did you ever try to use the add exp thing? when my guys weren't leveling something up, i stopped using them during the chapter, then waited to use bonus exp so i could "force level up" my characters. then i go from there. ex. my mia had fricking 11 str even at lv 18 myrmidon, so for her last 2 levels, i forced her to level up hp, str, skill, def, luck, res, or at least hp str skill each time. just save, do the exp, if it's bad, restart, then try again, if you get a good one, save, then keep going, repeat the process. i never did this with ike though, he reached max str, speed, and def at lv 13 lord. so basically all he gets now is hp and skill and res sometimes. i almost managed a one man crusade with chapter 28(with tibarn following along) i got owned at the dragons, but with ragnell, he can take out anything.
oh and about zihark, you may laugh and go ahead, but when do you get him? i never saw him before.
oh also, akinari, you said before that if i used mist she'd end up with 15 mag at 20/0? well in order to have her live, i did what i said above, force leveled up her. at lv 12 she had 13 mag and she leveled up mag every 3 levels almost. i get her def up and speed and luck and res, not so much str though since i thought valkyries used light magic still. i ran out of bonus exp so i master sealed her and boom, there we have it. i noticed the priests don't go for her, but i already killed the soldier, does he go after her? if not i'd just leave him, but if so, i won't waste a turn, i'll just use elixers for ike and let her have the soldier stalk her all over the place for a while.