[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/81IEtdI.png[/img] [/center]

This. Was. [i]Awesome.[/i]

There really wasn’t any other way to describe it. For the first time in her life, Dana was aboard an airship, and an exceptionally cool one at that! She had always known this was going to be the adventure of a lifetime, but it hadn’t really sunk in just [i]how[/i] amazing that adventure would be, until she was watching the monolithic spires of Norba dwindle away, before dark clouds of Nox blotted out her view. She had been somewhat disappointed that she couldn’t meet any of her fellow students, but just being aboard an airship took her mind off of that minor setback (although she still hoped none of the others were feeling lonely or homesick...). For one thing, the food was quite delicious, even if she [i]did[/i] have to eat it alone. Her cabin may have been small, but Dana liked to think of it as cozy. And nothing could beat the [i]view…[/i]

Shortly after boarding the Laurus, Dana had discovered that she had been lucky enough to get one of the cabins with a larger-than average viewport. The world’s surface may have been lost to humanity, but, for the most part, the skies were immune to the Nox’s malign influence, and Dana had passed the many long hours of her journey to Palmyra gazing out at the majestic cloudscapes. She had always had an active imagination, and she now employed it to visualize all kinds of fantastic stories playing out across the ever-changing skies through which she traveled. Depending on the weather and time of day, the various cloud formations could be imposing and fearsome slate grey fortresses, assailed by fleets of swiftly moving silver airships, while at other times, they might resemble fields of fluffy white cotton, upon which dozens of wispy creatures bounced and frolicked in blissful contentment. Heroes, monsters, strange vehicles, and impossible structures, all made their appearance at some point during the journey, and Dana found the stories the skies inspired easily equaled anything she had read about, or seen on television.

Eager to get an even better view, Dana had repeatedly asked the crew if she could be allowed out on the ship’s balcony, hoping that perhaps she might encounter some of the other passengers in the process. Sadly, everyone she spoke to refused to grant her request, but that didn’t stop the cheerfully persistent girl from continuing to ask. She also asked about the ship itself, but those questions often went unanswered as well. Not that she was particularly offended by the crew’s gruff and taciturn demeanor, of course. She just wished they could be a bit more personable, that was all. Finally, just as Dana was beginning to feel the pangs of loneliness herself, there was a knock on the door. Opening it, she was met by a crewman who informed her that their host had requested her presence. 

Jumping at the chance to meet a potential new friend (or several), Dana followed the man as he led her to one of the airship’s larger chambers. Upon stepping inside, she was greeted by the sight of four girls around her own age, seated at a small table. They all seemed friendly enough at first glance, (even the more aloof, aristocratic-looking pair) and Dana couldn’t wait to get acquainted with each of them. Also in attendance was their host, who promptly introduced herself as Victoria Glass. She also seemed quite friendly, Dana noted, if a little on the serious side. It was also pretty awesome that she was a member of the Wings of Justice, too, and Dana couldn’t wait to talk with her. The table they were gathered around boasted a small collection of drinks, sandwiches, and snacks. After permission had been granted, Dana took a plate and filled it with a sample of each of the various offerings, before gabbing a glass of ice tea and taking her seat. Then it was time for introductions.

The redhead started things off, introducing herself as Nicole Cognoscenti, from Hasta. If Dana remembered her geography correctly, that was one of the Venus cities, located near where the old world city of Paris had once been. Nicole then kindly offered to take them all shopping at some point, and while Dana had never been particularly crazy about that sorta thing, she still looked forward to the opportunity such a trip would present for socializing, and she gave the redhead a big grin and a thumbs up.

Next up was a bespectacled girl who looked rather nervous. Dana gave her what she hoped was a reassuring smile as the girl told them that she was Penny Grenoble, from Siscia. That city was on the same continent as Norba, Dana reflected, albeit in the sphere of a different house. That meant that, so far, she was from the city closest to Dana’s home, and the idealistic girl hoped that the two of them could share a particularly close friendship because of it. The chance to initiate that process soon presented itself, when Penny accidently smashed her forehead into the table. 

[color=Gold]“Yikes! Are you okay?”[/color] Dana asked as she got up and made her way over to where the bespectacled girl was rubbing her head. [color=Gold]“Here,”[/color] Dana offered, placing a hand over the girl’s forehead. [color=Gold]“Let me help ya with that.”[/color] A soft golden glow began to emanate from Dana’s palm, and within moments, Penny would feel her pain begin to fade away. [color=Gold]“That feel better?”[/color] she asked, giving Penny a friendly smile.

Around this time, another girl introduced herself, the raven-haired Astrelle Lennox. Then, it was Dana’s turn…

[color=Gold]“Hiya, guys! I’m Dana Noel, from Norba City!”[/color] she began exuberantly, giving them all a cheery smile. [color=Gold]“It’s really nice to meet ya, and I hope we can all become great friends!”[/color]