Page 120 of Court of Aether and Shadows

Everyone’s safety?

I’m sure this had something to do with the whole wolf thing. Maybe to go to this academy, we’ll have to go through a portal, similar to the rift that brought me into these lands.

They could need to shift in order to get there. Or maybe they have to go through their specific world?

I hated the idea of not being sure, but I had to be patient with myself. This wasn’t a “they taught you in school” type of scenario — as if that even applied to me.

Just the reminder made me recall Vincent’s authoritative voice and how he enjoyed scolding us with silly remarks like that.

Knowing a good majority of us didn’t get to walk into a school building unless it was for a mission that paid some big dollars.

The uniform's sleeves ended in fingerless gloves that merged seamlessly with the fabric, creating channels for magic to flow freely while maintaining control.

Small crystals were embedded at each major chakra point, their colors shifting between the four courts' signature hues — shadow black, aether gold, void purple, and elemental green.

The sight made me realize how much I need to unravel this new reality.How my curiosity craved for answers to the never-ending questions building in my mind.

"The academy itself," Celeste continued, "sits at the Convergence. The one place where all four courts' territories meet. It's built on neutral ground, protected by ancient magic that predates even the separation of the courts."

She led me to a larger mirror, allowing me to see the full effect of the uniform. The back of the jacket bore an intricate design — four symbols representing each court, arranged in a circle around a central crest that seemed to shift and change as I watched.

"The Council of Elders maintains the neutrality," she explained. "Four in total, one from each court. They ensure no single court can dominate the academy's teachings."

She pauses when there’s a beep sound, encouraging her to walk over to a clipboard as it seems to project a hologram. I can’t understand the symbols being projected, but it seems to be important with Celeste’s heightened concentration.

“One second, Princess.“

She reviews whatever has been received, and bobs her head in understanding before she returns to me.

“There seems to be a change in partners,” she reveals.

“Change?” I’m not sure if I should feel relieved or more nervous.

“Yes. I guess it was requested by the Lord of Aether Court. It seems as though Aurora wasn’t being very cooperative withthe idea of being partnered with one from the Twilight Court.” Celeste’s expression tells me this Aurora lady has some history known through other courts.

“Intriguing,” I admit with a tedious smile. “Not like I care much, I guess. Who is her replacement?”

"Lady Nyx from the Void Court," Celeste reveals, adjusting the crystalline buttons on my jacket that seemed to contain tiny galaxies. "She's quite... unique, even among the Void dwellers. They say she can walk between dreams and reality as easily as we walk through doorways."

I found myself intrigued by the prospect of a Void Court partner. From my general understanding, those from the void court had many similarities to Twilight. It didn’t make them buddy-buddy in nature, but I guess having a few similarities could encourage friendships rather than enemies.

Something about the idea of being partnered with this Nyx woman resonated with the new power flowing through my veins.

"The Council maintains strict rules about cooperation," Celeste continued, now braiding small crystals into my hair that would help channel magical energy. "Each Elder brings centuries of wisdom from their respective courts. The Twilight Sages, led by Moira, are masters of shadow and ancient knowledge. The Solar Sentinels guard the laws of light and truth. The Void Watchers maintain the boundaries between realms, while the Elemental Guardians ensure natural balance."

She paused her work to gesture at the academy grounds visible through a holographic image that kindled to life from a gestured wave of her hand — a sprawling complex that seemed to exist in multiple realities simultaneously.

Different sections of the building reflected each court's architecture: obsidian spires for Shadow, crystal towers for Aether, void-dark domes for the Void Court, and living architecture of vines and trees for the Elementals.

"The academy is structured in circles," she explained, pointing to each section. "Outer rings for basic studies, inner rings for advanced magic. At the center..." She paused meaningfully. "Well, they say the center holds magic older than the courts themselves."

Magic older than the courts themselves…

"Each circle of the academy represents different levels of magical mastery," Celeste explained as she made final adjustments to my uniform. "The outermost ring focuses on basic control. That’s most likely the section you’ll venture through for a few weeks. It’s rather massive regardless, with plenty of unique structures and castle infrastructure. Learning to channel your power without accidentally tearing holes, in reality, is one of the essential focuses at this stage."

She gave me a meaningful look that made me wonder if she knew about my dramatic arrival through the rift.

"The second ring delves into court-specific magic. The third..." She paused, her hands stilling on my shoulders. "The third ring is where things get interesting. That's where students learn to blend different courts' magic. Very few make it that far."

---