Zandar lowered his eyes.
Yes.
Eric had a clotting disorder. His body's own healing abilities could hardly control the bleeding.
There was also the risk of infection.
Minor bumps that others could shrug off might cause irreversible damage to his joints.
If he failed to seek medical attention promptly after an injury, his life could very well be in danger.
He could not take part in any risky sports, including most ball games, skiing, equestrianism, and the like.
Zandar guessed that his student's family must have protected him very well during the first fifteen years of his life.
That suffocating protection had stirred a rebellious streak in Eric.
Fortunately, his student knew where to draw the line.
Before Zandar could answer, Eric turned back around.
His cheeks were flushed, a cooling patch was stuck to his forehead, and he hugged a pillow, leaving only his eyes visible as he quietly asked Zandar:
"What about you? Did you argue with your teacher?"
Zandar did not answer.
Seeing this, Eric simply sat up and crossed his legs.
"Zandar, let's make a pact."
Zandar sat up as well and moved to the edge of Eric's bed. "What kind of pact?"
Eric went on:
"If you break our pact, I'll post my draft on StarNet as a thesis and add your full name at the end, so your reputation in academia will be ruined."
Zandar: "..."
Eric's draft? As a thesis?
With his full name in the acknowledgments, too?
Zandar felt dizzy.
He took a good while to recover, opened and closed his mouth several times, then asked:
"Could we..." use a different punishment?
Eric refused outright. "No."
Zandar: "..."
This had to be hell.
Eric patted his shoulder and said magnanimously:
"If I break the pact, you can post your draft on StarNet