Page 131 of Court of Aether and Shadows

“I've survived worse than prep school politics, Lady Aurora. And I did it without needing Daddy's name to clear my path."

I didn’t know the background logistics of who her Dad was or the position he held to make her believe she had all this power, but using it against her was the perfect hit to her ego with howshe fought to maintain a “calm” demeanor instead of reacting and embarrassing herself.

The air around us grew heavy with competing energies as we held each other's gaze, neither willing to back down. The academy's very walls seemed to pulse in response to our standoff.

Suddenly, a presence filled the atrium —ancient and overwhelming.

Everyone, including Lady Aurora, turned toward the source, leaving me no choice but to look ahead as to what the fuss was about.

Hmm?

There, stood a man of celestial glory, and that booming voice of a knight couldn’t help but announce his presence.

“Bow for Lord Helios Solarin, Ruler of the Aether Court!”

Lord Helios commanded the space with a presence that made Aurora's earlier display seem childish in comparison.

His hair cascaded past his shoulders in waves that shifted from deep Irish green at the roots to ethereal Tiffany blue at the tips, moving as if caught in an invisible breeze. Each strand seemed to capture and release light, creating an aurora of color around his regal features.

His eyes were perhaps his most striking feature — iridescent pools that shifted through every color imaginable, yet somehow maintained a core of pure starfire.

They held the weight of centuries, the knowledge of ages, and power that made the very air tremble. Standing slightly taller than Lord Aetheron, his frame carried the same commanding presence, though where my Lord of Twilight and Shadows embodied night's mysteries, Helios radiated celestial majesty.

His attire defied conventional description.

Robes that seemed woven from pure light draped his form in layers that moved like liquid sunshine. The base layer was apure white that somehow contained every color within its depth, while over it flowed panels of silk that transformed from one ethereal shade to another with each movement.

Gold and silver threads created patterns throughout the fabric that told stories of cosmic events —stars being born and dying, galaxies dancing through space, and comets weaving their eternal paths.

At his waist, a belt of pure energy pulsed with Aether magic, holding in place a sword that seemed forged from a fallen star. His boots, crafted from what appeared to be solidified moonlight, made no sound as he moved across the floor, though each step left brief afterimages of celestial energy.

A crown sat upon his brow, but unlike traditional royal adornments, this one appeared to be made of captured auroras, shifting and dancing with colors that shouldn't exist in our realm. It cast patterns of light across his face that emphasized his otherworldly beauty and peachy flawless complexion while somehow making him seem even more untouchable.

When he spoke, his voice carried harmonics that made the crystal walls of the academy sing in response.

"My, my," he said, his eyes fixing on me with an intensity that made my newly awakened power surge in response. "What an interesting gathering of courts we have here."

Lord Helios circled our small group with predatory grace, though his attention remained fixed primarily on me. His iridescent eyes seemed to peel away layers, looking past flesh and bone to something deeper.

The air grew thick with his power, making it difficult for others to breathe, yet I found myself standing taller under his scrutiny.

"Such spirit," he mused, his voice carrying harmonics that made nearby students shiver. "Lady Aurora, my dear, I seeyou're making our new arrival feel... welcome." The way he emphasized the last word carried layers of meaning.

Aurora preened under his attention, clearly expecting praise.

"O-Of course, my Lord. I was just explaining the importance of proper court etiquette and?—"

"And yet," he interrupted smoothly, never taking his eyes off me, "our fascinating guest seems remarkably unmoved by such concerns."

Indeed, I remained the only one standing upright in his presence.

Even my wolves had dropped to respectful kneels, though I could feel their tension —especially Nyx's— radiating through a funnel of connections that made me feel bonded to them. The entire atrium had gone deathly silent, waiting to see how the Aether Lord would respond to such blatant defiance.

"You notice my lack of deference," I said, meeting his kaleidoscope gaze steadily. The light from his robes played across my face, but I refused to squint or look away.

"I do," he confirmed, his crown of auroras flaring slightly. "Care to explain why you feel yourself exempt from such... basic courtesies?"

A small smile curved my lips as I thought of Aetheron's words from earlier.

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