Page 154 of Court of Aether and Shadows

Satisfied that she was secure, I decided to indulge in one of my favorite activities – a midnight walk through the academy grounds. The night held different meanings for void wolves. Where others saw darkness and danger, we saw possibilities, spaces between spaces where reality itself became malleable.

The academy corridors were eerily silent as I made my way through them, my boots making no sound on the crystalline floors. I could have void-stepped directly to the gardens, but there was something appealing about the traditional route. Sometimes the journey itself was the point.

About halfway to my destination, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. Years of void wolf instincts screamed that I wasn't alone. Someone – or something – was following me, trying to hide in the shadows that flickered at the edges of my vision.

Amateur, I thought with a slight smirk.If you're going to stalk a void wolf, at least learn to mask your energy signature.

I continued walking as if I hadn't noticed anything amiss, though my power coiled within me, ready to strike. The academy gardens were just ahead – a perfect battleground if this stalker wanted to play. After all, what better place to unleash a little chaos than among the carefully tended magical flora?

The gardens sprawled before me in all their enchanted glory. Flowers that bloomed with actual starlight lined crystal paths, while trees with leaves of living shadows swayed in a nonexistent breeze. Fountains burbled with water that defied gravity, creating impossible patterns in the air before falling back to their basins.

If someone wanted to attack me here, they'd have to deal with more than just my void powers. The very ground thrummed with ancient magic, the kind that didn't take kindly to uninvited violence. I smiled, feeling my pursuer's energy signature grow stronger as they followed me deeper into this realm of botanical wonders.

"Well," I murmured to myself, letting void energy dance between my fingers like darkened lightning, "shall we see what kind of trouble finds us tonight?"

The garden seemed to hold its breath, waiting to see what would unfold beneath the light of three moons.

Something told me this wasn't going to be the peaceful midnight stroll I'd planned.

But then again, I thought as my galaxy eyes began to glow with anticipation,when had I ever chosen peace over a little excitement?

The void lilies recognized me first, their petals of pure darkness unfurling like old friends greeting a familiar face. I paused to stroke one gently, watching how it leaned into my touch, spreading tiny ripples of void energy through the surrounding soil. These flowers were notorious in my court for swallowing anything that threatened them, but with me, they were practically pets.

"Hello, darlings," I murmured, admiring how their centers seemed to contain entire galaxies. "Thriving far from home, aren't you?"

Nearby, shadow roses intertwined with starlight jasmine in an impossible dance of light and dark. The combination shouldn't have worked – most plants from different courts tried to strangle each other – but these had found harmony in their opposition. Rather like certain Lords I could mention.

A cluster of nebula orchids caught my attention, their cosmic blooms shifting through colors that existed beyond mortal comprehension. They trembled as I approached, not in fear but recognition. Void court flora had a way of responding to those who understood the spaces between spaces.

The peaceful moment shattered as raucous laughter cut through the garden's tranquility. A group of obviously intoxicated students stumbled into view, their court robes disheveled and their magic leaking sloppily into the air around them.

"Well, well," one of them slurred, nudging his companions. "Look what we found. The he-she void walker."

I continued examining the orchids, not dignifying their presence with a response. The flowers curled protectively toward me, sensing the shift in energy.

"Oy!" Another called out, his voice grating with false bravado. "Real women wear dresses, you know. Show some skin. Not suits like you're trying to be a man."

Their laughter echoed through the garden, making several light-sensitive plants close their blooms in distress. I straightened my jacket cuffs, still pointedly ignoring them.

"What's wrong? Void magic fuck up your hearing along with your gender?" The first one stumbled closer. "Because last I checked, females in this academy are supposed to look feminine. It's tradition."

"Tradition," I finally spoke, my voice carrying harmonics that made the void lilies shiver with anticipation, "is often just peer pressure from dead people."

The leader of their little group pushed forward, his Aether Court insignia gleaming ostentatiously on his chest. "You'll want to watch your tone," he sneered, swaying slightly. "I'm Lord Celestian's son. Fourth in line for the Aether Court's high council."

I turned slowly, letting my galaxy eyes sweep over him with deliberate dismissal. "Fourth in line," I repeated dryly. "How impressive. Tell me, does being a spare heir's spare heir usually earn you the right to harass people in gardens, or is this a special occasion?"

His face flushed an interesting shade of purple. "You dare?—"

"Oh, I dare quite a lot," I cut him off, noting how the void lilies were starting to lean toward him with predatory interest. "It's one of the benefits of not being bound by other people's limited understanding of gender and power. But please," I gestured expansively, "continue explaining to me, a void wolf, how I should present myself to make you more comfortable."

"You're an abomination," he spat, his Aether magic flaring erratically with alcohol and anger. "A woman playing at being powerful. Dressing like a man, acting above your station?—"

"Above my station?" I laughed, the sound making several of his companions step back nervously. "Let's discuss stations, shall we? I am Lady Nyx of the Void Court, personal friend to Lord Thanatos himself. My pack includes the Elemental Prince and the Aether Court's golden son." My galaxy eyes narrowed. "And you are, what? A minor noble's fourth son, drunk in a garden, harassing someone who could literally erase your existence from multiple dimensions?"

The void lilies were fully awake now, their petals spreading to reveal the infinite darkness within their centers. The nebula orchids had begun to pulse with cosmic energy, while the shadow roses' thorns lengthened ominously.

"You're bluffing," he said, though uncertainty had crept into his voice. "No void wolf has that kind of power?—"

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