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As the weeks following their first official outing as Are Magi settled into a far less eventful pattern of schoolwork and free time, Dana found her initial exuberant enthusiasm diminishing a bit. The battle against the C-Class Void had felt like the very pinnacle of her young life. Now, she had been brought back down to earth, and forced to return to the monotony of a mundane existence. There was still magical and physical training, of course, but it was nothing like what they’d experienced during their first trial. For some reason the cheerful Norban simply couldn’t put her finger on, they just felt empty somehow, hollow…

Thinking back to the debriefing, which followed their test, Dana vividly remembered her answers to the stoic examiner’s various questions.

[i]How did it feel to use your powers? 

[color=Gold]Great! It was really awesome to see just how much I can do now! I mean, can you imagine all the people I could help?![/color]

Do you feel any different since your transformation? 

[color=Gold]Uh, not really? I mean, I’m still the same old me, but, um, I guess I feel more confident? Is that what you’re asking?[/color]

How did you feel about your encounter with the Void? 

[color=Gold]It was really intense! But also really cool! The other Voids were kinda weak, so I got rid of ‘em easy enough, but that last one was so powerful, we all needed to work together to defeat it! Workin’ alone is fine, and all, but good teamwork can overcome any challenge, so it was really nice for us to have a chance to develop that! After all, teamwork is what let us beat the First Void, and I just [b]know[/b] that’s how we’re gonna take back the rest of the planet![/color]

How do you feel your teammates performed?

[color=Gold]They were amazing! Way more awesome than me, that’s for sure! I mean, yeah, they all got injured way worse than me, but that’s only because they’re all equipped for close combat, while I’ve got a gun, so, yeah, they’re gonna get banged up a lot more than me in fights, but… I’m kinda jealous of ‘em, y’know? I mean, they got to really prove what they were made of, gettin’ hurt, but workin’ through it to win in the end. I never had to deal with that, and, well, I’m not sure if I could take the kinda pounding they did and still come out on top…[/color][/i]

Perhaps [i]that[/i] was the reason, Dana mused after another week of studies had passed into the history books. She wanted to challenge herself further, to once again push her abilities to the limit, and then see if she could go even further. If she could overcome the limitations and weaknesses she knew all-to-well she possessed. Unfortunately, the only thing being challenged of late was her patience…

Thanks to a regrettable fight Penny had gotten herself into only a few days after their trial, Dana’s bespectacled roommate had been prohibited from leaving campus for several weeks, which made any off campus trips significantly less enjoyable. Thus, with the exception of a few feeble attempts, they had decided to postpone their explorations of Palmyra until after Penny’s incarceration had ended. Thankfully, tonight was that night, and Dana couldn’t wait to experience everything her new home had to offer, with [i]all[/i] her new friends along for the ride. 

[color=39b54a]“You girls ready for a tour of the town?”[/color] Penny asked as they packed up for the day. [color=39b54a]“‘Cause I know I am.”[/color]

[color=Gold]“You bet I am!”[/color] Dana replied with her trademark grin. [color=Gold]“And if I know Nicole, she’s already got a list of all the best places to visit!”[/color] she added, while playfully elbowing the red-headed Hastian. [color=Gold]“Oh yeah! And we’ve got that fancy ball or whatever comin’ up!”[/color] the energetic Norban noted excitedly. [color=Gold]“I don’t now about you, Penny, but I’ve never been to anything even remotely like that, so I really hope our resident fashion and high society experts can help me out!”[/color] she said, directing her attention to Nicole and Vanna.