Another day, another training. With the inter-academy competition whatever on the horizon, they've really ramped up the frequency… I feel like I haven't been in a lecture for days.

Which I guess I haven't, unless you count Instructor Fellows chewing me and Lyra out in his office for fighting.

Well, whatever. I don't even care anymore – not about her anyway.

Which brings me back to today, and its agility drills. Apparently the powers that be decided that I needed to work on my footwork and stamina before I spent any more time trying to combine all of that with my shieldwork, and so here I am on the practice field trying to keep up with one of the small white rabbit summons the headmaster keeps around as school aides.

It's a fast little bastard too, especially with how it keeps darting between the obstacles, tracing the path I'm supposed to follow. So far I've only tripped over one of the rocks once!

…

Okay, it was twice. And of course the damned mage just laughed again as I spat out grass and dirt. I'm still all scraped up since she won't heal me, insisting that she's 'saving her energy for actual injuries'.

Ending another lap through the winding path I double over, breathing heavily with my hands on my knees.

"Gods you're slow. How are you this slow, are you even trying?"

"You try running it, bitch."

"No point," Lyra snipes back, "it won't improve my spellcasting one bit. Maybe stamina by itself would, but my spells don't drain me nearly as much as all the huffing and puffing and getting stabbed unnecessarily you do."

(Ignore,) Olive yaps at me as she hops back on my shoulder from the ground. She tried sitting on her usual shoulder perch at first but after falling off during the first lap she gave up on it, instead waiting at the starting block.

I'd thought she had to stay near me or something, or that she'd just materialize from nowhere any time she was too far away, but that's apparently something she got from being a very, very old System Assistant.

The small fox simply projects an indifferent shrug as Instructor Fellows motions for me to return to the starting block.

"What, not gonna cast refresh or anything? Your party leader is worn out! Do your damned job, you useless book brain!"

The target of my frustrations wipes imaginary sweat from her forehead. "Oh, I don't know, 'party leader', I've already cast so much… my stamina is woefully depleted. I might even pass out if I try. I know it's oh so difficult but do try to soldier on without me, leave me behind and save yourself!"

"Agh! You are absolutely insufferable!"

"Oho? What a big word, maybe the biggest I've heard you use since we've met! I'm sure you're very proud."

"Bitch," I snap back.

"Asshole," she answers, still feigning exhaustion.

"Starting position! Now! And I'll see you in my blasted office, both of you, again!"

"Yes, Instructor Fellows," we both say in mildly annoyed unison.

I guess some things never change.

***

"Argh! What the hells is even wrong with that mage?" my uninvited and unwelcome 'guest' whines, somehow managing to not spill her tea despite thoughtlessly waving it around my personal quarters like a flag in the wind.

I manage to mask my growing irritation with a strained smile, but if they… she? Whatever. If the thing notices then it doesn't show.

"Ah yes, very unpleasant," I deadlan, "and may I assume this 'mage' person is the reason why you've interrupted my own game session?"

Nemesis blinks for a moment before offering me a sly grin. "Don't tell me, I can guess. I've gone and interrupted a date with my dear sister? I certainly hope it was during something that'll keep her pent up. Oh, but don't worry! I'm unliving proof that she can wait a very, very long time for gratification."

I take a sip from my cup to help tamp down the sudden spike of anger threatening to make me say something I and my entire domain would probably regret.

And then the monster simply waves off the entire issue as if it hadn't been deliberately picking a fight.

"Yes, yes, the mage. The mage, the annoying, annoying mage who keeps picking fights and won't leave me alone."

"Oh goodness, someone annoying who won't leave you alone? I can't imagine, that must be so infuriating!"

"Yes, see, you understand! I'm sure you've experienced it a great many times as well, especially considering how your domains here are crawling with humans outside of your control."

That's… a better response than I'd expected. Perhaps it overlooked the implication? Either way, I'm not going to draw attention to it.

"My son is helpful as ever, which is nice, but I'm not sure if it's because he knows we're his mothers or because he's just a genuinely good person. Maybe I'll know for sure someday, but I don't have a way to tell for now. He's been a good boy most of his life though. And at least I have one normal friend in there, a real friend unlike that stupid mage. One who doesn't pick fights! I don't know how to actually talk to her well though, we don't share a language although she's been helping me learn hers."

I sigh in exasperation. "If you can't talk to her, how do you even know you're friends?"

"Well… huh. That's not a bad point I guess, but we do a lot of things together. Although she does seem to be avoiding me lately, at least a little bit."

Her sudden chuckle catches me off guard before she continues, "And I understand why a lot better than my game self does. I'm sure you understand too, lovebird."

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I splutter on my tea before stifling a cough, managing to inhale the smallest amount,

"Why are you here though? In all seriousness. Nemesis… I've asked you numerous times to tell me if you are going to visit."

"If I did that you'd just always say you're busy. Wouldn't you?" she asks with a pointed look.

And… I can't argue.

I absolutely would.

***

And of course, the minute I returned to my seat of power, Vivi dragged me off to one meeting after another, all with the same insistent demand.

"If you're going to be an empress, you need to act like one and stop hiding in seclusion. Your people need to actually see you from time to time at the bare minimum."

"Fine," I sigh back, "but after that I'm going to-"

"Yes, yes, you're going return to playing with that mortal's life. You truly don't find it strange that you yourself have become addicted to the very thing you created to addict the other gods?"

Huffing a breath through my nose I dismissively answer, "I'm not an addict. I still log out at night to spend time with my family, and – wait, that counts as family time too! I'm spending time with Livvie and Joy in there!"

My centipede knight's deadpan stare says it all.

Huh.

…

But I'm not going to stop now, not when it's just getting interesting.

After another twelve hours of boring meetings I finally retire to my chambers, meeting Livvie and Izzy already in their pajamas.

…

…

We've already established that the mortals keep living their lives when we're not logged in… well, Sadie does regardless since I still haven't found a way to control her other than random impulses or brute forcing it with the words of creation… but I'd rather not do that.

No, she's way too interesting to begin with, and I've already meddled so much. I don't even want to think about the browbeatings I'd get from my wives if I meddled like that as well.

Although… I've been away for an entire day, and my little surrogate has a tendency to get into trouble.

Interesting trouble.

***

And so, my routine continues.

I wake up to Olive hopping up and down on me and tugging at my hair, the most adorable-yet-effective alarm clock ever. The second I stand from my bed my loyal maid is upon me, stripping me in a heartbeat and layering on my academy uniform before ushering me insistently yet respectfully toward the dining room where another meal waits.

...Another meal that's way too fancy for someone like me, but whatever.

For better or worse, I'm slowly adapting to this way of life.

After breakfast and some half-asleep conversation with my party Alice informs me that yes, once again, that infernal mage is still in bed – no doubt recovering from yet another night spent reading way, way too late. I've considered on multiple occasions just letting her sleep through class and face the consequences but I have no doubt that Instructor Fellows would just blame me for not making sure she's there.

I am party leader after all… with all the costs and benefits.

"Shall I, young miss?"

"No, Alice," I sigh. "No, I'll get her this time."

It would probably also be helpful if she didn't keep tempting me to let Lyra sleep in.

Whatever.

So I slam the mage's door open as hard as I can causing the bookshelves to shake, the bed's sole occupant letting out a loud, "Blargh! Muh, wha?" as she flops onto the floor like an imbecile.

"Oho?" I say, mimicking her tone from the day before, "Why don't you just stay down there for a while, hmm? Crawling on the ground like a worm? I've got half a mind to just leave you here."

Lyra lays on the floor blinking around for a moment before her eyes finally focus and settle on me.

"Oh, it's you again."

"Yeah, it's me again, making sure you don't hibernate the rest of the year. You know, someday you're going to sleep right through your lectures, not that I care."

The mage glares back as she starts to pull herself up. "Not all of us are lucky enough to have a fully sentient System Assistant, you spoiled fucking brat. Even if you didn't, the damn mai-AHEM! Your very astute, talented, and helpful maid, would undoubtedly wake you instead."

The threat of another one of Alice's sharp sidelong glances should she happen to be hiding in the shadows – at least partially confirmed by the door quietly closing behind me – almost saves me from further bookworm annoyances, but today Lyra seems especially in the mood to pick a fight.

I can tell because she pushes me. So I push her back, causing her to bump into one of her bookcases, rattling its contents.

I'm actually almost shocked at the burning glare she returns before she charges, my ankles catching on the edge of her bed as we both topple over.

The next thing I know I'm on my back on the mattress with her over me, hands to either side.

"I had a dream you died," she snarls a bit quieter than usual, "because you're an idiot and charged into a fight without following the plan, MY plan, and you wouldn't listen when I tried to stop you."

I give her a cynical grin. "You would have loved that, wouldn't you? You'd finally be free of me and from guilt! But then, any chance of you ever understanding your precious-"

My words die in an instant with her lips suddenly on mine.

After a moment of unexpected intimacy we lay with our faces an inch apart, eyes locked, before she finally breaks the silence.

"I hate you."

"I hate you more," I answer just as quietly.

I… guess we're both missing our first class today.

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