---Chapter 01: Past – Hatching Bird---
"Come here this moment, Link!"
Startled, the little boy spun around, turning his back to the flower pots which he was staring at with so much passion. The order was repeated, more firmly; and the boy hurried into the room beside the sunlit wooden balcony. His blonde hair stopped glittering and the green of his eyes became much less vivid as his small, slender form sank into darkness.
The room was wide, but it was only illuminated by a small candle which was placed in the middle, at the center of a circle decorated by Runes and other mysterious icons. A magical ring of some sort. Without wavering, the little boy stepped into the ring, then just stood there waiting silently until the darkness of the room materialized itself into a human form that appeared right beside him.
"You should have replied more quickly, Howard", breathed the man in the black coat. His voice came out muffled and echoing through the thick black mask he was wearing.
"Many apologies", replied little Howard Link in the same tone. One could hardly believe that such a voice could come out of a child's mouth. It was much more like the voice of a hundred-year-old demon that disguised itself something innocent in order to fool people. "I was lost in thoughts."
"Just make sure it will not happen again. You wouldn't want to be late to the training session, would you?"
"Of course not."
"I shall get you prepared, then."
Link nodded, standing as still as a statue when the man stripped him down to the waist. He then replaced Link's clothing with a white, multi-layered gown, and a long black robe on top of everything. An ornament of wooden and metallic beads was draped over the child's shoulders before the older man helped him to pull the robe's hood over his head. Finally, he brought out a black mask with a large white square design in the middle.
Closing his eyes, Link felt a burning, tingling sensation over his skin as the mask attached itself to his face. It took him a few blinks to familiarize himself with the complete darkness that his world had turned into. He felt a weight on his shoulder, the coldness of his elder's hand spread over his body, and the man's voice was soon to follow.
"All set. We shall begin today's training."
---
"Have you studied the Binding Feathers Technique that we taught you last time, Howard?"
"Of course", replied Link, always so calmly, despite the fact that he was now surrounded by at least ten men, each of them double his size. Even though he couldn't see, he knew that they all were wearing the same uniform as him.
"Very well then. Today, we shall train you with that spell. We shall attack you continuously with the Binding Feathers Technique, and you will have to dodge while fighting back with the same technique as well. Do you understand what I just said?"
"Yes."
"Good. Then… Let's… begin!"
---
"Such a bothersome child… Howard."
He opened his eyes, painfully dragging himself into consciousness. The bright light almost blinded his vision, and it took him several slow, dull blinks to recover from the shock. Everything was very white… He inhaled shallowly, smelling the hygienic scent of ethanol and clean sheets.
This must be the infirmary.
Link tried to turn to the side, but couldn't. His whole body was suddenly so heavy that he could hardly move a finger. He felt as if he was being weighted down by the warm, thick blanket he was securely tucked in. That nurse always overdoes things, he thought.
Such a realistic thought helped clear the dark clouds inside his mind. Link suddenly remembered why and how he got here. The Binding Feathers training. He was doing so well at first, dodging all the attacks without even having to see them. But someone scolded him, shouting that he must fight back, so he tried… The invocation was a burden to his young body; while chanting the spell he got hit at least twice by the others. He pushed himself still, trying hard enough and managed to release the spell at last, but the effort drained him to the point of losing his agility. He found no strength to move. Crawling over the floor, he kept getting hit until the spells wrapped all around him like a cocoon… And then his senses went blind.
"You didn't work hard enough, did you Howard?"
Link's vision focused into the face that was hovering over him. He could recognize the black hair, the rough features… and the infamous mustache that his elders always talked about with sour irony. He stared, "Inspector…"
"Oh, so you can still talk after all," said Inspector Malcolm C. Leverrier coldly. The sharp glare sent a chill through Link's spine. The little boy shifted uneasily inside the blanket, feeling naked and exposed to these eyes.
"I… I am very sorry, Inspector…" was all he could manage to say.
"Apology won't help you get any better."
Link shut his eyes closed. Inspector Leverrier is always so harsh. But somehow, Link didn't feel hurt by those sharp words; only frustrated and irritated at himself. Ignoring the muscles twitching uncomfortably as he spoke, the little boy whispered,
"I will definitely work harder, Inspector."
"Very well then. I trust you", nodded the man. He then opened the box he was carrying with him, revealing some fresh scones. He set the box on the small table beside Link's cot, close enough for the boy to reach even in his weakened state. From where he was lying, Link could count the dried fruits on the surface of the scones. As he stared at the present, Inspector Leverrier flashed a brief smile, "You will fly higher than those Crows could ever reach… Link."