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theia-eos · 2 years

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Could Ike or Mist be Branded?

Sorry for the click-bait-ish headline. It's similar to question I saw posed somewhere else, and it's a question I've also been wondering myself for a long time, and here I am to answer that question for myself as best I can.

Spoilers and a jumbled rant are, as normal, hidden beneath the cut.

So just in case the lore for the Tellius world doesn't live in your head rent free as it does mine, I'll start with the basics. You may skip this section if it does.

The Basics

In Tellius, there are two types of people: Beorc, or humans, and laguz, a people who can shift into different animals to fight. Though exceedingly rare, it is possible for beorc and laguz to have a mixed child, who looks like a beorc, but has some special powers given to them by their laguz ancestor. They are called Branded by beorc and parentless by laguz. Branded comes from the fact that they are born with a mark on their body signifying their laguz blood, parentless from the fact that, as far as most people are aware, these mixed children shouldn't exist and are a sin against the goddess Ashera. For simplicity, I will refer to them as Branded.

The Branded trait (i.e. the mark and the powers) seems to be similar to a recessive trait that can hide throughout generations, only appearing every once in a while, even in the child born of two otherwise perfectly beorc parents. It may have been so long since the original laguz parent was involved that no one knows where the Branded mark even came from.

While Ashera doesn't care about the Branded, her three heroes (Altina, Dheginsea, and Soan) and the heron saint (Lehran) decided to make up laws in Ashera's name to deter laguz and beorc from attempting to have children together, because they were afraid that if it became common knowledge that the laguz lost their powers when having a child with a beorc, there would be another war between the laguz and beorc and they had just promised Ashera there would be 1,000 years without war.

Unfortunately, this led to Branded being treated poorly, and hunted down by laguz for existing.

It also didn't stop the beorc and laguz from warring for that 1,000 years.

Other facts, Ashera waged a war against the goddess Yune, and the three heroes and Lehran fought on Ashera's side, sealing Yune within a medallion. In order to avoid destroying Yune, Ashera agreed to sleep for 1,000 years. If they could avoid waking Yune up within the medallion through war for that 1,000 years, Ashera agreed to not destroy Yune. Ashera gifted Lehran with the ability to sing the galdr of release to wake Yune and Ashera early if the world came to true peace before the 1,000 years had passed.

The Theory

So now that we've got the basics covered, why am I even entertaining this question? Ike and Mist are beorc. Their father, Greil was a beorc. The whole point of Ike's journey in both games is that he is the only beorc able to unite the beorc and laguz and bridge the divide of hate between both. Him being Branded would make that "bridging the divide" thing a little too on the nose. I'd get an F in the creative writing classes I took in college for submitting that kind of story.

However, I left out one person in Ike's immediate family: his mother, Elena.

Now why would I think Elena is maybe Branded? Well. What put this question in my head was Altina being released into Fire Emblem Heroes. Before that, the only image we had of her was this artwork from Radiant Dawn, where she's shrunk down and everything's in a brown scale since it's a flashback sort of image.

But when I saw Altina's art in Heroes, I was struck by how similar she is to Elena.

Now, I grant you, it's not like Elena looks like Altina reborn. Elena's hair is more blue than purple, while Altina's is definitely more purple. Altina's eyes are a darker blue and Elena's are a lighter blue. And yet they are so similar that it put the question to my mind: Is Elena related to Altina?

Another question you may be wondering at this point, even if Elena is somehow related to Altina, what does that have to do with Ike and Mist being Branded?

Well, Altina married and had children with Lehran, a heron laguz who helped Altina, Dheginsea, and Soan stop Yune. The "Fire Emblem" in Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn is known as Lehran's Medallion, the medallion into which Yune was sealed, and glows with blue flames when the spirit of chaos is strongest. Altina and Lehran had the first Branded child, and Lehran lost all of his abilities: transformation, galdrar, being able to hear the voice of the goddess. Instead, their daughter gained some of Lehran's powers: being able to sing the galdr of release, as well as hearing the voice of the goddess. Altina and Lehran's descendants became known as the apostles for having Lehran's abilities, being able to use the warnings they heard from the goddess to protect the country Altina founded, Begnion.

I do, as did my mother… Generation after generation, each apostle has been blessed to hear the voice of the goddess. We know of impending disasters, how crops will fare… All revelations originally intended for you. [...] All of the apostles have borne this brand. It is our greatest secret. Miasha speaking to Lehran, Radiant Dawn, Chapter 4-F-1, Rebirth

But the thing is, these abilities were only passed onto the Branded descendants. While Sanaki is also a descendant of Altina and Lehran, she is not Branded. Micaiah, Sanaki's older sister, is Branded and thus is the apostle.

The apostle of Begnion shall be the firstborn daughter of each generation in the line of Altina, first empress. She will give voice to the goddess. She will pass judgment, give prophecy, and protect her people and their lands. Sanaki, you have never once heard the voice of the goddess, have you? ... No one ever told you about your older sister, did they? She was the true apostle. She died before you were born, assassinated along with Apostle Misaha by the heron clan. So the senate installed you, the second daughter, as the apostle instead. Lekain speaking to Sanaki, Radiant Dawn, Chapter 4-3, Distortions

Therefore, very few descendants of Altina and Lehran are actually "apostles." If there are only sons, or a second daughter, born within a generation, they will be descendants of Altina and Lehran, but they will never be Branded.

Well that's all fine and dandy, but how in the blazes is this related to Ike and Mist? Well, it's more specifically Mist to start with. Mist and Elena are noted to have unusually pure hearts for beorc. The heron laguz, closely tied to order, are able to touch Lehran's Medallion while it contains Yune and be unaffected by the spirit of chaos. However, anyone else who touches it would be possessed by the spirit of chaos and go mad. Greil touching the medallion is what causes him to slaughter the village he was living in and kill Elena as she tried to take the medallion back from him. This ability of Elena and Mist seems to take even Lehran by surprise when Mist takes the medallion in front of him.

A young beorc began coming to the room to care for Lillia. She had bluish hair and blue eyes...And her heart was unusually pure for a beorc. In time, Lillia and she came to be friends, and shared a mutual trust. Reyson, speaking about Elena, Path of Radiance, Chapter 22, Solo

Mist: Ah! Hey! That's my mother's medallion! No one's supposed to see it! Lehran: No, child! You mustn't touch it! Mist: We can't let it get lost. I'll keep it. Lehran: You… You are unchanged? ... Zelgius: What will you do with the medallion? Lehran: The girl seems safe from its influence. We will leave it with her, for the time being. Ike's Memory, Radiant Dawn, Chapter 4-F-2, Rebirth

In addition, at the end of Part 3 of Radiant Dawn, when the spirit of chaos is so great that Yune is about to be broken from from the medallion, those with heron blood are hit especially hard and have to be evacuated from the battlefield as they are falling unconcious.

Tibarn: Reyson collapsed suddenly. I figured I’d take him to a safe place. Nailah: Rafiel fell unconscious as well. I thought I’d let him rest with Leanne. But then I found that she had collapsed too. Radiant Dawn, Chapter 3-F, From Pain, Awakening

Micaiah doesn't fall unconscious on-screen, but she's shown in the prior chapters to be feeling unwell, collapsing, having a headache, unable to use her Branded abilities for how hard the spirit of chaos is afflicting her. In this chapter, she is barely focused on the battle, hearing a voice speaking to her and appearing to be in distress in every conversation she has on the battlefield. She runs off a little before halfway into the battle and we don't see her again until Sanaki is trying to sing the galdr of release to wake Yune from the medallion.

Which makes sense. Too much chaos makes herons ill, as we're told by Reyson in his supports with Ike and Base Conversation in Path of Radiance.

So it's hard for me to be on a battlefield where the air is thick with negative energy. It's…tiring. Ike and Reyson, C Support, Path of Radiance My body should return to normal once the medallion settles down… Don't worry. My will is still strong. I have to confront Ashnard. I have to discover the truth. Ike and Reyson, A Support, Path of Radiance However, this power is only available to us in a calm and peaceful environment. Here, in this desperate maelstrom of chaotic emotion, it avails me not. Energy here is warped and distorted. Base Conversation: Reyson, Path of Radiance, Chapter 22, Solo

But who else is tripping over themselves and falling unconscious when the seal on the medallion is about to break? Mist.

Mist: Ike… My head… It hurts so much… It’s the medallion… Ike: What do you mean? Mist: The medallion is calling out to me… Please, Ike… Take me to the medallion… Ike: Mist! Talk to me! Wake up, please! Radiant Dawn, Chapter 3-F, From Pain, Awakening

Not only is she falling unconscious, she's hearing Yune's voice. Yune specifically picks Mist to talk to because she's filled with order like the herons, but more able to withstand being in the presence of Yune's chaos than a heron is.

We know of exactly one other person who does not take to chaos well, Ranulf, and he's not mentioned at all in these chapters. We know Ranulf is tied to order because he says it in a few different ways.

The closer we get to the capital, the more the Daein king starts to worry me. Well, I suppose it's more the medallion than the man… At any rate, all this negative energy is making my hair stand up on end. It's hard to focus… Ike and Ranulf, A Support, Path of Radiance

Ranulf: I didn’t mean that I’m losing motivation to save the petrified people. It’s just that, before we started talking about it, I was feeling…complacent. Is it just me? Tibarn: The spirit of order is hanging heavy across the land. When we fight, we get a dose of chaos, which may help us get back in touch with our true selves. If our enemy has also figured that out, it might explain why they’re staying away. Radiant Dawn, Chapter 4-2, A Silent World

The extended script goes into a bit more detail, where Reyson agrees with Ranulf and Tibarn says that those who are more aligned with order will be more calm in the world made still by Ashera. Raw Japanese text is below, but you can also read the translation done by amielleon.

[ライ] 仲間を救うって気持ちを薄れさせたつもりはなかったんですけど… 意識しないうちに、自分たちが間違ってるって気になってましたね。 [リュシオン] 私もだ…どうしてだろう…… [ティバーン] 【正】の気が強い奴ほど、この世界に取り込まれやすいようだな。自分にその気がなくてもいつの間にか順応しちまってる。 …だから、ここで一度戦って多少なり【負】を入れたいとこなんだが… 相手もそれを読んでるのか、肝心の敵が近づいて来ねえ。 Radiant Dawn, Chapter 4-2, A Silent World, Hard Mode+

And yet, Ranulf doesn't fall unconscious with the herons and Mist. He isn't shown to be made ill from the spirit of Chaos as the herons, Micaiah, and Mist are.

Mist is also shown to hear the chime in Serenes Forest, a sound so faint that only laguz are able to hear it.

Mist: Did you…hear a sound just now? Ike: Huh? No, I didn't. Mist: Really? I guess it was just me then. Lethe: That sound you heard, was it high-pitched, like the chiming of a bell? Mist: Ah! Yes, it was! That's it exactly! Mordecai: I heard it, too. It was very beautiful. Ike: I didn't hear a thing. Lethe: It created only a slight disturbance in the air. It could only be heard by those possessed of extraordinary hearing… So, your sister's hearing is on par with that of the laguz. Mist: Wow! Did you hear that? Neat! Ike: Don't let it go to your head. A sound that beorc can't hear…Hmm… That's interesting. Path of Radiance, Day Breaks, Part 1

So Mist is Branded? Well, not really. I'm not making that argument. However, I am making the argument that, like Elena, she bears some traits of the heron blood she has inherited from Lehran down the line from the non-Branded descendants of Lehran and Altina. Or, I think, that's how she was designed in the early development of the game.

In the Tellius Recollections Vol. 1 Artbook, they released a lot of the early design notes and art that they used when making the games, with ideas that appear in the final game and some that were cut. One such piece of information is a chart on laguz and Branded aging with an introduction by a Begnion noble. Now, in my post on laguz and branded aging, I decided that this chart was a piece of early development information that was more than likely cut out of the wolrd building because it implies that as time goes on, the Branded will be more and more like beorc and less and less like laguz, while in the games, no matter how many generations there are, the effects of the laguz blood never fades when the child has the brand.

You can view a translation of the page done by VincentASM here, but the relevant excerpt is below:

As shown, a union with the dragon tribe will dilute the lifespan to 3 times. In the future, if mixing of blood becomes more wide-spread, we can predict that the lfespans of the Branded will edge closer to the Beorc. Whether a day like that iwll come remains to be seen.

Now, again, while I don't think it's how Branded aging works, I think, in early development, Elena was planned to be some distant relation to Lehran and Altina, but the heron blood is so diluted in her, she is pretty much a normal beorc and only has the "unusual" trait of a heart tied to Order as much as a heron. This being what allows her to hold the medallion and gain Lillia's trust. And Mist inherits this "unusual purity of heart" that Elena had.

So what about Ike? Well, Ike cannot hold the medallion safely, he loves fighting, and so if Elena inherited a "purity of heart" from some distant heron ancestor, Ike certainly did not get it from her. However, Ike is shown to have a few (non-heron) laguz traits.

Mist: Seasick? You're such a bad liar. You never even get regular sick. You're not the type to get seasick! Mist about Ike, Path of Radiance, Chapter 12, A Strange Land

Ranulf: Everyone's doing great. We laguz don't take ill too easily, so it's hard not to be "well." Radiant Dawn, Chapter 1-P, The Great Advance

Lethe: Us beasts have a healthy appetite, of course. On top of that, we have General Skrimir and Ike. …Yeah. I’d be surprised if what’s here lasted past those two, much less a whole pack of laguz. Titania: Tsk, you’re exaggerating! Ike is a beorc. He couldn’t possibly eat as much as someone from the beast tribe. Well, maybe he would. Actually… He most definitely would. Base Conversation: Feast or Famine, Chapter 1-P, The Great Advance

So, yeah, if you squint, we could add this to my teetering Jenga tower of evidence, but, since Ike is shown to love meat and hate fruits, whereas herons can only eat fruits, I admit this evidence is a stretch. The herons are only shown getting ill from the chaos of battle, so I don't know if they also don't get "regular sick."

Of course, Ike is not the first born daughter, like Mist is, so he might not inherit the "special" heron traits from the bloodline, like Elena and Mist have.

My best evidence for Ike being related to Altina comes from the swords Ragnell and Alondite. These are the holy swords that were blessed by Ashera for Altina to use against Yune, Yune mentions both swords "calling" out to Ike in the endgame, that they belong with him.

Yune: The holy sword Alondite… It's the counterpart to your sword, Ragnell. I think it wants you to take it up. Radiant Dawn, Chapter 4-F-2, Rebirth

Yune: Ike, there’s a certain affinity between a weapon and its bearer. Ragnell is clearly ideal for you. You can feel it can’t you? Radiant Dawn, Chapter 4-F-3, Rebirth

Ike taking up Alondite, and thus having both swords, is what breaks the seal on his memories that Lehran put into place to protect Ike from the trauma of having watched his father slaughter the village and kill his mother. Why does Alondite do this? I haven't the foggiest. But anyway, the swords call out to Ike and both want to be wielded by Ike. Both swords were closely tied to Altina, so if Ike is related to Altina it makes more sense that the swords would call out to him, who has inherited her warrior spirit. But, you know, your mileage may vary.

Whether or not that was kept in the final release of the games, I couldn't say. I know Ike is well beloved in the games because he's an apparent nobody, no lordship, not secretly royal, and he fights and gains renown because of his character, although this is immediately debunked by his father previously holding the title of general before Ashnard severed the tie between being nobleborn and being able to be a general, but eh, whatever.

At the end of the day, I think it wouldn't be well received by the fans at large if he turned out to be secretly, albeit distantly, related to Sanaki and Micaiah, and I think the developers knew this going into Radiant Dawn, after seeing how Path of Radiance was received by the fans. I strongly feel that even if this had been their plan from the beginning, they cut it out when making Radiant Dawn to keep Ike as the fans love him: just an average mercenary.

That being said, I kind of like the idea of Ike being related to Altina because Altina and Lehran (and Dheginsea and Soan) made a huge mess of things when they concealed the Branded from the world and falsely proclaimed that laguz and beorc relationships were a sin against the goddess, so I like the idea that all of their descendants (Ike, Soren, Micaiah, and Stefan) are the ones who clear the air and right the wrongs of their ancestors. Ike by becoming the Radiant Hero, Soren for being the strategist that ensures Ike's victory, Micaiah for being the new apostle, and Stefan for making Yune first aware of the terrible way the Branded have been treated. I like the idea that each of the heroes that defeated Yune: Altina, Soan, Dheginsea, and Lehran all have representatives in Ike, Stefan, Soren, and Micaiah that can be brought into that final battle to now help Yune defeat Ashera and set things right (despite how hard they shafted Stefan in RD).

I also like the idea of Soan's descendant, Stefan, teaching Altina's descendant, Ike, and being the one who helps Ike learn Aether.

But if you don't like it, well, it's not canon, and I also totally get why. I like Ike being just a guy. I like that story too. I don't think that story's perfectly executed if that was the developer's intent, but I like it. Everything I have presented here is a teetering Jenga pile of could be evidence that ultimately means nothing, except in my heart, so you don't have to spare it another thought if you don't like the concept.

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nonbinaryspy · 6 months

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Our Path Ahead: Micaiah and Sanaki Meta

"Stealth is rather thrilling!" "Shh! You'll get us spotted!"

Along with amazing art, a fun unit, and some adorable conversations, the latest duo unit in FEH offers a perfect chance to compare and contrast Micaiah and Sanaki's backgrounds as well as imagine how they come together post-RD. I'll be sharing relevant quotes from RD to showcase how their FEH interactions follow up from it, so this post will be long and spoiler-filled for both RD and the latest FEH update.

I'll first share Sanaki's arc in RD, then discuss their dynamic in the latest FEH update, and end by digging more into Micaiah's arc in RD.

Sanaki's RD arc has her contending with the fact that she can't hear the voice of the goddess, or do anything else associated with the apostle's powers. Of course, this is because Micaiah inherited these abilities along with her brand, but in the meantime, the senate takes advantage of the confusion to call Sanaki a false apostle and take control. This in turn makes her doubt herself.

At first, during 4-P, Sanaki sounds like she believes her upbringing should make her just as, if not more, capable than Micaiah:

Sanaki: “If Micaiah, an untrained girl from the streets of Daein, is fighting, then I shall stand my ground as well.”

However, she quickly learns what Micaiah can do. While she wants to learn more about why Micaiah has the powers she lacks, she is too scared to approach her at first.

Sigrun: “… We seem to have missed our chance to speak with her. What a remarkable girl. Lady Micaiah can hear the voice of the goddess Yune and learn of impending danger. She is much like you, Empress Sanaki.” Sanaki: “… Let us head back.” Sigrun: “Are you sure? You said before that it was imperative you speak with Lady Micaiah…” Sanaki: “It’s not important. Forget it.”

In 4-3, however, Micaiah takes the initiative:

Micaiah: “Yes, it’s me, Micaiah. Um… May I sit next to you?” Sanaki: “What? Oh… Uh…” “…Of course you may.” Micaiah: “Thank you. …This is awkward. I’m sorry. I know that you are not very fond of me, but I wanted to talk to you.” Sanaki: “It’s not that. I like you just fine. It’s just that…you make me feel inadequate.” Micaiah: “It’s because I can sing the galdr of release and hear Yune’s voice, isn’t it?” Sanaki: “How…did you know?” Micaiah: “I can sense the flow of people’s thoughts. By seeing the movement of a person’s mind, I can usually deduce what the person is thinking…” Sanaki: “You can read minds?! What a boon that would be to running a country… If I could read people’s minds, I could tell what the nobles and senators were thinking behind their smiles. I wonder why the goddess didn’t bless me with such power?”

Though Micaiah thinks Sanaki dislikes her, and she doesn't know they're related, she is already drawn to try to connect with her. Sanaki, meanwhile, is still hung up on the idea that Micaiah has the abilities she lacks, and that she could have prevented the current problems if she'd had them instead.

Later in the chapter, she contextualizes this while talking to Sigrun and Tanith, saying that after the last apostle's assassination and the ensuing power vacuum, her birth and ascension led to "a sigh of relief [that] sounded across the country." This is clearly a lot of pressure to put on a child! After all the turmoil the senate causes, Sanaki feels responsible, saying that "the country’s sigh of relief was unwarranted" because she couldn't hear the voice of the goddess. She's convinced the fault lies with her and the powers she lacks. Tanith and Sigrun, however, maintain their motherly banter throughout this conversation, and then confirm that they're loyal to her for who she is rather than any born abilities:

Sigrun: “If you thought that our allegiance was to the office of the apostle, well, you were wrong. Even from a young age, you have been working with Lord Sephiran to fight the senate on behalf of the people.” Tanith: “Our loyalty lies with you, Empress Sanaki. You will always be our empress. Please do not forget that.” Sanaki: “…I am…blessed. Not by the voice of the goddess, but by loyalty like yours.”

As will be shown later in this post, in the latest FEH content, Sanaki describes how even now, Tanith and Sigrun are still supporting her in a new world, helping her train and gain new abilities. Sanaki was raised to value herself for her potential inherited powers, but in the end, it's who she is that wins the love and loyalty of her family and the people of Begnion.

At the end of RD, the siblings come together and decide that Sanaki will continue to rule Begnion, no longer as an empire, but as a nation on equal footing with Daein, which Micaiah will always consider her true home.

Sanaki: “In that case, my sister, please consider staying in Begnion. With your power and charisma, you could do so much good here.” Micaiah: “No, I’m afraid I can’t.” Sanaki: “Why-Why not?” Micaiah: “Daein is my home, and Daein needs me to help it heal and rebuild. Not Begnion.” Sanaki: “But Begnion–“ Micaiah: “Begnion has you, Empress. You will be a just ruler. Make your country proud to have you.” Sanaki: “Will I… never see you again?” Micaiah: “Hardly. I think that what our countries need now is a sense of family and friendship. I ask that you sign a treaty of alliance with Daein and announce that we are equals.”

In this conversation from the epilogue, we see Sanaki continue to suggest that Micaiah would be a better ruler for Begnion, but Micaiah disagrees. She knows that Sanaki is just as determined to keep the people of Begnion safe and happy as she is to do the same for Daein, and assures Sanaki to that end.

In the latest FEH update, we see these traits in practice, as Sanaki is very committed to training for the ninja festival. Even in their friend greeting quote, she is still training while passing along messages:

Sanaki: Urgh… There's nothing to be done if we've been detected. Our infiltration training is over. Let's away, Micaiah!

I also love putting some of their castle quotes in conversation with each other.

Sanaki: A ninja... If only I had such a person at my disposal, perhaps then I might have quelled the senate's rampage.

Here, we see that in FEH's take on a teenage Sanaki, she is still blaming herself for the senate's actions and questioning what she could have done to stop them. She therefore still wants to acquire more power:

Sanaki: People are fragile... Which is precisely why they must learn to have strength. Do you not think so, Micaiah?

Micaiah, meanwhile, has quite a different line about strength:

Micaiah: It's about time for the festivities! Shall we take a short break? Participation in a festival takes ample strength.

As Sanaki's older sister, and having already seen how hard Sanaki is on herself, Micaiah encourages her to take care of herself and be patient. This is also shown in their level-up quotes:

Micaiah: Keep your head up, Sanaki. We are improving slowly but surely.

Meanwhile, we see Sanaki still has her drive to stop those with corrupt intentions:

Sanaki: Stand down! Your ill-intentioned deeds are over!

However, she may have another motive, in her desire for attention from her sister:

Sanaki: Aha! It hit the mark! Micaiah, you must observe this technique!

When they first met in RD, Sanaki was too nervous to even approach Micaiah, and came across to Micaiah as disliking her. But now she is actively seeking out Micaiah's approval and companionship.

All of this clearly follows up from their dynamic in the RD epilogue. What really sells this for me is their level 40 dialogue:

Sanaki: I can scarcely believe how incapable my body is of following my wishes. I can't seem to move like you, Micaiah. Micaiah: I spent my life running between alleys and the underground... I'm bound to have a bit more endurance than you. Sanaki: It may not appear to be the case, but I've done my fair share of training with Sigrun, Tanith, and a few others. Micaiah: You mean to say you've been doing special ninja training with members of the Holy Guard? Sanaki: To train, we've been swatting at fast-growing ivy in the mornings. At times it's so tall, Tanith must lift me. Micaiah: We are quite similar, you and I. We both take these festivals seriously and are earnest in our pursuits. Sanaki: Yes, well...er...we are sisters after all! Though, I simply figured if I was going to participate, I may as well go all in. Micaiah: That's one of your best qualities. You are incredibly decisive and have such strong convictions—a true ruler. Sanaki: Well...this conversation has taken a turn, but I quite enjoy being with you. Shall we continue this discourse? Micaiah: Of course, not only for our sakes but for Begnion's and Daein's as well. But we must watch those sneaky shadows.

In RD, Sanaki initially implied that Micaiah's upbringing would lead to her being less capable, but now it's presented as having given her endurance and survival abilities that Sanaki never had a reason to develop. This conversation also shows Sanaki continuing to train, as she's accepted that she must rely on abilities she cultivates rather than assuming the goddess will grant her power. Like Tanith and Sigrun, Micaiah is able to recognize that Sanaki's strength lies in her determination, which of course is a trait Micaiah shares.

Even as they spend time together incognito as siblings, they still have their political roles in mind, and their conversation turns to focusing on the abilities required of a ruler rather than only treating this as a family vacation. Given the roles they've both found themself in--Sanaki due to birth, and Micaiah due to circumstance--having a normal outing is easier said than done.

Their precious voiced conversation also showcases their different pasts, abilities, and experiences with family, especially in the first half of it:

Sanaki: Excellent. Now that I've slipped in undetected, all that remains is to reach out and take... Micaiah: Found you! Sanaki: Blast! That is the third time in a row you've caught me! What gave the game away this time? I suppose that is a foolish question to ask a diviner. You looked into the future, didn't you? Micaiah: Not at all. I merely took the time to familiarize myself with all the little nooks and crannies in this place. More by force of habit than anything else, admittedly. I needed that sort of awareness to survive, growing up. Sanaki: Ah... Of course. I can scarcely imagine the trials you must have endured in those years... Micaiah: Now, now, none of that. It's all behind us. Right now, I'm at a festival with my sister—and I couldn't be happier. It reminds me of festivals back home, though. I'd often see brothers and sisters leading each other around. It used to make me envious, seeing siblings holding hands, enjoying their time together as family.

I love how FEH presents the idea that Sanaki is learning to not define Micaiah only as the one who inherited Lehran's powers. While she assumes Micaiah relied on future sight, Micaiah in fact used the survival instincts she needed while living on the streets as one of the Branded. Sanaki expresses sympathy, but Micaiah, as a character who has a harsh past and looks ever to the future, is currently trying to live in the present--appreciating what she finally has simply by being there with Sanaki.

Though Sanaki yearned for the powers Micaiah has, in RD, Micaiah says she always felt they were a burden. She gets overwhelmed among groups of people due to always feeling their emotions, especially the emotions directed toward her. Considering how much hatred she's experienced throughout her life as a Branded in Daein as well as a freedom fighter, this is undoubtedly a traumatic thing to live with. Even when she finds people who support her, she ends up being put on a pedestal she never asked for. Seeing the future can also be a burden, as she may or may not be able to stop the dark visions she sees. So while a festival could be an overwhelming experience for someone with her empathic abilities, being at this festival in FEH, living in the moment with her cherished family and going around incognito as a regular person, would be a healing experience.

Even then, she is unable to turn off her survival instincts that tell her she must be aware of potential danger and places to hide. Meanwhile, Sanaki's own protection relies on being visible--on being able to call for her guards at any given moment, as well as use her status as a shield. Being stealthy at a ninja festival is far from her own wheelhouse, as some of their voice lines amusingly show.

It's clear that Micaiah and Sanaki have lived very separate lives, and they've had different types of family supporting them. Micaiah is used to sneaking around as part of a group with Sothe and the Dawn Brigade, most of whom are younger than her and who she must protect, while Sanaki is used to having the adults around her dote on and protect her as their liege, most notably Tanith, Sigrun, and Sephiran. She is used to being the center of attention, as is shown in the paralogue, where she does not want to have to share her new sibling with Sothe--but she also is used to being isolated on a pedestal rather than being treated as an equal. So in the duo unit's voice conversation, Sanaki is at first awkward about the idea of holding Micaiah's hand to walk around the festival, but quickly latches onto the chance for affection and companionship.

Sanaki: I hope you harbor no intentions of chaperoning me like that. I am an empress, you will recall! Still... I suppose I would consent to holding hands. If you'd like. Micaiah: Oh, I didn't mean anything by it. I was just reminiscing, that's all. But, since you've made me such a generous offer, how could I refuse? Go on, take my hand. Sanaki: Very well! Hehehe...this will be fun. Come, we have a festival to enjoy! Hurry it along now! Micaiah: Oh! Hehehe! Keep swinging my arm like that and you're likely to send me flying!

(Side note: this isn't even the only mention Micaiah makes to flying in this update. I have to respect her commitment to bird puns.)

Part of Micaiah's arc in RD involves her grappling with the idea of belonging. Years ago, she and Sothe were all each other had, due to her experiences being Branded and his own past as an orphan. They are used to relying on and fiercely protecting each other as a result. Still, before PoR, Micaiah tried to leave Sothe, as she didn't think someone who was Branded could really have a home or family. She knew that as she aged, her heritage would become apparent. The rejection that the Branded face gave her understandable issues with attachment, but thankfully, she and Sothe were able to reunite. By that point, traveling with Ike had also taught Sothe greater acceptance of other races, allowing him to support Micaiah better.

Ike: The first time I met him, he’d hidden on a ship we were taking. He mentioned he was looking for someone who was like family to him. It was you he was searching for, wasn’t it? Micaiah: I…I tried to leave him behind. When we went to Crimea, I split off from him and took a ship to Begnion. But when I reached Begnion, war had broken out between Crimea and Daein. I knew I had to return to Daein to look for him. I couldn’t find him, so I went to Crimea. But I still couldn’t find him… We found each other again after the war, in Daein. In the back alleys of Nevassa, where we first met. Ike: You took routes opposite to each other. Micaiah: When I told him why I’d disappeared, he got so angry… I’d never seen him get so emotional before. Ike: I can’t say that I blame him. I’d be pretty furious if I heard someone that I loved was wandering around two countries at war. Besides, I’m sure he’d hidden his feelings about being abandoned until he saw you again. Micaiah: 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?

Given how she literally has an ability called sacrifice, and is often put in positions of responsibility, whether it's looking after Sothe when he was a child or becoming the leader of a resistance group, Micaiah's first instinct was to sacrifice the bond she had, not understanding that her leaving Sothe behind would be harder on him. Never having been allowed to have a place in society, she underestimated her own importance to someone else. However, she learns that sacrifice is not always the most noble option or the best solution to a problem.

After speaking to Ike more, Micaiah decides that she'll return to Daein, whereas she initially had been thinking she would "travel to a far-off place." Though she was afraid to try to stay with the people of Tellius, as she had always been told that her blood was cursed and that she wouldn't have a place with anyone, she has found a home and a family. The chance to remain with those she cares about is worth the hardships that may lie ahead.

Earlier in the game, as she got involved in wider political plots, she had to make decisions about who to protect when she couldn't save everyone. This includes Tibarn confronting her with the choice to either surrender--thus dooming the people of Daein to the blood pact--or sacrifice Sothe, as well as her decision to protect the people of Daein even if it means fighting the other nations. Sothe is the only family she has known, and Daein is the only home she has known, so these decisions weigh heavily on her.

By the end, Micaiah has found things she didn't know she could look for--an answer to her mysterious origins, blood relations in Sanaki and Lehran, and a family outside of Daein. She and Sanaki can seek international peace together by working publicly from a distance, which is very different than Micaiah having to stick to the shadows or make sacrifices to protect the people closest to her. As someone who values peace, she no longer has to choose between her love and her ideals.

This quote from the latest FEH update (from when you power up the duo unit) sums this up quite well:

Micaiah: Let us unite in strength and mold this world into one of peace, together.

(Blessed thought to add to my ever-growing list of fic ideas: Since the herons can use sending stones, theoretically, Sanaki and Micaiah could use sending stones to communicate Post-RD. Diplomatic phone calls that turn into late-night sister chats!!)

Still, that doesn't mean that she's instantly going to know how to interact with people she just found out she's related to. In her talk conversation with Lehran in 4-final, she's unusually shy:

Micaiah: Um… Lehran: Yes? Micaiah: You’re Lehran, aren’t you? Lehran: Yes. Micaiah: You… Forgive me for asking, but… Aren’t you my– Lehran: Can we talk about this later? Micaiah: What? Oh, I mean, of course… Sorry to bother you… Lehran: Child, you couldn’t possibly bother me. It’s just, the talk you and I must have is going to take a long time. I don’t think Ashera would wait for us to finish. Micaiah: Oh… Very well. Lehran: What is it? Micaiah: Oh, nothing… Never mind. Lehran: Micaiah? Micaiah: Y-yes? Lehran: Looks like you could use some backup. I’m good with a staff, too, you know. Micaiah: Th-thank you.

Unlike Sanaki, Micaiah is not used to approaching a father figure, and trying to broach this topic with Lehran of all people is no doubt intimidating! He, being more used to this role, is able to demonstrate his desire to support her while remaining pragmatic about the urgent situation they're in.

I bring this up because in the FEH paralogue, Micaiah fumbles her initial attempt to spend time with Sanaki, bringing up Sothe rather than paying attention to the sibling she's with. As said, Sanaki is particularly likely to find this frustrating, and due to her trademark bratty personality and Micaiah's teasing big sis instincts, this leads to some banter. In the end, however, they are able to express their feelings and their desire to spend time together as siblings.

Micaiah: Ah! What are— Is this some new kind of ninja attack?! Hee hee hee! Get off, get off! Owowow! …Hey, that tickles! Sanaki: All those who disturb the apostle's peace must be dealt the most severe punishments! …Beg my forgiveness! Micaiah: Forgive me, O Apostle! I will forever more—until the end of the festival—enjoy spending my time with my beloved sister. Sanaki: …That's all I wanted! Micaiah: I know we haven't had a chance to spend much time together as sisters yet, but... I hope we can do this sort of thing together as family from now on. And with practice, I'm sure to get better about just enjoying my time with you while I'm with you. Sanaki: Micaiah... I'm glad you understand. Now, let's get back to enjoying our time here! We're wasting valuable practice time!

This family has plenty of baggage, but they crave connection and have a great capacity to support each other. Though their backgrounds may be different, there's so much for them to learn from each other as they lead their respective nations and become a loving family. I'm so glad that FEH gave them a chance to finally get to know one another and share the affection they deserve.

#fire emblem #tellius #fe10 #radiant dawn #fe heroes #fire emblem heroes #sanaki #micaiah #micaiah fire emblem #sanaki kirsch altina #long post

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