“Not good enough,” Idhron stated.
Was it his imagination or did Idhron really sound a little breathless?
“I’m sorry, Master,” Eridan said, glaring at the wooden floor of the porch. “I will try harder.”
Idhron released his chin. “You will,” he said. He headed inside the house, clearly expecting Eridan to follow him. He did, of course.
Idhron led him toward his study. Along the way, Eridan quietly instructed the house’s AI to have Idhron’s favorite meals delivered as soon as possible from the kitchens. Personally, Eridan always found himself in a better mood if his stomach was full, and he hoped that was true for his Master, too.
Idhron sat in the chair behind his desk and gestured for Eridan to take the seat to his right.
Eridan did as he was told and folded his hands in his lap, the picture of a perfect apprentice.
Judging by Idhron’s narrowed eyes, he only managed to make him suspicious.
“Have you done the assignment?” Idhron said.
Eridan pouted, thinking about the message he had received from Idhron a few days ago. “About that. I’ve never heard of Masters assigning their apprentices homework. I still have initiates’ classes I have to attend, you know.”
Idhron didn’t look sorry for him. “Have you?” he said, his tone colder.
Eridan sighed. So whining his way out of doing homework wasn’t a line Idhron would allow him to push. More was the pity, but good to know.
“I have, Master,” he said, smiling innocently when Idhron gave him a hard, assessing look. “Thanks, by the way. I had lots of fun doing those tasks.”
He had expected Idhron to be angry—or his unemotional version of it, anyway—for attempting to play him, but the older man’s gaze seemed almost… appreciative?
“Did you now,” Idhron said without much inflection.
Eridan nodded, trying to squash down the urge to impress him. What was wrong with him? It wasn’t about impressing Idhron. Or rather, it wasn’t about impressing Idhron for the sake of impressing him. He wanted to be promoted to a real apprentice. That was the goal. Nothing else.
“I wasn’t sure what to do at first,” Eridan admitted. “You just told me to learn five other people’s secrets without getting caught, and I wasn’t sure what method you wanted me to use. And I’ve never been good at reading people’s minds, so I was a little bit frustrated.” That was putting it mildly. He had been fuming that Idhron had set him up to fail. It wasn’t as though Idhron didn’t have access to his academic records and couldn’t see his poor marks in mind reading. But when he calmed down, he had realized that Idhron wanted to see how he would handle such a task. It was another test. A test Eridan hoped he had passed.
“So I used your reputation,” Eridan said, watching his Master’s reaction carefully. “All the initiates are scared of you. All I had to do was imply that I wanted to enter their minds on your orders, and that if they resisted, you would not be pleased.” He nearly laughed, remembering the other initiates’ faces at that threat. Eridan had picked the most horrible initiates he had known, ones that always bullied throwbacks and younger children. He couldn’t deny that he’d taken pleasure in scaring those assholes shitless. “They let me enter their minds, obviously, and after I learned their most embarrassing secret, I erased their memories of our conversation—that I’m rather good at.” Focusing, he sent the memories of those conversations to his Master through their training bond.
Idhron’s expression remained impassive. Unimpressed.
Eridan’s heart sank. He had thought Idhron wouldn’t mind his solution…
“It is not your solution that is the problem, Eridan,” Idhron said, his voice mild. “Using all resources available to you was a smart thing to do. What I have an issue with is the fact that you picked five unpleasant boys you did not like. You let your emotions rule your actions.”
Eridan clenched his jaw. “Well, that’s me. I already told you not to expect me to turn into an emotionless robot. If you really expect it, you should stop wasting our time and ditch me right now.”
“I hardly expect you to turn into an ‘emotionless robot,’ Eridan,” Idhron said, giving him a steady look. “But I expect you not to be so squeamish. When you eventually become a mind adept of the High Hronthar, it will be part of your job to learn other people’s dirtiest secrets, and you will not be afforded the luxury of choosing only people you dislike.”
Eridan swallowed his annoyance, hating that Idhron’s point was valid and hating himself for being pleased by his wording. Idhron had said “when you eventually become a mind adept,” not if. It pleased him more than it should have.
“So I failed your test,” he stated, dejected.
“Yes and no,” his Master said. “I will give you an opportunity to redo your assignment, only this time you will choose five people you like. Your closest friends.”