The Enlightened Few - The Journey Begins

The message

Aden decided to see whether this trick or whatever it was would work on anything else apart from Anemone. His invisibility to Anemone is not something that he had been able to do without the aid of his royally bestowed cloak of protection. He decided to walk to the bird cage and see if the hawks would seem apprehensive due to his presence. They did not like to be disturbed after sundown and would definitely make some form of commotion, at least not loud enough for anyone else to hear.

He walked slowly and uncomfortably, realizing his back was aching for some strange reason, which did not help in the cold air. For a moment, he questioned in an alarm of panic if the invisibility was irreversible. When he reached the metal cage door, he opened it slowly and heard a fluttering up above. Climbing the stairs was not an easy task, as the stairs were narrow and steep, but once he got to the second landing, he could see the birds all huddled up. This would be the ideal time to let them lose so that they could go scavenging for food, but of late they were behaving rather too domesticated and lazy, which was mostly due to their good fortune of having a comfortably warm home that provided them adequate meals whenever they were hungry. The birds would never leave and they would always represent the kingdom with honour.

Their eyes followed him as he walked back and forth in the little circular room; he knew that they could see him.

He sat on the stone-cold floor wondering if Anemone had left. It was indeed getting darker outside and soon Ilmatar would come by to feed the birds for the last time this day. As Aden thought about his own hunger, he heard the metal door slide open below, followed by what sounded like the footsteps of a rather tall and heavy man climbing up the stairs. Aden speculated with himself that this could not be Ilmatar as he always glided and you could hardly ever hear him approaching, so he braced himself in the shadow of the room expecting the worst.

The man reached the top of the stairs looking around curiously and grabbed a wooden baton. As he was about to swing it in front of himself, Aden jumped out from the shadow and pushed the man to the ground. A loud thump followed by a hollow scream could be heard echoing up the tower, the birds flapped their wings eagerly and some screeched as if in pain.

" Who are you?" demanded Aden.

"Aden! Aden, is that you? I have been looking all over for you, do you know that? I was worried out of my mind!"

"Ilmatar!"

"Yes, who else did you think it was?"

"I am so sorry, I didn't know, still getting used to being in a strange city with people I don't know. I saw the stick and I thought the person holding it must have seen me and was ready to strike."

"What if that person was my uncle, you would have given him a heart attack! You have seriously lost your mind, taking you away from your home was a bad idea."

"You the one to talk, you didn't take me away, remember? I came here willingly and plus what would you have done?"

"Just as well, cause otherwise what would have I been thinking to bring a dangerous man home."

Ilmatar started laughing, followed by Aden shortly after. The two men got up onto their feet and dusted themselves off.

"What are you doing with that stick anyway?"

"It's a torch Aden! I promise you I am not on a murdering spree."

They continued laughing while they walked back to the house, pushing each other along on the lawn teasingly.

"Just as well that you came, if my shadow didn't give me away my grumbling stomach would have." Aden patted his stomach with eagerness to get dinner going.