While Michael was asleep with his mom tucking him to bed,the other adults remained at the dining table, with their conversation shifting now that small ears were safely unconscious upstairs.
Edward leaned back in his chair, swirling the wine in his glass thoughtfully. "So... are you sure about this,you know...about Michael potentially joining Grauzauberer?"
He looked at his mother, expression uncertain. "I mean, I did drop out even though I was supposedly one of their best students at the time and did cause cause some problems when i was studying there. Won't that... I don't know, effect his chances on Mephisto approving of his entry?"
Vivienne set down her teacup with a gentle clink. " It's fine I'll contact Mephisto eventually. Probably in a few years, when Michael's older and his talents are more developed. But Edward..." She gave him a pointed look. "The agreement the family have with Grauzauberer isn't dependent on your continued participation It's a family contract afterall, it's Broader than just you."
"Still—"
"Besides," she continued, waving off his concern, "Mephisto is remarkably relaxed about these things. He doesn't hold grudges, especially not over something as mundane as a young man deciding magic wasn't his calling." Her lips quirked into a small smile. "He's not someone who forced on others."
Edward didn't look entirely convinced. "Even so, it feels like I burned that bridge pretty thoroughly."
"You didn't burn anything" Vivienne assured him. "You just... stepped off it to flirt with french girls and chase a girl through Italy"
"Mom."
"I'm not criticizing, dear. Just stating facts."
Edgar, who'd been quietly observing the conversation, finally spoke up. "From what I understand, Mephisto would probably be more than happy to accept Michael. Especially if the boy shows even half the talent you had."
Vivienne nodded. "That's true. And not to mention I've heard—through various channels that Grauzauberer has been losing a large amount of members recently. Some left voluntarily. Others were exiled."
Edward frowned. "Exiled? For what?"
"Behavioral issues,ethical violations,and many other things" Vivienne's expression darkened slightly. "The organization has been facing a lot of problems recently, and apparently some of it are due to it's members not following the rules and term that exist. Mephisto's been somewhat facing that problem ."
She paused, her fingers tapping the edge of her teacup,and showing a somewhat concerned face.
"Though I have to admit," she added slowly, "I have a somewhat bad feeling about it."
The table went quiet.
"Bad feeling how?" Edward asked, looking puzzled since he's trying to remember if there were any problems that has emerged recently or in the past from his personnel.
"I'm not sure," Vivienne admitted. "Just... intuition,like the way things are shifting in the supernatural world,and some other things like increased tension and alliances fracturing" She shook her head. "It's probably nothing. Just an old woman's paranoia."
"Your intuition's usually right," Edward said quietly. Which his mom was usually right on things whether it was due to her instinct as a mother or as a magician.
"Maybe we'll see." She straightened, pushing the thought aside. "Regardless, Mephisto almost certainly already knows why you dropped out,Edward, after all your reputation at Grauzauberer was... memorable."
Edward groaned. " Not this again,It wasn't that bad."
Edgar snorted into his drink.
" It was definitely that bad, which if i remember correctly,didn't Mephisto laugh" Edgar said, clearly enjoying himself, "when he heard your nickname? What was it again?" He paused, pretending to think. "Ah yes—'The Chasing Wizard of Skirts'? Or was it 'The Skirt-Chasing Sorcerer'? or the ' Infamous Flirter of Grauzbaurer' "
Edward's face went red. "Dad....Please "
"I'm just saying—"
but Edward soon paused and then asked
"Wait wait Dad When did you even meet Mephisto?" Edward demanded, looking shocked and confused when he just processed his dad having met Mephisto.
Edgar leaned back in his chair, perfectly calm. "Your mother introduced us years ago. Before you were born, actually."
Edward blinked. "You... you met a devil. And you're just casually mentioning this now?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Edgar shrugged. "My wife is a witch. I've faced stranger things than a polite devil over tea."
"'Faced' is a strong word," Vivienne interjected. "You mostly just sat there looking uncomfortable while Mephisto made small talk."
"I was assessing him."
"You were sweating."
"I was strategically cautious."
Edward shook his head, somewhere between amused and exasperated. "I can't believe you never told me this."
"You never asked." Edgar took a sip of his drink. "Besides, your old man isn't as conservative as you think. I married a magician, didn't I? Meeting some devil was just... part of the package at some point."
"A devil who runs an organization of magicians," Vivienne clarified. "It's not like I brought home a random devil."
"True." Edgar nodded thoughtfully. "Even though I have killed a few devils in my day."
" Didn't you literally also had slaughtered dozens of devils"
"Different story. Different time." Edgar waved it off. "Point is, I'm not squeamish about the supernatural. Your mother does magic, we have strange guests occasionally, and life goes on."
Vivienne smiled fondly at her husband. "You're handling this conversation remarkably well, dear."
"I've had decades to get used to it." Edgar replied while looking towards his wife.
Edward took a long drink from his glass, processing everything.Then another thought occurred to him.
"Speaking of supernatural dangers," he said carefully, "are we... are we sure about bringing out the sword for Michael later?"
The temperature at the table seemed to drop several degrees.
Vivienne and Edgar exchanged a glance.
"The sword," Vivienne repeated slowly.
"Yeah." Edward shifted uncomfortably. "I mean, last time we brought it out when i was young, it tried to kill me. Mom had to use three different sealing spells and shove it into a pocket dimension just to keep it contained."
"That's because you weld it without permission," Vivienne said.
"I was twelve!"
"And reckless."
"It tried to stab me through the chest."
"It was testing you," Vivienne said calmly, as if sentient homicidal swords were perfectly normal family heirlooms, which it probably was "And you failed."
Edward stared at her. "I failed the 'don't get murdered by the family sword' test?"
"Essentially, yes."
"How is that a fair test?!"
"The sword judges intent and also can feel your soul in a way," Vivienne explained
patiently. "You weren't worthy of it. It reacted accordingly."
"By trying to kill me."
"By defending itself. Though it's true it tried to kill you "
Edward pinched the bridge of his nose. "I can't believe we're having this conversation."
Edgar spoke up, his tone more serious now. "The boy's only five. Far too young to even see the sword, let alone touch it."
"Agreed," Vivienne said. "We won't bring it out for years,not until he's at least ten or eleven. Old enough to understand the responsibility and also old enough to approach it properly and weld it"
"And what if it tries to kill him too?" Edward asked.
Vivienne smiled faintly. "Then we'll know he's not worthy as well."
"Mom." Edward looking at his mom worried of his son
"Relax, Edward. I won't let anything happen to him." She stood, collecting plates.
"Besides, the sword has been dormant for decades. It's not going to spontaneously attack anyone, since it's sealed,and it will stay sealed until the right time,and when the day arrives your dad and i will be ready to put the sword away"
Edward didn't look entirely reassured.
But he nodded.
"Fine. Just... let's not mention it to Michael yet. My son already is going to have enough on his plate with magic training."
"Agreed." Vivienne headed toward the kitchen, pausing at the doorway. "Though I suspect he'll ask about it eventually. Curious boy, that one."
"Takes after his mom," Edgar said dryly.
"And his father," Vivienne countered.
"Definitely his father," Edgar agreed, giving Edward a pointed look.
Edward sighed. "I'm never going to live down the skirt-chasing thing, am I?"
"Not a chance," both parents said in unison.
He groaned and reached for the wine bottle.
...
"Also Dad is it ok if i joined your group again" Edward asked while drinking some wine
"i don't mind considering i really need manpower recently." Edgar shrugged about his son joining back to doing operations again, after he stopped helping him when he got married and got a normal job.
" But please don't flirt with any of the females" Edgar replied
"Oh come on,do i really look like someone who still flirt with girls even if I'm married!?" Edward looking astonished at his dad reply.
" Yes" Both of his parents replied immediately even though they know their son hadn't and would never do it after marrying Giulia considering he's already happy with his relationship.
" I really hate you guy's sooo.... Much" Edward stared at his parents, while drinking wine,with his parents laughing.
While Edward was continuously to be bullied by his parents. Upstairs, Michael slept soundly,and blissfully unaware of the thing he missed about sword that tried to kill his dad,devil administrator, and his father's extremely embarrassing nickname and titles and history,and them relentlessly teasing him about it, Michael soon was about to meet a new friend who's Italian.
________
Author Note :
Yeah theres lot of things I'm currently putting in the story, which note it won't fully appear
For a while but will hinted at, though it will be more relevant and appear later in the story.
Also about his sacred gear when he unlock it same for his memories of dxd,it will be awhile considering I'm currently focusing on him having to learn magic,and worldbuilding. But he will unlock it when he's 7.
I have some plans on the worldbuilding for many things,from the organisation grauzbaurer and the magicians faction,the church and heaven, to individuals in a way heck even about hero faction members.
But it will take a while to get to that part considering the amount of chapters that is needed for him in his
Middle or late childhood arc and also arriving at his teenage arc.