[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/io96cQp.png[/img][/center] As Olivia listened to the Grand Minister’s words, she felt a soothing calmness wash over her. Merlin may have [i]looked[/i] fairly ordinary, as far as Magical Girls went, but the sound of her voice, the aura of her very presence… was [i]extraordinary…[/i] [color=LightSkyBlue][i]My goodness… She certainly has a way with words…[/i][/color] the azure-clad beauty reflected as she closed her eyes and allowed the Grand Minister's serene reassurances to fill her heart. Unfortunately, not everyone shared Olivia’s contentment, and the Ethereal Rose gasped in shock as she heard the infuriated wolf girl (Lupin, wasn’t it?) bark out a harsh rant, before darting toward the captive Tsubasa with a knife in one clenched fist. However, in the blink of an eye, a golden blur raced to block her path. [color=LightSkyBlue]“Suzuya!”[/color] Olivia cried in alarm, even as the fox girl’s flaming tails set off the emergency sprinklers, dousing everyone in a torrent of water. [color=LightSkyBlue][i]I suppose that is [b]one[/b] way to defuse a tense situation…”[/i][/color] the blonde beauty noted as she hugged her shivering body. A moment later, the deluge diminished as a massive wing was placed over her. [color=LightSkyBlue]“Oh! Thank you, darling!”[/color] Olivia said as she smiled up at her eldritch consort. Now that she had a moment, the fairest of maidens noticed that one of Xolys’s elongated limbs had been poised to halt Lupin’s enraged charge if the young woman hadn’t come to a stop of her own volition. [color=LightSkyBlue][i]I really shouldn’t have worried,[/i][/color] Olivia reflected. [color=LightSkyBlue][i]Darling Xolys always has everything under control![/i][/color] And speaking of having things under control, it was about then that a young woman who Olivia was faintly aware was Marrywell’s student councilor stepped in to further deescalate the standoff between Lupin and Burning Heart. The dark-haired young woman gave the two students an ultimatum: either spend a week in after-school counseling, or give each other a hug. As far as Olivia was concerned, a big hug always felt nice, and was definitely the better of the two options. After all, Lupin’s anger had been directed at Tsubasa, not Suzuya. This whole situation was merely the result of tempers flaring out of control, and so a little calmness and friendly conversation would obviously do a world of good. Ozma seemed to think so as well, and imparted a few placating words of her own to the gathered students and faculty. Yes, everything thankfully seemed to be winding down. The only real concern now was how to dry everyone off… [hr] As it happened, Xolys once again had matters well in hand, the Master of Xhar’doth combining the heat of his eldritch flames and the wind generated by several rapidly spinning tendrils to form an array of massive, makeshift blow dryers. Once everyone was fully dried off, both eldritch beast and enchanting beauty returned to their dorm room. Olivia was so engrossed in reading her letter from Bonnie that she didn’t even notice Suzuya’s arrival, or the girl’s anguished state. [color=MediumBlue]“And yet, it needed to be said,”[/color] Xolys’s calm voice told her from where the now substantially smaller beast stood on the far side of the room. [color=MediumBlue]“You should not regret having the courage to do so.”[/color] [color=LightSkyBlue]“Oh! Suzuya!”[/color] Olivia exclaimed in happy surprise upon being addressed by her still-nervous roommate. [color=LightSkyBlue]“Of [i]course[/i] there’s room for you!”[/color] the blonde beauty added with a melodic giggle. [color=LightSkyBlue]“Bonnie wants to invite as many people as we can! And can you believe she was thoughtful enough to send me a real, handwritten letter to ask about it?! It’s the first time I’ve ever received a letter that wasn’t an insult!”[/color] the azure-clad maiden gushed. [color=LightSkyBlue]“I’ll cherish this for the rest of my life! Oh! But there’s no time to waste! I need to write a letter back to her!”[/color] [hr] [color=LightSkyBlue]“Look, Suzuya!”[/color] Olivia practically squealed with delight, as she watched two folded pieces of paper be slipped under their door a few hours later. [color=LightSkyBlue]“Another letter from Bonnie! And there’s one for [i]you[/i] as well!”[/color] she added, while enthusiastically handing her roommate the letter in question. [color=LightSkyBlue]“Isn’t this so exciting?!”[/color] she asked. [color=LightSkyBlue]“I wonder what she has to say!”[/color] Opening the letter, Olivia quickly read through its contents. [color=LightSkyBlue]“Oh, wow! She said I get to pick the location!”[/color] the Ethereal Rose announced gleefully. [color=LightSkyBlue]“I must admit, I was a little worried she might not want to have it in a potentially haunted classroom, so I’m really glad she said yes!”[/color] However, her jubilation dimmed slightly a moment later, when she read the part about Wilhelmina. Despite her desire to befriend the maritime maiden, Olivia had seen less and less of the nautical-themed Magical Girl, and it seemed as if she was always attending classes on the far side of the campus, or away on some important mission, much like Chinami. Although the blonde beauty would definitely send her an invitation, she sadly doubted it would meet with any success… Still, at least Suzuya would be there, giving her even more time to bond with her somewhat timid roommate, and speaking of bonding… [color=LightSkyBlue]“Um, Suzuya? I was thinking, if you’re not busy with counseling, would you like to spend one of our days off exploring the city? I’ve always found London to be simply fascinating, and I thought it would be so much fun to go sightseeing without the threat of a Pageless battle getting in the way. Does that sound like something you’d like to do?”[/color]