Page 34 of Court of Aether and Shadows

~SPARROW~

“What a delightful morning,” I whisper in awe.

The crisp autumn air nipped at my cheeks as I set out on my usual trail, fallen leaves crunching beneath my running shoes.

My body felt strong, the lingering weakness from my injury finally fading into memory. Each breath filled my lungs with the scent of earth and decay, that peculiar fragrance that only comes with the changing of seasons.

I started at an easy pace, letting my muscles warm up gradually.

The forest around me was a riot of color — maples blazing scarlet, oaks burnished gold, and birches pale yellow against the evergreen backdrop of pines. Shafts of early morning sunlight pierced through the canopy, creating a dappled pattern on the forest floor that shifted and danced with each gust of wind.

As I ran, I let my mind wander, drinking in the beauty around me. A squirrel chattered indignantly as I passed, scampering up a nearby tree with its cheeks bulging with acorns. A flutter of wings caught my attention, and I glimpsed a flash ofblue – a jay, perhaps, or a late-staying bluebird not yet departed for warmer climes.

The trail wound deeper into the woods, climbing steadily. My breath came faster now, muscles warming as I increased my pace.

Sweat began to bead on my forehead, quickly cooling in the chilled air. I welcomed the burn in my lungs, the steady rhythm of my feet against the earth.

Here, in this moment, I felt truly alive and free.No one could judge my every move or comment on the areas I lacked.

That seemed to be getting on my nerves as of late. Vincent's muttering complaints of little imperfections in my stance or movements. Marco boldly announced to anyone who’d listen and entertain his foolishness that I wasn’t as “valuable” as rumored.

Anyone else at the Underground who didn’t seem important to recall their names did enjoy whispering among their peers whenever I trailed away from sight. Just because I was away, at a distance, didn’t mean I couldn’t hear their comments.

The degrading sexual commentary was beginning to drive me mad.

What was with this world and its inability to acknowledge a powerful independent woman doing great things in a male-dominated environment? It was becoming a hindrance of ongoing mockery to be the chosen candidate of daily scrutiny, all because I was “too good” at what I had learned to do.

I wasn’t born into a world where I got the best professional lessons on how to shoot and kill. Everything was gained through trial and error, practice, and an endless craving to be better.

Do better.

Yet, these assholes couldn’t stop with the bickering on how I must have sold my body to get this far. That I’m fucking Vincent,or maybe enjoying a threesome thing with Marco and Liam in the loop.

Dirty work to be adding Marco into any equation. I’m sure he’d fuck up sex in some way to make it a cringe moment in the making.

Vincent was far too old and wasn’t even classified as attractive in my books, and Liam? Well, he was my best friend. Sure, we’ve had our close calls of lust, especially when I’ve had one too many drinks, but drunken kisses and hungover snuggles never lead to sweaty nights of lust and pleasure.

Jeez, at this rate, I get more action in my dreams.

Literally.

I have to laugh at that before shaking my head and concentrating on the path ahead.

As I crested a small hill, the forest opened up before me.

A vale spread out below, a patchwork of autumn colors interspersed with the silver ribbons of streams. In the distance, mountains rose, their peaks already dusted with the first snow of the season.

The sight was breathtaking; a reminder of the wild beauty that existed beyond the confines of the underground complex I called home.

I paused for a moment, hands on my knees as I caught my breath and drank in the view. A cool breeze caressed my skin, carrying with it the promise of winter to come.

As I stood there, poised between earth and sky, a strange feeling washed over me. It was as if the boundary between this world and another had grown thin, reality shimmering like heat haze on a summer day.

And then, without warning, I was somewhere else entirely like a vision from the past that suddenly emerged with no forewarning in its wake.

Snow crunched beneath my bare feet, but I felt no cold.

I was small – a child, no more than five or six years old. Pure white hair cascaded down my back, whipping around my face as I ran and giggled with wild abandon.

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