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"But those are social situations, just not situations in a large crowd, or with a group of people," Eron explained, "When we talk about social skills, what we are talking about is our ability to interpret other people's intentions as well as our own. When we mean our own emotions, I asked Andarien if he didn't like some of those lessons because they were hard or because he couldn't do them. He actually can't articulate why he doesn't like something, and I think he also doesn't occur to him to talk about how he feels."

Eron scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

"Andarien went into his tent to rest, but I think he didn't like the fact he was talking about things he didn't like or he didn't like thinking about it. I don't know which one it is, because instead of telling me, he just left. Like he doesn't tell Kaito he's angry with him, or that he thinks Kaito is being unfair, or even question him. Kaito has been pushing him to force him to ask why his teacher is pushing him, but it never occurred to Andarien to ask, and this is the most important part. Andarien may not be able to pick up, what we call unspoken lessons, lessons we learn socially by interaction."

"Professionals who know more than me can give you advice on how to adjust your own behaviour, and what additional lessons he might need," Eron explained.

"So more lessons..." Lin grimaced she wasn't sure how Andarien would take that.

"It's actually not as bad as you think, one of the advantages Andarien has, is that he's not in a school system. I don't know if you ever went to Fuliteach or a similar school Lin, but you can imagine how that would have been much harder if he had."

Lin thought about it, recalling her times growing up and then her small time in high school. It was fun, and then she recalled all the little social things with teachers and fellow students. She made a face.

"That would have been a nightmare," Lin murmured.

Eron nodded grimly, "He's lucky, he's homeschooled in an environment that encourages his strong suits. So really half the battle is already won there, but it would be nice to know if there should be adjustments to teaching. I already talked to Kaito, because Andarien was never going to ask him why and it would have backfired spectacularly."

Not that Kaito didn't deserve to get a taste of his own medicine.

"They can also give you advice on how to encourage him to talk more about his feelings, and voice what he interprets from other people rather than to just very angry or very sad. We can already do that now actually, but they know more about the process than we do. Finally, it's also to make sure there's nothing else. Sometimes what you can observe on the surface are just signs of other things, I doubt it, or if it's there it's very mild."

"Like what?" Lin asked, even though she hoped there was nothing else.

"Sensory issues, sensitivity to light, sound, taste, feeling or texture, or sometimes an under sensitivity to those senses. A need for a routine, which obviously that's not the case here, uhm..." he thought for a moment, "Obsessions... tics... really if there is anything it probably sensory and probably very mild. Everyone has sensory issues, we just don't notice it most of the time. Honestly, he is very mild, the only people who are going to notice are people on the outside, simply because he's an adult who acts younger than he is."

"What you're saying is," Lin smiled softly if not a bit sadly, "He's as adjusted as he's going to be for his stage."

Eron nodded, "He's probably not going to grow into his stage anymore than he has."

"I don't know... when you throw magic into the mix, especially another sight, that complicates it. I don't know if his other sight is unusually sensitive or not," Eron shrugged, "If he grows another stage, you might see a bit of a difference, but you might not."

"It'll be a long time until we see Gaia again, what can we expect from here on end?" Lin asked.

Eron thought about it, "I think the most important thing is, if you plan to teach him anything else, take into account that unless it's something he has an obsession with, or very interested in, he won't give the feedback you need to know how he's doing. He might tell you he's having a hard time, or that he doesn't like it, but you will have to be more specific in your questions and force him to think about why he's having trouble, or why he's feeling a particular way. Understand that if he does get angry at someone, to know what it is he thinks is happening because it might not be what we think it is. It should help move along lessons easier and create less misunderstanding, because at this point it's all about interpretation."

Eron smiled, "Just encourage him as you have been doing. The most interesting thing about situations like these is that on the rare occasions it produces children like Andarien who are brilliant at one thing, often something that requires a logical or mathematical mind."

"So his brilliance in gears might be a by product of this," Lin asked, she found that hard to believe.

"Yea, the term by parents is known as 'too exceptional' brilliant to the point where other areas are hampered greatly. It's in truth rare, but not unheard of," Eron explained, "Give him the tools and he'll carry it out himself. Miyuki's building of a home that could include a forge will help a great deal, even if I don't understand how that process is supposed to work."

Listening to Miyuki was like listening to any professional outside of his field, it made him feel under educated.

"Yes, I know it seems like a moot point to bring up, but I was talking to the nekos earlier, mainly because of Kaito...."

Eron trailed off and wasn't sure how to continue that.

"Kaito is both brilliant and impossible," Lin assured Eron, "If you tell us he was doing something jerkish that is fine."

"Funny, Shiro said something similar earlier," Eron murmured, "Maybe it's not such a bad thing to encourage payback in Andarien...."

"True, though I don't think it'll happen as long as Kaito has a talk with Andarien," Eron murmured, "Apparently Kaito has been trying to force Andarien to question him by being harsh on the boy. Naturally that isn't going to work..."

"What did Kaito do and what is Andarien doing?" Lin asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Kaito was sometimes a bit too... Kaito for her liking.

"He was using pressure points on Andarien and then leaving him," Eron replied in something that was a half smile and half grimace, "The idea was to get Andarien to ask why, or at least ask how to undo it. Instead, Andarien got really angry and unknowingly to Kaito, Shoneah knows that skill set and has been teaching Andarien. Kaito says since it's more academic, Andarien will probably get it."

"I don't know much about physical training," Eron admitted, "But I can try. I don't mind..."

It's not like he had much to do anyways, and he would like to see Andarien succeed in what he does.