Vael's POV
The morning air was crisp and cool as I drove Lirien to the Academy of Visual Arts. Sunlight filtered through the car windows, catching on his silver-white hair and making it glow. He sat in the passenger seat, sketchbook clutched tightly in his lap, fingers tapping nervously against the cover. I could feel the quiet excitement radiating off him, mixed with a touch of anxiety.
I reached over and rested my hand on his thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"You're going to be fine," I said softly. "Better than fine. You're going to love it."
Lirien turned to me with a small, shy smile. "I know. It still feels unreal. I never thought I'd actually be going to art school."
I parked the car in the visitor lot and turned to face him fully. For a moment I just looked at him, my beautiful, brave Omega who had gone from stowaway to someone building a real future. My chest felt tight with pride and something deeper, something I wasn't ready to name out loud yet.
