As he trotted down the corridor, Aldric realized his surroundings weren't like any he'd seen in the aviary before. The hallway he had entered was narrow, only wide enough for one person to navigate. It was illuminated by an odd red glow but otherwise dark.
He could see only a few inches in front of him, dragging his hands along the walls to find his way. The brimstone smell was stronger there, burning the hairs of his nose with its repulsive scent. His eyes watered as he continued along the path.
The walls on either side of him were rounded, like burrowed tunnels, and warm to the touch. All around him, ominous sounds echoed. What sounded like crashing, and scraping. It was similar to what he'd hear when the tower would rotate, but louder. He found his senses debilitated with each grind and crash.
He felt off balance as the room shook and quaked. His stomach lurched like he had been navigating a storm ridden sea. Still, he continued on. The walls were textured on his fingers, scraping them slightly as he continued toward his destination.
"Where are you taking me?" He asked aloud, almost expecting a response. The scraping pelted his eardrums once more followed by a quaking bang. This time he was nearly knocked off of his feet. He stumbled forward and slammed into a wall.
He balanced against the barrier as the tunnel settled and took a deep nauseating breath. He gazed around trying to see anything he could in the dim light. He had hit a dead end. He glanced around and felt along the walls that encased him.
He scraped his chapped fingers along the jagged stone searching for anything. Then, his hand grazed something cold. He jerked his hand away instinctually and something jingled and clinked in the darkness.
He slowly reached out again and found the source. He felt small cold rings interlocked in a chain. At the end of the chain rested a larger ring that was thicker then the others. He wrapped his hand around the large ring and pulled it hard.
The chain pulled like it had been connected to a reel before clicking and stopping. When Aldric released the ring he heard the jingling again as the chain scraped along the wall. It scraped for few more than ten seconds before stopping with another click.
There was silence for a moment before a puff of dust erupted in his face. A strong gust of wind bellowed through the chamber, blowing his hair from his face, and the wall split in two and each half retreated.
When the gate opened, light filled the tunnel. The smell of ash and fire were overwhelming and the scraping was deafening. Beyond the gate's arch, was a metal platform with a golden guard rail. When he approached the landing, his finger planted firmly in his sore ears, he saw true majesty.
Below him, was a large lake of lava broken only by small spots of uncovered rock. Along the walls of the cavern were dark black stones. Above him he saw another large platform across from his own.
Atop the platform, the architect stood with his arms extend beside him and connected to something he couldn't quite make out. Then, the scraping ripped through the cave and he realized what it was. Above the architect, petruding from the ceiling, was a large drill tip. As it rotated the black gems fell into a collection chamber.
Hundreds of the stones were piled on to each other as the architect stood above them. He watched in awe as the cave hadn't been like anything the aviary had offered. It was a different world there.
He found himself mesmerized by the beautiful, but frightening nature of the cave while almost losing the rotten smell. Then, with an exclamation of what sounded like pain, the architect was hoisted into the air and suspended. From his fingers, a slow rise of red light grew like extra limbs, sprouting from each finger.
His elongating fingers stretched down past the platform, along the caves walls and down to the collection chamber. They wrapped the chambers rim and spiraled down to the base and glowed brighter. Aldric watched intently as the black stones inside began to tremble like an earthquake had hit.
Then, slowly, the stones turned a bright crimson. They glowed, dimmed and then faded. Their color was permanently altered but the glowing halted and the limbs began to retreat. They slowly crawled back up the walls and into the architect's fingers.
When they vanished completely the man was dropped back to the platform with a thud, and the long hoses slinked up along the wall. Aldric gaped before rushing toward the stairs and up to the next level. The level above him was an observation deck as he could see the entire operation with ease.
When he took a moment to glance back at the gems, he saw the bottom of the collection chamber open, the gems vanish into oblivion, and the bottom seal agin. Then the drilling continued. He plugged his ears and raced across the stone bridge toward the architect's platform.
The man sat there breathless and weak looking. His skin was more pale and his body seemed to quiver.
"A-are you alright sir?" Aldric asked, bending to his level.
"Yes, Aldric, I am alright. Just getting older it seems," he said, smiling wistfully.
"Sir?" The architect's milky eyes met his with precision.
"W-what is this place?" He choked. The man smiled and pushed himself to a standing position. He swayed for a moment before steadying himself and clenching a fist.
"This my boy, is the labyrinth engine. The very soul and life force of the aviary and the master magus itself," he explained, gesturing to the intricate workings of the machine.
"I-I don't think I understand," the boy said, cocking his head slightly.
"No, I suppose you wouldn't just yet," the architect chuckled.
"All in due time, but this isn't a lesson today. This is merely a demonstration. You see Aldric, everything you learn in the aviary is designed to prepare you to grow its legacy. You boys are the future of the aviary. In this cave, you will find the cycle of your life," he explained, painting a picture for the still puzzled boy.
"I am the drill. My job was to find my gems and pluck them from their cave. You are the gem filled with raw potential but no way to harness it. The charging of the stones is your teachings. Everything you've learned and seen and will continue to learn, are all a part of a much larger plan,"
Aldric listened intently hanging on every word like they were gospel teachings.
"The world beyond the vail is dangerous and dark and filled with death and destruction. With these stones, we can expand the paradise of the vail beyond what we know. We can create world peace," he expressed, his smile widening as he softly chuckled behind his words.
"World peace?" Aldric wondered, never knowing the world beyond the vail.
"Exactly! A world that doesn't know famine, death, and fear. A world of harmony. That is your purpose Aldric, that is your mission. Do you believe you can handle that?" He asked, grabbing the boy by his shoulders.
There was a brief pause between them as Aldric gulped softly.
"Y-yes sir, b- and I think I may need some help," Aldric stumbled as he searched for the right words. He gazed at the architect's face awaiting a look of disappointment. Instead, the man's smile grew even more.
"Good, you've begun to understand. Though you may be a formidable mage with time, it will not come without assistance. I'm sure Harden and Grum will make wise choices in your journey," he said, winking at the boy quickly. Aldric gaped at him astonished and impressed.
"How di-"
"Hurry along Aldric, you have a class to get to before your meeting. I'd hate to see you fall behind," he interrupted, pointing toward a wall behind him. Aldric gazed at the wall where a door rose from the ground and opened into what seemed to be the main entry hall.
"Y-yes sir," he said, brushing past the architect and through the door that vanished behind him as quickly as it appeared. With a sigh he thought about what he had learned. He now knew his true purpose.
World peace.