I grow stronger by making my wife happy.

Chapter 309: 309:Finding Shawn

By the time Antony finally turned onto the broad avenue leading toward Alpha Three Academy, the sun had already begun its slow descent behind the enormous buildings surrounding the northern district, casting long shadows across streets that were considerably busier than they had been earlier in the afternoon.

Ravenna had spent almost the entire drive staring through the windshield, occasionally checking the time despite Mallory repeatedly telling her that doing so wouldn’t make the traffic move any faster, and the closer they came to the academy, the more restless she became.

The enjoyable hours spent exploring Alpha Three had done what Mallory intended and pulled her out of the dark bubble she had trapped herself inside since Death Row Valley, but now that they were approaching the one person she believed might actually be able to help Silver, everything else had stopped mattering.

”There,” Mallory said from the back seat, leaning slightly forward and pointing through the windshield. ”That should be the main entrance. I checked the map earlier, and this is the gate most students use when they’re released into the city.”

Ravenna didn’t need the directions anymore. The academy was impossible to miss.

She had already understood that Alpha Three did almost everything on a scale that seemed excessive compared to the Delta Sanctuaries, but the academy still managed to surprise her.

The grounds stretched so far that she couldn’t see their end from the road, enclosed by tall reinforced walls that looked almost decorative until she noticed the security systems built into them.

Beyond those walls stood dozens of buildings of varying heights, some clearly used for classes while others resembled enormous training complexes, and farther inside she could make out several towers, large open fields, and structures she couldn’t identify from this distance.

The main entrance was just as impressive.

Several enormous gates separated incoming and outgoing traffic, while pedestrian entrances occupied the areas between them. Security personnel stood at multiple checkpoints, although most barely glanced at the students leaving because identification systems automatically scanned them as they passed.

Large screens above the gates displayed academy announcements, schedules, warnings, rankings, and advertisements for upcoming competitions, while several businesses had strategically positioned themselves along the streets outside to take advantage of the flood of students being released every evening.

And there were a lot of students.

Ravenna stared through the windshield.

”They release all of them at once?”

”Apparently,” Antony said as he slowed the car. ”Which explains why everyone told us not to drive here at this time.”

Ravenna looked toward the traffic surrounding them.

”Nobody told us that.”

”The navigation system did.”

”That doesn’t count.”

”It absolutely counts when I’m the one driving.”

Mallory laughed softly.

”Can the two of you argue after we find somewhere to park? Ravenna looks like she’s about to abandon the car and walk the rest of the way.”

Ravenna had actually been considering it.

Antony noticed.

”Don’t.”

”I didn’t say anything.”

”Your hand is already on the door.”

Ravenna removed it.

”I was getting comfortable.”

”Of course.”

It took them nearly fifteen minutes to find somewhere to leave the car. Ravenna was outside before Antony had properly finished locking it.

”Ravenna, wait.”

Mallory hurried after her.

”I’m waiting.”

”You are literally walking away while saying that.”

Ravenna stopped reluctantly. Antony caught up a moment later.

”You know what Shawn looks like, right?”

Ravenna glanced at him.

”I’ve seen him before.”

”That’s not exactly reassuring when there are several thousand students walking around.”

”I’ll recognize him.”

Mallory joined them.

”And if you don’t, we’ll ask someone. This doesn’t have to become complicated.”

Ravenna hoped she was right. They crossed toward the academy entrance. The atmosphere outside the gates was surprisingly lively.

Students poured onto the streets in groups, some still wearing training equipment while others had already changed into casual clothing. Several immediately headed toward waiting vehicles.

Others gathered around food stalls or crossed toward nearby restaurants and shops. Ravenna overheard conversations about classes, beast hunts, combat rankings, instructors, and academy missions as they walked.

A few students looked at Ravenna, Mallory, and Antony curiously. Ravenna ignored them at first, then she heard someone behind them.

”More applicants?”

Another voice answered.

”Probably. Admissions are coming up.”

Ravenna glanced back. The students had already continued walking.

Antony smiled.

”They think we’re students.”

”Technically, we’re going to be.”

”Eventually.” Ravenna looked toward the academy gates. ”After Silver gets here.”

Antony’s smile softened.

”Okay... After Silver gets here.”

Mallory didn’t say anything. She simply moved slightly closer to Ravenna.

They continued walking against the flow of students. Ravenna searched every face she could see, but there were simply too many people.

She had seen Shawn before, briefly, enough to recognize him if he was standing nearby. But not enough to somehow pick him out of several thousand students.

After several minutes, her patience began disappearing.

”How difficult can one person be to find?”

Antony looked around.

”In a crowd this size? Extremely.”

”That was rhetorical.”

”I answered anyway.”

Ravenna ignored him.

Then she noticed a young woman walking alone from the academy gates. The girl looked approachable enough.

She had a bag hanging from one shoulder and was staring at something on her phone while walking at an unhurried pace. Ravenna changed direction and approached her.

”Excuse me. Could I ask you something?”

The student looked up. Her expression was initially friendly.

”Sure. Are you looking for the admissions building? They’ve been getting a lot of prospective students this week, but I think most of the registration offices are already closed for the day but you can walk around and became familiar with it if you shoe your admission letter at the gates, most of the newer admissionsdo that. You don’t have to go to the registration office to get a pass.”

Ravenna shook her head.

”No, I’m looking for someone who’s already studying here. Do you happen to know Shawn Ruddington?”

The change was immediate. The girl’s friendly expression disappeared and her eyes narrowed. Then she looked Ravenna over from head to toe.

Ravenna noticed and didn’t appreciate it.

”You want Shawn?”

”That’s what I just asked.”

The girl looked toward Mallory, then Antony, and then back at Ravenna.

”Why?”

Ravenna frowned.

”I need to speak with him about something important.”

The girl’s suspicion increased.

”Something important.”

Ravenna stared at her.

”Yes. Something important, that’s what I just said.”

The student sighed.

”Look, I’m not trying to be rude, but you’re definitely not the first woman who’s come here asking where Shawn is because she suddenly has something ’important’ to discuss with him.”

Ravenna eyes widened slightly.

”What?”

’What the heck is wrong with this girl’

The girl crossed her arms.

”You heard me. People come looking for him all the time, especially around this hour because they know students are allowed out. Sometimes they claim they need help with training, sometimes they say they have information for him, and sometimes they just admit they’re interested in him. I’m not going to point another stranger directly toward him without knowing what she wants.”

Mallory glanced toward Ravenna. Antony looked away, his mouth twitching.

Ravenna noticed.

”Don’t start.”

Antony immediately became serious.

”I didn’t say anything.”

”You were about to.”

”I value my life more than anything.”

The female student looked between them, apparently becoming even more convinced that something suspicious was happening.

Ravenna turned back toward her.

”I’m not interested in Shawn in the slightest.”

”That’s what several of them say.”

”I have a fiancé.”

The girl shrugged.

”That hasn’t stopped everyone before.”

Ravenna stared at her. For several seconds, she genuinely didn’t know how to respond. She had finally found the academy, and now she was standing outside arguing with a stranger who thought she wanted to seduce Silver’s cousin.

Ravenna closed her eyes briefly. She didn’t have the patience. When she opened them again, her voice remained controlled.

”Listen, I don’t know how many women normally come here looking for Shawn, and I genuinely don’t care. I’m not asking you for his room number, his private information, or anything else that should concern you. I asked whether you know where he is because I need to speak with him about his family. If you don’t want to tell me, that’s completely fine, but I’m not wasting the little time I have trying to convince you that I don’t secretly want your popular academy student.”