Crow's flight

Third feather - Message from the Grey Child

(A half-black, half-white feather is seen outside the windows of a cathedral library still blowing in the wind; accompanied by a smaller, older, silver-coloured one.)

When she stepped into Westnorth Library, everything around the building suddenly got enveloped by a thick mist coming from a huge thurible hanging in the entrance, practically sealing the place and making the outside not visible.

"You are finally here, Miss Crow," said an echoing serious yet child-like fading voice. "I'm Theilo Mattis, also known as the Grey Child."

She looked at who was talking, the famous ghost of a kid wearing fine clothes: a tailored suit, a white tie with the city's symbol, and groomed hair like the colour of the moonlight. Easy to recognise since he was a well-known renowned investigator. His sharp ghostly eyes were irisless, but so hauntingly powerful that seemed as if they would read her mind just by staring at her, as if Dana was nothing but an open book to him. Even if his appearance was one of a little boy, nobody actually could tell exactly how many years, or perhaps, centuries-old was.

"Sorry, I'm late."

"Don't worry. Please, excuse our prudence with all this fog surrounding us, it stops any sound or light going out or in, just a measure dictated by the Council to avoid any unwanted curious visitors. I'm going to be the one to give you their message personally."

She was feeling very nervous, not only because of having a conversation with such an important person but for the fact that it was finally happening, what she dedicated herself to: becoming an agent of Ovingud.

"First of all, I'm honoured to welcome you into our ranks," said staring at her who couldn't help it but smile timidly. "Secondly, we have a lot to discuss, Miss Crow, so please, take a seat."

Dana slowly went to sat on the chair he politely offered, in which she miserably failed falling to the floor, and getting up in shame trying again, under his silent unchanging gaze. She was now trembling by having stumbled so awkwardly in front of one of her most respectable individuals, who also was almost like a celebrity in Ovingud.

The moment she finally made it, the library seemed to vanish, and saw different unoccupied seats appearing in the white void she now found herself in, which gradually took the form of a spacious hall with no doors or windows, yet the ceiling was completely wide open showing a sky with many moons, each with a different lunar cycle frozen in time. Theilo was drinking a teacup. Before she could speak he rapidly handed Dana another. Instead of liquid it seemed to contain some kind of swirling white smoke. She felt a chilling breeze on her lips as she took a sip.

"Another measure of the Council to not be overheard, I presume," she finally said, surprised by listening to her words not coming from her mouth, but from her head as if she was thinking, talking directly through the mind.

"You are right, miss Crow. Well, I'm not going to sugarcoat it, saying that your studies and your graduation were excellent and things like that to try to convince you, so let's go straight to talk about why we need you," said the Grey Child while laying the papers he was holding on the table between them. His voice sounded in her brain instead the ears, the same way as when she spoke before.

However, Dana felt both flattered and a bit discouraged to hear him, putting her glasses correctly since they were lower from her previous falling.

Even if she knew about him, it was still a bit strange hearing a little kid talking so maturely and well-spoken, even sharply. She read before in some gazettes and books about the Grey Child: a brilliant boy who died prematurely, and as a ghost, he spent centuries dedicated to enlightenment, since to him knowledge was the most powerful weapon.