Page 151 of Court of Aether and Shadows

The possessive pronoun was deliberate —'our'rather than'my'— and I saw the impact of it register in those celestial eyes.

Without waiting for a response, I turned and descended the stairs, my shadows trailing behind me like memories of what could have been —and what might still be.

The choice was his now.

Just as it had always been his, beneath all the Council's threats and societal pressures. I had laid my cards on the table and opened the door to possibilities we'd once thought forever closed.

The real question was whether the perfect Lord of Aether was finally ready to embrace imperfection, to choose happiness over tradition.

Only time will tell.

Skin Care Of The Century

~SPARROW~

I sprawled across my bed in the academy dorms, watching in fascination as Nyx arranged what seemed like an entire store's worth of skincare products on the crystalline vanity.

The void wolf moved with deliberate grace, organizing bottles and jars that seemed to contain everything from captured starlight to actual galaxy dust.

"Alright," Nyx announced, holding up a delicate glass vial that swirled with cosmic energy. "We start with the pre-cleanse oil. It has essences of void-touched roses and starlight extract." She caught my bewildered expression in the mirror and grinned, her galaxy eyes sparkling with mischief. "What? Don't tell me you've never seen a proper skincare routine before."

I shifted uncomfortably on the silk sheets, still not used to such luxury after years of threadbare cots.

"Actually..." I started, watching as she applied the oil in precise circular motions, "I just use soap and water."

The vial nearly slipped from Nyx's fingers.

She spun to face me, her multicolored hair creating aurora patterns in her wake.

"I'm sorry, you what?"

"Soap. Water." I shrugged, feeling suddenly self-conscious under her incredulous stare. "Sometimes I'd get lucky and find unscented lotion at the drugstore, but that was pretty much it."

"Sweet celestial mercy," Nyx breathed, abandoning her routine to perch on the edge of my bed. "You're telling me you've never properly cared for your skin? Not even basic moisturizer?"

A bitter laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

"The Underground wasn't exactly big on self-care, Nyx. Especially not for the only female who'd managed to claw her way up the ranks."

Something in my tone made her galaxy eyes soften.

She reached for my hand, her void energy wrapping around me like a comforting blanket.

"Tell me?"

I stared at our joined hands, noticing how her perfectly manicured nails contrasted with my practical, unpolished ones.

"You have to understand, in that world, anything feminine was seen as a weakness. Makeup meant you were trying to seduce your way to the top. Skincare meant you were vain. Even basic hygiene products were..." I swallowed hard, old memories surfacing. "Let's just say the comments whenever I had to buy tampons were enough to make me start ordering them online."

"Those absolute bastards," Nyx growled, her void energy darkening with anger.

"It wasn't just that," I continued, the words spilling out now that I'd started. "Every time I emphasized my femineity, like wearing my hair down instead of the strict bun, using scented soap instead of the standard issue stuff, it would lead to...suggestions. Implications about how I'd really earned my position."

Nyx's grip on my hand tightened.

"So you stripped away every feminine aspect of yourself."

"It was easier that way," I admitted quietly. "Keep my hair severe, my clothes practical, my face bare. No products that could be considered frivolous. Nothing that would remind them I was different. The more I emulated their masculinity, the more they had to acknowledge my skill instead of my gender."

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