Page 111 of Shadows of Change

Her eyes flick to the shadows swirling at my feet before meeting mine, her tone softening slightly. "They want answers, Kaia. And they won't wait. The magical backlash from your transformation triggered every ward in the academy," Lira explains. "The board is... unsettled."

"Unsettled?" Finn snorts. "Our friend here sprouts divine wings, kicks some serious wraith behind, and they're 'unsettled'?"

"Lady Virath is leading the session," Lira says grimly. "She's already calling for immediate action."

Alenya's mother. Of course. My shadows ripple with unease, and Mouse's tail puffs up. Even Bob seems to bristle.

"What kind of action?" Aspen asks quietly, moving closer to me.

"They're talking about binding your power," Lira says directly to me. "Possibly expulsion. They're afraid, and fear makes people dangerous."

Torric growls low in his throat. "Let them try."

"No," I say, surprising myself with how steady my voice sounds. "If they want answers, we'll give them answers. All of us."

"The board won't like that," Lira warns. "They prefer to interview subjects alone."

"Too bad," Torric says, moving to stand beside me. His berserker energy hums in sync with my new power. "We go together."

"Together." Aspen adds, quiet but firm.

Malrik's silver eyes narrow thoughtfully, but he says nothing. I catch something calculating in his expression - he's seeing pieces of a game I don't fully understand yet.

The walk to the Celestial Chamber feels like walking to judgment. Students press against the walls, their wide eyes filled with fear and curiosity. Whispers flow through the crowd, sharp and hurried, like leaves rustling in a storm. Some glance at my wings with awe; others avert their gaze entirely, as if afraid to meet my eyes. My wings cast shifting patterns of light and shadow across the stone floors.

The chamber lives up to its name. The circular room beneath the academy gleams with enchanted constellations that spiral across the domed ceiling, their luminous trails shifting in fluid, mesmerizing patterns. The acoustics amplify even the faintest sound, making each breath and footstep echo softly. The light from the constellations dances across the polished stone floor, casting ethereal reflections that seem to shift and shimmer as though alive. The stars twinkle faintly, casting a soft, ethereal glow that seems to change as if the constellations themselves were alive, watching. Seven ornate chairs face a single stone platform in the center. Six are occupied - the Shadow Faction's seat stands conspicuously empty.

Lady Virath rises first, her white robes pristine, her golden hair—so like Alenya's—pulled back severely. Her posture is rigid, shoulders squared as though bracing against a storm, and her sharp gaze sweeps the room, landing on my wings with barely concealed horror.

"This is highly irregular," she says, her voice sharp. "The accused should come alone."

I feel my wings spread slightly, responding to the tension in the room. My shadows stay close, protective but not threatening. When I step onto the platform, I make sure to meet each board member's eyes.

"You want to know what happened in the arena," I say clearly. "You want to know what I am. I'll tell you. But first, you need to understand what Thorne was really doing here. What he was preparing for."

Looks of disbelief and anger are shared among the council. An older man in blue robes speaks “Professor Thorne has been an outstanding member of faculty for many years. We do not appreciate accusations against him without proof.”

The recording crystals floating around the chamber pulse with light, capturing everything. I take a deep breath and feel my friends' presence behind me, solid and unwavering.

“That is the proof.” I state, pointing at one of the crystals. My voice carries with a power that surprises even me. I hear a scoff from the council but can’t place who it came from.

Before I can get another word out, Lady Virath interrupts. "Enough. We will review the crystals and reconvene in three days time." Her tone brooking no argument.

Frustration bubbles up, and my shadows react instantly - Bob actually looks offended while Patricia's note-taking becomes distinctly aggressive. But when Aspen puts a calming hand on my shoulder, I keep my mouth shut. Mouse presses against my leg, a low growl building in his throat.

Lady Virath's dismissal is clear, but as we turn to leave, I catch Malrik’s gaze lingers on the empty chair, a flicker of something sharp—calculation, or maybe recognition—crossing his silver eyes.

73. Kaia

The Chamber's doors close behind us with an echoing finality. My wings shift restlessly, responding to my unease, while my shadows cluster close. Bob maintains what he probably thinks is a subtle defensive formation, his shadowy form darting between positions like surveying the battlefield.

"Well," Finn says, breaking the tense silence, "that could have gone worse."

"How exactly?" Torric growls.

"They could have tried to arrest us. Or exorcise us. Though honestly, I'd love to see them try to exorcise Bob. He'd probably organize their banishing circles more efficiently."

The shadow in question straightens importantly, and I have to bite back a laugh despite the situation. But before I can respond, a figure emerges from a shadowed alcove.

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