The old buildings of Silvercity University, dressed in ivy and history, stood tall as Mariana stepped into her second year—although, for most, it was their final. Skipping a full year due to exceptional academic performance and an intensive entrance exam, she had quickly earned the nickname The Comet among her peers—brilliant, fast, and impossible to ignore.
Economics had always been her choice, but with her past life's experience as Mary, and now equipped with the system quietly guiding her, she was more than prepared. Her theories during seminars caught the attention of professors. In one class, her bold proposal on revitalizing mid-sized cities through sustainable business ecosystems left even the head of the department speechless.
But Mariana never flaunted her intelligence. She remained soft-spoken, loyal to her apartment roommates, and deeply attached to her family in Hammer. Her mother, Laura, sent flower arrangements every Monday with sweet notes, while her father, Stuart, sent her articles on finance and education trends. Every weekend she visited them—never forgetting the warmth of home.
George, now nearing eight, had grown so much in one year. He had started entering junior math competitions and building architectural models with his grandfather, just for fun. Mariana watched from afar and sometimes from near, always involved in subtle ways—suggesting books, creating opportunities, and nurturing his genius.
One afternoon, she was invited to present a paper at a local business conference. George came along, proud and bright-eyed, sitting between his grandparents. Watching her speak, articulate and confident, he whispered to his grandfather, "She reminds me of Mom."
Lucia's eyes welled up. Perhaps, in ways they couldn't yet explain, she was.