Jack didn’t stay for photos.
After his speech, he slipped offstage, letting the applause rise without him. Sarah handled the interviews. Emily shook hands with parents. Lena found her again, beaming, eyes still wide.
“I’ve never owned anything with my name on it,” she said, turning her tablet over in her hands like it might vanish.
Emily knelt. “It’s yours, Lena. All of it. Earned, not gifted.”
Lena’s smile softened. “I’m not gonna waste it.”
“I know you won’t.”
Four days later, another memo dropped.
But this time, it didn’t come from Dragon Corp’s central office.
It came from the ground.
> PROJECT GAIA: Draconia Environmental Restoration Initiative
Stage I: River decontamination across Harmonfield, Reidsville, and Southridge
Stage II: Mountain reforestation & biodiversity re
