Author's Note: This takes place after Radiant Dawn when Ike and Soren leave the Greil Mercenaries. Hopefully Kieran isn't too annoying. If he is, please let me know so I can tone it down a bit. He's an annoying character in the first place though. XD I'm not sure how long this story will turn out to be, but I've got some ideas. I do not own Fire Emblem.
Any calmness or composure Kieran had was instantly gone the second he saw Oscar in the knight's dining hall.
"Why are you here?" he asked, calling out across the room. "Surely you know your mere presence is an unexplained phenomenon! You must explain yourself at once!"
Oscar turned around from where he sat and smiled. "Good to see you too, Kieran," he replied.
"So you heard me?"
"How could I not?"
Kieran strode over to his opponent. "Ah, you're just all smiles, huh? You would be so composed! Only my archrival could provide such a challenge! Now what are you doing in Melior? As a Royal Knight under Queen Elincia Ridell Crimea, I command you tell me!"
Oscar was caught a bit off guard by his question. He realized Kieran didn't know. "Oh, you see, Queen Elincia asked me if I would rejoin the Royal Knights temporarily."
Kieran's proud smile fell for only a moment as his mind registered what Oscar had told him. "I see!" he shouted. "You are merely using this as a chance to beat me, but I'll have you know that such a feat is impossible! I have increased my training even more since the last time we met."
Oscar was worried that if Kieran kept his training antics up, he would push himself to the point of death. "Well, this job is only part-time to a degree." Oscar responded. "The Greil Mercenaries are low on numbers, so I'm still taking some mercenary work on the side."
Kieran seemed to be taken aback. "Who would dare endanger the queen and her country by taking mercenary work when she might need you at any moment?"
"The queen's safety and the goodwill of my country is my first priority…" Oscar started, before getting cut off.
"How could you possibly hold two jobs and uphold the demands of both?" Kieran asked, starting to get a bit uncomfortably close to Oscar for his liking. Then, Kieran snapped himself back away, and his face seemed to light up. "Oh, you're a sly one, Sir Oscar! I am proud to know you of all people are my rival. I accept your challenge."
"What?" Oscar asked, at a loss of what else to say.
"You just made it very clear that in order to prove myself and overcome you, I must also become a part-time mercenary!"
Oscar laughed. To say Kieran was impulsive was an understatement. "Are you going to start your own mercenary group?" Oscar asked, now amused at the idea, although he was concerned about Kieran pushing himself too hard. Kieran just did not know when to quit.
"No, my rival! In order to properly compare our strength, I must join the Greil Mercenaries, of course," Kieran replied. "You just said you were low on numbers, and I've fought alongside you all before. We're practically family! Am I right?"
There was a pause.
"Are you sure that's a sensible idea?" Oscar asked.
"What, do you think it is not?"
"Well, you'd have to get permission from Queen Elincia to receive leave and everyone in the Greil…"
Kieran laughed. "Oscar, You worry too much. I will take care of it all. Until then, my rival!"
When Kieran was gone, Oscar let out a heavy sigh. He wasn't fully sure whether he was amused or annoyed by Kieran's plan. Regardless, he knew life was just about to become a bit more chaotic. "He's even worse than Boyd," he said, shaking his head.
