"May magic flow through your veins?" Thad gave a contemptuous snicker. He'd almost forgotten what the old windbags at the academy could be like when they were being all official.
He looked up over the letter and gave her another glance. He still wasn't sure how he felt about a female apprentice. A pretty little thing she was, no doubt about that, but he'd hoped to at least get some free labor out of the whole apprentice deal and he wasn't sure how helpful a little thing like her would be.
"Hmm, this all seems in order. Come on inside, we don't want anyone to see you out here."
He put a hand between her shoulderblades and gently pushed her inside. He then made sure noone outside had been watching and closed the door. Didn't need anyone saying Thaddeus was leading girls to his house, there were enough rumors like that without him helping them along.
He led Dellana into the kitchen/lab and sat down on the only chair at the table where he took his meals. He fixed out a pipe from one of the pockets in his robe and put it in his mouth. After studying the letter for half a minute, he took out the pipe and exhaled a curious blue smoke that seemed to have no smell.
"So, Dellana, I see that you'll need a bit of work before we can get started on your real studies. Chemistry is failed and potions is barely a pass, so you obviously have trouble with working in a laboratory. To amend that, you'll be in charge of all cooking as well as keeping this whole room clean and orderly." He gestured around the kitchen.
"They say chemistry was born in the kitchen so this seems suitable. Now." He leaned forward and looked her in the eyes. A moment passed as he seemed to forget what he was about to say, then blinked once and continued unfazed.
"Your demonology and element control scores aren't suited for an apprentice and your teachers must frankly have a soft spot for you to send you off with results like these. I realize element control is a tough discipline and most girls have a hard time with demonology, but they're both vital for anyone who wants to achieve actual power. I want you to know, if these scores are a result of either laziness or apprehension, that I tolerate only a full and wholehearted effort from my students, and I want to know right now if you've been putting anything less than your best into these subjects. Additionally, if you have any questions before I show you around, this is the time to ask."
He gave her his best stern look and crossed his arms, waiting.
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