clara's departine made Wren feel like his heart had been sipped out, leaving behind a hollow, agonizing sold. Every feath and every movement of his body was a sharp nemmideret the pain she il lett bebimit. The woman sitting beside him on the plane gave him an odd look when he didn't respond to her earlier concern, but she said nothing more

The plane flew through the night, crossing thousands of miles. Eleven hours later, it landed inöstia, Uzhumia,

Worn stepped off the pl

exhaustion dinging to fum, but his determination was unwavering post as he exited the airport, a young man approached him.

"Mi. Zadınsan, I'm Mr-Yate'Lassistant, Brodie Ashfood. He had an important meeting this morning and couldn't come himself, so he sent me to pick you up

then recognized him immediately. He had met Shea Yate's assistant a few times in the past and silently followed him to the car. The address Katrina had given him

The enormity of the task for him as he looked out at the sprawling city. His influence was rooted back home finding someone here, especially without a clear Trad majë tale weeks and maybe months

Betore boarding the plane, Wien had reached out to Xavier, an old friend who had spent years expanding his business internationally and had significant resources in Uthuria. Wien hoped to use those resources to comb through immigration records and hospital databases. It was an overwhelming amount of work, but he was porpared to enhaust every avenue.

Mr. Yate sand I'm at your service. Where would you like to go first?" Brodie asked.

lingered on the bustling airport crowd, watching as families and friends reunited, tears and laughter mingling in joyful embraces. His voice came out

me to the Royal Academy of Arts

"Uudenrood. Mi

just maybe he would find Clar there.

Parted the

without beutation, driving out of the airport and into the unfamiliar streets of Ostia.

aited rightly clenched on his lap as the scenery outside the window shifted. His mind churned with worry and doubt, his heart heavy with a

I pulled up to 1

o the academy's gates.

san. - Bjudie announced as he parked the car and got our

his gaze fund on the grand, unfamiliar campus before him. Students moved between buildings, their faces glowing with energy and optimism.

ne Clarabad Gone dieamed of attending

Hindert þeir rooted to the ground as doubt at him. What it she was here? Or worse what it she was, and he didn't know how to face her? Tie Hangle of Caja's Ingured an uwe much he was to blame for it consumed him. He teased the disappointment, rejection, and bittemess he might see in

Lasked, "kar you linte to look for someone, Mr. Zarhuman? I

in contact the administration for you." Without wa

I waiting for A

ema frequent

kern would got this search.

antonnd Wrein and Shea during their youth. She had grown up under

i liecome less freqiseidnoveldrama

rloined himself to move, stepping out the academy campus clara had ance spoken so

dean pude Mar, welcomed ut extated when Worn explained his pe

Atraulut being unend away, Mani

"That would involve accessing private student in

stion to tista. He offered to donate two valuable paintings from his private collection to the academy to