Liliana sat on the top of class B’s dorm building, Polaris laying behind her, half asleep as his dark fur soaked in the sunlight. The silver that speckled and traced his fur like constellations shone under the light of the sun, almost sparkling.

Liliana tapped her pen against her notebook, scratching out a line and adding in a revision. Her latest attempt at ‘improving’ a standard Strength potion had resulted in an explosion that turned her skin blue for four hours and left her speaking in rhyme for thirty minutes. A good prank potion, if she hadn’t also gotten an alert that her [Poison Resistance] had leveled up.

What she was truly trying to do wasn’t simply improve the potion, but essentially remake it entirely into something else, using some of the original potion as a base. She had titled the yet to be completed potion the ‘Hercules Potion’ a name that meant nothing to this world.

She’d read the history and mythology of this world. There wasn’t even a comparable myth. The gods of this world had never had relations with any of the mortals, meaning there was no mythology of demigods. Not that the world really needed demigods when the mortals and beasts in its history were stronger than some of the demigods she’d read about in Earth mythology.

Berserker Bear blood, perhaps? A better base than liquefied Valor root. I’ll need something to balance it, as the blood will be volatile on its own. Perhaps the heart of a Logicowl? It could offset the maddening properties of the blood. Liliana considered, pen scratching as she added the possible ingredients to her notes. She’d have to try the changes later. She tilted her head when she heard a rise of sound below her.

“How does he always get in here?” a male voice was filled with exasperation as it rose.

“There’s supposed to be wards that prevent uninvited students from other classes getting in here!” a female voice shouted.

“Did someone invite him in?” Someone demanded, and Liliana stifled a chuckle.

“Like he’s ever needed an invitation to be where he’s not wanted,” a voice, barely loud enough for Liliana to hear, responded.

Not nearly enough students were aware of the many secret tunnels and passageways that snaked through, and under, the Academy. And therefore, they were unaware that many of those passageways were not warded the same as the blatant entrances to their dorms.

“Did you get it?” Liliana asked, looking up from her notebook as she closed it, sending it to her storage with barely a thought. Emyr stepped out of the darkness cast by the roof of the dorm, shadows clinging to him as if they were loathe to let him go.

“Of course, you didn’t need to ‘supervise’ me,” Emyr retorted, handing over a sheaf of papers to Liliana.

“I’m not supervising. I have to leave soon and I didn’t want to hunt you down to get this.” Liliana rolled her eyes as she took the papers.

She noted Emyr’s clean calligraphy on them before she summoned a notebook that was more folder than a true notebook, with how many pieces of parchment had been shoved into it. She slotted the papers into the notebook and snapped it closed, sending it back to storage. She’d have time to read over them later.

“I could go with you instead,” Emyr offered instantly, dropping down to sit next to her. Polaris raised a head and yipped softly at Emyr in greeting before he returned to his sunbathing.

“You’re going with Alistair in two days.” Liliana pointed out, and Emyr frowned, wrapping an arm around a knee.

“You could go alone,” Emyr tried instead.

“What is your problem with Corbin, Emyr?” Liliana finally asked, annoyance coloring her words as she turned sharply to face her friend. Emyr avoided her gaze, glaring at the roof tiles of the dorm building they were sitting on.

“He touches you,” Emyr said softly.

“Way to make that sound far more inappropriate than it is,” Liliana huffed as she rolled her eyes. “And you touch me, so do Marianne, and Anya and Alistair.” Liliana started counting off names on her fingers. Emyr shook his head at her names, not in denial but frustration.

“It’s different with him. He wants you, Lili, and he thinks you letting him touch you means he-he has some claim on you. He hasn't gone through any of the things we’ve gone through together,” Emyr explained hotly. Liliana watched him for a long moment, eyes analyzing him as her mind turned over his words.

“You don’t trust him.” She nodded. Emyr threw his hands up and finally turned to glare at her.

“Of course I don’t! We know nothing about him!” Emyr growled, barely remembering to keep his voice low.

“Then trust me, Emyr,” Liliana requested simply. Emyr stared at her for a moment, gobsmacked.

“You don’t exactly have the best track record when it comes to reading people,” Emyr finally retorted. Liliana winced. It was the truth, but it was a low blow. She looked to the side, fighting down the nasty remark she wanted to say in a fit of defensive anger.

“I trusted you, didn’t I?” Liliana said softly, wrapping her arms around her stomach.

“When I didn’t deserve it,” Emyr’s voice was just as soft, but there was an edge of defeat to his tone.

“He won’t hurt me, Emyr. I’m aware of his interest, and he’s aware that I don’t want to pursue anything, and he’s respecting it. Sometimes, it’s okay to see the good in people instead of the bad,” Liliana leaned over until her head rested on Emyr’s shoulder. She felt when he exhaled a long breath of air.

“I still don’t like him. Or trust him. He doesn’t take anything seriously, and I don’t trust him to not abandon you just because a fight got too hard for him,” Emyr finally spoke after a long moment of silence, voice stubborn.

“That’s fine. I only ask that you trust me, at least.” Liliana closed her eyes and relaxed more of her weight onto Emyr as he wrapped an arm around her and drew her close.

“I’ll let you do all the trusting for us both. I’ll stay suspicious, so I can keep you alive despite your best attempts to die,” Emyr muttered and Liliana snorted. “Stabbing yourself with a sword? Really, Lili?” Emyr asked, a teasing and tired tint to his words.

“I analyzed the options and chose the strategy that was the most likely to end in victory. I knew I wouldn’t die from it.” I was fairly certain I wouldn’t die, anyway. Liliana added silently, not voicing that part of it, knowing it would only fuel Emyr’s protectiveness and likely lead to her being somehow chained to the Academy. Emyr would find a way, if he was appropriately incentivized.

“Stop nearly dying to get a new bond. One day your luck will run out,” Emyr cautioned and Liliana shrugged her shoulders.

“No risk, no reward.”

“I hate you.”

“Love you too, Em.” Liliana teased lightly, tugging on a strand of dark teal hair that had escaped the confines of his hair ribbon.

“Why are you two hiding here?” a familiar voice called out, and Liliana turned her head to see Corbin seated on Lysander, circling above them.

“Speak of the devil and he shall appear,” Emyr muttered darkly.

“Stop stealing Earth phrases,” Liliana hissed, lips quirking in an amused smile.

“I will when they stop being so appropriate,” Emyr replied with his own smirk.

Warmth bloomed in her chest. She never realized how good it would feel just to hear someone else say a phrase from Earth offhandedly. As if it was natural. It made every night Liliana had spent using [Astral Projection] and [Telepathy] to slowly feed memories of Earth into Emyr’s dreams worth it.

That was the method they’d chosen to use, to get Emyr caught up on all of Liliana’s memories of Earth. It was the fastest way, as she couldn’t dump all the memories into his mind at one time without risking him going insane from the influx.

Liliana already knew sharing memories through dreams was effective, as she’d had the same thing done to her through the soul… remnant of the original Liliana. Or whatever that had been. She still wasn’t sure of what that had been, and it wasn’t like there were books detailing what to expect when your soul was shoved into someone else’s body.

“Lili? Are you ready to go? We need to meet with the second year group before we head out, and if we wait too long, we’ll be travelling in the dark,” Corbin called out, quite obviously avoiding Emyr’s eyes. Despite the talk they had just had, Emyr was glaring at Corbin with enough intensity that it was incredible he hadn’t prompted the System to give him some eye based attack to smite the bird beastman.

“I’m ready. Just had to talk to Emyr before we left,” Liliana raised her voice for him to hear her above the sounds of Lysander’s wings. Emyr reluctantly released her as Liliana pulled away and stood up. With a small mental nudge, Polaris was standing too, stretching out his body, wings and tails shaking as he woke up fully.

“Stone or follow?” Liliana asked him.

“Follow. I want to meet the kits we’ll be watching over,” Polaris decided. Liliana fixed him with a warning look.

“Do not terrorize them,” she ordered.

“I will not ‘terrorize’ them,” Polaris readily agreed, tongue lolling out of his mouth. There was a loophole there, but Liliana didn’t feel like searching for it. He probably wouldn’t kill the second years and that was probably the best she could ask for.

“I’ll see you in a few days, a week at most,” Liliana told Emyr as he stood and tugged her into a tight hug. [Wings of Radiance] activated when he let her go and brilliant wings sprouted from her back.

“Don’t die, and try to avoid getting hurt,” Emyr instructed her as Liliana rolled her eyes.

“If she comes back hurt, or if she dies, it’s on your head, Newfeather,” Emyr called out loudly to Corbin, who blanched.

“Aye aye captain, she’ll come back in one piece with a beating heart.” Corbin saluted Emyr as Lysander wheeled further away, out of range of any attacks Emyr might see fit to direct their way.

Liliana shook her head and took off at a run for the edge of the roof. As her feet left the tiles, her wings pumped, catching her before she could fall and propelling her into the air. She could sense Polaris following her as they took off after Corbin. In seconds, Liliana had caught up to Corbin, and she dropped onto Lysander’s back, wings vanishing.

“Could you try to stay uninjured so I can avoid death for another day?” Corbin asked her as they approached the area just in front of the main building of the Academy.

“You say that like I go out of my way to get hurt,” Liliana huffed as they descended.

“You stabbed yourself,” Corbin pointed out bluntly.

“Why is everyone bringing that up today?” Liliana demanded as Lysander landed, sliding off his back and approaching the group of six second years she assumed were their charges. Mostly Rank 6, with a couple Rank 5s that she could see from a cursory [Identify].

“Because it’s concerning, Lili,” Corbin hissed at her as they walked towards the second years who had noticed them.

“Hello, I’m Liliana Rosengarde. This is Corbin Newfeather, we’ll be in your care,” Liliana nodded her head at the second years instead of responding to Corbin’s frankly ridiculous comments.

Stab yourself with a sword one time and everyone thought you needed a babysitter. Marianne sliced herself up for her blood skills and no one batted an eye. Liliana did it and suddenly it wasn’t okay. The double standards were ridiculous.

“I’m Joan Andusmelt. I’m the leader of this team. Thank you for accompanying us,” the leader stepped forward, a young woman with silver hair. A noble, if her name hadn’t given her away.

Many nobles had interestingly colored hair compared to commoners. Liliana had theories it was the result of nobles being, on average, at high levels when they had children. And the affinities they usually passed down like a type of inheritance. She’d guess Andusmelt’s family usually had a Metal affinity.

“It’s no problem. If all goes well, it’ll be an easy assignment for us. We’ll only step in if you run into something out of your level. We’re not here to help you complete your assignment, or fight your battle for you.” Liliana laid out the boundaries quickly, not willing to let the second years assume she and Corbin would power level them through their assignment. Their assignment was simply to guard them, and to only interfere if the something that wasn’t part of the assignment, and beyond the second years’ capabilities, attacked.

Liliana knew her own ‘luck’ well enough to expect that something would inevitably go wrong on this assignment, but she could hope for an easy few days where she could spend time working on her homework while the second years did whatever it was they were supposed to do. She hadn’t paid attention to the specifics, as it didn’t really matter to her.

“Lili,” Corbin hissed in reproach as the second years blinked at her in apparent shock at her blunt words. Some even looked angered, not that it mattered much to Liliana. They couldn’t hurt her.

Anger at someone stronger than you was useless. It was best to hide that and plot for when they weren’t stronger than you. Perhaps she could teach these second years at least one valuable lesson. Such as a lesson in how showing their anger was foolish. It revealed that you had let someone compromise your emotional state. It was a weakness, on top of being foolish and a waste of energy better spent elsewhere.

“I’m just making sure the boundaries are clear, Corbin.” Liliana shrugged, looking guilelessly back at her friend. Corbin closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“I apologize for my companion. She’s blunt, but she means no harm. We’re here to protect you. So don’t worry, focus on your assignment and if you see anything you can’t handle, let us know. Our job is to keep you safe, and we want to be sure you all come back to the Academy healthy and whole.” Corbin turned to the second years, voice taking on a soothing lilt that calmed them in seconds. Liliana crossed her arms over her chest, rolling her eyes at the needless pleasantries.

She could see how he had said much the same thing as she had, and in a way that wouldn’t ruffle feathers. But she didn’t see a reason to pander to the second years, personally. Then again, there was more than one reason she usually chose Corbin to accompany her on assignments other than their battle styles complimenting one another.

He was much better at cajoling and managing people than she was, and could often get information far faster than she could. He was good with people, whereas Liliana rarely had the patience to watch her words.

“Well,” Andusmelt looked between them and seemed to settle on speaking to Corbin, “we have a carriage waiting that will take us to Meshire. We’ll have to camp a few nights, it’ll be a two-day trip to get there.” Andusmelt finished and Liliana tilted her head curiously before she remembered second years couldn’t have mounts. She’d never had the issue, as she could fly herself or ride Lelantos if she wished.

“Meshire, in the south?” Liliana asked instead, shaking a rough map of Cista loose in her head. Geography had never been her strong point.

“On the border, yes. We won’t see Basil’s hometown,” Corbin answered for her, far better at remembering the multitude of cities and towns that populated Cista.

“Damn, would’ve been nice to bring him a souvenir from home,” Liliana sighed and shrugged. Andusmelt and the other second years, Liliana supposed she should try to remember their names, looked slightly mystified by their conversation. Liliana took a moment to do a second [Identify] and get their names.

Duane Stanely, a Runecaster. Shawn Hill, a Dark Stalker. Dorothy Dean, a Geomancer. Ron Lamey, a Blood Adept. Richard Henderson, a Flame Reaver and Joan Andusmelt, a Shield Maiden. Liliana’s attention was momentarily grabbed by Andusmelt. If she kept up that class tree, she would end up as a Valkyrie type class. A fairly powerful one, that could be either a fighter or a tank, depending. Mentally, she moved Andusmelt from ‘inconsequential’ to ‘potentially interesting’.

“If there’s nothing you two need, we can set out?” Andusmelt asked, almost tentatively.

“We’re ready. I can stay in the carriage with all of you, and Liliana can take a shift guarding the carriage,” Corbin decided, earning a piercing glare from Liliana at being relegated to guard duty, even if she would’ve chosen it for herself. Hours stuck in a carriage with six second years she didn’t know, and barely cared about, sounded like pure hell.

“One of the group should also be scouting around,” Liliana pointed out, looking at Andusmelt with a raised brow. “You should act as if we’re not really here, and proceed as you normally would,” she explained, more than she normally would have. The girl having the potential for a Valkyrie class had warmed Liliana to her slightly. Enough to take on a lecturing tone, rather than an insulting one.

“Of course. Shawn, scout while we travel. Duane, make sure you place alarm wards on the carriage.” Andusmelt turned to her group and started barking out orders as Liliana smirked. Good, this group wasn’t entirely hopeless then.

“Lili, do me a favor and never become a teacher,” Corbin murmured to her as they followed the group of second years to their carriage.

“That sounds like torture. Why would I ever do that?” Liliana looked at him, utterly bewildered.

“Thank the gods. You’d traumatize an entire generation,” Corbin sighed dramatically in relief.

“Maybe I will now, just to spite you and prove you wrong. I’m not that bad.” Liliana tartly replied.

“Those poor children. I’ll mourn them. And all the gold they’ll have to pay to Psyche healers to repair the damage you’ll do to their delicate minds.” Corbin lamented as they passed through the main building and waved at the personnel working. Their student IDs would let them get through the wards just fine.

“Oh my gods, what is that?!” a shrill voice, Duane Stanely, screamed. Liliana looked around and groaned. She hadn’t even really noticed Polaris had vanished.

“Gods dammit. Polaris! Get out of there!” Liliana shouted out as she jogged to the carriage, Corbin cackling behind her.

This assignment was already off to a wonderful start.