Daein. Her home country, a place she’s traversed as a bodyguard, a prisoner, and a liberator.
She does love her country. At worst, she sometimes has mixed feelings about it. Growing up was not easy, even if her unique late adolescent experiences were better for her in the long run than staying at home.
Neither Radiant Dawn or Path of Radiance explore her motivations beyond ‘haha girl hungy’, though she does have quite a few interesting conversations in Radiant Dawn.
If she’s an opponent against Jill, they both stop, questioning the other’s reasons for staying in their respective armies.
Jill: Ilyana? You’re with the Laguz Alliance? No, I mean the Greil Mercenaries?
Ilyana: Yes. Muston and the others are with me, too.
Jill: I see... We fought together in Ashnard’s War, and in the war to liberate Daein. We didn’t spend much time together, but you were a trustworthy comrade.
Ilyana: Thank you... I wonder why we’re here. Why is Daein attacking us?
Jill: I don’t know. The occupation soldiers left Daein. But Daein still cannot refuse a request from Begnion. Liberation was only a dream.
Ilyana: Yet you continue to stay with the Daein army? Why do you do that to yourself?
Jill: Because I can’t abandon my comrades.
Yet in every other conversation, she apologizes for fighting against former comrades. So depending on which side she (the player) ultimately choses, she can either feel a strong loyalty to her country, or goes whichever way the wind blows.
Personally, I always imagine her as someone that the war instilled a stronger sense of justice in. There are some things she’ll put her foot down for, and that includes not fighting against her fellow countrymen without a damn good reason.
