"Demons, Junior?"
Aforementioned boy held down the instinctive flinch at the sudden words of his master, closing the book in his hands while cursing his inability to hear the old man approach. One day… "Just caught my eye, is all. Are we leaving now?"
His master nodded, narrowed eyes surrounded by thick black makeup as he gestured for his apprentice to follow him. "Remember, don't—"
"—get attached, yes, we've been through this a thousand times," interrupted the younger. "I'm an old hand at this, this is what, my 73rd name? I don't make mistakes, old man."
Said old man's hand shot out, lightning fast, and slapped his apprentice upside the neck. A yelp escaped the victim's lips, and he scowled, rubbing the stinging spot with one hand.
"Don't get cocky, brat," muttered the master. "You're still a child compared to me."
"Everyone's a child compared to you, what with your ridiculously old ag— ow!"