Page 89 of The Last Remaining Light

Elowynn had discovered rather quickly that if she appeared too young, too soft, or lacking confidence within the symposium halls, older scholars had the tendency to mistake her for incompetent.

That experience had proven educational, prompting a dramatic overhaul of her clothing.

Lora and Alyra had marched her to the Exchange, where Elowynn was finally forced to dip into the coffers her father had left behind. The rest of the morning disappeared in a whirlwind of bustling markets, patient tailors, and endless fittings until she possessed an entirely new collection of gowns and scholarly attire.

To her mild surprise, she discovered she genuinely enjoyed the fashions—and looking her absolute best.

Silk dresses, fashionable corsets, and elegantly embroidered robes now filled her wardrobe.

And the shoes.

Stars, the shoes!

To Elowynn's astonishment, she had discovered an undeniable weakness for heels. Lora complained incessantly whenever she wore them, insisting it was unfair that Elowynn was already tall and graceful without adding another bit of height. Elowynn, naturally, ignored her.

She owned no fewer than twenty-six pairs in every imaginable color and style.

Elowynn secured several silver pins through sections of her thick locks of hair before leaving the rest cascading down her back in soft, loose waves. A small astrylite pendant the color of amber rested against her throat, glowing mutedly beneath the chamber light.

The final look was regal and refined. One would not be able to mistake her as anything other than a noble Astrari.

A sharp knock sounded against the chamber doors. Before Elowynn could so much as reply, Lora barked through the wood, “If you are somehow still reading while dressing, I am leaving without you!”

Elowynn smiled, making no effort whatsoever to move from where she stood.

“You say that every time, but you never do,” she called back.

“One of these suns I will mean it!”

Lora swept into the chambers a moment later with her spirited flair. She was wearing fitted crimson robes beneath a silver winter cloak lined with snow fox fur, and her lips were painted a berry red. Her sharp amber eyes took one look at Elowynn before narrowing accusingly.

“Oh, absolutely not.”

Elowynn blinked and looked at Lora from the mirror’s reflection. “What?”

“You cannot wear that into the demonstration hall.”

Elowynn glanced down at herself, confused. “What is wrong with it?”

Lora just tossed her hands in the air before striding closer, hands perched on her hips. “Because half the Collegium already behaves like you descended directly from the stars and the other half actively fears what your brain is capable of. You wearing that dress is essentially an act of political warfare.”

Elowynn regarded her with indifference. Until her lips twitched.

Lora pointed at her emphatically. “You stop it.”

A snort-laugh escaped before Elowynn could contain it. “I will do no such thing. That was quite the compliment.”

Outside the chamber windows, the great observatory bells of Veylspire began tolling across the mountain city.

The demonstration bell had arrived.

Lora groaned and ushered Elowynn out of the room. “Alright, well. There is no time to change, now. Let’s go get this disaster over with.”

Elowynn laughed as she was tugged along by her friend down to the lecture halls

Chapter Nineteen

“The girl manipulated astrylite like someone speaking a language they had never been taught.”