Page 145 of Court of Aether and Shadows

The knowing look she gave me carried centuries of understanding. She, at least, remembered the last time such power had walked our halls.

"Two weeks," Elder Crystallos announced with poorly concealed satisfaction. "The trial begins in two weeks."

The chamber's atmosphere shifted instantly.

Even my power flickered with surprise.

"Trial?" Lord Thanatos straightened, void energy coiling tightly around him. "What trial?"

Elder Moira's ancient voice carried the weight of finality.

"The Council has decided to implement a reduction trial. The student body will be...adjusted from its current numbers to a more manageable twenty-five percent."

"Twenty-five?" Professor Serra gasped. "You mean to eliminate seventy-five percent of our students? After accepting them?"

"This is unprecedented," another professor protested. "These students were chosen, and will be tested further?—"

"Clearly not tested well enough to be worthy of our time and efforts," Elder Crystallos interrupted, his crystal features catching light triumphantly. "Given certain... unexpected acceptances."

My power surged, making several artifacts in the room rattle.

"Careful, Elder. Your prejudice is showing."

"It's not prejudice," Elder Vex spoke up, shadows writhing around his form. "It's a necessity. Too many students showed unexpected potential during scanning. The prophecy speaks of chosen ones, not chosen hundreds."

"This trial," Elder Moira continued firmly, "will separate those truly destined for greatness from those who merely possess power. It is... efficient."

"Efficient?" I couldn't keep the scorn from my voice. "Like your efficiency centuries ago? When your 'trials' cost us?—"

"Perhaps," Elder Crystallos's crystal features fractured into a cruel smile, "the real reason for your...passionate defense of this girl has less to do with prophecy and more to do with ancienthistory,” he remarks and dares to mutter, “still bitter about losing Princess Liarel to Lord Aetheron, aren't you?"

The temperature in the chamber dropped dramatically as my power surged.

"Choose your next words carefully, Elder."

"Why should I?" he pressed, either brave or foolish enough to continue. "We all see it! Another chance to steal what belongs to the Twilight Court. To finally best your old rival?—"

"You dare,"my voice carried harmonics that shattered several crystal ornaments,"speak of Liarel? You dare reduce her choice, her sacrifice, to mere court politics?"My iridescent robes blazed with barely contained celestial energy."I hold no grudge against Aetheron. Our history is our own, and YOU are not worthy to speak her name."

"Yet here you are," Crystallos persisted, "circling another powerful female tied to the Lord of Twilight and Shadows. History does tend to repeat?—"

"ENOUGH!"Elder Moira's voice cracked through the chamber like thunder. "This petty bickering serves no?—"

The shadows in the room suddenly deepened, coalescing into a familiar form. My power hummed in delight, the familiarity of those threads of shadows easily recognizable without me seeing the owner of such authority.

Lord Aetheron materialized from the darkness, his molten-gold eyes taking in the scene with dangerous amusement.

"Well,"he said, his voice carrying the weight of eternal night,"this is certainly an interesting discussion you're having about my queen."

My power crackled against Aetheron's shadows as our eyes met. The familiar mixture of rivalry, respect, and something far more complicated passed between us.

"Helios,"he greeted, his voice carrying a warmth that contradicted the predatory grace of his movements."Still letting the Council bait you into old arguments, I see."

"Aetheron,"I acknowledged stiffly, though I couldn't help noting how his shadows seemed to dance playfully with my celestial energy like they remembered our shared past.

To everyone's surprise, Aetheron turned to Elder Crystallos with a smile that held centuries of dangerous knowledge.

"You speak so confidently of matters you know nothing about, Elder. Shall we discuss what really happened when Liarel made her choice?"

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