Of all the thoughts swirling around in Louise's head, the only one she managed to spit out was "How?"

"I handed you off to my Gensoukyo body," Utsuho said with a smile. "Oh don't worry, I'll take you back when you're done talking to Miss Satori. And because of the time shift you should make classes too."

Louise opened and closed her mouth several times at that. Satori took advantage of her total confusion to wave her pets out of the room. "You three should take Ms Siesta to the dining hall for breakfast. I want to speak to Louise here personally."

"Okay! You gonna join us?" the cat eared woman asked.

"No. Please have Ruukoto bring us breakfast at my study," Satori replied.

The other maid curtsied. "Of course." She walked over and picked Siesta up off her bed. "Come now Ms Siesta. Today you will be under my care, so don't worry about any housework."

Louise had barely managed to put herself together by the time the others had left the room. It was just her and Satori, whatever she was.

"I am a satori. Named after my race. And that 'thing' you're staring at is my third eye," Satori smirked at her. "It lets me read minds."

She had to be lying right? There was no way you could read someone's mind. And did this mean everything Utsuho had said was real?!

"No I'm not, yes I can, and yes she was telling the truth." Satori sighed. "Mostly. She's a good girl but very... focused in her interests."

"I noticed," Louise managed to say. She stood up and looked around. "So why did you summon me here?"

Satori folded her arms. "You borrowed one of my pets. So I wanted to learn about you. And after Utsuho spoke to me about that utter farce of a school you attend I decided I wanted to intervene personally."

"Farce?!" Louise found her hand gripping her wand. "The magic academy in Tristian is one of the finest in the world!"

"I pity your world then," Satori replied with a superior smirk. "Because it's woefully inadequate."

How dare she insult not only the Academy but all of founder Brimir's nations! Louise moved forwards to slap the arrogant woman.

Her hand hit the woman's cheek and Louise cried out in pain. It had been like slapping a stone wall! What the hell was that? Some kind of spell?

"No." Satori's smirk was mocking now. "We satori are related to oni. And while we're much weaker, a human's strength is no match for us. In addition a blow struck by someone with intent can never kill a satori. Something to remember when you learn attack spells. Assuming I let you live after what you did to my Utsuho."

"What I did?" Louise rubbed her stinging hand. "All I did was summon her. And apparently she can leave whenever she wants."

Satori blinked. "Ah so you didn't know?" Her smile faded. "Strange. I thought you people would know that a familiar bond twists the mind of the subject to love and cherish the master."

Louise's jaw dropped. Had she really twisted Utsuho's mind? That sort of magic was illegal, not to mention disgusting. She hadn't intended to do anything like that.

"Which is why I won't kill you," Satori said. "In fact given your situation, I'm willing to let you keep borrowing my little Utsuho. She might learn something interesting over there." She held up a finger. "However, I'm not going to let an untrained child wield Utsuho's power. Especially since your school is so terrible."

Satori's cruel smile appeared again. "Rejoice girl. You're going to learn power and politics from a youkai. I look forward to the chaos you will spread."

Siesta was discovering how many layers of fear there were. Ever since she'd gotten that ill fated invite from Count Mott to become her maid she'd been experiencing different forms of terror. From immediate fear for her life, to the nagging worry that the secrets she was keeping might be discovered.

Her current fear was the queasy feeling she was in horrible danger, despite the fact that everyone else seemed to be acting like everything was normal.

Okay that wasn't quite true. Utsuho and the maid, Ruukoto were acting normal. Orin, the cat eared woman, was obviously annoyed at something. The way the woman's tails were twitching told Siesta that she was seconds away from hissing at someone. At least that's what her experience with the barn cats back home told her.

Finally they came to a huge chamber. To one side was an open kitchen, while to the other was what could only be called a menagerie. Dozens of strange and exotic animals sat there eating. However no one seemed to give them a second glance.

The others sat down at a small four person table, so Siesta followed suit. Her eyes opened wide as a series of what could only be called fairies carried several trays over, bearing plates of fish, rice, eggs, and vegetables. "Did they make this?" she gasped.

"Nah, don't worry about it," Orin said. "I made it. I'm not dense enough to have fairies cook. Or clean anything fragile."

"Fairies in this world are cute, but childish," Ruukoto explained.

"I have no idea how the maid aboveground handles having a group of fairy servants," Utsuho said.

With that Orin's tails bristled. "Why don't you go ask her then birdbrain?!"

Siesta blinked. She'd been worried Orin was angry at her presence, but that sounded more like a wife chastising her husband for looking at someone else.

"Unyuu." Utsuho raised her hands. "Why are you upset? I was just saying-"

"You brought back another maid and you're asking why I'm upset!" Orin whirled on the hell raven. "A maid from another dimension too! I swear your maid fetish is going too far!"

"I don't have a maid fetish, and this isn't my fault! Besides why are you angry? You've been hanging out with that cat at the shrine-"

"That's different!"

"How?!"

Siesta jumped in her seat as Ruukoto's hand fell on her shoulder. "Best not to worry about it. They were due for their fight this decade."

"Ah. I see." She sampled some of the rice to try to calm her stomach. It was rich. Sticky and polished better then any rice she'd ever seen. Maybe it was a local variety?

Ruukoto smiled at her. "If you're worried about them don't be. From what I hear your first meeting with Lady Reiuji was somewhat scary, but after an animal youkai decides you're a friend you're a friend for life."

"Is that so?" Siesta looked over to where the two youkai were now hugging and apologizing already. "I suppose that's a slight relief. Especially since a human like you is living with them. Still it's all so strange."

"Ah. I'm afraid you're mistaken." Ruukoto bowed her head in apology. "I am a robot. A construct if you will. Though through an interesting series of events I've gained a soul. I serve here as a maid and as a worshiper for Lady Reiuji."

Siesta's eyes flickered back to the woman. The hand that had touched her felt like flesh. Not the cold metal or stone of golems. "But you seem so human. That must be an incredible magic."

"Science actually." Ruukoto grinned. "Though to paraphrase Arthur C Clarke, any sufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology."

This was confusing. Well at least she wasn't terrified out of her mind anymore. She turned back to the meal. The eggs were good, and the pickled vegetables were the same as always. But the fish was surprisingly tasty. "This is excellent."

"Thanks, sis!" Orin said with a smile. "Took me a while to get cave fish to taste as good as aboveground stuff. Lot of seasoning changes."

"So this is replicating another recipe?" Siesta took another bite. "Would you happen to have it?"

Orin nodded. "Yep! Don't know if you'll have all the ingredients, but maybe you can work something out."

"Thank you." Siesta continued her breakfast with a renewed appetite. It seemed that she really did have nothing to fear here.

When she'd been small her grandfather had told her a story about a inn run by sparrows. She'd thought it only a fantasy, but perhaps she'd found something similar.

She hoped Louise was doing as well.

Louise was starting to really worry about this 'tutoring.' Satori's study was a fairly normal room filled with books. But her attitude screamed 'villain.' The whole bit about causing chaos was pretty evil too.

"Antagonist is a better term then villain," Satori said.

And the mind reading was annoying. "Why should I be happy about an 'antagonist' teaching me? How can I trust what you say?"

"It is the nature of youkai to challenge humans," Satori said. "However what that challenge is can be variable. Sometimes we choose violence. Other times we give them tests. And perhaps most importantly, we challenge preconceptions." Satori waved her hand around the room. "I have accumulated over four thousand years worth of philosophy and teachings from all around my world. You will be receiving a better education than anyone in your nation could possibly achieve. Even if your school wasn't a disaster. And that will mean a terrifying shift in your understanding of reality."

"Why do you keep insulting the Magic Academy?" Louise snapped. "They're the best in the world. Any mage would give a fortune to study there."

Satori nodded. "Indeed. As a school for magic I'm sure it is quite good. However, as a school for nobility it is an albatross around your neck."

"That's nonsense!" Louise fumed. "Everyone at the school is a proper noble!"

"A proper noble who has their familiar peep on their students?" Satori asked.

Louise grimaced at that. Satori had a point, even though she didn't want to admit it. Still that didn't mean they were bad at ruling, right? And that was a noble's ultimate purpose.

"He's not only bad at ruling, he's teaching you and your classmates to be bad at ruling as well," Satori replied. "But since we are on the matter, he's also teaching you and your classmates to abuse your power."

"What?" Louise blinked in confusion. "But he constantly harps on how we'll be important leaders and need to use our power wisely."

Satori folded her hands. "Empty words with nothing to back it up. His actions have shown the truth. He harrasses those who he has power over. You, his secretary, and probably other teachers he has interest in. And he teaches everyone that this is normal. I imagine the number of nobles taking advantage of their servants has skyrocketed under his leadership."

That rang painfully true. Actions were far more important than words. Her parents had taught that to her. And the man was a complete pervert. But as far as she knew he'd kept it at that. He'd never pushed further. Could that really lead her classmates to prey on their servants?

"He hasn't pushed further as far as you know," Satori said, her third eye staring unblinkingly at Louise. "However he did nothing to stop others from doing so. He knows Count Mott's reputation as well as you do, and he didn't even warn Siesta. And when he thought you were taking advantage of the maid yourself, he didn't choose to stop you. Even though he had power over you. How many of these little dalliances has he let slide? Especially by your male peers?

"More than that, how much has that influenced you all in other ways? That Guiche fellow seemed quite willing to take out his frustrations on those of lower status than him. I imagine if Utsuho had been a servant instead of a bird he'd have taken you up on that duel offer." Satori leaned back and smirked. "And how often have you railed at the servants to improve your own mood after failing at something?"

Louise stared at the marble floor. She couldn't respond to Satori's accusations. Sometimes she had taken her anger out on the staff. And everything Satori had said about the others rang true.

Satori pressed on. "Speaking of Count Mott, I'm certain he's never taken a maid who wasn't 'willing' to sleep with him. But if the option is taking a position with him or starving, is that really a choice? And what of the staff who don't pique his interest?"

A dark thought surfaced. For that matter how was what she was going to Siesta different then what Count Mott was doing? She had a metaphorical knife to the maid's throat, in more ways than one now.

"Hm?" Satori sat up. "You came to that conclusion fast. You may have more potential then I believed." Satori held up a finger. "You've seen the flaw reflected in yourself. Now, tell me, what makes your situation with Siesta different then the Count's would have been?"

Louise blinked. What did make them different? Well obviously she wasn't having sex with Siesta. But that seemed too easy an answer. Was it the money? No the difference there was meaningless. It would be nice to get a hint.

"It's better if you think of an answer yourself," Satori said. "Even if it's wrong."

Well that was annoying. Still she pressed on. What did she do differently than Count Mott? No, that wasn't going to get her anywhere. Why did they do the things they did? "Ah!"

"Yes, you acted for your family and country, instead of just your own desires. That is true," Satori replied. "And you should remember that. However more importantly, she has the power to destroy you."

Louise flinched. That's right. If Siesta wanted too, she could just walk over to a priest and accuse Louise of heresy. It might not stick, but there would be plenty of nobles willing to help the maid out to get back at the Valliere family.

Satori nodded. "And so we reach the heart of ruling. Power. That is something a youkai can teach you better than anything else."

"That sounds a lot like 'might makes right'," Louise replied. She knew better then to agree with that nonsense, especially since it was popular in the more barbaric areas of Germania.

"You are correct in dismissing that saying," Satori replied. "But I think you'll find 'right' has very little to do with leadership, rule, or war. To quote a famous general from my own world 'God has a way of favoring the army with the most battalions.' And as a scion of a border lord, I'm quite sure you know how quickly a ruler will seize their neighbor's lands when that neighbor appears weak."

Louise frowned. The Valliere lands had been attacked often. But still they'd always held out. In fact none of the ruling families had been ousted since the Founder created the nations. Albion was having trouble yes, but she was sure that would be sorted out.

"I see. Your land has had relative stability. Probably because of the outside threat and internal dissidents. And judging what little I've picked up your history has been sanitized harshly." Satori pulled out a book. "Let me share some of our history then. That should reveal the truth."

Satori had been enjoying the day. It had been refreshing after so many years leaving humans alone.

Oh not the evil persona. That took far too much effort to project. She much prefered being laid back. However all the information Utsuho had given her had suggested Louise was a spoiled brat. A spoiled brat with an inferiority complex and a chip on her shoulder.

Based on that Satori had decided on using fear as a motivator. Kids like Louise were easily to mold when they were challenged directly. Hopefully after the child had matured a bit Satori could relax the persona.

But chipping away at Louise's sheltered worldview and rigid morality had been something her youkai nature had missed for some time. It was similar to eating when one didn't realize they were hungry. The fact that there was so much to deconstruct only made it better. She needed to tell Koishi about this when her wandering sister returned home.

However she could tell her unwilling pupil's attention was fading. She closed the book on the world wars. "That should do for today. I'd assign you homework but unfortunately our translation spells doesn't work for reading."

At least something good came out of this mess Louise thought, glaring at her.

"I hope we fix that soon," Satori replied. "I would like to read up on your world's history and literature. It will allow me to pinpoint more issues with your society."

Louise's temper fanned with that. Satori leaned back as a wave of annoyance flowed over her from the girl's heart. "Why do you think you're so perfect that you can judge the founder's will?! You live in hell! And a failed hell at that from what Utsuho tells me!"

"I am not perfect. No person or realm is perfect," Satori admitted. "But you're failing to understand the point of my lessons." She met Louise's angry stare. "You've been taught as a child up until now. Rote memorization of your society's rules and history. And from what I've heard so far a rather sheltered version of that.

"Now you are becoming a woman. A noble." Satori forced a smirk again as Louise looked confused. "And now you will have to understand why your society works. And where it fails. You can't blindly obey like a child anymore. Not while you have Utsuho at your side."

Satori could see she'd struck at the woman's pride. Children at that age often enjoyed thinking themselves as older than they were. While Louise couldn't form words, her heart was radiating confusion and joy.

Finally Louise retreated. Not surprising given her inferiority complex. "But the words of the founder were a holy revelation-"

"And do you think they were kept perfectly for a thousand years? Understood correctly?" Satori asked. Louise started. "As a writer I can tell you even the most learned scholar has a tendency to misinterpret a book. Even if we pretend no one has tried to manipulate the texts, now that the founder is dead and can't explain, people will be quick to twist his words to their needs."

"But then, how can we know what's true?" Louise asked.

Satori nodded. "That is the purpose of my lesson. To think for yourself. To seek your truth." She stood. "But that will take time. The mind needs rest as much as the body. For now we shall join my pets and your maid. It is getting close to lunch anyway."

"So are you going to be kidnapping me every night?" Louise asked as she followed through the halls of Chireiden.

"No," Satori replied. "While we are fortunate enough that the time sync works out so that I could do that, having you age twice as fast as normal would be a problem. Also fairly noticeable. Besides getting you a magic tutor on short notice will be difficult. I'll see you in three of your days."

She ignored Louise's heart happily squealing. Hopefully the magic bit wouldn't take up too much of her own lesson time. It would be no fun if Louise was fantasizing about blowing things up instead of listening.

Thanks to all who reviewed. For those curious, this happens after a lot of my writings, but before Yukari's demise and the events of A New World. Thus all bits should only really be noticeable to those who follow my stories in depth.

Updates will probably slow a little bit since I'm putting more effort into continuity, but I'm hoping for at least weekly.