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Age 27

Our mission was simple- to help the princess Elincia reclaim her rightful place as Queen. I did not want to get involved with a power struggle but Greil accepted. I had no choice but to get involved.

To cut a long story short, we succeeded in our initial mission to get her to Gallia to make her plea. But once we succeeded, Greil got killed by a man in black armor. It happened in the night and no one was around to help. Ike was enraged, his heart was torn. Now his only family was his sister Mist.

Greil's death weighed heavily on everyone. For some, it was too much to bear. Shinon and Gatrie left soon afterwards. The three brothers and our new recruit Mia remained in the name of friendship. Titania remained out of loyalty and love. I remained because there was nowhere left for me.

In the middle of the day, when everyone was grieving, I sought out Ike. When I arrived at the room he was staying though, I found he wasn't there. Mist was there, crying to herself. I pondered what to do. The words comfort and sympathy were alien to me. Still, I owed it to Ike and Greil to help her with the pain.

So I walked over in what might have been the stupidest or best thing I have ever done. I said some words but just let her cry her pain out. It was a strange sensation to hold someone for comfort. The only times anyone willingly held me was to hold me up to beat me so I won't lose consciousness. But it wasn't unwelcome. Her hold anyways not the beatings.

I felt a strange pang in my heart as I held her. Another alien feeling, I dismissed it but subconsciously I knew I would have to come to terms with it later. There was no time though. We were under attack by Daein soldiers.

The battle was not going well for us. We were barely holding on with the addition of Ilyana. She was unskilled but still helpful in this situation. Yet we were vastly outnumbered. If the laguz did not show up, we would have been killed.

With their ferocity in combat, the Daein soldiers retreated and the day was not lost. Lethe and Mordecai, two names I would become very familiar with over the years, hated me with a passion for my disregard for their race.

Age 27-29

I had a lot of fun at this time. Many would call me a sadist or a monster for feeling this way but it was at this time that I felt I truly belonged. Beorc and Laguz alike had faith in me to pull them through the Mad King's War. I never felt more close to each race. It gave me hope for a new future.

In fact, I had a brief affair with Lethe but that ended fairly quickly when I noticed her relation with the blue cat Ranulf. For their sake, I broke things off. Honestly though, I just didn't feel a connection on a deeper level. Sex was sex. That was all.

On the journey, I met a man named Stefan. He lent us his strength and invited me to join his cause. He wished to create a nation where people like him and me, the Branded, could live in peace as our own nation. That would mean I could live among others. It was tempting and maybe someday I would join him. After all, I was cursed to outlive all the others.

We survived the encounter with the Four Riders of Daein. Ike got his revenge for Greil. And, Elincia got back her throne. All's well that ends well I supposed. And yet, I felt a premonition of disaster when Ashnard tapped into the Medallion's power. Somehow I knew things have yet to end.

At the time though, what mattered was reconstruction and Ike's lordship. Luckily for all of us, Ike resigned his title and returned to us. While some say it was for Elincia's sake, I thought it was more because of his lust for adventure. Sitting at a table with white-collared sacks of skins would not allow him the freedom he wanted. And now we could return to the lives we had before this war.

Still, I thought the warriors were unsatisfied. Most of them lived boring, monotonous lives. Now they would return to it. Some like Brom and the herons were glad to return to a life of peace and monotony. Others like Nephenee and Kieran were not willing to return to their lives yet. Kieran was better off but Nephenee's life now consisted of the harvest and little else. Then there were people like Zihark and Naesala whose lives were filled with combat for the sake of their cause.

When the war ended, beautiful funerals were held for the fallen. Ilyana, Makalov, and countless others were honored for their sacrifice with a large ceremony. While most of their bodies were not present, the thought was there.

The worst thing that happened besides Greil's death was Mordecai. The brave, stupid, and peaceful tiger gave his life to save me. I was going to be shot by snipers. He read the path of the arrows and took them for me. I counterattacked the archers and killed them but Mordecai was dying.

His last words were "Peace at last." I didn't understand those words at the time. Now I did.

I grabbed his claw and whispered, "Goodbye friend."

That was the saddest event for me and it still weighed heavily on my mind. However, we have to move on with our lives. Everyone had to or they would get swallowed up in the events to come.

Age 30- 33

The mercenary business boomed for a while. People couldn't wait to send requests to Ike the hero and his team of mercenaries. Shinon resented being lumped in with Ike but everyone told him to shove it. But when we started to get requests like foraging for food or hunting a bear, we decided to draw a line. Money was money but we couldn't take every little task when they paid so little and wasted so much time.

Soon enough, requests died down. Crimea no longer had major issues to deal with. Begnion and Daein had no problems requiring our presence. Life became hectic for me though. I was dating Mist.

Yes. My best friend's sister was my lover. Ike had no idea and I had no intention of telling him anytime soon. I would tell him one day but for now at least, we were keeping it quiet. There was no telling what Ike would do. The peace and quiet had agitated him. He too was one of those who lived for battle. Peace was an uncomfortable factor for him.

Back to Mist, I found out I was attractive to her since the time I comforted her at the garrison. I didn't try anything though since she was Ike's little sister. That and she dated Boyd for a time. I was jealous and she apparently picked up on it. I didn't care for her analysis of me but she was right.

When she broke up with Boyd, we started to hang out more. I was not looking for a relationship and neither was she. So we just hung out as friends. Eventually, she asked me out. Yes. It stung my pride but she made the first move. I accepted of course and that was that.

Age 33-34

Another war. Another journey. This time we had to fight a dark God. I was skeptical but a part of me relished the thought of killing the one responsible for my childhood misery. Another more sane part of me realized I was screwed against a God.

Anyways, Ranulf, the new right arm of Gallia's future king Skrimir, came to us for help in the fight against Begnion. The mercenaries made a semi unanimous decision to help out the moral cause. I said semi because Shinon was against it. He hated laguz with a passion I never understood. I accepted so the new king would be under our debt.

I was worried for Mist though. No matter how many she had killed, she was till young and weak. So I crafted Florete for her so she could fight from far away. I prayed she would be safe.

She wouldn't. In our very first battle, she got too close to a crossbowman and got shot. It wasn't fatal but she was hurt. I healed her wounds and kept close to her for the remainder of the day.

The next day, Ike punched me in the face. We got into a fight and by the end of it we were both sporting bruises and cuts. Neither of us used our weapons, only our fists. Some would call it a mutual understanding achieved by our fists. I would call it a lot of injuries that Rhys and Mist would have to tend to later.

Still, that doesn't change the fact that Ike okayed the relationship though he offered me a few choice words and more than a few threats if I should ever hurt her.

Age 34-36

The Laguz Alliance was losing the war but that didn't matter. Everyone was turned to stone save for a few handfuls of strong warriors. The Dark God Yune was our benefactor against the Goddess of Order Ashera. Irony strikes again. Now we were to fight off the Disciples of Order and the Goddess to prevent the elimination of our present world.

Again I would not go into details. We fought and won against the Disciples of Order to once again fight the Black Knight Zelgius. It wasn't too great a shock who he was. They were similar in stature, strength, and leadership. In fact, we should've figured it out sooner. Alondite and Ragnell were originally Begnion's treasures so the only way to get them would mean they were given by someone.

The battle between Ike and Zelgius went unwatched. Zelgius's men, loyal and fierce, attacked the rest of us while the general fought Ike. When the last foe was slain, we rushed to Ike. Ike was standing over a dead Zelgius, covered in blood. Half of it was his. I immediately pulled Mist and Rhys together. The three of us healed Ike while the Begnion generals Tanith and Sigrun propped up the fallen general up on the wall.

Yune, in her child form, pooled the energy in the room and showed us all a memory of Zelgius's. It was of the general's meeting with a man they were all familiar with. In it we discovered Zelgius was like Micaiah, the Silver-haired Maiden, and me… a Branded.

Hearts heavy for the fight ahead, we went up the spiral staircases to where Ashera was waiting. When we arrived we discovered the dragon clan. There was a long conversation between Dheginsea the black dragon king, Kurthnaga the dragon prince, Ena the red dragon aunt of Kurthnaga, Nasir the white dragon advisor and grandfather of Ena, and Gareth the solemn right arm red dragon of Dheginsea.

The fight was long and hard. We lost Gatrie. Well, not really lost. He was alive but was out of the fight for good. Shinon opted to stay behind to care for his friend. Ike wished them well and we proceeded to the large door at the top of the staircase. Up there, we would find Ashera.

Before her though Sephiran appeared and admitted he was the mastermind behind everything. It was all for the sake of the family he lost. He revealed his heron heritage and the truth behind everything, from the murder of the last Empress to the end of the beorc and laguz race. The man was insane but I understood him. His pain was all too familiar to me. I couldn't fight him.

Luckily I didn't have to. The others and I kept the spirits of the elements busy. It was easy for us. Ike took down Sephiran but offered him another chance. The chancellor accepted and brandished a staff we all recognized. The holy staff of Ashera, capable of healing all injuries, was in the hands of Ashera's most devoted servant. We could see a ray of hope now.

That ray was quickly dimmed by the awe and splendor of the goddess. Though Sephiran kept us all alive, we were unable to help. The goddess kept healing her wounds. All we could do was to destroy her protective shield with the weapons blessed by Yune. Then Ike could deal a fatal blow. The plan was good but Titania and I were the only ones able to fulfill the previous requirement. Before I could move though, Titania charged.

I remembered the sound of bones cracking, the sight of the shield breaking, and the fall of Titania. She landed face down, her body unmoving. The last vestiges of reason broke in me. I charged Ashera and was promptly beaten back. Broken but alive, I saw Ike take advantage of the distraction and charged the Goddess. Yune enveloped him in blue light and his sword pierced Ashera. Ashera's body glowed and then she disappeared. The war was over. And I fell unconscious.

Age 36-37

Once again we had to rebuild. This time though, reconstruction was much faster. The war between the laguz and beorc was over. The survivors buried their comrades and laid them to rest. We took Titania's corpse back with us to Gallia. We buried her right beside the commander and Elena, Ike's and Mist's mother. We thought it would be a good sentiment.

This time, when we returned to the base of the Greil Mercenaries, Ike made a life changing decision. The mercenaries were disbanded and we were to do what we want from hereinafter. We were all angry. In fact Shinon grabbed Ike by the collar lifted him up and screamed at him. Then he hit him. Ike did nothing. By the end, Shinon was crying and Ike had tears in his eyes as well.

Ike told us the mercenary group was created for his father, mother, and Titania. Now that the three are gone, there was no point in continuing the group. I remembered the silence. Then the sound of the doors closing behind Shinon and Gatrie, the latter offering well wishes and apologies. Then the brothers left, grabbing their belongings. They each patted our shoulders and left without a word. Mia had left a while back with Lucia to work as a castle guard.

Now all that remained were the three of us. Ike looked at us and asked us what we're going to do. Mist was crying and I held her close. Instead of answering, I asked him the same question. I still remember his reply.

"There will always be conflict. I'm going to do what I can to erase that conflict. Maybe someday, the laguz and beorc can live together in harmony," Ike said wistfully.

His optimism never ceased to surprise me, or his selflessness. He stayed there with us a little longer and then left one day without a word. If he had asked us to join him, I would have. I owed him too much to refuse him. Mist wouldn't have. She was pregnant with my child.

Age 38-66

My son was born and he grew up into a fine adult. I happily realized he was not Branded. Eventually he left the nest. Shortly afterwards, Mist died and I left as well. Now I felt truly alone. My son knew what I was but seeing as he was not a true Branded, I would likely outlive him as well. I didn't seek him out.

Age 66-

After her death, I traveled the continent. I discovered many of my companions have died. The laguz were still wary and uncomfortable around me even though I fought besides them. Maybe that's why we need war to bring people together.

In a peaceful time like this, people like me have little to do but wait our days out. So I traveled. I discovered new things, tried foods from remote villages, and even took up music. But through it all, I wanted the one thing I have always wanted- a family. I had one and now they are gone.

Eventually I sought out Stefan. He once offered me a home. Now it was time to see if the offer was still good.

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