Interlude ~Base Convos Part 11
Somewhere in Lycia, two siblings were at an inn. Within their room, someone was going back and forth. One of their hands on their chin as they walked.
"Something... feels wrong." Nils spoke. He continued to pace himself within the room.
His sister looked to her younger brother. His expression in deep thought.
"Is something wrong, Nils?" Ninian asked. He's been doing this for some time.
"Why did I feel compelled to tell Ike about Nergal?" He replied.
Her eyes widened, she didn't think much at the time, perhaps her little brother trusted Ike. But then again, why make him involved with such trouble? Why put him through the risk by revealing the name of the man who wanted to kidnap them?
In retrospect, it would have been wise to keep their own affairs away from the group. Their worries continued through the night.
Meanwhile, Ike was traveling back to Lycia with the others, a job well done as a mercenary he thought... he suddenly frowned. Why on earth did he leave Nils and Ninian after knowing they were pursued by a dangerous man? He could have at least gone through more protection protocols or inform Eliwood or Caelin about the pair being pursued by a man named Nergal ahead of time. He would have never left them without ensuring their protection or give them more safety. Lyn never heard about Nergal after he spoke to the siblings. Just like his memories, his actions suddenly made no sense when relating to the two.
"Something is wrong..." Ike whispered to himself.
Rath and Ike stood together in the campfire, in order to take watch. They took Natalie from the village and left about 5,000 gold as they didn't need as much repairs. For now, they were on their way to Pherae.
"So." Ike decided to ask. "You left the tribe when you were 3...?"
He was told about the tribe's diviner about the burning. Whatever that meant. But Rath was around 17. That meant he traveled when he was so young.
Rath nodded. "...It was difficult... I wandered... some other tribes laughed at me. I barely had the means to survive and eat."
"That... that's terrible..." Ike uttered out. "You were too young..."
Being ridiculed, forced to survive at that age and doing so for fourteen years... His father would have helped him like he did with Oscar, Boyd and Rolf. Unfortunately, not everyone gets that chance... But now his mind suddenly flickers. It was Soren, but younger.
Rath closed his eyes and continued: "I do not feel the loneliness now as I did then... but sometimes, I remember. I have never felt so alone. But since meeting you and the others..." He paused. But his words invoke Ike's mind to remember further.
Soren. Soren was... no it wasn't his first time meeting him few years ago when he joined the group. It was... his mind was flickering... yes... around the time his mother was still alive. He recalls the emaciated raven-haired boy near the tree on the ground, with the same marking on the forehead. He placed his hand on his head after recalling. Rath looked to Ike, slightly concerned from his action.
"You just reminded me, I can't believe I forgot." Ike called out. "My friend, Soren. He was almost like you..."
Rath's eyebrows were raised. He once heard the mention of Ike's friend who was quite studious and working up to be an excellent staff officer.
"I went out playing while my mother and Mist were shopping. Going into the forest to find a stick to pretend as a sword. Next thing I knew, I saw Soren lying on the ground near an oak tree. He was near death having practically starved." Rath continued to stare at Ike, listening intently at his story. "I gave him my lunch that my mother gave to me and was so scared at first. But he ate away the sandwich. I told him to come to my house but he refused. Then I promised Soren I'd bring him lunch tomorrow the same place and time. I felt I did the right thing... Oh no..." Ike put his hand on his head again. Rath looking concerned over Ike's state. "I don't remember what happened the next day... but I'm sure... I didn't meet Soren again after that day."
His memories were still clouded. He only met Soren again after he joined the mercenaries. One thing is certain, something is fogging up his memories.
This time, Rath furrowed his eyebrows: "You are not the kind to abandon a new friend... whatever happened?"
"I don't know why... but I can be certain of one thing..." Turning to face Rath as he spoke, "My mother passed away soon after. I think we lived in... Gallia, then moved to Crimea after her death. Maybe that was why I couldn't meet him."
He only hopes Soren never thought bad of him for not showing up. He broke that promise on his own. Maybe his mother's death was the reason they moved.
"I feel bad. I hope Soren didn't hold a grudge or think I was lying." Ike's expression began to become sullen. Only for Rath to shake his head in response to Ike's worry.
"He would not have reunited with you after all those years if he did not understand the circumstances... he did join the Greil Mercenaries and became your friend again, did he not?" Rath pointed out.
As Rath spoke those words, Ike's expression lightened. His rebuttal spoke true, Soren believed in Ike.
"Yeah... you're right..."
Another worry emerged in Ike's mind. Why did he go through the visions related to Nils and Ninian, why is his memory fogging and becoming clear back and forth as time went on? The lullaby...Soren...the siblings... What was going on?
"Are you ready to meet your parents, Wil?" Ike called out.
They were one day away before arriving to Pherae and escorting Dorcas and his wife. The two decided to cook more morsels after Wil caught a few rabbits after setting up base. The others were either taking watch or resting in their tents.
Wil sat silent. His expression turned to worry.
"I sent the letter already... I didn't plan on coming back so soon..." Wil explained. "What if they're already disappointed in me? At the very least, Dan left for home much earlier. I still wandered about four years. Didn't make much in the end..."
It was understandable, their young son leaving off to who knows where. Wil was worried over their response to him.
"I'm just so ashamed of myself. I left them for so long... what if they gave up on me?" Ike frowned at Wil's line of questioning.
"You wanted to help out your folks alongside Dan. You may have been reckless but understandable. I'm sure your friend smoothed things over with your parents." Ike pointed out. He continued on as he added some seasoning to the meat cooking. "I doubt they gave up on you. The fact that you did things with the best intentions and are trying to make things right by getting a stable job and reunite with your parents is a step in the right direction."
Further explanation was not require. Wil or Dan were not cruel. They were misguided. Their parents should be wise enough to know that they had them in mind when doing their decision. Better late than never.
"Still..." Wil muttered out, looking into the fire and closing his eyes. As if berating himself over his failures. Ike who saw this thought back to Rolf, and his two brothers. As Ike pondered about them, when he and his family moved from Gallia to Crimea, he met Boyd and his family when they moved with Titania in tow, having created the Greil Mercenaries. They practically grew up together.
'Sorry Boyd, Oscar... Rolf.' Ike thought. It wasn't right to speak of their circumstances, but he felt it was needed for Wil.
"You remember when I mentioned Oscar and his two brothers... Boyd and Rolf?" Ike asked of Wil who promptly nodded. He told everyone about the Greil Mercenaries and each member at one point. "Well, they shared the same father, and their father remarried. Their youngest brother Rolf was born from Boyd and Oscar's stepmother." Wil's eyes widened at that fact. "Their father was sick, Rolf and Boyd were still young. One day... she just left them. With another man."
Wil became dumbfounded. He was ashamed of himself for practically abandoning his family, but this woman took it further. Why would Ike tell this?
"Once their father died, Oscar left his knighthood in Crimea to take care of his brothers. I couldn't imagine how difficult it was just to provide for his family." Ike shook his head upon the entire situation Oscar faced. "When our operations took place in Crimea, my father met Oscar. And he took their family into ours. We practically grew up with them." Ike smiled reminiscing over them. His smile transitioned into sadness.
"But... what is the point of this story? I can see some relation but..." Wil asked.
Indeed, this woman left her family to practically die. There was no sympathy to be had for her. Irresponsible to not care for her family. At best, Wil only had to be compared in terms of running away only to get money for his family.
"It's because you had the best intentions and wanted to help your family. She didn't." Ike stated with resolution. "I saw letters from Rolf's mother in Rolf's room at one point, he looked at them, just hoping she'd come back. That's how I learnt the whole story from Oscar and Boyd. She never came back just to see her own child. Even now... we can't replace the void Rolf has for his mother, but his older brothers and the Greil Mercenaries are the ones he can fully count on. And I know that you're actually trying by becoming a knight. You've been saving money just to give to your parents, haven't you?"
"Ike..." Wil voiced out.
His shame and worries over reuniting with his parents dissipated. All he knows is that he needs to meet with his parents again. He's been saving along in the journey, taking bows, reusing fallen enemy arrows. Sain even called him a miser.
"All the more reason, you're doing your best. You never abandoned them when they needed you. I'm sure they understood your reasons in the end. All that matters is to let them know you're doing well and to see them when you still can. You're their kid, after all." As he spoke those words, he put the skewered meat on a platter. Going off to hand some over to whomever was taking watch.
Wil stood silent, as if to take in Ike's words. He had the best intentions, but he bit off more than he could chew. All the more reason to apologize for being way over his head. He had that chance to make things right. Then, his face turned remorseful.
"I'm sorry... Ike. I wish the same could be said for you. Your family... they don't know how you got here. I hope they don't think the worst of you..." Wil quietly whispered to himself.
At first, he spoke assurance to Ike. But now he realized upon reflecting that some may have doubts like himself. It sounded hypocritical for Wil after assuring Ike back then. If only... there was a way.
Rolf stood at the table while Soren looked over important fliers to find Ike. His face sullen after being scolded by Oscar and Boyd. The others remained committed to their errands.
"So... you think Ike may have run off?" Soren asked while remaining committed to his work. Sorting out missives as well as company finances.
"Soren... I'm just afraid." Rolf replied meekly. "What if Ike..."
"Ike is not like your mother, Rolf." Soren spoke harshly, making Rolf's eyes widen at his statement.
Rolf felt his tears well up. He shouldn't have spoke those words about Ike but Soren was a different case. If Oscar and the others were here, they would have reprimanded Soren for his insensitive words (save for Shinon, except he'd be more sympathetic to the youngest brother).
"There's alot of circumstances to point out that contradict you. Ike only had the clothes on his back, if he truly wanted to leave, he'd have left with more things. On top of that, he was to help Mist with gathering herbs that day, there was no indication he was distraught that day. If he was so compelled to leave, there would have been signs." Soren pointed out as if it were a fact of the matter. "Besides, like Shinon mentioned numerous times, Ike is too young, and even says he would be helpless out on his own. That is true. All the more reason for us to try and find him."
Rolf felt hopeful upon his words. But when he thinks about his mother, he could barely remember her by now. And with Ike missing, bad memories have begun welling up along with doubts.
"Truly, I'm sorry for mentioning your mother, but Ike wouldn't leave without being forced." Soren explained in a now softer tone.
Now it was Rolf's turn to look at him.
"How do you have faith?" Rolf asked.
"... To tell you the truth, it wasn't the first time I met Ike before coming into the company." Rolf eyes widened at that fact. Soren continued his story: "Before the commander and his family came to Crimea, they lived in Gallia. I was all alone and starving. Ike helped me that fateful day when no one else would. I've had two caretakers, none were... pleasant. In the end, I had no one but myself. In fact, I had no way to speak save for listening, reading and writing."
"Why... ? How did you go through such a terrible experience?" Rolf asked.
Soren shook his head and opened his mouth: "To the people I've seen, I was nothing more than a brat, the woman who 'raised me' only complained and threw me off to the next man, a sage who believed I had magical potential, teaching me all he could until I was six and he passed away. It was grueling... and I still had no ability to speak... despite all that laborious training." He trailed off, still trembling from the experience. Rolf saw this and didn't mention it, still waiting to know what happened. Albeit, he felt guilty for Soren to dredge up old memories.
"I could understand people at that time, just not speak." Soren's eyes held a vacant expression as he spoke, as if being puppet. It was only then that Rolf tried to object.
"Soren!" Rolf cried out. Soren turned to Rolf. "I'm sorry. It's OK. You don't need to continue."
Soren only then realized he regained his senses. He reminiscing his trauma.
"No, I went off tangent. Oh right, Ike did help me when I wandered into the village in Gallia, I was starving and scared of people after they shunned me..." Soren continued his tale, looking into Rolf's green eyes with his red. "Ike promised to come back the next day and time with more food. Only except he never came..."
"W-why did he break his promise like that?" Rolf asked while stammering. His doubts beginning to question Ike's character. Soren shook his head.
"I didn't blame him, for what happened the next day... so many people were dead in the village." Rolf's eyes widened at that fact. "It may not be my place to mention, but, I believe among those who died, was Ike's mother, the commander's wife."
Rolf was silent. He was beginning to get a clearer picture of the incident. If Ike's mother died, Greil might have started the company with Titania and move from Gallia to Crimea, and then that was around the time his family met Ike's family. As well as understanding the reason why Soren joined.
"It may be a severe example, but it's why Ike cannot be blamed. I noticed... he couldn't recognize me after that incident. Who could blame him?" Soren pointed out.
It was said some people coped by forgetting a traumatic memory. That was likely why Ike couldn't remember Soren with around the timeline of the horrific events that unfolded that day.
"That is why, don't project your mother onto Ike. Have faith in the people who grew up with you. That is all." Soren spoke with determined expression.
Rolf stood silent and nodded. His smile returning to his face, once more. Soren was right, he shouldn't have doubted Ike. Having faith he will return one day. Still, it was surprising Soren spoke this much to Rolf, he's usually so taciturn.
"You're right. Thank you. And you're trying your best too, right Soren?" Rolf pointed out.
Soren stood for a bit and nodded. They'll either find him or Ike will do his best to find home. All the more reason to keep working until he can reunite like the day he met Ike again in Crimea.