The end of term came on the eve of the
first night in October. All of the boys finished their final courses, and collected extra credit from their mentors before heading for the entry hall. They all knew it was far too dark for them to go outside, but that didn't stop a good majority from hovering near the door.
Thrilled voices clamored through the halls as all of them seemed to have developed a pep in their steps. Even the wrens had made noticeably more noise than normal as they filtered from their restoration and balance lesson.
A large group of boys stood in the center of the hall talking. The conversations had fizzled slightly as the floor beneath them began to tremor. The group quickly divided down the middle in a sudden start, and the floor began to peel apart. A series of stairs formed effortlessly, and a series of steps clacked up.
Everybody's eyes focused and all of them wondered who, or what it was. Soft gasps from opposites ends sounded when Aldric's head bobbed above the pit. Shortly after him, Harden taking the same large steps. Both boys looked exhausted and worn down.
Aldric was covered in dust and grime. His eyebrow was gashed and trickling blood down his cheek. His shirt and robes had been torn and his hair was matted in all directions. Harden looked sickly, his skin was paler than normal and his cheeks looked sunken in.
His eyes were there but seems hollow and lifeless. He blinked slowly and took large breaths as the pair of them reached the landing. The room was so silent, a needle would tink audibly if one had fallen.
Everyone in the entry hall had questions, some had concerns, but none of them raised them. They just gazed at the battered boys in silence. Slowly, Aldric's bruising and discoloration faded, and Harden's color had returned.
They started looking normal again right in front of everybody. Most watched on in amazement, while Rhys and Jasper refused to acknowledge the pair at all.
It hadn't been long before the lingering group dispersed, and the flocks tucked in for the night. It was easy to see that all of them was ecstatic for their break.
The next morning couldn't have come any slower, but when it arrived, Aldric leapt to his feet before he could be told to. He gazed up and out of the dome, and smiled at the sight of bright blue and pearl white.
"It's morning!" He shouted, jumping onto Harden's bed. He nudged, and pushed, rolled, and shook, but Harden wouldn't budge.
"Come on Harden, the sun is out. If we skip breakfast we can be the first ones outside!" He shouted, forcing the boy to roll to his side.
"God, you weigh more than you look," he grumted, huffing as he propped the boy up with an elbow.
"Come on," he thrust all of his strength into another roll and with a comical delay, Harden flopped to the floor with a painful slap.
"Ow!" He exclaimed, rolling over and gazing up at a laughing Aldric.
"Let's go. It's morning," Aldric mustered through painful laughs. Harden grabbed his pillow and launched it at his flock mate before standing and heading for the wardrobe.
When the boys dressed and made it out into th entry hall, they were disappointed to find, they weren't the only flock skipping breakfast. Wrens, falcons, and raven all stood swarmed at the large wooden door that had been sealed for seven years.
Though the group was large and buzzing with excitement and warmth, the hall was silent. Each of them patiently waited, nobody pushed anyone else, there wasn't any arguing or clamoring. There was patience and calm. Aldric maneuvered his way around a few straggling flock members, and pushed as close to the door as he could without causing a disruption.
He found himself stood directly beside Grum, who looked petrified.
"Are you okay?" Aldric whispered, as Harden wedged in beside him.
"What do you think it's like out there?" The large boy asked softly and shakily. Aldric thought of a second and smiled at his friend.
"I think it'll be whatever you decide to make it. So don't make it scary," he replied thoughtfully. Grim raised half his lip in a smile and looked calmer than he had.
"Don't worry big fella, can't be much out there much bigger than you," Harden quipped, clapping the boy on his back. Grum huffed and swiped Harden's hand away, but couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"Why don't you tell us what you think the island needs?" Aldric asked, shrugging.
"That's just it, I don't know. I've never been out there. Not only that, I've never been anywhere, how do I know what's missing when I've never missed it?" Grum babbled, and flapped his palms to his thighs.
"You don't have to know what's missing, you have to feel what's missing. That's the whole point, you create what you think belongs out there," Aldric said, calming him momentarily.
"The architect explained it to us, we have to choose what path we take. I think that relates to more than just school. Whatever you decide to do with what you've learned is what defines you as yourself," he simplified hoping his words made sense.
Grum nodded silently before meeting his eyes again.
"What's the path you've chosen?" He asked softly.
"World peace," Aldric stated, quickly and with a smile. Suddenly, a loud sort of pop rang out loudly, and all eyes snapped to the door. It was silent again and then, a slim streak of white light appeared down the center of the double doors.
A rush of wind ripped through the chamber as the beam of light widened. The boys diverted their sensitive eyes from the light as it flooded in. The smell of cedar and salt were ripe in the air. The musical chirping of small birds tweeted out through the halls, and the crashing of heavy waves cascaded against the sands of the beach.
Aldric opened his eyes wider as they grew used to the light. The world was beautiful and colorful, and he was ready to change it.