Page 8 of Court of Aether and Shadows

I approached the vanity, drawn by the shifting surface of the mirror.

The frame was a work of art in itself, carved from some pale wood and inlaid with opal and mother-of-pearl. Figures danced around the edge – lithe, ethereal beings with pointed ears and wings like dragonflies. Their faces were beautiful but alien, with eyes too large and features too perfect to be human.

Pixies…maybe? Was this designed to mimic all those childhood fairytales?

As I gazed into the mirror, I was once again struck by the transformation of my appearance. The difference is enough to make me gasp, while I’m forced to acknowledge the change reflecting before me.

Beyond the mismatched eyes and dual-toned hair of black and pure platinum white, I noticed other changes. My ears had a slight point to them, not quite as pronounced as the figures on the mirror frame, but definitely not human.

My cheekbones were higher, glimmering with a bit of highlight and blush while my features were more symmetrical and refined. I had “less curves” which was strikingly obvious with my slim build, but it wasn’t something I necessarily “hated”.

It was an odd mix of accepted standards wherever this was, while the other part of me yearned for the build I’d worked hard to maintain.

The gown I wore deserved closer inspection, leading me on this mission to lean in close and admire its intricate beauty.

What I had first taken for crystal was actually a living material, something between fabric and gemstone. It flowed like water but sparkled like diamonds, changing color subtly as I moved. Sometimes it was the deep blue of sapphires, while other times the fiery red of rubies. When I remained completely still, the rich green of emeralds glimmered to life, and one swift spin around turned those very glimmering gems into a frosted lavender that twinkled with life.

Intricate patterns were woven into the material, symbols, and runes that seemed to hold meaning just beyond my grasp. They pulsed with a soft light as if responding to my heartbeat, delivering an alluring awe to its wake.

The bodice was fitted, accentuating this newly slimmed figure before flowing out into a full skirt that moved like liquid starlight, twinkling like the starry sky itself had woven this piece..

The jewelry adorning me was equally magnificent. A delicate tiara rested on my brow, crafted from what looked like spun moonlight. It was set with gems that I had no names for – stonesthat seemed to contain entire galaxies within their depths. Around my neck hung a pendant in the shape of a key, wrought from a metal that shimmered between gold and silver.

It felt warm against my flesh as if it held some hidden power.

Some sorcery opened realms that hid an endless path of mystery.

My wrists and fingers bore rings and bracelets of intricate design, each piece feeling as if it had a story to tell. One ring in particular caught my eye – a band of dark metal set with a stone that seemed to swirl with shadows.

It fit perfectly on my ring finger as if it had always been meant to be there.

A unique wedding ring? A symbol of bonds and commitment in this place?

Truthfully, I wasn’t sure.

I lifted my hands to my face, marveling at how they remained both familiar and strange. My nails had lengthened slightly, coming to delicate points that looked capable of drawing blood. Yet my palms still bore the calluses of my life in the real world, a reminder of who I had been... who I still was, beneath this magical transformation.

Those wounds and scars can’t be erased…but I don’t want those imperfections to fade…right?

It’s a question I have to ask myself because right now, I’m not really sure.

Not hesitant, yet not confident.

My tattoos had changed as well, gaining a life of their own in this realm. The small canary on my wrist now looked as if it might take flight at any moment, its feathers shimmering with an iridescent sheen. The intricate mandala on my shoulder blade had become a swirling vortex of color and light, each line pulsing with energy that I could almost feel beneath my skin.

As I studied my reflection, memories of someone else’s life continued to surface, but now they were interwoven with flashes of... something else. Images that felt like memories but couldn't possibly be mine.

A grand ballroom filled with beings of impossible beauty and terrible power.

A forest of silver trees beneath a purple sky with three moons.

A battlefield strewn with the bodies of creatures out of myth and nightmare.

These visions left me dizzy and disoriented, my mind struggling to reconcile the life I knew with this world of magic and mystery.

Who was I in this place?

What role did I play in the grand tapestry of this realm?

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