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This was conscious, controlled manipulation of astrylite.

Agatha looked more pleased than Caelyn had seen in turnings. Her amber eyes sparkled, and her grin spread wide across her face as she clapped loudly.

It was enough to startle Elowynn from her focus, and the crystal clattered down atop the table.

“Elowynn,” she said with an odd mixture of awe and encouragement in her tone. “Do that again,” she instructed before lowering the focusing instrument down to the table.

“I… I did not mean to,” she whispered, her expression embarrassed as she realized how many pairs of eyes were now on her.

Caelyn wanted to reach for her, to graze his knuckles along her hand in a reassuring gesture. Worried it would be unwelcome, he instead curled his hand into a fist and tucked it into a pocket.

“Yes, well that is quite obvious. That resonance focus instrument,” she pointed to it on the table. “It was the one you had crafted earlier this span from raw astrylite. You must have imbued it; a rare feat.” She waved toward Elowynn with an impatient whirl of her hand. “Just do whatever you did just now once more. Let’s see what happens,” Agatha encouraged. “Focus yourself. Listen to the song.”

The entire room watched, but Caelyn watched closest of all. Even though his entire being demanded he stay beside her, he had decided to take a few steps away, knowing that his very presence may alter her outcome.

Elowynn nibbled her bottom lip before nodding. “Alright. I will try.”

She lifted her shaking hand again. At once, the resonance surged through the observatory chamber and the crystal obeyed, lifting off the table. Brilliant, silver light spiraled upward beneath the glass dome, scattering fractured sunlight that streamed in from the ceiling across the surrounding walls while astrylite instruments trembled in soft rattling bursts against the tables around them. The crystal climbed higher above the platform beneath Elowynn’s control as the luminous strands of celestial energy curled between her fingers.

They looked like ribbons of pure starlight responding to her every movement.

The sight of it stole every trace of restraint from Elowynn’s expression, leaving only open wonder behind.

Gods, she was beautiful.

Caelyn had seen Elowynn fascinated before. Curious. Intellectually obsessed, even.

But this?

This was different. This was someone touching the very thing they had been born for.

He was struck so hard with that realization that it stole the breath from his lungs. One of his hands came up on instinct, pressing against the ache spreading beneath his sternum as though he could physically contain it there.

Because while Elowynn looked more connected to the stars than ever before—he had never felt farther from them.

The crystal settled back onto the resonance platform beneath Elowynn’s control as the swirling light thinned and then ceased.

Stunned silence flooded the observatory for one long moment.

Then excited voices erupted all at once.

“Seventeen turnings,” one scholar whispered. “That is remarkably early for conscious manipulation.”

“House Selvicta bloodlines were always powerful.”

“The resonance control was nearly flawless.”

Caelyn barely heard any of it. He only saw Elowynn. And then the dawning understanding slowly overtaking him through Agatha’s expression.

The elder Sister turned toward Seralyth, who stood near the rear observatory arch with her shoulders locked tight and one hand gripping the stone so hard, her knuckles had blanched. She said nothing, but her watery eyes never left Elowynn.

“When were you planning to tell her?” Agatha asked.

Seralyth’s gaze never left her daughter. “Tell her what?” she asked evenly.

Agatha regarded her flatly. “Lady Selvicta. You know exactly what.”

The room quieted, and Seralyth pulled her gaze from Elowynn to land on Agatha. A moment passed before she spoke.