Although the Raven Club had few members, it was true that many crows were kept inside, and even the oil paintings hanging on the corridor walls depicted images of crows. When Shard and Sister Delphine, led by a man, met the rumored boy in the study deep within the house, the first thing Shard noticed was the crow in the birdcage hanging by the door.
With its pitch-black feathers and red eyes, the crow flapped its wings restlessly inside the cage as the trio entered, seemingly very uneasy.
The man leading the way didn't linger long in the room, and after introducing the guests to the room's master, he left.
The door closed behind Shard, and the study was somewhat dim. It was clearly daytime, but the curtains were tightly shut, and only the gas lamps on either side of the wall provided illumination. The lampshades of the gas lamps appeared as if they hadn't been cleaned in quite some time, which made the light exceptionally dim.
