Chapter Text
Humans’ first mistake? Creating the avians.
The half-human, half-bird creatures were a result of genetic tampering; scientists combined infants with different DNA, birds being the most prominent. The result? Children with wings that sprouted from their backs.
Five children survived testing, dozens more dying for them to live. After years of tests, of keeping the avians secret and hidden away from the world, the avians developed powers. It was something out of a storybook, how each of them discovered their power by chance. The oldest child could manipulate anything and anyone with his thoughts alone. The second child controlled the elements while the third controlled the weather. The fourth child could disappear without a trace, slinking into shadows with silent footfalls. And the youngest of them all, the dear child who was only seven at the time; she could control the very nature around her.
And one night, under the leadership of the eldest child, they slipped out of the facility.
Humans’ second mistake? Not finding the avians sooner.
A few years later, there were double the avians. Still, the scientists couldn’t find them. Along with their powers, the avians were gifted with unnatural speed and agility, and the ability to learn things with incredible speed. They heard and smelled better; their skin was thick and sensitive to the touch. The avian children found mates among humans, and quietly stole them away in order to build families.
A few generations later, the avian population had grown large enough that they split up in camps, to prevent detection. Slowly but surely, more and more camps popped up, and communication between them grew. The avians knew that eventually, they would have to make their presence known. They grew in numbers every year, they couldn’t hide for much longer.
Humans’ third mistake? The same scientists that created the avians helped create beautiful floating cities all across the globe.
The cities were an odd design, with one floating right over the top of another… the odd design only added to the attraction for mankind. These floating, two-tiered cities became the staple for larger areas, and popped up like an invasive species. Avians watched, and waited, and grew restless.
The one place they had been created for was being occupied by the ones who created them.
No one saw it coming.
The avians came without warning. They attacked the floating cities and made rings around the cities below, preventing people from leaving. All at once, every city seemed to be surrounded.
There were so many of them. Humans might have outnumbered them slightly, but the avians had surprise and their natural abilities on their side. Some of the camps even contained avians with the ability to control minds, and waltzed into the city of their choosing. Escape was impossible.
The world shifted.
The avians assumed their place in the floating cities, and every single human was forced to be below. Country lines were redrawn, new kings chosen, and a safe place called Cascade was adopted for avians. Now you were either avian or human. There was no in between.
A new custom was adopted among those in the cities, to have two names. One for the floating paradise and one for the overcrowded streets below. One of these such cities sat between scenic mountains and rolling fields, in the country of Sacil. The Core, aptly named as it was the capital, contained Cora, the lower city, and Cordelia, the floating paradise. Cordelia gained the moniker “The Gilded Cage” by the human inhabitants of Cora, though either city was rarely called by name.
Humans were three things to avians—slaves, servants, or Pets. Pets were human mates to the avians, or that’s what they were meant to be. While some avians were traditional and only kept one Pet, some had upwards of ten.
Humans had no choice. Humans couldn't refuse and they couldn't get out. The avians tore down every arch, every staircase, and every elevator but one. There was only one, but it was so heavily guarded it was impossible to get to it without avian intervention.
They only needed one, after all.
There was only one way for a Pet to get to the Gilded Cage. They were taken. The avians came down and chose their mates. The humans could do nothing to stop them. Cora was overcrowded, overwhelmed, and left to fend for itself.
So many people died.
In every country, the avians thrived. They could fly freely now, they could embrace their powers and their newfound hope of existence. Avians could have passions and hobbies and interests without fear of capture… But humanity was left to suffer, and pay the consequences of a choice they took no part in.
Avians hadn't asked to be created. They had been built and hurt and chained, asked to bow to men who hurt others for profit. It had to stop. They made it stop.
But at what cost?