The fog was thick.
It rolled low over the water like a living thing, swallowing sound and distance alike. Wooden planks creaked beneath their feet as survivors were guided forward, one by one, wrapped in blankets that smelled of salt and smoke.
Luke stood on the deck of the Carpathia, shoulders slumped, hair frozen stiff with seawater. Rose was beside him, fingers clenched tightly into his coat as if letting go would cause the ocean to reclaim him.
Ahead—
A dark silhouette rose from the mist.
Torchlight flickered.
And then—
The fog broke.
Gasps spread through the crowd.
A colossal figure emerged from the gray haze, copper-green and solemn, holding her torch high above the harbor.
The Statue of Liberty.
Rose froze.
Her breath caught in her throat.
"…Jack," she whispered.
Luke lifted his head slowly.
There it was.
The symbol of every dream Jack Dawson had ever spoken of.The future he was never meant to see.
Immigrants cried openly.Children pointed.Adults fell silent.
Luke felt something deep inside him loosen—like a knot that had been pulled tight across a lifetime finally releasing.
Rose turned to him, eyes shining with tears.
"You said we'd see it," she said. "You said we would."
Luke smiled.
A real one.
"Looks better than the drawings, huh?"
She laughed through her tears and nodded furiously.
The System interface flickered quietly in the corner of Luke's vision.
[World of Remorse — Wish Evaluation]
Primary Wish:✔ Ensure Rose lives a long, full life.
Secondary Wish:✔ Witness the Statue of Liberty together.
Hidden Wish:✔ Die with the memory of being "the luckiest man in the world" rather than a survivor of tragedy.
Luke blinked.
"…Die?"
Cold spread across his chest.
Not pain.
Not fear.
Just understanding.
His body felt heavy.
Too heavy.
Rose noticed instantly.
"Jack?" Her grip tightened. "Jack, what's wrong?"
He shook his head gently.
"Nothing," he said softly. "Just tired."
He guided her hand to the railing, making sure she was steady.
"Rose," he said, voice calm, warm—unchanging. "You're going to live. Really live. Don't let anyone tell you who you're supposed to be."
Her lips trembled.
"Don't say it like that."
Luke chuckled.
"Like what?"
"Like goodbye."
He didn't answer.
The harbor lights blurred.
Luke leaned back slightly, eyes fixed on the statue.
Luckiest man in the world, he thought.
And meant it.
The world began to dissolve.
Sound faded first.Then color.Then weight.
Rose's voice became distant.
"Jack—!"
[World of Remorse — Mission Complete]
Karma Points Awarded:+300 (Perfect Resolution Bonus)
Permanent Skills Acquired:• Biological Resilience (Thermoregulation)• Advanced Engineering / Physics Intuition
Carryover Status:✔ Retained for future missions✔ Accessible in real world
Darkness closed in.
But this time—
Luke did not feel regret.