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Dana exhaled a sigh of relief when no further threats materialized. However, she remained vigilant as their small group entered the parking garage and searched the abandoned structure for potential hostiles. The energetic Ars Magi only allowed herself to relax once they’d ensured the building was clear and settled into position on the top floor. It was actually pretty cool to watch how quickly the officers’ gear was unpacked and assembled into quite the comprehensive command post. Once that work was done, it was apparently time for a snack break. [color=Gold]“Thanks!”[/color] Dana told Holst with one of her trademark grins when the cadet offered her a protein bar. [color=Gold]“You guys really [i]did[/i] pack everything!”[/color] 

Opening the wrapper, the bright eyed Norban took a bite out of the bar, while leaving the bottom half still contained in the wrapper. Casting her still-enhanced gaze over the darkened landscape beyond their shelter, Dana saw the brief bursts of illumination that denoted the locations of other teams participating in the exercise. As she continued to eat, she couldn’t help but wonder how the others were faring, Noah, in particular. What kind of Ars Magi would he be paired with? The team Priya and Amanda were on? Or perhaps the one to which that towering, green-haired girl she’d seen at the ball belonged? In any event, her musings were soon brought to an abrupt end, when Aiya addressed them, inquiring first of Penny’s speed, and then of Dana’s marksmanship.

[color=Gold]“I ghesh sho,”[/color] the cheerful Norban replied as she chewed on the last piece of her bar. After gulping it down, she added, [color=Gold]“I mean, Guardian Gunslinger Alexis was kinda my hero growin’ up, so when I was told I was gonna get to be an Ars Magi, I wanted to be just like her!”[/color]

As if to demonstrate, Dana crumpled her wrapper up into a tight ball, before tossing it into the air. In the blink of an eye, she had drawn her gladius and snapped off an incandescent bolt of golden energy. The shot struck the wrapper dead center, instantly vaporizing it. With an impish smile, Dana twirled her pistol around a finger, before placing it back in its holster. However, her confidence was replaced by slight embarrassment a moment later, when Aiya noted how popular she’d been at the ball, which caused a small blush to color the cheerful Ars Magi’s cheeks. 

[color=Gold]“Gosh, I sure hope not!”[/color] Dana replied with a nervous chuckle, when Aiya mentioned that her popularity might make some people jealous. [color=Gold]“I just enjoy makin’ new friends, that’s all,”[/color] she added, holding her hands up in a placating manner. [color=Gold]“There nothin’ wrong with that, right?”[/color] she asked with a hopeful smile, one made all the more charming by her oversized tooth poking out.