Chapter 367:Hope.

Chapter 367: 367:Hope.

He was one of the student representatives assigned to admissions, which meant his responsibilities had already started before the official opening.

She sent him the message instead.

Silver contacted me again. He says he’s almost out of Death Row Valley and told me to stay in Alpha Three. His phone briefly rang when I called, then the signal disappeared.

Shawn replied nearly twenty minutes later.

That’s good.. If his phone is connecting and he believes he’s close to the surface, he’s probably reached the upper tunnel network. Don’t go back there. Grandfather still isn’t responding directly to me, but I’m continuing through the family channels we should be able to get sime tangible information soon.

Another message followed.

I probably won’t be able to meet you properly for the next four days. I’m assigned as a student representative for admissions, and they’re restricting our movement during the intake period. If Silver gets here, tell him to contact me immediately.

Ravenna read the second message twice. She didn’t particularly like that he would be MIA for four days.

Shawn was the only member of Silver’s family she had successfully reached, and knowing he was inside the academy had been reassuring.

Still, Silver was almost out and that mattered more.

She replied.

I’ll tell him. I’m going through special admission tomorrow. Antony is taking the entrance examination.

Shawn’s answer came a few minutes later.

Good. Don’t delay your admission waiting for Silver. He told you to go to the academy for a reason. If he’s anything like the Silver I know, he’ll be more annoyed if he reaches Alpha Three and discovers you threw away your place because of him so don’t be cruel to yourself.

She smiled at the message.

Mallory glanced at her.

"What did Shawn say?"

Ravenna showed her the screen while smiling..

"He understands his cousin." She put the phone away. "Unfortunately."

They returned home later than planned. Shopping bags covered part of the living room; Antony separated his supplies, Mallory checked the academy documents and Ravenna sat on the floor with two piles in front of her.

One was hers and one was Silver’s.

She opened the folder containing the admission documents.

Her letter, then his.

Ravenna ran her thumb across Silver’s name which she had written herself since the academy letters always came with a blank.

"You’d better make me carry this for a reason."

Mallory, sitting nearby, heard her.

"He will."

She looked up.

Mallory didn’t offer an exaggerated promise but simply continued.

"He has already done the part everyone thought was impossible. He survived the collapse, survived being trapped with that queen and managed to contact you twice. If he says he’s close to getting out, I think he’s earned a little confidence from his fiancee."

Ravenna looked at Silver’s letter again.

"I keep imagining what he’s going to look like."

Mallory’s expression softened.

"Probably terrible."

She laughed.

"That’s not reassuring."

"I’m being realistic. He’s been underground for almost six days. If he arrives looking perfectly clean and rested, I’ll be more concerned."

She smiled.

"He’ll probably complain about his clothes before anything else."

"Or food."

"He has storage. He probably bought food somehow."

Mallory looked confused.

Ravenna immediately remembered that Silver’s storage wasn’t exactly something she was supposed to explain casually.

She changed direction.

"He usually prepares more than he admits."

Mallory accepted that quiet easily. She looked down at the letter again.

"Tomorrow, I’m going to the academy. I’m going to finish the admission, and when he gets here, I’ll find a way to get him inside too."

"That sounds like a plan."

Ravenna placed Silver’s admission letter carefully beside hers.

She eventually went to bed but sleeping remained difficult.

Her fear had now changed shape; every sound made her wonder whether her phone had vibrated.

Every time she woke, she checked the screen.

No new messages.

At some point after midnight, she stared at Silver’s last message again.

I’m almost out.

Ravenna pressed the phone against her chest.

"Then get out."

She closed her eyes and sleep eventually came.

Morning arrived far too quickly. The Academy’s official admissions day transformed the northern district.

Traffic started before sunrise; candidate buses filled the roads, families arrived in private vehicles and contractors travelled alone or in groups.

Temporary signs directed applicants toward different gates depending on admission type.

The academy itself looked even more imposing than it had when Ravenna first came looking for Shawn.

Mallory travelled with them. Antony had become unusually quiet during the drive which Ravenna noticed.

"Nervous?"

Antony stared ahead.

"No."

Mallory looked toward him.

"You checked your documents six times before we left."

"I like being prepared."

"You also asked whether the examination allows bathroom breaks."

"That’s practical information."

Ravenna smiled.

"You’re nervous."

He finally sighed.

"Fine... I’m slightly nervous. There are hundreds of people here, some of them have probably been training specifically for this examination for months, and I decided to participate because apparently nearly dying in Death Row Valley convinced me that joining an elite academy was a reasonable next step."

Ravenna looked at him.

"You’ll be fine."

He looked towards her, before smiling.

"That was almost encouraging."

"Don’t make me take it back."

He smiled.

"Too late. I’m keeping it."

They reached the academy entrance and the crowds divided.

Large signs indicated examination candidates.

Regular admissions.

Special admissions.

Returning students.

Representatives in academy uniforms stood throughout the entrance grounds directing people.

Antony looked toward his line; it was enormous. He released a slow breath.

"That’s unpleasant."

Ravenna followed his gaze.

"You wanted the entrance examination."

"I wanted an entrance examination with perhaps twenty competitors and a generous examiner who immediately recognized my extraordinary talent."

Mallory laughed.

"You’ll survive."

Antony adjusted his bag, then he looked at Ravenna.

"Don’t wait around too long."

Ravenna immediately knew what he meant.

"I wasn’t planning to."

His expression said he didn’t believe her.

"Ravenna, Silver told you to enter the academy. Shawn told you not to delay. Mallory told you not to delay. I’m now telling you not to delay. At some point, you should consider the possibility that everyone else might be right and you’re the wrong one here."

Ravenna folded her arms.

"I said I’m not waiting."

Antony looked toward Silver’s admission letter visible inside the folder she was carrying.

"Of course you’re not. I totally believe you."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Go take your examination."

Antony smiled.

"I’ll see you after I pass."

"That’s better."

He left.

Mallory remained with Ravenna. They walked toward special admissions.

Compared to the examination lines, it was considerably smaller.

People carrying recommendation letters, direct academy invitations and other qualifying documents moved through several processing desks.

Ravenna joined the line.

Three minutes passed.

She looked toward the main entrance, nothing. The line moved but she remained where she was.

The person behind her stepped around after getting impatient.

Mallory let out a long sigh.

"Ravenna."

"I’m moving."

She moved one position, then looked toward the entrance again.

Morning passed just like that. The crowds changed constantly; vehicles arrived, candidates entered, and families left.

Ravenna watched every slightly taller man from a distance before realizing none of them were Silver. She kept Silver’s admission letter in her hand.

By midday, Mallory stopped pretending not to notice.

"You’ve allowed at least thirty people to go ahead of you."

She looked toward the special-admission desks.

"There are still plenty."

"That’s not the point."

"I know."

Mallory stood beside her.

"How long are you planning to wait?"

She looked toward the entrance.

"I don’t know."

"Ravenna."

"He said he was almost out."

"Yesterday evening."

"Exactly. If he got out last night, he could be travelling now."

"Or he could be at an observation center being treated."

Ravenna looked at her.

"Then he’ll contact me when he can."

Mallory nodded.

"Yes."

She looked at the letter.

"So I’ll wait a little longer... please."

Mallory didn’t argue.