"Of course it sounds that way!" far-fetched, she means. "It's just the same in all the stories you know? And not just about the heroes of light... all the legendary heroes always have to go against something impossible, odds that seem like they can't be beat! They, ah—" this speech probably wasn't helping, was it?

"What I mean is... you guys can do it. I believe in you." Maria outstretched her hand, the soul gem-like crystal sparkling in the empty space in front of her, ready for it to be plucked from her hand. If this thing was somehow going to help the lot of them, then, well...

"Just remember. Magic and miracles— they both exist." she smiled.