Alric blinks and smiles a grins a little lopsidedly.

"I assure you, I intend to offer no less than that in my time here, Doctor."

That's a good sign, at least. If Takakage were being deferential, he wouldn't likely go suggesting anything to the contrary, so he's probably just being generally considerate.

"I'll have to see if there are any more... pressing gaps in my education to be addressed, but it does sound like an intriguing subject. And a practical one."