[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/tQYxTnX.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/OMrO8a9.png[/img][/center] [hr] The past few weeks had been a welcome reprieve: a chance to catch one's breath after the breakneck pace that had been their initiation to Voids and Ars Magi. Yet in spite of their break Vanna found herself grappling with an odd feeling. A sense of [i][color=#DC143C]unease? Concern?[/color][/i] Exact descriptors may have failed her but the simple fact remained that things felt off. [i][color=#DC143C]Wrong[/color][/i]. An unspoken feeling that loitered through the campus halls... at least for a few days. The trainees were still young and easily distracted. All it took was a few days of normalcy and classwork for many to move on or at least put the dread behind them. This was their life now; fixating on peculiarities wouldn't improve matters. Still things had only been brushed aside, not forgotten. [i][color=#DC143C]A band-aid[/color][/i]. For a still healing wound. As for the daughter of Diana her routine hadn't changed much. [i][color=#DC143C]Only the setting[/color][/i]. The attack she had endured and the battle her fellow teammates had waged in her absence served as [i][color=#DC143C]fuel[/color][/i]. She had another reason to train, another reason to succeed: she would be ready whatever the danger. She had to be. The young silver haired woman soon became a familiar sight to any fellow morning birds at the academy. By dawn she'd be finishing her warm up mile and by 7 AM her morning exercises in general. It was never anything too strenuous mostly just running and core exercises with strength training thrown in here and there. The academy had drills of their own and injury through overwork would be a rookie mistake. [i][color=#DC143C]Stupid and foolish[/color][/i]. Besides her current routine left her with ample time to shower and grab breakfast before classes. At first she'd simply consume whatever was offered at the school cafeteria, but, well... [i][color=#DC143C]Cognoscenti[/color][/i]. All it took was one morning encounter and suddenly Vanna found herself accompanying the team's resident socialite on breakfast bagel runs. [i][color=#DC143C]A whirlwind[/color][/i]. That was Nicole Cognoscenti of the wind elementum. The classes themselves had been fairly simple; most of the girls had never been afforded the luxuries Vanna had possessed growing up. [i][color=#DC143C]Most?[/color][/i] None of the girls had come from as privileged a background. As such it came with little surprise that most of the first three weeks was spent reviewing knowledge Vanna already possessed or improving the shape of her fellow cadets. [i][color=#DC143C]Boring[/color][/i]. Yes, in a word. Still she couldn't allow boredom to dull her abilities. A Diana had to always strive for the top. Excuses were for the weak willed and the Lady of Potentia was anything but weak. If she had to work on schoolwork while eating lunch so be it. Whatever it took to stay on top. She would remain diligent and refined: an example for all her fellow cadets at the academy. However mind numbing the process might be, that was her duty. But that's what the evenings were for: a chance to recenter. They had been anyway, until Nicole's bubbling impatience had led to the young Hastian dragging both Vanna and Astrelle out into the city. From Chinese hole in the walls to karaoke parlors, Nicole had been quick to introduce the Potentian Lady to new experiences. Of their many [i][color=#DC143C]excursions?[/color][/i] perhaps the most memorable had been an evening screening of Demonetta. A violent and action packed affair confined within a two dimensional space and her first time experiencing the so called "trip to the movies." Between the cheers of the audience and Nicole's own eager gasps, it was obvious others greatly enjoyed the experience. But she wasn't entirely sure what she thought other than it all being rather [i][color=#DC143C]noisy[/color][/i]. But she didn't hate it. Still, truth be told, Vanna wasn't entirely certain why she so frequently agreed to Nicole's evening escapades. [i][color=#DC143C]Curiosity? Camaraderie?[/color][/i] The Hastian's infectious energy was persuasive, even if Vanna didn't truly understand the reason why. [i][color=#DC143C]Her aura[/color][/i]. Yes some people just had this aura that drew attention and roped others into their orbit. One of her brothers was quite similar, perhaps he and Nicole would've been friends. [i][color=#DC143C]Friends?[/color][/i] Was that what she considered her other teammates to be now? She couldn't quite be sure, she hadn't known them or the prospect itself long enough to make a judgement. The potential was there of course but so far it was unknown if the outcome would be realized. And she was fine that, she signed up to be a defender, a guardian, an Ars Magi, not a friend. But she wasn't fully opposed to the concept, she just didn't know what to think yet. [i][color=#DC143C]Do the others...[/color][/i] Yes, did the others grapple with similar questions? It certainly appeared that way for the young lady of the Lennox household, watching her navigate Nicole's energy during the evenings had been [i][color=#DC143C]amusing[/color][/i]. But what of the other three girls in their team? Did any of them wonder about the nature of their relations? Was she in some way betraying their expectations with her hesitancy? Vanna's mind was oft inquisitive of such ordeals but the answers were never quite in reach. And seeking them was a distraction. On the few evenings Diana's daughter found herself alone or the nights after she had left the company of others, she finally had time to focus on what mattered most to her: The sword. Her moonlit blade still shone as brilliant as its first summoning. Her constant companion now and forever demanded respect from the young Ars Magi. Respect she was happy to give the blade by practicing both her elementum and swordplay night after night on the dormitory rooftops. There she could soar and test her limits, there she could refine her craft. The moon still shines and one is alive: two identical phrases in the old tongue of her homeland. [i][color=#DC143C]And the moon always shines brightest upon a Diana.[/color][/i] An old lesson from her mother. So under the moon she trained until it was time for rest and the day to begin anew. That had been the long and short of how Vanna had spent the past few weeks. A lot of hard work, a sprinkling of new experiences, and few moments of true rest; but all of it had been [i][color=#DC143C]rewarding[/color][/i]. And today appeared to be the first day where their two other teammates would finally venture out with the others. Once again Vanna found herself tagging along, still not entirely sure why, but she had plenty of time to come up with a reason. She remained silent for the most part, simply providing a helpful smile when Dana indicated she'd need assistance finding the proper attire for the upcoming ball. Certainly between her, Nicole and Astrelle they'd be able to help their teammate out. Today promised to be another long but [i][color=#DC143C]fun?[/color][/i] evening... Well that wasn't necessarily quite the word but she was still curious to see where the evenings plans would lead. [i][color=#DC143C]A large world[/color][/i]. For Potentia's daughter to explore.