[center][img] https://i.imgur.com/MLZtNQs.jpg[/img]
[b]𝙰𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙 𝙻𝚊𝚞𝚛𝚞𝚜
𝙷𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢 [/b]
[b]𝙰𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚕 𝟿𝚝𝚑, 𝟷𝟷𝟽 𝙰𝚅[/b]
[i]Penny Grenoble, Diana Khay[/i]
[hr]
[/center]
Vanna’s second and final attempt to smash the crimson core in the monster’s side sends it sprawling backward. The force of the impact drives it into the floor, bringing it down hard. Its body pulses once, the geometric lines running across it flickering a final time with crimson light. Its skin too ripples, like an obsidian lake disturbed by stones being flung in. 

This time it doesn’t scream.

This time it melts. Half of it seems to bleed away into an oily puddle on the airship’s carpet, while the rest of its mass pools off it in a cloud of toxic black Nox. What it leaves behind is a shattered red core, a faded crimson object the size of large marble and broken in three pieces.
 
The hallway becomes abruptly quiet, the sound of combat dying along with the Void itself. Slowly the familiar rattle of the airship fills Penny’s ears once again, the sound of the vessel speeding swiftly through the air.

It’s over. 

[center][img] https://i.imgur.com/4rF9zRO.jpg[/img]
[b]𝙰𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙 𝙻𝚊𝚞𝚛𝚞𝚜
𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕 𝚁𝚘𝚘𝚖 [/b]
[b]𝙰𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚕 𝟿𝚝𝚑, 𝟷𝟷𝟽 𝙰𝚅[/b]
[i]Dana Noel, Nicole Cognoscenti, Astrelle Lennox[/i]
[hr]
[/center]
Dana’s hasty explanation sends ripples of concern through the soldiers. That two pieces of their most precious cargo are missing is not good news. 

Several scrambling soldiers are quickly organized and directed to the deck below to follow after Nicole and provide further assistance, scooping up their weapons and hustling down to help retrieve the two girls left behind. Others move to take Dana and Astrelle to safety before they too can place themselves back in mortal danger.

And as they do-- 

“We’re clear!”

It’s a relieved shout from the pilot as the Laurus lurches from the choking black clouds and into clearer, orange-tinted skies. The sun is setting in the distance, half of the sky turned dark, the rest slowly burning away. Thin tendrils of Nox still lace through the air, but soon begin to fade and burn away as the ship accelerates further still.

When the clouds finally clear from the deck Victoria Glass stands alone, visible through the control room window. Huge chunks of broken glass are scattered across the front of the ship, near half of the glass surrounding the main deck having been shattered by some terrible force. The Ars Magi picks her way across it as the wind buffets against her, limping and balancing herself against her weapon; an enormous metal cross.

Crew members wedge the door to the deck open for her, a great torrent of wind ripping through the cabin before the portal is quickly shut behind her.

“[color=white]Report.[/color]” Her voice is still icy calm, even as she clutches at a wide and bleeding slash in her side.

The remaining soldiers are quick to do so, and fall quickly in line as she begins issuing orders to sweep the decks and re-secure the ship. They set to it, first to retrieve Vanna, Penny, and Nicole, then proceeding further onward. 

[hr]

Nicole and her new escort find Vanna and Penny where they left them, sans one void and with Vanna unconscious. Crewmembers help (or carry, as may be necessary) the girls back to the control room, securing them there.

It’s near thirty minutes later before Victoria has time to attend to the five candidates personally. In the intervening time the ships medics check over Penny and Vanna, making a makeshift sling for the former and making sure the later hasn’t suffered permanent damage before bandaging her cheek. They’re left to wait near the control room until the Ars Magi returns to report:

“[color=white]The ship is clear and back on route.[/color]” She informs the girls. “[color=white]When we land we’ll have each of you examined and treated. This level of Nox shouldn’t be overtly harmful to you, but the doctors will want to be sure.[/color]” 

Crimson eyes pass over the five girls, the older Ars Magi silent for a pointed few seconds before she continues: “[color=white]As you’ve guessed, we ran into an area of heavy Nox.[/color]” She doesn’t comment on the battle that some of the girls caught a glimpse of, continuing instead: “[color=white]I neutralized the worst threats, but you were left to deal with the lesser on your own. Admirably--but unfortunately.[/color]” 

“[color=ffffff]We should be landing within the hour. Until then you’ll be kept under guard here. If you notice anything abnormal, report it to the crew members immediately.[/color]”