Page 121 of Court of Aether and Shadows

Why wouldn’t they make it to the center?

It was a question to ask, as the list of many continued to grow in length, but I was more intrigued at what the middle of these circles withheld from us students.

"And the center?" I asked, hoping to project my drawn interest in the idea of magic older than the courts.

"That's the Convergence Heart. They say it's where the first magic was born, where reality itself was shaped." She checked the time using a crystal that caught starlight in impossible ways. "And speaking of convergence, Lady Nyx should be arriving any moment now."

“How would you kno?—”

As if summoned by her words, the air in the room began to shimmer with otherworldly energy — encouraging my words to trail off as I sensed the shift. The temperature dropped several degrees, and the shadows in the corners seemed to deepen and swirl with purpose.

"Remember," Celeste said quickly, "Void Court nobility have... different customs. Don't be alarmed by?—"

Before she could finish, reality itself seemed to fold inward; a tear ripping through the atmosphere near the door, creating a sort of rift that was charged with immense energy.

What the fuck?!

Through the tear stepped a figure that made my breath catch in my throat. If this was Lady Nyx, she was nothing like I expected.

She emerged from the fold in reality like a goddess stepping out of cosmic dreams. Her hair cascaded in waves of twilight — shifting seamlessly from deep purple at the roots through various shades of pink, creating an aurora of color that seemed to dance with her every movement.

Most of it was swept up in an intricate updo held in place by what appeared to be pins made from crystallized starlight, but several strands fell loose, framing a face that defied conventional beauty.

Her eyes were what truly captured me — swirling pools of purple, blue, and pink that moved like living galaxies being born and dying in endless cycles.

They seemed to hold entire universes within their depths, and when they fixed on me with striking intent. I felt a jolt of recognition that I couldn't explain, but I’d never met this woman in my life.

The traditional academy uniform had been completely reimagined on her form. Instead of the expected skirt, she woretailored trousers that hugged her curves before flowing into boots that seemed made from condensed darkness.

Her jacket, cut in a masculine style but fitted perfectly to her figure, was adorned with silver chains that clinked musically with each movement. The whole ensemble was a beautiful rebellion against convention, yet somehow looked more right than any traditional uniform could have.

Her neck was adorned with intricate tattoos — cosmic designs that seemed to move of their own accord, constellations, and nebulae that shifted and changed as if responding to her moods. Multiple earrings lined her ears, each one appearing to be made from different celestial materials — void crystal, star metal, cosmic ice.

"So,"she said, her voice carrying harmonics that made my newly awakened power surge in response,"you're the one everyone's been talking about."

Something about her presence called to me on a level I didn't understand. It was different from what I felt with Aetheron, or even Liam and I dare say Solaris. This was something else entirely — like recognizing a part of myself I never knew was missing.

Exhilarating and frighteningly but did this mean something? Did I have a connection with this woman in some way?

"I see that look in your eyes,"Lady Nyx said, a knowing smile playing on her lips as the rift behind her began to crumble until the only remnants of its existence were sparkles of black and purple that rained down onto the floor.

She moved closer, her scent hitting me like whiplash — like starlight and midnight flowers, with an underlying hint of something wild. I couldn’t even grasp if “Starlight” had a scent until falling into these realms, but I guess the best thing tocompare the aroma to was a sort of flower that you could only smell at night and in a unique garden of sorts.

"You're feeling it too, aren't you?” she hums in delight, the previous energy that cloaked her voice now absent. “The pull."

Holding myself from answering right away, I nodded, unable to find words that didn’t make me feel like an oblivious fool. Considering my circumstances, I was being rather harsh on myself for not being able to articulate and connect in conversation.

However, I also didn’t like how vulnerable all of this made me feel.

As if everyone had the upper hand.

I observed carefully as she circled me with a predatory grace. The galaxy swirls in her eyes seemed to intensify as she studied me.

"Figured as much," she chuckled, perching casually on the nearest table in a way that somehow made the formal academy uniform look rebellious. "Being an Omega is complicated enough without adding Void wolf energy to the mix."

Void wolf? Wait…is she like the others?

"You're... a wolf?" I managed, surprised by this revelation. Somehow, she didn't fit the aggressive, territorial energy I'd witnessed between Liam and Solaris. "Like…um Liam and Solaris. Wait…you probably have no clue who I’m talking about.

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