The moonlight filtered softly through the window of Mariana's shared apartment. The city lights of Silvercity sparkled in the distance, but her room was calm, filled only with the rustle of leaves from the small plant she had nurtured—a gift from her mother, Laura.
She sat cross-legged on the floor, the last mineral sample in her hand. It pulsed faintly, a low glow resonating through her skin.
Ding!
> System Notification:
Task Complete.
All required plants and minerals have been collected.
Initiating upgrade…
Mariana blinked as the world around her dimmed and a shimmering light enveloped her body. The voice of the system, usually sterile and mechanical, now echoed with a strange warmth.
> System Upgrade Complete.
New Feature Unlocked: Empathic Scan
You may now access emotional frequencies and hidden intentions of any individual you touch briefly.
Use with caution.
Mariana inhaled sharply, stunned. "What…? Emotions? Intentions?" Her mind raced. This wasn't just a tool—it was a key. A way to understand the people around her, to protect George better… to shield her new family from hidden threats.
Her heart pounded with purpose.
> System Alert:
You are on the right path, Host.
Your presence is already changing fates.
Keep walking forward.
She stood, her reflection in the mirror catching her attention. There was strength there now—a fire in her eyes that hadn't been there when she first woke as Mariana. She was no longer just surviving. She was building something.
And from the shadows, she would guide the lives that mattered most.
In that quiet moment, a sudden tug pulled at her chest—gentle, familiar. George. She didn't need the system to feel it. He was thinking of her again.
She closed her eyes and smiled softly. "Soon, my sweet boy. I'll be close again."
The city hummed outside, unaware that a guardian had just awakened.