When he awoke, Aldric found that he was alone. He was in a room he hadn't seen before, lined from end to end with tightly made beds. Each bed was fit with a single blue pillow and lined with a thin white sheet.
The floors were unlike the floors of the rest of the aviary; they were tile. Bright white tile that made the abrasive lighting blinding. A soft thump echoed out around him, catching his attention. Above him, a saline bag dripped into a line secured in the crook of his elbow.
His body felt weak and tired as he attempted to sit up in bed. The sun's rays peered in through the barred window as the quiet tweets of morning doves sang across the island outside. The rippling waves cascaded over the sands of the beach as Aldric felt a deep sinking in his chest.
His heart was engulfed in an internal fire, and his skin was clammy and pale. His sweat trickled down along the crease of his face as he sat straight in bed and took some deep breaths. His fingers were all strapped to brass splints that were connected to an odd machine at his feet.
The machine has a small rectangular screen that quickly sequences an assortment of numbers and prints them on long receipt-type paper. He noticed he'd been stripped and dressed in a pale blue gown and socks that had rubber pads on the bottom. He was confused but also very intrigued.
There was a clear tube pricked into his arm and secured with plastic tape. The tube hung down past the bottom of his bed, and up to a bag on a hanging rack above his head. The bag was filled with a dark red substance. His body felt weird, like he was lying in a bath of fizzy liquid. The substance seemed to slowly inch its way through the tube like strawberter jam being sucked through a straw.
He was confused as he glanced around the sterile room. He didn't recognize anything about it, nor did he see anybody else around. He sat up gently in bed, his body aching as he raised. He winced softly and coughed before further investigating the room.
He knew he was still in the aviary because every so often, the room he was in would rotate. Every few rotations, if he leaned just right, he could see the vail storm outside. He liked seeing the storm; it made him remember that he was safe.
He knew deep down that anyone who would want to hurt him couldn't get through the storm. His breath steadied as he remembered the Architect's words. Then, with a soft double knock on the door, the architect himself entered. He stared blankly for a moment and focused his gaze on Aldric with a smile.
"Ahh, finally awake," he said, gleefully.
"Yes, sir," Aldric replied quietly.
"Gave us a bit of a fright in class, my boy," the blind man sat beside him in bed.
"'Suppose that'd be my doing, however. That charm, though useful, is tremendously difficult. I never expected any of you to succeed on the first lesson," he explained.
"I'm sorry, sir," the boy's small voice squeaked.
"Oh no, dear boy. No reason at all to be sorry. Quite the contrary, if I may speak frankly," the architect began, lowering his voice to a whisper.
"You have proven yourself ready to begin more…advanced classes,"
"Advanced? What does that mean?" Aldric questioned.
"Aldric, my son, you are a very gifted boy, and I've known it since the day I met you. I intend to see you thrive in the aviary and beyond. To do that, you must be prepared for anything…beyond," he responded, gazing longingly out the window.
"O-okay, sir, I'll do it," the boy chipped, smiling gleefully at the opportunity given to him. The architect smiled and placed a wrapped cloth in the boy's hand. In the cloth was a silver star, strung to a black draw string.
"The North Star, a guiding light that has guided the lost for as long as time. Use it anytime you feel…lost," the architect said, smiling softly and patting the boy's thigh. Aldric stared at the pendant in his palm and flipped it in his fingers. He'd never gotten a gift before, much less something so special.
He loosened the drawstring, pulled it over his head, and secured it to his neck. The star flickered on his chest as the light bounced off it.
"Thank you, sir,"
"No, Aldric, thank you," he retorted. He was silent for a moment after that. He stared at the wall with his milky blank stare, inhaled deeply, and with a grunt, he stood.
"Rest up, my dear boy. Tomorrow, after shadowmancy, you are to report directly to the crow's nest. Is that clear?" He instructed, his voice faltering momentarily, sounding slightly harsh.
"Y-yes, sir," Aldric trembled. A slight shiver overcame him as the architect left the room. Again, he was alone. He felt a tremendous weight lift off of his shoulders as the architect's voice echoed in his mind.
He hadn't failed the way he thought he had. Nor did he receive a reprimand the way he had prepared to. He had instead, become the strongest of the flocks by mistake. He felt great amount of joy swell in his chest as he laid back on his pillow. Air puffed out behind his ears and he closed his eyes once more.
Before too long, he was asleep, and his dreams were riddled with all of the magical endeavors he'd hoped to get involved in, with the architect. A smile spread across his worn face, and he faded deeper into his slumber. Eventually, the sterile room was filled with the soft hum of his tiny snores.
The world was silent again, and Aldric's journey was about to begin.