Post-Radiant Dawn starter for @tekunvalos
To say that Mia had been in a funk for the last few months was an understatement. She had thought she'd take Ike's departure easily, without worrying too much about what was happening to him - and that much was true. She knew he could take care of himself, but at the same time...
She wasn't sure why it had gotten to her so much. She hadn't guessed how much she would miss their morning spars, or occasional exchanges at dinner, or anything like that. She'd stuck with the Greil Mercenaries for a few more weeks after everyone had said their goodbyes to Ike, but she ultimately couldn't bear it anymore. She'd told Titania and Mist that she just wanted to travel for a while, but she'd seen the pity and understanding in their eyes. Everyone knew why she was leaving. As much as she genuinely adored the rest of the Greil Mercenaries (well, except maybe Shinon) as her friends, Ike had been the one who had brought her into the group. Ike had made her feel welcome. Ike had been the one who let her join once the Mad King's War was over, and he'd been the one who gave her a sense of purpose in her wanderlust. But he was gone, now, and she was starting to realize she'd never see him again.
Which is what brought her to here, on the outskirts of Crimea by the Daein border, groaning to herself and wishing not for the last time that she'd been a better rider. Hitching rides on Ilyana's caravan had gotten her this far, but for the last few days she'd been travelling on foot, and she'd forgotten how much walking everywhere sucked without someone else to keep her company. Alondite was heavy on her back, the damn thing limiting how much food and drink she could actually carry with her - perhaps if she didn't bring her other blades with her, she'd be able to use more. But her dagger had been given to her by Ike, her Resolute Blade by Elincia, and she couldn't bring herself to part with them. Alondite should have been returned to Begnion by now as well, but they didn't seem that keen to have it back, and to top it all off it had been... Ike had given it to her because they needed someone to use it in the Tower. It meant he had recognized her as the best swordsman he knew there, or at least the one he trusted the most. She'd be damned if she gave up that recognition any time soon.
"It's going to rain." She grumbled to nobody in particular, looking up in the sky and groaning as the clouds started to gather. She wasn't sure what she was going to do once she reached Daein itself, other than wander around and maybe attempt to patch things up with the Dawn Brigade's members. Maybe she could hunt down Ilyana's caravan again, hitch a ride with them for a while instead. Getting off had been a mistake. Looking away she froze when she realized she wasn't alone anymore, coming to a halt and resting her hand on the Resolute Blade's hilt. Alondite took too long to draw.
"Who's there?" She called, eyes narrowing as she scanned the treeline for the movement she'd spotted not long ago. "Show yourself! I'm warning you, if you want to do this peacefully my patience is running pretty damn thin these days!"
