"We can't win," she says--and she angrily spoons a large chunk of ice cream into her mouth. "I can't even play for real. I lost the qualifying match, after I'd worked so hard to get back in. If we had--I dunno. 'S not like I could kill SAGE without creating another imbalance and I'd like some time to enjoy my victory before we did that again. Maybe stick him somewhere where he can't run away and hide. That would serve him right. And it'd be kind of tempting to mess with Penuel a little too..."

She sighs. "It doesn't matter. Ugh, and I'd had such great plans for what I was going to do with the World if I got it. I was gonna make a nice planet for everyone with all that stuff mortals like, like chairs and beverages and winter dances and object permanence and staying with the people you love--and then I was going throw open all the dungeon doors and pull everyone out of ambit back in so they wouldn't be left behind--and then you'd all have a nice home together and you could keep all the important bonds and relationships you made here." She scoops up another chunk of ice cream and shoves it in her mouth.

"It could have been great," she says, a little muffled.