The boys headed for their aura and energy reading in quiet amazement. Their small boat stayed in its solid shape the entire way to the corridor. No sand trickled to the floor, and it didn't lose its integrity as they gripped it and fumbled it around.
The corridor they found themselves in felt similar to a lazy river at a water park. It was a nice contrast to the hectic, rushing nature of the falcons. The wrens walked in an orderly fashion, their voices kept to a lower decibel. Aldric knew a breath of fresh air when he smelled it, and he knew he couldn't complain about his current surroundings.
The walkway had an odd, moist scent. It smelled similar to what Aldric assumed a marshland would smell like. Small bugs and gnats buzzed across his ear as he swatted at them. He felt tiny legs land on his skin before smacking himself purple.
Harden couldn't seem to contain his sneezing as something in the air activated his sinuses. He sniffled and snorted loudly through the hallways as wrens began to take notice. The otherwise quiet walkway felt peaceful and calm as they slowly approached a wooden door, decorated with solid gold bars across the front.
A small crest was stamped into the golden surface of the gate in the shape of an owl's head. A small group began to build beyond the gate, awaiting an invitation. Aldric and Harden quickly joined the group and waited as well.
It didn't take long before a low creak sounded. The twinge broke through the muffled conversations and silenced everyone instantly. Then, with an animated whine, the cage creaked open toward the boys. They straightened their shoulders and breathed deeply.
Then, the wooden door behind the cage opened away from them. The room within was different from what the boys had grown accustomed to in other classes. The door opened onto a landing high above the ground. All the way down, in a circular arrangement, an auditorium of seats lined the sides of the room.
At the bottom of the pit, in the center of the room, was a large pine tree. It was at least five feet wide at the trunk, and its canopy reached nearly the top row of seats. The roof was like the dome in Aldric's den, a large half-circle made entirely of glass.
Seats began filling quickly as the wrens all searched for the perfect viewing area. Aldric and Harden quickly found two vacant seats two levels down and sat facing the pine. Cushions jostled and rippled as the boys adjusted.
Slight throat-clearing coughs vibrated from all around the room, only broken by Harden's occasional sneezes. Otherwise, the room was quiet. The classroom had been the darkest one that Aldric had attended. The only source of light was an assortment of glass bottles with burning wicks hanging from various branches of the pine.
A few lightning bugs would pulse as they whizzed past their faces. Aside from that, the room was dark. The domed ceiling let light in, but it had been covered by a large, drawable curtain. It was a dark burgundy with golden tassels and ropes.
After a moment to get situated, all of the boys sat, watching and waiting. It was a few seconds before anything happened when suddenly, at the base of the pine trunk, a large door-shaped chunk of bark creaked open. From behind the makeshift door came a woman.
They boys all perked up and sat at the edges of their seats as she came into view. Her skin was pale white. She was draped in a long, soft-looking gown. It was dark purple with black frills at the hemline. She topped the gown with a black suit jacket and topped it all with a matching purple hat, that was three sizes bigger than her head.
Her eyes were covered by outrageously large sunglasses, and she flashed a pearly white smile. She closed the door behind her and gazed up at the peering eyes. Slowly, she removed her layers and began to get comfortable.
First came her hat, the large-rimmed eyesore fluttered from her head like a rabid butterfly landing on a low branch. Her hair was light brown with patches of white and red. From the crown of her head, two horn-like appendages rotated opposite each other.
Then came her suit jacket. Again, she peeled the fabric from her back and placed it on top of the hat. Her skin was patched with an odd pattern matching the colors of her hair. Finally, came the glasses. She slowly removed them to reveal her closed eyes. She placed the spectacles in her pocket and slowly peeled her eyes open.
Two golf ball sized discs of deep onyx black shone out at them. They gasped and gawked at the woman as she strutted toward her platform. Aldric was astonished by her; he had seen the majesty that the aviary had to offer, but he'd had yet to see an honest-to-goodness woman.
Sure, she had her quirks, and a few oddities in her complexion, but she was nonetheless a woman. He sat as close to the edge as he could, silently hating himself for sitting so high.The scratching of chalk against the blackboard dragged him from his thoughts as the woman put her name on the board.
Aves Magister.
"Good morning, young ones," she began, turning to face the rising rows of boys.
"Today I have the acute pleasure of instructing you in the skills of aura and energy readings," she said, her voice was high, but soothing. She sounded like somebody you'd met in a dream but never remembered. Her face was soft and rosy as her dew-like eyes scanned the sea of faces.
She smiled at each of them before coming to Aldric. Her expression faltered for a moment before snapping back to pleasant.
"If you would please pull out the books provided in the cubbies in front of you, we will be starting on page thirteen: Aura Meanings and Understanding," she instructed. Ruffling papers filled the chamber before it fell silent once more.
"And I shall need a volunteer," she said. A large group of hands shot into the air without as much as a gasp. She placed a finger to her chin and looked to each of them thoughtfully.
"How about…you?" Her sharp-taloned finger pointed up at Aldric, as all of the wrens' eyes landed on him. Aldric choked slightly, before rising in his seat.
"Ah yes, the perfect specimen for today's lesson," Aldric gulped loudly before making his way down to her.