The words hit Aldric like a truck as the architect finished laying out the course work for the other flocks. He had even announced the ravens courses aloud. Then, he sat in his large chair with a apparent stagger in his step.
Aldric felt the eyes of the other flocks on his back, but he refused to indulge their curiosities. He simply sipped his apple juice.
"What about us?" Harden whispered softly across the table.
"Don't know," Aldric whispered quickly.
"What do we do then?"
"We wait," Aldric sipped his juice again and repositioned himself comfortably in his seat. Slowly, boys trickled out into the corridor and to their first scheduled courses. Through the chaos and rapid change, Aldric and Harden remained composed. They sat stoically staring at the architect sit atop his throne.
The ravens were the last to leave the corridor, doing so with a heavy swing of the main door. As the clacking sound of wood smashing into itself rang out, the architect straightened up and cleared his throat once more.
"Ah, the phoenix! How could I forget?" He said, his voice soft and hushed. Aldric straightened up and blinked his unwavering eyes.
"I've spent many nights trying to decide the best courses for the pair of you. It has not been an easy assignment I've placed on myself, but nevertheless, I believe I've made the right choices," the architect swigged a tall glass of water.
"This semester of classes will be divided in five. You will attend warding and abjuration with the Falcon's Flock. This course will build your craftsman skills as well as defensive abilities. Be sure to pay close attention, as this course is normally dedicated to falcons," he breathed heavily and cleared his throat again.
"After that you will join the wrens in their studies of aura and energy readings. "This may sound like a course that doesn't affect you as much, but trust in the path I've laid, and it will all make sense. You will then sit through my lectures in the shared assembly classes," the architect paused, noticeably worn.
"Your final courses are as follows: after my lecture, you will attend arcane history with the ravens," Aldric's mouth fell open as he wished to protest.
"This is mandatory and non-negotiable," he insisted, as Aldric's mouth closed. Again, he cleared his throat and gulped another drink before continuing breathlessly.
"After that class, you will both report to the southern beach for your final lesson. Please be punctual; I am not a fan of being kept waiting," the architect finished with a gentle huff and fell back in his seat.
"Sir?" Aldric requested nervously. The man's milky eyes glanced up and lingered in the boy's direction.
"I was wondering, when I saw beyond the storm I sa-"
Yes, Aldric, I understand that what you saw beyond the veil may have piqued some curiosity. It is imperative that you do not follow those curiosities again. Another drift from my authority will see you stripped of your current position. Do not make me repeat this lecture in the future," the architect hastily interrupted. Clicking the heel of his boot on the floor, the architect peeled his gaze away.
"You are excused. Have a splendid day, the pair of you," he said stuttering slightly as he gestured toward the boys. Both of them rose and went to exit. Aldric hesitated slightly and peered back to see his mentor slump down in his seat.
The pair of them stayed silent as they ventured down the ladder and narrow corridor toward the entryway.
"What do you think our classes will be like?" Harden asked, holding up a hand to block the blinding morning sun from his face.
"I'm not sure," Aldric said, his voice distant and distracted. "It's going to be interesting, that's for sure." He thought for a moment as his gaze drifted outside. The storm pulsed with vibrant blue and purple and rippled in a sharp pattern.
"Are you nervous?" He asked, shifting focus to Harden. The boy hesitated for a moment and his head dropped slightly.
"A bit," he admitted. Aldric gazed at him and smiled softly.
"It's okay to be nervous," he said, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder. Harden looked into his eyes, their gray color was even lighter now as their pupils pierced his.
"How many times have you shadowalked?" He mustered, forgetting his own anxiety for a moment. Aldric's expression soured slightly, and his smile fell.
"What do you mean?" He asked, his brow raising rigidly.
"Nothing, I just noticed your eyes," he hastily explained, trying to defuse the situation. Aldric shifted his gaze and continued along the path toward their first class. The last of the journey felt tense as Aldric didn't spark any more conversations.
Then, they approached the warding and abjuration classroom. A large pile of round boys squabbled at the entrance as others forced their way through. The entryway was booming with hollered laughs and exaggerated war cries.
Aldric and Harden halted at the end of the corridor.
"How do we get in?" Harden wondered, glancing up at Aldric. Aldric was in deep thought, his eyes glancing from place to place like he was putting an imaginary puzzle together. Then, his eyes snapped open like an idea had struck him, and he drew a circle in the air with his finger.
He hastily finished his craftsman rune and activated it. It puffed with smoke and glowed bright red. He watched as his creation took shape, first the head shaped like a goat, a long round body, and two round appendages. The smoke cleared, and his creation toppled to the floor.
A wooden battering ram with a rams head sat waiting for its push. The wood and stone of its body were smoky and black, and the rams' eyes were dark grey. The wheels were slightly angled, but the device would work all the same.
Harden watched in awe as Aldric lined up his shot. He pushed it once, then twice, then he shoved it with all of his power. The ram rolled like it was on a mission, and its horns stayed true on the Falcons blocking their path.
With a heavy crash and audible thud, the falcon had been moved. They groaned and moaned as Aldric and Harden stepped across the rubble.
"Nice one, Al," one of the defeated boys coughed. He smiled and continued inside.