10. I see no problem here

In the heart of the palace, Acheron and Milim followed the guards through grand corridors adorned with intricate tapestries and ornate chandeliers. Eventually, they arrived at a vast room with a luxurious sofa and two elegant chairs. On the sofa lay Luminous, reclining gracefully as she observed Acheron's approach with keen interest.

As Acheron entered, Luminous's gaze lingered on her, taking in every detail of her frame with an intensity that bordered on scrutiny. Acheron met her gaze with a steady, unwavering stare, her expression calm and composed despite the weight of Luminous's scrutiny.

"Welcome, Acheron, to my new room" Luminous greeted her, her voice smooth and melodic. "It's been a while."

Acheron inclined her head in acknowledgment. "Indeed, it has, Luminous."

Luminous gestured for Acheron and Milim to take a seat, her eyes lingering on the young girl with a hint of curiosity. As they settled into the chairs, Luminous's gaze turned to Acheron, a silent invitation for her to speak.

Acheron took a moment to collect her thoughts before beginning to recount her recent adventures. She spoke of her encounter with Chronoa, the skilled swordswoman.

"Then," Acheron continued, "I stumbled upon Guy Crimson and Velzard."

Luminous listened intently, her interest piqued by Acheron's tales of adventure and intrigue. She leaned forward slightly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as Acheron recounted her encounters with Veldenava and Lucia.

"And what of Milim?" Luminous inquired, her gaze shifting to the young girl beside Acheron. "Who is she?"

Acheron hesitated for a moment before answering. "Milim Nava is the daughter of Veldenava," she explained, her voice tinged with a hint of resignation. "Veldenava and Lucia entrusted her to my care."

Luminous's eyes widened in shock at the revelation, her expression betraying her surprise. "The daughter of Veldenava?" she echoed, her voice filled with disbelief. "I had no idea he had a child?."

Milim, growing impatient with the conversation, began to fidget restlessly in her seat. She glanced up at Acheron with pleading eyes, a silent plea for permission to speak.

Acheron sighed softly, recognizing Milim's impatience. "Milim, please," she said gently, "wait your turn."

Milim's expression softened at Acheron's words, but her impatience remained evident. "But Auntie Acheron," she protested, "I want to fight the vampiric guards! Can I, can I?"

Acheron glanced at Luminous, silently seeking her permission. "You will need permission from Luminous," she said, her tone firm but gentle.

Milim turned her gaze to Luminous, her eyes wide and pleading. "Please, Auntie Luminous," she pleaded, "can I spar with the guards?"

Luminous regarded Milim with a mixture of amusement and curiosity, her lips quirking into a small smile. "Very well, Milim," she said, her voice tinged with amusement. "You may spar with the guards, but be careful not to get hurt."

Milim's face lit up with joy at Luminous's approval. "Thank you, Auntie Luminous!" she exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious.

With Luminous's permission granted, Milim practically bounced out of her seat, eager to test her skills against the vampiric guards. Acheron watched her go, grateful for Luminous's understanding and support.

As Milim engaged in her spar with the guards, Luminous couldn't help but wonder what could possibly go wrong. After all, Milim was just a child. However, her doubts were soon dispelled as she watched Milim effortlessly thrash her opponents with a wild grin, treating them like mere toys.

As the minutes passed and Milim continued to decimate her guards, Luminous looked on in disbelief, her eyes darting between Milim and Acheron with growing concern. Finally, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, she turned to Acheron and voiced her apprehension.

"What exactly are you teaching her, Acheron?" Luminous asked, her tone laced with disbelief.

Acheron, caught off guard by Luminous's question, furrowed her brow in confusion. "Nothing special," she repeated, her voice tinged with stoicism. "Isn't it normal for a child to learn how to fight like this?"

Luminous let out an exasperated yell in response, her frustration boiling over. "Hell, it's not normal!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing through the room.

"Whaahahaha!"

As Milim engaged in her spar with the vampiric guards, her laughter echoed through the grand room, punctuating the intense battle unfolding before her.

Milim's laughter bubbled up as she effortlessly dodged a guard's strike, countering with a swift kick that sent him stumbling backward. "Whaahaha! Is that all you've got?" she taunted, her voice laced with amusement.

The guards, usually formidable opponents, found themselves struggling to keep up with Milim's speed and agility. Despite their best efforts, they were no match for her raw power and youthful energy.

Acheron watched on, in a pride across her features as she observed Milim's prowess in battle. "Milim, be careful, don't kill them."

But Milim paid her no heed, her focus solely on the thrill of the fight. With a mischievous grin, she launched herself into the air, somersaulting gracefully before delivering a powerful blow that sent another guard crashing to the ground.

Luminous pointed at the battle maniac. "Is this normal to you?"

Not understanding what Luminous was saying, she just tilted her head.

Luminous could only stare at Acheron in disbelief, her frustration reaching its peak. "You idiot, what have you been teaching her?" she yelled, unable to contain her anger any longer.

As Luminous confronted Acheron about her unorthodox methods of teaching Milim. She didn't knew her methods were unconventional, but they were necessary for Milim's growth and survival in their harsh world.

Taking a deep breath, Acheron decided to be honest with Luminous, despite the potential backlash. "I teach her the way I know," she began, her voice steady but tinged with regret. "Milim needs to be strong, Luminous. She needs to be able to defend herself in this world."

Luminous listened, her expression softening slightly as she began to understand Acheron's perspective. However, when Acheron mentioned throwing Milim into pits of monsters and subjecting her to other intense trials, Luminous's shock and disapproval were evident.

"And the other thing I had her do was pull the ship through the ocean on her own."

"That's... barbaric," Luminous exclaimed, her voice tinged with horror. "You can't subject a child to such cruelty, Acheron!"

Acheron tilted her head, in a confusion. "It's not that harsh. It's the only way I know how to prepare her for the dangers that lie ahead," she admitted, her voice in her classic monotone tone.

Luminous sighed, her frustration mingling with sympathy for her guards that wen through Acheron's training. "There are other ways, Acheron. Kinder, gentler ways," she suggested, her tone softening.

Acheron nodded, acknowledging Luminous's words. "Perhaps you're right," she conceded, a hint of uncertainty creeping into her voice. "But for now, this is all I know."

With a heavy heart, Acheron turned her attention back to Milim, who was still engaged in her playful bout with the guards. She couldn't help but ponder what is wrong with her way of teaching.

(End of a chapter)