Bit by Bit You're Charming My Heart
Mist has always a Crush on a certain handsome raven haired mage.
Soren starts feeling differently around the beautiful Cleric and asks Ike for Help. However, ¿Is the Ex-commander the best choice when his own love life overwhelms him?
Chapter 1 "From Innocent Crush to Love and Devotion"
Elincia Ridell Crimea stared out to the window of her chariot.
It had been 6 months since Ashnard's defeat.
Though it was only months, it seemed eras away, as if the possession that her beloved country Crimea, was nothing but a deranged nightmare, one that thanked Ashera was over.
Reconstruction was never easy, and the fact that she was Queen did not help, Her Royal duties had kept her away from the one who she owed everything to, her life, her confidence and even her heart, Ike Gawain.
Her lord Ike was not one who loved the high society Ado, even in the war as a lord, he avoided all that type of nonsense, perhaps that simple and pure heart was one of the ,any facts that stole her heart.
Brave, Confident, soft; Ike had all those virtues, virtues that would make him an excellent king.
¿King? ¿since when did she thought like this?
Of course, deep in her heart no one would be better, both in age and features, Ike had buried himself deep in there. All those thoughts put her cheeks red, like the plains of Crimea in the setting sun.
Now, all those endless reunions, all those tedious documents, all those confusing budgets, all those painful was recordings, would not bother her no more, she needed vacations, here and now.
Bastian, Lucia and Geoffrey were the ones who suggested this; she knew Crimea was safe in their capable hands.
As they say all work and no play is foolish, however she spent most of her nights thinking, pondering, admiring, who else? Her Lord Ike.
Be in those warm arms, hear that pure heart, inhale his valiant smell, get lost in those sky blue eyes, caress his hair and most importantly reclaim those lips with hers, Elincia had not dreamed of anything else since her lord Ike left, even in meetings, people pointed out how red her face was or how lost in thought, The new queen excused herself the allaby of "being working too much." However that was farthest from the truth.
"Ah, my lord Ike..." she said dreamily.
At the beginning she just admired him for putting his life in danger for someone who had no proof of royalty, the it shifted to a huge crush for saving her, and not viewing her as a noble but as a person, not as a forgotten princess but as Elincia Ridell, for the first time in her life, the princess felt strange only thinking of Ike, worrying about him so much she even took the task of fighting alongside him, now, pure love, a promise to herself that she'd love Ike Gawain no matter what.
Arriving at the new Greil Mercenaries camp, she blushed a bit, thanked her rider and proceeded to enter.
The emerald girl met the expert mage, Soren.
"My queen, How good to see you." He stated.
"Please, drop the formality lord Soren." She smiled.
"Nonsense, you're royalty and deserved to be treated as such. Are you...?" the mage was cut in his sentence.
"Yes, please tell everyone." She said.
"Right, I'll go get Ike." The mage left.
"Ike."
"Oh Soren, ¿what, need to give me a report?" Ike inquired.
"Yes, Your girlf...er...Elincia came to see you Ike-y pooh." The mage snickered and barely contained his laughter.
"Want to know what the worst part of you is? You only smile when you have mischief up your sleeve." a defeated Ike Commented.
"Ahem...I'm like that. Now don't keep your girlfriend waiting...King Ikie!" Soren finally laughed.
"Yeah..." sighed Ike.
The mage and Ragnell's wielder went to the living room.
"¡My Lord Ike!" Elincia hugged the swordsman tightly.
"¡Hey there Elincia!" he hugged back "¿Is my queen well?" Ike smiled that charming smile of his which made her want to melt.
"Of course..." she said blushing at my queen part "Please drop the formality Ike."
"Ok."
Soren rolled his eyes, shook his head softly and returned to his book, "How to make destructive magic, even more destructive."
Then, Titania came in.
"Ike...¡Oh Elincia, what a surprise!" the ruby haired Ax wielder greeted.
"¡Hi there Titania!" the Emerald haired Queen Greeted.
"¿So Elincia, you staying for long? Ike asked.
"If I'm not a burden..."
"Of course not...the more you're here the better..." Ike blushed.
"Thanks my Lord Ike..."
Soren laughed mentally, however as divine justice would have it, the only being that had influence on him arrived...
"¡Oh Soren!" Mist used a girly tone.
"Mist?" the mage lowered his book.
"¡Come I need you in the kitchen!" Mist dragged the mage by the hand, unnoticeable to anyone, his left eye twitched.
"¡Slow down Mist!" though inwardly Soren enjoyed it.
"Speaking of which, would like the Crimean spicy stew you liked so much before?" Elincia asked.
"¡Of course, man, what a good dinner I'm gonna get!" Ike cheered.
"Some things...don't change..." Titania smiled.
Mist and Soren were already there, Ike smirked at this, making Elincia give him An inquiring look, Ike responded by pointing at the mismatched pair.
"¡Ok, all yours Soren!" Mist said
"All right." The mage responded.
Snapping his fingers, Soren created a small fire ready for Mist.
"Thanks Soren, you're pretty useful around the house, drying clothes with Elwind, cooking with Elfire, lighting dark places with Elthunder..."
"Mist, I mastered those powers to defeat enemies...Not to become a House husband..." the mage sighed.
"Yeah but...The Battle is over..." Mist Replied
"Yeah, well ¿Need me for anything else?"
"No, Thanks..." she gave him a shy blushing smile.
"Well, I'll be of use anytime." The mage retired. "Oh, do remember today you have a Staff practice."
"I won't Soren." She smiled.
"You've been slacking lately little missy, I can't allow that, everyone has to be in Tip-Top Shape." Soren smirked.
"I won't but, don't forget you have to accompany me to buy new clothes." She countered, smirking too.
"Huh? Why me?" a dismayed Soren inquired.
"Because you need a new coat! For Ashera's Sake!" Mist made him a Pout.
"But Mist...! This Coat means a lot! I wore it when I became a Sage and when I beat Bryce!" Soren retorted.
"No buts Soren! After Practice we go to shop!" Mist ordered
"Yes General Mist." The Mage retreated.
"¡Don't Worry Queen Elincia, Once I'm done we can cook my brother's favorite food!" Mist was more than cheerful.
"Um...Mist...Try not to "help" Elincia too much..." Ike said, faking a disgusted look.
"¡Ike you're awful!" Mist slapped him playfully, not losing her smile.
"Ike, Is it me or Mist is too happy?" Elincia whispered.
"No, She IS Happy." Ike said, snickering.
"We'll explain later." Titania added.
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"Ok, I'm almost done Ike." Elincia said. "Meanwhile take some Tea."
"¡Oh great, Man this is gonna be sweet!" the General cheered.
"Mist isn't the over cheerful one...Someone here too." Titania added
"Come on Titania, I like Mist's cooking but...No one beats Elincia!" Ike cheered.
"About earlier..." Elincia reminded them.
"Oh yeah..." Ike regained composure. "Weird huh? How could Crimea's most powerful Mage lose to a frail girl?" Ragnell's master smiled
"Yes...Lord...Soren isn't social but, with Mist..." Elincia said.
"That has a reason." Titania took a Sip of her Cup.
"Reason?" Elincia inquired.
"Yes, you see Soren was adopted..." Ike said.
"When Commander Greil took him, Soren hated himself for not being useful." Titania Added.
"My father then, assigned him various tasks, among them, master magic and baby-sit Mist."
"Yes, Greil saw Soren's potential, and ordered him to study magic. Also, before coming here a mage took care of him." Titania remembered.
"Baby-sit Mist?" Elincia asked not able to hide the surprise.
"Yes, Even as a child, Soren was a prodigy, and was very skilled in reading, math etc. My father wanted Mist to learn from him."
"I taught him a bit, He always asked: "Deputy Commander what's this?" or "Titania how do you make this operation?" Soren was a Genius but..."
"Geniuses are lonely." Elincia finished.
"Exactly, Soren was lonely, though I was and still am his friend; Soren avoided everyone, the brothers, Rhys, Shinon Gatrie..."
"Mist was his only true companion." Titania said. "As the laws of nature denote it, when people of the opposite sex spend time together, they...fall for each other."
"Really? How so?" Elincia asked.
"Well, there were many incidents, Elincia." Ike responded.
"Please tell them." Elincia pleaded.
"It's a long Story..." Ike had stirred the remembrance...
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Soren was about 8 Yrs. Old and Mist about 5.
When he came, Soren was away from everyone except from me...
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Commander Greil and a small brunette arrived at the future prodigy's room.
A small raven haired boy devoured a wind book.
"Oh, commander Greil!" Soren made a reverence.
"Hi Soren, How've you been?" Greil Asked.
"Very good sir, I've learned a lot..."
"I have one more task to ask of you. Are you ready?" Greil knew Soren's frustration so he used a commanding tone.
"Yes Sir!" Soren replied cheerfully.
"Take care of her and teach her your vast knowledge." Greil smiled fondly.
"Who Sir?" the young boy asked.
"Here." Mist, stepped timidly forward; at the sight of Soren she hid behind her father.
"Now, Now Mist, Is that how to treat your tutor?" Greil asked.
"I have to teach her?" Soren asked hiding the sad tone.
"Yes. Any objections soldier?" Greil kept his commanding tone.
"No Sir!" Soren said firmly.
"Very well, she is my daughter, I entrust her to you, Make her happy! I leave you alone to get to know each other better." Greil left Soren's room.
"My name's...I'm Mist..." she blushed.
"I'm Soren, Nice to meet you." This was the Leader's daughter; he tried to be as gentle as he could.
"Are you going to teach me?" she asked timidly.
"Yes."
"What're you going to teach me?"
"Math, reading and such." He said non-chalantly.
"Is...Is it hard...?" she asked.
"Maybe."
"No I don't like hard stuff! Wahhh!" Mist cried.
After that meeting, Mist cried countless times, but because of her timidness, in fact poor Soren was doing his best no to grow angry, because even as a kid he was short-tempered. Eventually My Sister did what the whole Greil Mercenaries Failed at, Befriending Soren.
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Little Mist and young Soren stared at the night Sky.
"Hey Soren?"
"Yes?"
"What are those shiny dots in the sky?"
"Stars Mist."
"Stars?" she asked wide-eyed
"Yes, Orbs of gas shining in distant space."
"Wow, you know a lot Soren." Mist smiled
"I read a...lot..." The young boy felt his face heat up.
"And why does the Sky become black when it's night?"
"Because, it is the sunlight which makes the sky blue, Mist."
Mist blushed a bit.
"Soren..." she said blushing.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry..."
"Sorry? Why, you've done no offense against me."
"Because I was afraid of you, now I know different." She smiled.
"No problem." The future mage blushed.
"..." Mist neared her lips to his cheek. And, pressed them softly against it.
"Mist?!" Soren asked shocked.
"Thanks for being my teacher..." she rushed off.
"Mist!" the small mage ran after her
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A small Soren was hitting tree stumps with his spells
"Wind!" Soren Ordered.
"Fire!" he followed up.
The targets were obliterated, and Soren was startled, by some clapping.
"You're incredible Soren! You've mastered almost all of the Spells!" Mist congratulated.
"NO Mist, I still can't use thunder..."
"Huh?" Mist looked confused
"Thunder!" nothing came out, Soren looked dismayed
"Don't worry Soren, Give Time some time! You always say that!" Mist said.
"Thanks Mist." He smiled.
Since then, my sister started to be with him more and more, to the point she would only play with him. But perhaps the greatest incident was...
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A small Mist sat, collecting flowers, while Soren reading both in a small field of flowers, the sun was setting and it looked very pretty.
A nearby town was in reconstruction, so dust and rocks were nearby.
"The flowers smell so good!" Mist said.
"Yeah..." Soren lowered his book.
"No a Rock fell from the construction!" a huge rock rolled towards the small pair
"Mist let's go!"
Mist was paralyzed in fear.
"M...Mist!"
"I'm scared Soren..." Mist Cried.
"Mist me..." Soren stopped "No, I'm here for you!" knowing he had to remain calm, he hugged her.
"Soren..." she buried in his chest-
"Al right, Wind won't budge the rock and fire isn't hot enough to melt it...What can I do?!" he thought. "Thunder but...I...Can't...Do it..." he thought desperately, jerking his fist.
The rock went faster...
"I'm sorry Soren..."
"Mist..." he hugged her tightly, "Sorry Mist but if you die, you'll be all alone, you won't see your family, All Alone..." he thought.
All Alone...
All Alone...
Those words resonated in the small mage's mind...
"No, I don't want Mist to die! I don't want her to suffer the loneliness I suffered! Mist means...All to me! As long as I live she'll never be alone!" He exclaimed mentally.
Soren let go of Mist gently.
"Soren?" she inquired.
"Not yet..." he smiled, which surprised her, he jerked his fist with determination.
He Rose up and turned to the rock, his bangs, covered his face.
Crack, Crack... Sparks formed in his hand...
"I don't' care..."
Crack, Crack...
"If I die..." the small mage said bravely.
Crack, crack, Crack...the sparks were starting to get violent...
"But...I...Promised I'd make Mist happy that's why...that's why... If we die, I won't fulfill that promise to her! I will protect her with my life! Thunder!"
The first blast obliterated part of the rock.
"Thunder!"
The second took down some of it too, but it'd still crush them...
"Not Yet Thunder!" a blue light formed around the small mage's body.
The rock was almost done one more, would do the trick.
"Thunder!" the rock was no more.
"Mist, as long as I live...You'll always have me..." he fell unconscious.
"Soren! Soren!!" the small girl cried on Soren's unconscious body.
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Mist, Soren, Greil, Ike and Titania were all in the small mage's room
"So Soren...?" Greil asked
"Yes daddy, he attacked the rock 4 times, and saved me! Please tell me he'll be allright!" Mist cried.
"Soren hang in there...!" a small Ike said.
"No worries, he's just unconscious!" Titania announced.
"Sniff...Thank the goddess!" Mist ran to cry on the small mage's chest.
"Still to attack 4 times..." Greil said.
"It's a special ability called Adept, Soren was born for magic." Titania answered.
"Let's leave them alone." Greil said leaving with the others.
"M...Mist?" Soren woke up.
"Soren!!! You're up!" she hugged him tightly.
"Yes..."
"Soren I'm sorry because of me..."
"No Mist...I should thank you...thanks to you I mastered thunder..." he returned the hug.
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"And last but not least..." Ike said.
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Soren stared at the night sky, determination filling his ruby eyes.
He was on the place where Boyd, Ike and the others sparred.
"I'll get stronger...I'll protect you...Mist..."
"Soren?"
"Ah Mist..." the young mage blushed.
"Ummm...What are you doing Alone?" she asked.
"Just...planning my spells..."
"I see..."
"Did you need something?" he asked.
"Y...Yes...Soren what's love?" the young girl blushed.
"L...Love?"
"Yes..."
"W...Well Love is...a felling you get when..." the mage didn't know how to answer due to the fact that, he was unskilled in the field.
"Don't be mean! You're my teacher..."
"When you...like someone...and want to make him or her happy. And spend the rest of your life with that person..."
"Do you love someone?" she asked.
"No..."
"I do."
"Really? Who?" the small mage inquired.
"Y...You...I want to make you happy..."
"M...Mi...Mist..." the mage was at a loss for words, not to mention as blushing red as his eyes.
Mist put her small hands on his shoulders and slowly pressed her lips to Soren's, it was a chaste kiss, but loving too.
"Mist..." the mage was even redder.
"Soren, promise me something."
"Yeah?"
"When we grow up...You'll love me."
"Err...Ok..."
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"Whoa...I had no idea those two..." Elincia said.
"Yes, but it doesn't end there." Titania added.
"Really?" Elincia inquired.
"Yes..." Ike added "During the war, Soren disagreed to the decision of Mist fighting."
"Ah..." Elincia smirked.
"Yes..." Titania said "Soren saver her countless times during the war... and also when Mist put on the Valkyria Outfit he blushed intensely. And that's not the worst, when Soren started to use Staves... She decided to recruit him in that aspect too..."
"However, that bookworm, isn't too clever in social aspects, he doesn't realize Mist loves him nor does he remember his promise." Ike said.
"Yes, poor Mist." Titania added.
"Ah love..." Elincia said dreamily.
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The mismatched pair walked along the forest to practice Mend and other healing arts.
"All right Mist, Use Mend." Soren Ordered spotting a withering flower.
"Yes sir! Mend!" the Valkyria responded.
The flower returned to normal.
"Like it?"
"Yes but..."
"But?" the Valkyria asked.
"Remember Mist, we save lives with these arts."
"I know..." she aid vaguely.
"Flower bloom and wither...Stars Shine and die...Everything has a life Cycle, the earth, the universe...Compared to that isn't our life more than a blink?" Soren said, grabbing a flower.
"Soren..." Mist blushed; one thing she loved apart form him were his metaphors.
"In that short lapse of time...a person is born, feels, anger hatred wrath, hurt shame...and love, trust, laugh, and devotion... we learn both good and negative emotions...All in a brief lapse of time called life...And we become enveloped by a sweet sleep called death..." he said inspecting a flower. "Our arts are a prolongation."
"Prolongation?" she said still blushing.
"Yes, we expand a living being's life, Mist, Healing arts are influenced by what you feel at that moment, not only magical strength helps, but your desire too, the desire of how much you want a person to live is all."
"Yes Soren...You yourself made a miracle a long time ago...because you wanted me to live..." her cheeks were red now.
"Y...Yeah..."
"Well, ready to buy new clothes?"
"Do I have to?" Soren asked.
"Please?" Mist's Sapphire puppy eyes were something he was not able to resist not even as a child, now it was more than impossible.
"Right."
Both headed to town to replenish Soren's Clothes.
A/N Mist feelings haven't changed, in fact they have increased? What'll Mist do? What does Elincia plan? Too many question so little time, Read you next in "Cross Over! The Battle for Ike!" Read you later!