[Oh, for Goddess's sake. They're running an Imperial Guard, not a daycare. Nethan hides that immediate reaction, however, and watches Zelos and Lloyd practice without answering right away.

Kratos is a polite mercenary, at the very least. Nethan's met many who weren't.

-- and they're now swerving into more personal territory, which is Nethan's cue to leave, so he gently interrupts.] As long as he does what he's told, I don't see why he can't join whenever the Chosen does. If you'll both excuse me...

[... what sort of child bent Yuan into playing hide-and-seek with his cape? Did Zelos ever do that, or was he too old by then?]