Page 176 of Court of Aether and Shadows

The academy cafeteria buzzed with the chaos of first-day success stories and failures. Students from all courts mingled at crystal tables that shifted colors to match their natural affinities, their voices a symphony of boasts, complaints, and the occasional magical mishap.

I slid back into my seat beside Cypress, merging seamlessly with my void duplicate which had maintained my presence during my absence. Around us, the air crackled with different courts' energies - some complementary, others clashing like discordant notes in an eternal song.

"That was a long bathroom break," Solaris noted, his sun-bright energy flickering with curiosity. "Even for someone with your dedication to personal grooming."

"I wondered what was taking our Star Girl so long," I said casually, watching a nearby Aether Court student accidentally turn their soup into liquid starlight. "Decided to check on her."

The reaction was immediate. Solaris straightened, his radiance intensifying with concern. "Is she alright? She did look rather pale after class."

"That's exactly why I went back," I admitted, remembering how she had collapsed into Helios's arms. "She's okay, just resting her eyes. A power nap, if you will."

Cypress's elemental tattoos shifted with worry, the patterns forming gentle waves of concern. "We shouldn't be here then," he said, already half-rising from his seat. "We should be with her."

"Professor Helios is still with her," I said carefully, noting how Liam's shadows darkened at the news. "Wouldn't want to interfere with our esteemed instructor's... supervision."

The shadows around Liam coiled tighter, his energy pulsing with barely contained anger. It grated against my void magic like sandpaper on silk, making me want to create a small rift under his chair just to watch him fall through it.

"Well," Cypress drawled, his ocean-deep eyes fixed on our brooding shadow wolf, "maybe she's extra exhausted after pulling a certain someone's stubborn bark up his twilight ass through the realms."

"I wasn't completely useless in that barrier," Liam snapped, his shadows writhing defensively. "I couldn't even do anything because I was forced to behave!"

"Forced to behave?" I couldn't help but laugh, the sound making nearby void flowers close their blooms in sympathy. "Is that what we're calling your little tantrum now? Because from where I was standing, you were actively fighting against help that saved your life."

Liam's power surged, making the shadows around our table deepen ominously. "You don't understand-"

"Oh, I understand perfectly," I cut him off, my galaxy eyes flashing with centuries of accumulated frustration. "Youcouldn't handle the fact that a woman - our Omega no less - had to save you. That she wielded power you couldn't even comprehend, let alone match."

"That's not-"

"Tell me, Shadow Wolf," I pressed, void energy crackling around me like dark lightning, "in all your time in the mundane realm, did you ever stop to think that maybe, just maybe, you were the one holding her back? That all your posturing and protection was actually limiting her true potential?"

The cafeteria had grown quieter, other students sensing the building tension between us. Solaris and Cypress exchanged worried looks, their powers ready to intervene if needed.

"You don't know what it was like there," Liam growled, but I could see uncertainty flickering in his eyes. "The dangers she faced-"

"Were nothing compared to what she'll face here," I finished. "And if you keep letting your wounded pride get in the way of accepting her true nature, you might just find yourself watching from the sidelines as she surpasses everything you thought possible."

Cypress's elements shifted, creating a subtle barrier between us. "Perhaps we should focus on eating," he suggested diplomatically. "Before our food turns into void matter or shadow essence."

But there was something in his ocean-deep eyes - approval, understanding - that told me he agreed with every word I'd said.

"Fine," Liam muttered, his shadows retreating slightly. "But someone should still be with her."

"She's with the Lord of Aether himself," Solaris pointed out, though something complex flickered in his sun-bright eyes at the mention of Helios. "I doubt there's anywhere safer in all the realms right now."

I caught the slight emphasis on 'right now' and had to suppress a knowing smile. If only they knew what I'd witnessed between our esteemed professor and the Shadow Lord...

But those were secrets for another time. For now, I had a brooding wolf to manage and a pack to keep together.

Even if some members of that pack needed occasional reminders about the new reality they found themselves in.

"No compatibility," Liam muttered into his untouched food, shadows curling like angry serpents around his plate. "He's just another Council member looking to benefit from her power. Our Omega deserves better than political games."

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it - a sound like crystal wind chimes in a void storm. Several nearby void flowers bloomed in response, their petals opening to reveal galaxies within.

"Oh honey," I purred, letting void energy dance between my perfectly manicured fingers. "Is that jealousy I detect? Just because you're not bold enough to proclaim your admiration and lust for our Omega doesn't mean everyone else should wait in line for you to grow some balls."

The cafeteria's ambient chatter dimmed as students began to take notice of our conversation. I could feel their different court energies shifting closer - Aether Court nobles pretending to be engrossed in their floating teacups while obviously eavesdropping, Void Court students not even bothering to hide their interest as reality bent slightly around them.

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