The day before her final exams, Mariana found herself walking down an old trail near the edge of Silvercity, where the river whispered gently, and the scent of blooming wildflowers clung to the breeze. She'd come here once with George and his grandparents, a quiet afternoon filled with laughter and kites flying against the golden sky.
Now, she stood alone, the same willow tree casting shadows over her.
Except she wasn't really alone.
George's voice broke her reverie. "Mariana!"
She turned, heart skipping, watching the boy run up the path toward her. His curls bounced as he reached her, cheeks flushed from the run.
"I brought something." He held up a folded piece of paper.
Mariana unfolded it carefully. It was a drawing—her, George, his grandparents, her parents, and even a tiny heart floating above their heads. "Family," it said in shaky handwriting.
She smiled, eyes glistening. "It's perfect."
"I want to grow up and be smart like you," he said seriously. "And kind like Mama… like you are now."
Her breath caught. He didn't know what he was saying—not truly—but somehow, it felt like Mary had heard those words through Mariana's skin.
"I'll always be here to help you, George," she whispered, kneeling to his level.
Behind them, the grandparents watched from a distance, smiles warm and proud.
That evening, as she returned home to study, her system chimed softly.
[New Task Unlocked: Final Upgrade Available After Diploma Completion]
[Reward: System Evolution + Destiny Thread Expansion]
Mariana stared at the glowing message. Her next chapter—both in this world and her mission—was about to begin.
But tonight, she allowed herself to be simply… a big sister, a daughter, a girl touched by love and loss, looking ahead with quiet strength.