"The session with Stephanie was interesting, to say the least. It looks like we might have someone join us in the more magical areas of study. She is extremely enthusiastic about learning all about magic." Horace was impressed by Stephanie's enthusiasm to learn, but he was unsure if she could grasp the ideas behind magic as a whole. And it didn't help that Horace kept forgetting to tell her things.

"I'm sure that if we held a double tutoring session, she would be amazing. You could show her aspects from Living and Perception, and I could show her Static and Physical. She would be a force to be reckoned with." Horace chuckled, he hoped Laur realized he was kidding. "I am kidding, of course. It would be amazing, but we wouldn't be able to transform a fourth form that isn't magically oriented into a "force to be reckoned with". Still, a double tutoring session, might be an great idea."

"Ah, that's good. We really will have to do a double some time. She'd be invincible. She told me she got a good score on her entrance exam; that's a good indicator of later ability. She's just having a bit of trouble. We'll work it out. Oof, it's getting late." It'd been nearly an hour, with all the strolling and chatting and going to galleries. "We should start back soon, or we'll be late to my dinner. My accursed formal today. Chimes. I have to change for it."

Horace glanced at his pocket watch, it was getting late. It felt as though they only walked for about fifteen minutes, though. He wished it didn't have to end so quickly, they seemed to be having a good time. Sometimes Horace despised the formal dinners. He knew why they were needed, but the practice seemed to be outdated. Most students he knew were well rounded, respectful citizens of Anaxas. They new how to act around adults and respected ones. To Horace, it was a necessary evil.

"Oh yes, it seems we must be getting you back to your dorm. You don't want to be late like I was on the sixteenth. I received a stern talking to, it was not one of my best moments." Horace sighed, if it wasn't for that clocking duel, he wouldn't have been late in the first place. Why did Naul agree to it? It wasn't a matter now, he just hoped Laur wasn't too sick from the cold.

They walked a bit further until they reached the end of the neighborhood. "Well it seems we are going to be going to separate ways. Good luck with the supper, I hope you have a good time." Horace wasn't great at goodbyes and his socially awkward self had started to get the best of him. "So I-I-I guess I'll see you around." Without warning, Horace crouched down and went in for a hug. His butt was almost touching the floor so he could be at eye level with Laur.

The hug was of course radically unexpected. People seemed to want to hug her lately. Was she simply more huggable than she had previously been? She hadn't visibly changed much. Perhaps it was the act of actually knowing people that did it. In any case, the sudden affection surprised her.

"I'm not that short, you know." At first she was rather rigid, but it seemed pointless. It was very apparent to her that he was a boy at that point. She hadn't taken much interest in them yet, considering studying was much more gratifying in the long run than silly teenage romance, or so she thought. But realistically she should have begun courting long ago. She relaxed and hugged him back gently. She could try this hugging thing. It was rather nice, actually. "I'll...I'll see you soon," she muttered into the general vicinity of his hair/ear/face. "I'm sure I'll hate it. The dinner, I mean." Her voice had gone all stupid and girly. This was embarrassing. She broke away. "Well. I should be going now. Erm. Goodnight. Horace." She began the walk back to her dorm to change into her uniform. As she was about halfway, a thought struck her. Wait a tick. Was that a date?