared, of the burden, of the responsibility for soldiers under my command." Micaiah replied.
"Don't think about it, it's their choice, they want to fight for their country, they want to do for the sake of their loved one." Ike told her as he clasped her hand together.
"But still, what should I feel if someone were to perished under my command."
"Micaiah, they all choose to follow you, do you see hesitation in their eyes?" Micaiah shook her head. "Then, they've decided what they want to do, all you need to do is…live up to expectation I guess."
"Now, you just gave me another reason to be nervous about."
Ike chuckled. "Sorry, I didn't mean it that way. But just as I told you, don't worry about it. If anything, I'm here for you." Ike smiled.
"Are you really sure about this?" Micaiah asked Ike again. "Everyone is fighting for Daein's restoration…I don't want to force you to do something against what you really wished for."
"Well…while it's true that everyone carries the passion for Daein's for restoration and I can't do that…so how about, I'll fight for you. You'll be the reason for why I fight in this war."
"Uh, what?" Micaiah asked again, checking whether she heard the right words or not. "D-Don't put another burden on me, please."
"Micaiah…whatever you wished for, I'll follow, if you think you can't take this anymore and want to run away, I'll just take you away from here, to Crimea or Gallia even…" Ike tightened his hands that were holding Micaiah's hands.
"Thank you, Ike…how could I ever repay you…" Micaiah did a faint blushed as she turned away to.
"You don't have to. For now just let me stay by your side, that's enough." Ike patted Micaiah's head before he left to check the preparation.
"If only you were such a villain…Ike, I wouldn't have to feel this trouble. You give me hope, a light, things that are faraway for me to reach…" Micaiah said as she clenched her hands. "Yune…what should I do…"
"As planned, we divided our forces into two. I'll be the decoy while you take some of to infiltrate the camp." Tauroneo said. "Then after you killed the enemy commander and seize the camp, we'll do the pincer attack on them."
"Yes, I bet they don't expect us to come up with something like this especially our numbers still small." Ike said.
"Then let us march, to victory. Let us hope nothing bad happens."
"Yes, now, let's go!"
"Sir! The Liberation Army has mounted an assault on the gate! They requested reinforcements."
"Don't panic. They seek to free their men? Hmph, the elite guard stays with me, take the rest to squash these "rebels"!"
"But, sir, if your guard remains here, we'll have barely enough men to–"
"What are you talking about soldier!? They're just a small rebel forces, show them the prowess of the Begnion soldiers!"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
"Looks like they have taken the bait, I only see a small numbers of the guards left, probably the only elite one to defense the general himself." Ike as he slowly opened the door inside the camp.
"Perfect. That should make it easier for us to eliminate their defenses, seize the camp, and free the prisoners."
"Everyone ready?" The Dawn Brigade members and the Daein Soldiers nodded to Ike's question. "Then, let's go! Don't leave a single one of them alive except those who surrender!"
The Liberation army entered the main cell that contains the prisoners, even though they consists of only a dozen of soldiers including Micaiah and friends, they were the best soldiers that they could find under this circumstances.
Both side clashes in a deadlock, with both side of the soldiers being on equally term of skill and defense, except for Ike which slowly take them down one by one.
Slowly casualties rose for both side, but not before long Ike was able to reach the commander of the camp.
"There's no one left to protect you, General. Give me your name, I'll make this swift." Ike said as he pointed his sword toward the general, cladded in red armor.
"Hmph, I never thought I'll meet my end like this. My name is Djur. And yours?"
"My name is Gawain, let's begin." Both Ike and Djur took stances and they exchanged glare for a few seconds, before they exchanged the finishing blow.
The whole area inside the camp stopped fighting to see the one hit blow exchange of their commander, which needless to say, Ike came out victorious.
"General Djur has fallen by me, Gawain. Begnion Soldiers! Surrender now or you'll be show no mercy from me!" Ike shouted as he rose his sword dripped with blood up high.
The Begnion soldiers dropped their weapon as the sight of their commander was slain in a single blow reached their mind.
As soon as the news reached the Begnion soldiers outside of the camp, they started to flee platoons by platoons, some willing surrender and dropped their weapon.
"Seems like Lady Micaiah and her group did it." Tauroneo said
"Well, Sir Ike is with them, it's taken for granted that they will success." Zihark commented.
"Yeah, I still wonder why Sir Ike is helping us though, Lady Micaiah wouldn't say a word." Jill joined the conversation on her dragon.
"He's an irregular person after all, he doesn't care about fame, honors or petty things. A true hero. I'm sure he has his own reasons for being here, and he will always be the man we could trust, isn't it?" Zihark said.
"Just as you say, sorry for what I say earlier." Jill apologized.
"We understand, don't worry. Now, let's clean up the area and join them inside, shall we?" Both the Swordsman and Draco Knight nodded and the White Armor General's words and start helping the injured and captured the Begnion soldiers that surrender.
"With this, we're one step closer to liberate Daein." Micaiah said as Ike joined her, watching as the soldiers get freed from their cells, replaced by the Begnion soldiers that surrendered.
"Yeah, I hope everything end soon." Ike asked.
"I hope Sothe is doing fine. I'm worried about him."
"Don't worry, his persistence will keep him going, also Sanaki would be there to protect him in the worst case."
"Sanaki, as the empress Sanaki?" Micaiah asked.
"Yeah, we met in the last war, she helped us a lot in retaking Crimea." Ike said. "I'll talk about it later if you want to hear, I think now you should go and meet the soldiers outside." Ike smiled as he put his hand on her shoulder.
"What should I do when I meet them?"
"Just a word of encouragement will be enough." Micaiah nodded as she took the lead and walk outside to meet the soldiers outside, shouting in high morale.
Ike smiled as he walked after her and listened to her speech, he couldn't stop smiling as he saw Micaiah's expression that was full of courage and joy.
Later that night.
"Volke?" Ike said while looking out at the window from the Umono base camp. "What a surprise to see you here? Did someone hire you from Daein?" The shadow figure joined him as he slowly close the door quietly.
"No, it was count of Fayre. He told me to give you this." Volke handed over a letter, sealed with Bastion's sealed. "He told me to ask you to write him a report about situation in Daein."
"Fine, I'll give it to you by morning before sunrise, does that sounds good to you?" Volke nodded. "How's thing in Crimea. Ike asked."
"Everything you want to know is in his letter, I have a letter from your sister as well." Volke handed another letter to Ike. "If you want, I can deliver a reply letter to your sister as well, free of charge."
"That's unlike you."
"It's just a little detour from the job that the Counts hired me for." Volke said.
"Anything else do I need to know?"
"Nothing, see you before sunrise."
Ike nodded before Volke left the room, he sat down on the bed before he looked at the two letters in his hands, deciding which one he want to open first.
He let out a heavy sighed before he decided to open Bastion's letter first, his eyes widened at the contents written by Bastion inside.