[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/tQYxTnX.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/OMrO8a9.png[/img][/center] [hr] It was finally here. The first day. The first step. The moment she stepped onto the airship her life's cobble path would be made clear. Hmmm, was she [i][color=#DC143C]nervous[/color][/i]? For a brief moment the young lady almost humored the thought. But what reason did she have to be nervous? Becoming an Ars Magi had never been a pipe dream, in fact it had never been a dream at all for Diana's second daughter. It had been an expectation, no not even an expectation, it had just been a fact. It was always, and will forever be the way things are. A fish will swim in the sea, Vanna will be an Ars Magi. Magic was her blood, her inheritance, so why give credence to something as fickle as nerves? Still, Vanna did feel something, resolute and ready as she may be for her journey, she also felt... [i][color=#DC143C]excited[/color][/i]? There was a degree more sense behind this feeling at least. As much as the prospect of becoming an Ars Magi was simple fact, Vanna did enjoy her lot in life. It was the duty of a Diana to protect the people of Potentia and Vesuna. It was [i]her[/i] duty to protect Potentia. She had done her best to prepare for this duty but ultimately her home was limited in the scope of its teachings. Nova Lux Academy on the other hand did not share those limits; Nova Lux was where she could be tempered into the perfect sword. So it was perfectly valid to feel some semblance of excitement but that too must remain [i][color=#DC143C]tempered[/color][/i]. It was never wise to overindulge in such feelings. No if she felt an abundance of anything at all it wasn't nervousness or excitement. She felt [color=#DC143C][i]sore[/i][/color]. In the months leading up to today Vanna had redoubled her preparations. She had to make sure her abilities wouldn't, [i][color=#DC143C]no[/color][/i], couldn't falter in the no doubt countless tests ahead of her. Even yesterday's daylight had been burned swinging a sword, and practicing the circulation of her Elementum allowed night to come swiftly. Studious efforts that had unfortunately elicited disgruntled sighs from the maids of the manor; many of them had been looking forward to procuring the perfect dress for the day, something to "[i]match her lovely hair.[/i]" But there was no time for such trifles, and so Vanna arrived at the station in one of her many light gray blouses accompanying a purple floral skirt. Sure her clothes still exuded a certain poise, but her maids hadn't even demonstrated the slightest effort to hide their disappointment. Yet that too, had always been their character. [i][color=#DC143C]Melancholy[/color][/i] perhaps? Another small emotion slumbering within. It was definitely plausible. As she followed her escort to what could only be presumed to be [i]her[/i] cabin, Vanna found herself thinking back to the manor. For months, servants and Ars Magi alike in the employ of the Diana estate had hounded the young lady with questions. It appeared everyone wanted to peer beyond her stoic face. [i][color=#DC143C]Distractions[/color][/i], the whole lot of them honestly. Even her older sister had sent a letter from Vesuna. [i][color=#DC143C]But....[/color][/i] She would miss them. Somewhat. They were ultimately a part of the populace she had to protect. Still, even as her escort instructed the young lady to place her belongings in the cabin and then follow behind, Vanna's air remained stoic. Her guise had not changed from the very moment she stepped foot outside the manor. No real reason existed either for Vanna's simple manner, she wasn't so artificial as to attempt to project a different air than the one she felt inside, at least not in this setting. She just didn't see much worth in giving these vague feelings sway over her being. Thus it was with a rather cold expression that the young girl entered the cabin with her soon to be peers. It appeared there would be four others accompanying her on this journey, only time would reveal the resolve of her fellow students. The one who piqued her interest the most sat composed at the table: their host no doubt. Pale hair, red eyes - the likeness was not lost on Vanna: a warped reflection in her eyes. For a moment she found her head tilting to the side, it was faint, nigh imperceptible to others, but for a brief moment it existed. She was quick to correct the inadequacy, further staring would be rude - unbecoming conduct towards an Ars Magi. As she took her place at the table the girl couldn't help but feel [i][color=#DC143C]vindicated[/color][/i]? The presence in front of her felt like yet another justification that her path towards the future was the proper one. She already knew such details to be fact, but it was nice to have proof laid so clearly in view. Now she simply needed to deal with the snacks laid out for her enjoyment alongside the other students. Truth be told Vanna had no such energy or desire for sweets, but etiquette dictated that she at least accept a saucer of tea. And so she did. It would appear from her manners that at least one other student had also received training in proper decorum. A peculiar young woman in all black and yet there was something familiar about the other student. [color=#DC143C][i]Kinship[/i][/color] perhaps? No, that wasn't it, any similarities between them seemed superficial at best - etiquette and manners could be taught they were nothing innate. Vanna was certain she'd never met the other lady, so why was her mind trying to remind her of forgotten details? Just like that, introductions began. First was their host of course, an Ars Magi, a Wing of Justice, by the name Victoria Glass. Then a cordial girl from Hasta, Nicole Cognoscenti, perked up. As the red head rattled on about about shopping, Vanna found herself wondering how necessary it was to even spend energy committing the other students' names to memory. There was a high likelihood that after the completion of training Vanna would never see the other girls again. So was it really necessary to remember the names of students who may not even graduate? No, such line of thinking would be [color=#DC143C][i]rude[/i][/color]; they were still on the same playing field as her. Committing their names to memory was the least she could do. Then the short bespectacled girl gave her introductions, Penelope Grenoble of Siscia, her introduction ended with a soft [i]thump[/i] as the girl revealed her clumsiness. [color=#DC143C][i]Amusing[/i][/color]. Vanna knew what it was to be sore, her own muscles still ached from yesterday's training. With these thoughts in mind the girl, expressionless as always, began daintily plucking cubes of ice from the center of the table and dropping them into a napkin. During this time the lady in black began her introductions. Astrelle Lennox. The last name explained everything; she had heard the name in passing. The retainers of the Venus family, in some ways a foreign concept to a Diana who was used to shouldering the weight of her duties alone. The Dianas had always carried out important tasks of the region alone, and the servants employed at the manor were all normal citizens of the city. A dedicated family of retainers just didn't exist in Potentia or Vesuna. She had also heard rumors that one of the Lennox daughters was of a [color=#DC143C][i]disreputable[/i][/color] ilk. Hopefully Astrelle was not the source of those rumors otherwise corrections would be necessary. One's company creates one's reputation. Such thoughts were quickly pushed aside when a cheerful bundle of energy made her way to Penny and began emanating magic after a show of concern. Healing magic, and the golden glow indicated it was from the Light Elementum. Honestly it was [color=#DC143C][i]impressive[/i][/color]. To show such mastery in healing wounds before even undergoing manifestation as an Ars Magi spoke volumes about the young girl's potential. Vanna herself could only circulate her Elementum at a basic level. Projecting it outwards was well beyond her capabilities. Dana Noel was it? She'd remember the name. The makeshift bag of ice at her side now felt quite [color=#DC143C][i]silly[/i][/color]. Momentary pandemonium aside, all eyes soon turned towards the lady of Potentia. Last to board and now last to speak, Vanna's turn had arrived. "[color=#DC143C]Greetings, I am Diana Khay Vanna of Potentia,[/color]" she stated flatly. "[color=#DC143C]Second daughter of the Diana family.[/color]" She finished with a slight bow of her head. Truthfully she would've preferred a formal curtsey, but all the other students had remained seated. And with that, her journey began in earnest. [color=#DC143C][i]Anticipation?[/i][/color]