Overworked
Raenef slipped into the library, suppressing a groan as he saw Eclipse already waiting at the table.
"You are late, Master Raenef. A Demon Lord must always be punctual," Eclipse reprimanded, setting a book in front of Raenef as he sat at the table.
"Sorry, Eclipse," Raenef murmured, afraid that he might be angry with him.
"A Demon Lord does not apologize, Master Raenef, either. Now, read this chapter and be sure to take notes. I will quiz you on it after you finish, so please pay attention."
Raenef glanced up in surprise when he saw Eclipse sitting on the opposite side of the table, opening another book and beginning to read it himself.
"Are you learning too?" he asked, intrigued.
"Read the chapter, please, my Lord," Eclipse told him calmly.
Raenef scowled slightly then started to read with a sigh. Minutes later he looked stealthily over at Eclipse, watching him writing notes down as he quickly flipped through pages. Eclipse had never done this before; wasn't he supposed to make sure Raenef was doing what he was told, and not falling asleep?
Eclipse looked up and Raenef quickly pretended to read again, hoping Eclipse hadn't seem him not paying attention to his studies.
An hour later had Raenef yawning as he put his head down on top of the boring book. He had finished the chapter, but he couldn't really remember what it was about. He watched Eclipse closely, noting with some surprise that his pale face seemed more so than usual. He even had those dark bruises under his eyes, if Raenef looked closely.
"Have you finished?"
Raenef sat up quickly, embarrassed at being caught staring at his tutor.
"Yes, Eclipse," he answered dutifully.
Eclipse rose and came around the table, taking the book from in front of Raenef and closing it.
"Alright then, tell me what the name of the spell that you are to replicate is called."
Raenef smiled happily, remembering the name because it sounded like a spell that Eclipse had created.
"Dark shard four."
"And what does this spell accomplish?"
"Umm… It throws shards…?" Raenef replied, none too confidently.
"And what do these shards do?"
Raenef chewed worriedly on his lip. If only Eclipse hadn't taken away the book! He even remembered where it said, of he could only have the book back…
"The shards accomplish something, Master Raenef. Tell me what they do."
"They… cut things…?"
Eclipse stifled a sigh; this lesson would not be a pleasant one.
A few hours later had Eclipse casting repairing spells over the library and Raenef nearly in tears, watching him silently.
"I'm sorry, Eclipse, I really did pay attention!"
"I know, Master Raenef, but you are still not applying yourself enough. You can go outside now, your studies are finished for the day."
Raenef gaped, tears banished.
"Really? No more lessons?"
"No, I think we left off at a good place. I know it's a bit early, but-"
At the sudden absence Eclipse felt he turned, finding Raenef long gone. At Chris's sudden squeal from outside, Eclipse sat wearily in the chair and looked at the mess Raenef had created. More for him to clean, more for him to do… Eclipse set resolutely to cleaning the rest of the mess, tiredly picking up books and replacing them on the newly-repaired shelves.