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Olivia gasped in surprise, when, in response to her impassioned plea, Tsubasa presented her with an ornate golden rose. So shocked was the azure-clad beauty by this unexpected gift that she completely missed the conclusion to Tesni and Tsubasa’s little duel, only barely catching the masked maiden’s parting words, before she vanished in a flash of light, taking the remaining Pageless with her. 

[color=LightSkyBlue][i]Well, at least she realizes what she did here was wrong,[/i][/color] Olivia reflected with a weary sigh. [color=LightSkyBlue][i]I suppose that’s something…[/i][/color]

Still, that knowledge did little to brighten her somber mood. Looking down at her gleaming rose, the azure-clad maiden couldn’t help but frown as a pang of sorrow pierced her heart. Although the golden gift was indeed a thing of beauty, that beauty was irrevocably tarnished by Tsubasa’s recent actions, the repercussions of which were plain to see. She had wanted so much to believe that Tsubasa was an ally, a [i]friend[/i], that the masked maiden was just misunderstood by her peers, much like Olivia herself had so often been. But no, this was not simply some mere misunderstanding. Tsubasa clearly believed that her end goals were noble enough to justify whatever means she chose to employ in order to achieve them, regardless of how much suffering they caused…

In the aftermath of the attack, Olivia found that there was precious little she or Xolys could do to assist in recovery operations. Drossel seemed like the only person capable of mitigating the effects suffered by the victims of Tsubasa’s forced fusings, while others seemed to have the repairs to the cafeteria well in hand. The blonde beauty was just about to depart with Suzuya, when she was met with the incredibly unexpected sight of Valeria escorting a bound Tsubasa through the cafeteria’s main entrance. Stealing her resolve, the Ethereal Rose made her way over to the pair, being carful not to trip on any of the broken tiles.

[color=LightSkyBlue]“I-I’m sorry, Miss Tsubasa,”[/color] she told the bound young woman as she held out the golden rose. [color=LightSkyBlue]“This was a very generous gift, and I truly do appreciate the thought put into it, but… I cannot accept such a token of appreciation from someone who has just caused so much anguish to so many innocent people. You said you only wanted to help your fellow Magical Girls, a-and I believe that! B-But there [i]has[/i] to be a better way than [i]this![/i]”[/color] she added, her eyes beginning to water as she gestured to the scene of recovery playing out around them. [color=LightSkyBlue]“A-And I think we can find it if we all work together, so please…”[/color] she begged, as she placed the rose in Tsubasa’s hands. [color=LightSkyBlue]“Please remember that you don’t have to do this alone.”[/color] With these parting words, Olivia infused the returned gift with a small portion of her magic, causing a faint bluish aura to appear around the golden flower, speckled with an array of shimmering stars. 

Turning around, the azure-clad beauty was met with the sight of a commotion surrounding a newly arrived sliver-haired young woman. The names “Merlin”, “Miss Marrywell”, and the title “Grand Minister”, were being uttered in awed and reverential tones, but Olivia herself simply stared at the scene in puzzlement. 

[color=LightSkyBlue][i][b]That’s[/b] the Grand Minister?[/i][/color]

Of course, Olivia had never seen the school’s enigmatic leader before, and what little she knew of her came from what few vague and often conflicting rumors she’d overheard, but, still, the young lady before her looked so... [i]ordinary[/i]. Perhaps she was just exceedingly humble, like Ozma, the Ethereal Rose reflected. Or perhaps this wasn’t even her [i]true[/i] Magical Girl form? Perhaps the supposedly ancient headmistress thought it would be far too intimidating were she to reveal her full imposing majesty, much like an eldritch horror shattering the minds of those unprepared to behold such a transcendently gorgeous visage? In any case, Olivia decided to move a little closer to hear what the Grand Minister had to say…

[hr]     

Upon finally returning to her room, Olivia was about to get ready for bed, when she noticed a piece of paper on the floor.

[color=LightSkyBlue]“What’s this?”[/color] she wondered, picking it up. [color=LightSkyBlue]“A letter? For [i]me?[/i]”[/color] she inquired, her eyes lighting up and a delighted smile spreading across her face. [color=LightSkyBlue]“Oh, wow! I’ve never received a handwritten letter from anyone before!”[/color]

Upon reading the short message, the blonde beauty was filled with joy. For so long, no one had even wanted to [i]speak[/i] with her, and now someone had taken the time to write her a letter? One that [i]wasn’t[/i] just a collection of insults? The lovely maiden was practically beside herself, and although Bonnie’s room wasn’t far by any means, Olivia wanted to respond to her classmate’s letter with one of her own. Sitting down at her small desk, she retrieved a pen and began writing.  

[color=LightSkyBlue][i]Dear Bonnie

Thank you so much for sending this letter! Your kind words really warmed my heart! I’d very much like to get to know you better as well, and I think a sleepover would be a wonderful way to do that! In fact, I was actually thinking of organizing one myself! How would you feel about having it in either the music room or the art room? Helmi, that is, Wilhelmina, told me that both of those locations are possibly haunted, and I thought it would be so much fun if we could find out for sure! What do you think?

I look forward to hearing back from you!

Thanks again,
Olivia

P.S. Darling Xolys says thanks, too![/i][/color]

[color=LightSkyBlue]“Oh, this is so exciting!”[/color] Olivia gushed. [color=LightSkyBlue]“It’s almost like having a pen pal!”[/color]

Neatly folding the letter, she crept up to Bonnie’s door and carefully slid it underneath.

[color=LightSkyBlue][i]I really do hope this all works out,[/i][/color] Olivia thought to herself as she returned to her own room. [color=LightSkyBlue][i]It will be my very first slumber party, and in a haunted classroom, no less! Oh, I simply cannot [b]wait![/b][/i][/color]