In the cold, stone confines of his prison cell, Aldric sat still, his figure serene as if asleep. Yet, beneath his closed eyelids, a spark of anticipation flickered. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, alert and keen—it was time.
As he waited in the oppressive silence, a sudden fluttering of wings shattered the stillness, drawing his attention to the barred window. Through the metal, a conspiracy of ravens descended, their glossy feathers glistening like obsidian in the scant sunlight that filtered through the narrow opening. Each bird moved with an otherworldly grace, their movements synchronized as if guided by an unseen force.