Chapter 32 – Whispers in the Halls

Now officially a final-year student, Mariana entered a whole new world—elite academic circles, reserved study lounges, and whispered conversations about internships at top firms. While others were trying to make an impression, she remained calm and composed, catching the attention of both students and professors.

Her flatmates, a lively trio of girls from different departments, were equal parts awestruck and curious. Despite being younger, Mariana carried herself like someone who had seen the world twice over.

But not everything was as smooth as it seemed.

That morning, her system buzzed with a strange new alert.

[System Quest: "The Ghost File"]

> A buried scandal tied to Silvercity University's economics department is about to resurface.

Investigate Professor Holloway's missing research file.

Reward: Special Item – "Truth Token." Unlock a moral choice path.

Mariana's eyes narrowed slightly as she glanced at Professor Holloway's name on the class schedule. He had been kind to her... but everyone said he was once destined for greatness before a sudden fall from grace.

Meanwhile, back in Hammer, George was working on a project of his own—one inspired by Mariana's love for architecture. He had shown his grandparents a small notebook filled with house designs.

"She said... homes should feel like hugs," he told them softly, still unaware that "she" was closer than he could ever imagine.

And as Mariana walked through the busy corridors of Silvercity University, she felt it too—a strange, warm tug at her heart.

Something was calling her home. Someone was waiting.