Chapter 37 – Quiet Steps and Hidden Growth

Mariana stood near the window of her shared apartment, her eyes scanning the horizon of Silvercity. The sun was setting, painting the skyline in warm hues of orange and gold. The system pinged softly in her mind.

[New Task Unlocked: Assist in Healing the Land – Identify and revitalize a neglected green zone inside Silvercity. Reward: New ability unlocked.]

She took a breath. "Another one," she whispered, a half-smile forming on her lips. These missions weren't just tasks — they were pieces of her purpose. Pieces of Mary's legacy, reincarnated with new light.

Later that evening, she met with one of her professors to discuss an independent research project. Mariana's proposal — integrating sustainability with urban economic reform — left even the skeptical faculty speechless.

In the shadows of the university's front entrance, James Green stepped out of a black car, waiting for a meeting with a board donor. For just a moment, his eyes passed over Mariana as she exited the building, radiant and composed.

She didn't notice him — or perhaps she did but chose to ignore the tug of the past.

James paused. There was something hauntingly familiar about the girl, but he shook it off. Too many ghosts in Silvercity these days.

Back in Hammer, George sat with a small notebook filled with drawings and notes. Mariana had given him a simple system app — disguised as a game — where he could upload data about plants and minerals.

He took it seriously. "Agent G reporting," he whispered with a grin, adding photos of a blue wildflower and a cracked stone he'd found by the riverbank.

Carol giggled beside him. "You and your secret stuff."

He nodded. "It's not just pretend. It matters."

And it did. Unseen by most, George was already becoming more than a little boy — he was a guardian in training, the heart of a future empire he couldn't yet imagine.