Standing in front of the huge door that opened to the chamber, he took a deep breath, preparing himself for the torrent of complaints, that was awaiting him on the other side. He knocked twice and then went in.

"Good morning, my lord." Akira kneeled and took a bow, infront of an old man in his mid 70s sitting on the only chair in the chamber. His long white hair and beard gave him the aura of a saint but the man was as far as one could possibly be, from being one.

"Didn't expect you to be here on time." Daisuke greeted Akira, taking his eyes off the document he was reading. "So, how are you doing these days? I was informed that the beta ran away." 

"Yes, my Lord. He left the mansion a few days ago. But-"

"Well, Good riddance! ", Daisuke cut him off as if he'd heard what he wanted to hear. 

"I did insist from the very beginning that you shouldn't be pairing up with the likes of him." 

Akira wasn't sure what his grandfather expected him to say. The silence dragged out, and that made him uneasy. 

"Yes, my Lord.  You did." He was now more sure than ever that Azu made the right decision, leaving this place and him. 

I am pathetic.

"I'm glad to hear that you feel the same way, Akira. It's time you act the way you are supposed to."

Once again, Akira did nothing but nod.

"I've asked my friend in Rigel to send a few of their top students here, to meet us." Akira had a vague idea of where this conversation was heading. 

"I beg your pardon, my lord. May I ask the reason for the sudden interest in Rigel? If my memory serves right, it is an academy that is exclusively meant for training betas."

"That precisely is the reason why we are interested in them, Akira. Now then, I have something to ask of you.". From the way his grandfather's tone had changed, Akira knew that he was about to receive one of those 'requests' that he had no choice but to accept. A siren rang somewhere, in a corner of his mind.

"I would like to officiate your binding myself and I'd like to do it before I'm officially relieved of my duties as the Head of the Council. The only thing that was stopping us from finding a suitable beta was the son of that whore."

Akira winced, visibly. His grandfather never blinked ; his eyes stayed fixed on Akira as he carefully analysed the emotions that appeared on his face.

He continued, "Now that he has left you out of his own will, I think you should be able to choose your beta without feeling guilty about it. Why don't we do it this Saturday?"

"My Lord, I do not see the reason to make a hasty decision on a matter of such importance. Besides, I firmly believe, that no one would raise an objection if you wish to officiate my binding, even when you are no longer a part of the Ruling council."

Silence prevailed. He hasn't been this upfront about anything with his grandfather in a long time. His heart was racing. Blood rushed into to his ears and the silence deafened him.

"I cannot tell you how badly you've disappointed me today, Akira."

"Tell me, why haven't you been going to the academy these days?". There it was again ; he was being scolded like a child. 

"I apologize, my Lord. I will resume training as soon as I can." His grandfather's eyes were still on him. No, that wasn't the answer he was looking for.

"It's difficult, my Lord. Duels are hard and pretty much pointless without a beta." Akira's facade of calm and indifference was breaking. His tongue had started to act as if it had a mind of its own.

"You understand this and yet you dare ask me the reason why I'm in a hurry, boy? Do you not have any concerns about your future? Do you not understand your duty as the firstborn son of your father? You are twenty two years old, yet you act like a spoilt brat."

"And stop whining like a dog for the bastard who left you", Daisuke wasn't shouting this time. In fact, his voice was so composed when those words came out, that it was almost evil. "I was never planning on allowing you to make him your beta anyway."

The conversation was over and Akira was dismissed.

He had broken the mirror in his personal chamber again. He had wished on multiple occasions that he could get one which can take a few more punches. But well, the mirrors that came in as replacements were always the same. 
He'll need to visit the infirmary again and above all, he'll need to come up with a plan to beat some of the best betas in the country.