*Venelana POV

I looked at my nephew across me with an air of disbelief, perhaps some doubt. I knew his clan's relations with us is presently nowhere too good, but to have this kind of situation...

It is perhaps due to my half-brother's--Lord Bael--overestimation of our clan's power. Sigh...

Bael had married Misla of the Vapula clan, Sairaorg's mother. Her clan was renowned for its affection to lions, and Bael for its pride of strength and being the foremost in the 72 Pillars.

Imagine Bael's wrath when he learned the 'deficiency' of young Sairaorg--of not possessing the trademark Power of Destruction. From then on he was virtually an outcast, with his mother as his only ally within the clan. Now, she's still in a comatose state of no clear cause.

For myself, I was married to Zeo of Gremory and had since then sparsely heard of the Baels again. At least none of my offspring--even down to grandchildren, I should say--had had the malady.

To have such a person now willing to train Millicas is...

--Wait a minute.

"Sairaorg, why do you think Milli had had such a... breakdown? It was not like him at all."

"Please give him a break, Aunt Vene. We all had breakdowns sometimes--take me for example."

"But for the son of Gremory to--"

...He seemed to squint at the remark..?

"If I may be quite frank, Aunt, this is your problem. You knew that he was somehow born with great skills---and you tried your best to polish him even more, even at his tender age?"

"It is only natural."

"Not. You had Zechs and Rias, the shine of whose stars are still strong, and now you try to impose the same conditions to Millicas? Please reflect. Yours is the most say in this clan, but you may not evade that you were, and had always been, a Bael, being possessed of some of its traits. I admit Milli's a talented kid, but if you grip him too hard he might break, and what use is pride then?"

"He is the Maou's son."

"Yeah? Just look at me, the son of the first clan in the 72 Pillars. You knew how Father acted towards me--had I not do away with the son of his second wife, I might not be where I am, the clan's actual heir. Oh, you couldn't just hurl the book and say that's my problem. I too wanted to be strong!"

He rose.

"...Up to this point I trained, only to be bested by someone who thought of little else than perverted things, I admit, but who has no burden whatsoever than to achieve his self-invented goal. Of Milli, I should say that his present goals are not his, but the ones you imposed on him. Oh, were it not for respect to the elder, I would've twisted your neck in one fist--"

"Why, you..!"

Three knocks on the door cut our argument short.

"Come in!" I said, not letting my gaze stray away from this impudent brat.

"Hello, Grandmom. Uncle."