A book and many things to do

[Anastasia]

You find your sister resting in a room full of papers - planning on a glance. She sits there with a mug in hand, slowly drinking and groaning. "Siiister," she says tiredly.

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa chuckles and casts a Vigorous Circle around her sister.

"Perk up! There's plenty to be done."

[Anastasia]

Looking up, "Miss Dolmaya is a madwoman!" she exclaims to you. "She has no restraint and constantly pushes, pushes, pushes!"

[Iron Dragoon]

"As I would, if I had time to do more than give you lessons. All you're doing is to a purpose."

[Anastasia]

"A breakdown is the purpose," Sister shoots back, "My feet hurt, my mind is mush and I've learned more about cloth and silk that I learned in all my life before this."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa chuckles, "Yes that is partly it. You're studying to become a mage. That will require long hours of work. Drawing a spell circle just right for hours and hours, and if one line is out of place it all collapses. Or worse, explodes or summons something that can over power you. Or, say, casting a week long spell to give your sister a few extra years of time to study, and it all going to waste because of a single misspoken word.

Exhaustion is constant. And to keep every word and every line just right requires a knowledge so deep and complete, that you wonder at it. And are frustrated by it."

[Anastasia]

A soft, ever so gentle groan at that. Alihana just stays there for long moments until she wearily asks, "How are you not always exhausted them, sister?"

[Iron Dragoon]

"I was. For a long time. It's like anything else. Waking up early becomes normal if you do it long enough."

[Anastasia]

"Do it until you're too exhausted to be exhuasted?" Alihana banters back.

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa smiles, "Do it until you're used to it."

[Anastasia]

"Just as bad. Worse!" Alihana declares, closing her eyes and letting her head loll back.

[Iron Dragoon]

"Yes, but if you do it long enough, you get to have an assistant or two."

[Anastasia]

"How long, sister?" Is the answer, sounding almost hopeful.

[Iron Dragoon]

"Depends on how fast you learn, which depends on how much effort you put into it. I did tell you that it would be hard."

[Anastasia]

"...can you at least get Dolmaya to be less of a shrew?" Your sister asks, slowly getting herself up, standing with a wince.