CHAPTER 19

When Ike and the rest of the Greil Mercenaries reached the Pramagala Village, which was Cecily's home, Ike was invited inside an abandoned cafe by Colin and Hannah, the giant wolf riding knights. There, Ike asked about the Begnion customary to keep laguz as slaves to Tormod and Muarim. As Tormod pointed out that it was right, Titania was shocked.

"Twenty years ago, all laguz slaves were freed when laguz slavery was abolished." said Titania.

"For a fact, that is what happened, as far as the general public is concerned." Nasir said.

"Does that mean there's a portion of Begnion society that breaks the law of laguz slavery?" asked Ike. "I'm… kinda curious myself."

"See, the commoners obey those rules today." Tormod said. "Despite the commoners obeying these laws, there are still laguz slaves in the homes of noble people."

"UGH!" Ike said. "Nobles! Why nobles?!"

"IKE!" said all the Greil Mercenaries.

"What's the matter with him?" Tormod said. "Did I say something wrong?"

"He hates nobility." Titania said. "Well… some."

"...Anyways, back to my conversation, Muarim and I brought this attention to Begnion senators, but they would not listen."

"And even though we are not nobles," spoke Cecily, "We do not keep our laguz as slaves. We simply took them in as our family after their families were killed off by Ashnard, the thirteenth king of Daien. …Cruel bastard." she later thought after explaining her purpose of her personal laguz soldiers of the Laguz Confederation Legion.

"So… Cecily is saying you guys are not slaves?" asked Ike to Rojo the Red Dragon Laguz soldier.

"No." said Rojo.

"But Tormod told us that he has gathered other fighters because they break into their homes and rescue the laguz who are being kept as slaves." the cat laguz Felidae said.

"But the nobles can't be known about this publicly." said Felidae's sister Feradina. "But they are turning them into wanted outlaws. Thieves, that is, Ike."

"You're not properly solving this problem, despite me understanding your motives." Ike said to Tormod.

"We know." Tormod said. "But we are not going to give up and let those poor laguz down! We, as the Laguz Emancipation Army, must, and I mean MUST , help them be free out there in this world!"

"Do you mind me helping?" Ike asked. "It's this sort of beorc behavior that's been bothering me. I think there's something I can do."

"What is it?" Muarim asked. Ike then was thinking.

"Gee…" thought Felidae. "I wonder if we can join this guy's army…"

"Well, he could use the help, Felidae." said Feradina.

Meanwhile, Reyson was being taken by Naesala somewhere. Somewhere far away from Kilvas, home of the raven laguz. Reyson left no word with Tibarn about where he was going. Then, the two arrived at Serenes Forest, home of the endangered heron laguz changelings, the laguz who could not fight in battles, but could sing and chant out ancient songs known as Galdr. However, when Reyson arrived at the forest, it was all burned down black. The colorless scenery, the withered branches, and the lifeless trees were now Reyson's home. Then, he started speaking in Ancient Tongue, a language used by laguz such as the herons.

"The ancient tongue…" Naesala said. "Surprised he can still speak it."

"How did this… the forest… the voice of the forest is…still…" Reyson said.

"It's been like this since your clan was gone. They used fire." Naesala said.

"This is unforgivable!" said Reyson. "Damned demonic humans! How would they burn my home down to ashes and dust?! WHAT THE HELL DID THEY DO?! "

"You know how laguz are held in humans' contempt? Well, nature is held in their contempt too." Naesala said.

"Naesala, I've misjudged you." said Reyson. "I apologize for everything, including misjudging you as traitor."

"No worries, no worries, Reyson." Naesala said. "I engage with humans in a…somewhat commerce way. But on other words, there is a noble with a villa here. It's at this time of year when the villa is empty. Perhaps we can spend the evening in there."

"You're saying that we sleep in human settlements?" Reyson asked.

"Well, think about it, Heron Prince." Naesala said. "Bird people like you and even I don't have night vision. Just think: Humans see us, we'd be captured, right? Right." he explained. Reyson sought the point.

When the Heron Prince was comfortable, Naesala went to get something to eat. However, as Reyson thanked him for his kind services, something ran amok. Duke Tanas Oliver later showed up to Naesala.

"I'll take it form here." Oliver said.

"He's all yours." Naesala said.

"Oh ho!" Oliver said as he walked up to Reyson. "What have we here? A magnificent work of art wrought in flesh and feather"

"Who are you? What have you done to Naesala?!" Reyson asked.

"You don't know who I am? I am Duke Tanas, that's who I am!" said Oliver.

"Oh, please…" Reyson said.

"Don't get your hopes up with this one, white-winged beauty." Oliver said. "The raven king would be displeased indeed."

"WAit, hold the second thought." said Reyson "Naesala sold me…TO YOU?!" he later said in shock. He later punched the nose of Oliver.

"Oh, my nose! My beautiful nose!" Oliver said.

"You winged freak! You'll pay for this!" said a Begnion soldier.

"N-no!" said Oliver. "You mustn't rustle those beautiful sparkling white feathers! These birds fetch a high price, you know!"

"Sorry! SORRY!" The Begnion soldier said.

"Now… let me see… hm…" Oliver said as he thought.

"You know what, Oliver, you are a person of complete madness!" Reyson exclaimed. "You oughta pay up for this hideous crime of yours! Laguz slavery is illegal! It was abolished twenty years ago right when my home was burnt to ashes and dust!" Oliver payed no mind.

Back with Ike and his army, with old friends and new, he brought Tormod to the Empress, the Apostle Sanaki. There, Tormod tried to reason with Sanaki, saying that he was no thief and that he was only trying to help the enslaved laguz be free. However, Sanaki thought of that as a fairy tale, saying that her honored grandmother, Apostle Misaha, emancipated and freed every last laguz slave. However, Tormod called her a liar, saying that there were countless houses in Begnion that keep laguz as entertainment or servants.

"Then what about that slave holder Cecily?" asked Sanaki.

"Apostle Sanaki, I've explained this before, and I will explain it again." said Cecily. "We, as the Laguz Confederation Legion, DO NOT keep our laguz as slaves. We keep our laguz as orphans. They are common laguz who have no one to take care of them. They also cannot work in noble houses." she explained for the second time to Apostle Sanaki.

"I see." said Sanaki. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you. But on the other hand for Ike, what are you even planning by bringing a rogue to me?!"

"If anyone's planning something, it's you." Ike said.

"ME?!" Sanaki asked in shock.

"That last mission you employed us with… it showed us the slave trade." Ike said. "And now we were put in contact with an emancipation group."

"But at least I reunited with Kamaria after so many years!" Kito said.

"Well, you did the right thing by reuniting Kito with Kamaria." Sanaki said to Ike. "However, I am tempted to end the slavery of the laguz that the aristocrats put in place. However, that depends on your next course of action."

"What would that be, Apostle Sanaki?" asked Ike.

"See, Duke Tanas has a villa in Serenes Forest. Go there and investigate what he is up to and report back to me with the response." Ike accepted the mission and headed off to investigate the villa where Oliver, Duke Tanas, was. Still, Ike was a bit skeptical of the empress and her actions, leaving him puzzled even more. But still, he just could not forget everything.