Mira

“	A long, long time ago, Mira was just another island floating in the Sky. But one day, a swirling whirlpool engulfed the land, and Mira fell into a dimensional rift. Mira was about to sink into an abyss so deep there was no hope of ever emerging again. It was then that a group of mysterious wizards appeared from the depths of the Earth. The wizards, calling themselves the Guardians, saved Mira somehow...	”
—Old Lady in Balancoire

Mira (known as City of Illusion) is a island floating in the Sky and one of the Five Great Nations. Mira is known for its constant fluctuation between this dimension and another. This gives Mira its mysterious glow and the feeling of impermanence where things appear and disappear at will. The island can only be accessed from our dimension through the Trail of Souls.

Geography

Locations

• Parnasse, the Confectionery Village - A town literally made of sugar, spice and ice cream.
• Reverence, the Picture Book Village - A village filled with strange beings set against a children's story-book backdrop.
• Balancoire, Borough of Illusion - The largest city in and capital of Mira.
  • Duke Calbren's Manor - The residence of Duke Calbren of Mira.
    • Coccolith, Labyrinth of Mirrors - A monster-infested maze beneath Duke Calbren's Manor. Mira's End Magnus is located here.
• Nekton, Shrine of Spirits - A forest said to be close to the world of Guardian Spirits.
• Detourne, the Mystical Garden - A strange garden labyrinth with tricks that dazzle the eyes and numb the mind.

• Sedna - It is sometimes speculated that Sedna is located in Mira because of its obtuse and otherworldly nature, but this is unconfirmed.

Culture

Given the impermanence of the setting and how the barrier between the dimensions is at its thinnest, Mira gives a feeling of artistry other islands don't give off. Thus,Mira is the home of plastic artists like Misjah and prestigious chefs.

Government

Mira's form of government is a hereditary duchy, currently led by Duke Calbren.

Notable Residents

• Melodia
• Duke Calbren
• Kalas (Grew up here yet born in Alfard)
• Fee (Grew up and died here but born in Alfard)
• Georg (Died here after living with his grandsons)

Trivia

• The name Mira is derived from the star Omicron Ceti, a red giant star in the constellation Cetus, which has the traditional name "Mira". The word Mira means "wonderful" or "astonishing" in Latin.
• The star Mira is a variable star, that is, a star that varies its luminosity as seen from Earth. This coincides with the fact that in the game, Mira is an island that varies the dimension where it is located, and also varies its luminosity (see the images).
• Although the name Mira is derived from a star (as most of the other locations in the game), the places in Mira don't follow this "rule", as none of them has a "star-derived" name. Mira shares this trait with Anuenue, with the difference that the name "Anuenue" does not follow the "rule" either.
• In Xenoblade Chronicles X, another game by Monolith Soft, the planet and main setting of the game is named Mira.

  

  Mira (top) resembles a star when seen in aerial view.

• When seen from the top down, as in the "assault on Cor Hydrae" sequence at the end of the first game, Mira resembles an eight-pointed star.