Reality overload

Dinner smelled amazing, roasted vegetables, warm bread, something buttery and comforting, but none of us were relaxed. Kathrine had practically herded us into the dining hall, insisting we needed food before anything else.

Halden and Alexa sat across from us, ears perked, eyes wide, trying to absorb everything we'd just dumped on them.

Halden finally exhaled. "So... let me get this straight. You two are daughters to a literal goddess."

Charlie nodded. "Yep."

Alexa blinked. "And the worlds are merging."

Reia folded her hands. "Yes."

Riley stabbed a piece of bread. "And Cross is hunting Zora."

I froze mid‑bite.

Charlie put a hand on my back. "He's not here. You're okay."

Alexa's tail puffed. "Why would he be hunting her?"

Nate leaned forward. "Because she's important. Because she's strong. Because he wants to control the world like a bad novel villain."

Halden frowned. "The news showed her face."

My stomach twisted. "Yeah... that part too."

Lucas spoke quietly. "Hell know where to look now."

My face frosted at hearing Lucas. I looked at him, and there it was on my thoughts. Him carrying me.... Nope...definitely nope.

I shoved that thought away before it could finish forming.

Charlie nudged me. "Zora...you okay?"

"No," I said immediately.

Riley snorted. "She's still thinking about the princess carry."

"I AM NOT," I lied.

Nate grinned. "Bro, she totally is."

"I USED TO BE A GUY," I hissed. "I don't have the emotional software for this."

Charlie laughed so hard she nearly fell off the bench. "You're malfunctioning."

"I AM MALFUNCTIONING," I agreed.

Lucas looked over, confused. "What's malfunctioning?"

I made a noise that wasn't human.

Reia whispered, "She's flustered."

Lucas blinked. "Why?"

I nearly died.

"Anyway..." I said as I set my fork down. Putting the talk back on track. With a look from Charlie. "He's going to find us."

Riley nodded. "It's only a matter of time."

Charlie squeezed my shoulder. "Which means we need to get stronger."

Nate gestured with his spoon. "Like... a LOT stronger."

Reia added softly, "We barely understand our abilities."

Halden looked between us. "What abilities do you guys have?"

Charlie answered first. "I'm a healer."

Nate raised his hand. "Wizard."

Riley smirked. "Rogue."

Reia smiled creepyshy. "Necromancer."

Lucas rested his arms on the table. "Tank."

Everyone looked at me.

I swallowed. "Magic swordsman... and ice magic."

Alexa's eyes widened. "That's... a lot."

Riley snorted. "Yeah, she's basically a walking divine hazard."

I kicked her under the table.

Charlie laughed. "She's learning."

Nate leaned forward. "But we need training. Real training. Not game logic."

Reia nodded. "Magic feels different here. It's instinct, not like in the game."

Riley added, "And stealth is weird when you can actually feel your body wanting to vanish."

Lucas looked at me. "And your sword instincts are strong, but you've never used one IRL."

I stiffened. "I know."

Charlie nudged me gently. "We'll figure it out."

Alexa looked worried. "Is Cross really that dangerous?"

Riley's voice dropped. "According to Hestia he's worse."

Nate nodded. "He's obsessed. He wants power. He wants control. And Zora is the biggest piece on the board."

I swallowed hard. "So we train."

Charlie nodded. "We get stronger."

Reia added, "We learn how to use what we've been given."

Lucas's voice was steady. "We prepare..."

Halden looked at me, serious for once. "And we'll help protect you."

Alexa nodded fiercely. "All of us."

I looked around the table, at my friends, at the people who had somehow become my family, and felt something settle in my chest.

Fear.

But also resolve.

"We'll be ready," I said quietly.

Charlie smiled. "We will."

Riley cracked her knuckles. "Let him come."

Nate grinned nervously. "Preferably not soon."

Reia laughed softly. "Preferably."

Lucas nodded once. "We'll face him together."

Dinner had barely ended when the weight of tomorrow settled on my shoulders again. Everyone was laughing, talking, trying to pretend the coronation wasn't looming over us like a mountain, but the moment I stepped out of the dining hall, the quiet hit me hard. The halls felt too big, too empty, too full of thoughts I didn't want to sit with.

I wasn't ready.

None of us were.

I needed help.

Real help.

And there was only one person I trusted to get it.

I headed down the corridor, the lanterns casting long gold shadows across the stone floor. The guards bowed as I passed, which still felt strange, but I didn't stop. I knew exactly where Geld would be...he always stayed late after meals, checking patrol rotations, reviewing reports, making sure everything was in place for the next day.

I found him in the outer hall, speaking quietly with two sentries. He noticed me instantly, straightening with that calm, disciplined posture he always had.

"Queen Zora," he said, bowing his head. "Is something wrong?"

I shook my head. "Not queen yet.... Just...Zora please."

He nodded his ascent and dismissed the guards with a gesture, then stepped closer. "What do you need?"

I hesitated, suddenly aware of how heavy the words felt.

"I need training," I said. "All of us do. Me, Charlie, Riley, Lucas, Nate, Reia, Halden... everyone. We're not strong enough. We don't know how to fight. We don't know how to use magic safely. We don't know anything."

Geld listened without interrupting, his expression steady, focused.

I swallowed. "I need someone who can train us. Someone good. Someone patient. Someone who won't treat us like we're already supposed to know what we're doing."

Geld's eyes softened just slightly. "Including you?"

I nodded. "Especially me."

He didn't laugh. He didn't question it. He didn't make me feel foolish for asking.

He simply said, "I know exactly who to bring."

My breath caught. "You do?"

"Yes." He glanced toward the courtyard doors. "I will arrange it tonight. You will meet her in the morning."

"Her?"

Geld gave a small, knowing smile. "You will understand when you see her."

I exhaled, relief washing through me so fast it made my knees feel weak. "Thank you."

"It is my honor," he said quietly. "You carry a great burden. You should not carry it alone."

I didn't know what to say to that, so I just nodded.

Geld bowed again, deeper this time. "Rest,

tomorrow will be long."

I turned to leave, feeling lighter than I had all day.

As I returned to the meal hall. Kathrine clapped her hands. "Alright. Coronation is tomorrow."

I groaned. "I don't want it to be tomorrow."

Charlie patted my back. "You don't get a choice."

"I DIDN'T SIGN ANYTHING," I muttered.

Lucas said softly, "It's happening."

I didn't look at him.

Kathrine was insisting we needed sleep before anything else.

We drifted down the hallway in a loose cluster, still talking quietly.

Riley stretched her arms overhead. "Okay, I'm claiming a room with Reia. She kicks less than Nate."

Reia blinked. "I don't kick at all."

"Exactly," Riley said, already dragging her toward a door.

Nate pointed at Lucas. "Guess that leaves us."

Lucas shrugged. "Fine by me."

They disappeared into the next room, Nate already complaining about how Lucas would "snore like a tank."

Alexa and Halden paused at the end of the hall, ears drooping. "We're staying too," Alexa said. "The school was talking about shutting down on the first day. There was talks about evacuation, but it hasn't been said outright yet.

Halden nodded. "We're safer here."

Charlie smiled at them. "You can take the room across from ours."

Alexa's tail flicked. "Thank you."

They slipped inside, shutting the door softly behind them.

Which left...

Charlie and me.

Alone.

In the last room at the end of the hall.

Charlie nudged me. "Come on, sleepyhead."

"I'm not sleepy," I said.

"You're always sleepy."

"I'm NOT."

She opened the door anyway.

The room was warm, lit by a single lantern. Two beds pushed together...probably because Kathrine knew we'd end up sharing anyway.

Charlie flopped onto the left side immediately. "Bed."

I sat on the right side, pulling my knees up. "I can't sleep yet."

Charlie rolled onto her stomach. "You're thinking about Lucas.

"I'm not."

Charlie didn't say anything.

She just waited.

I flopped backward onto the pillow. 

Charlie slid closer, resting her chin on her folded arms. "Zora... you're allowed to feel things."

"I don't WANT to feel things."

"I know."

And every time the memory replayed, my chest did that stupid thing again.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Stop it. Stop it. He's your friend. He's literally just Lucas. Becoming a girl must've messed with your brain. Hormones. Emotions. Whatever. It's not a big deal. Quit being weird.

I rolled over.

Rolled back.

Rolled again.

I groaned quietly. "I can't sleep."

Charlie cracked one eye open, squinting at me in the dark. "Princess carry?"

I froze. "No."

She didn't even blink. "Zora."

"It's not— I'm not— it's just my brain being stupid."

Charlie yawned. "Your brain is always stupid at night."

I shoved her lightly. "I'm serious."

She rolled onto her side, facing me fully now, hair messy, blanket half‑off her shoulder. "You're overthinking."

"I'm not."

"You are."she rolled her eys at me.

I stared at the ceiling again. "It's just... I don't know. I used to be a guy. Guys don't get carried like that. Not by other guys. Not in front of everyone."

Charlie snorted. "Plenty of guys get carried."

"Not like THAT."

She smirked. "You're flustered."

"I'm NOT flustered."

"You're cold‑flushing."

"I AM NOT COLD‑FLUSHING."

Charlie reached over and poked my cheek. "You're cold."

I pushed her hand away. "I'm just... thinking."

"About Lucas."

"No."

"Zora."

I groaned into the pillow. "It's not him. It's hormones. Or emotions. Or whatever girl nonsense is happening. I'm fine."

Charlie smiled softly. "You're doing better than you think."

"I'm doing terrible."

"You're doing human."

I groaned again. "Were not human anymore Charlie."

"I know."she said," it's weird to think about...not being human now. 

The room settled into quiet...soft breathing, distant footsteps from guards outside, the faint hum of magic in the walls.

Charlie's voice was gentle. "Try to sleep."

"I'll try."I muttered.

I closed my eyes.

Opened them.

Closed them again.

My brain kept replaying the stupid princess carry...Lucas lifting me like I weighed nothing, steady and calm, not even hesitating.

I squeezed my eyes shut harder.

Stop it. Stop it. He's your friend. He's literally just Lucas. Quit being weird.

Charlie whispered, "Still awake?"

I sighed. "Yes."

She nudged my shoulder. "Come here."

I scooted closer automatically...we always slept like this when I was younger, her warmth grounding me, her presence familiar.

Slowly... finally... my thoughts quieted.

And sleep crept in.

The dream had wrapped around me slowly, like warm water rising to my shoulders. Everything shimmered blue, soft and glowing, the kind of light that made edges blur and thoughts loosen. I felt weightless, suspended, as if the world had decided to stop pressing down on me for once.

Then Lucas drifted into view.

Not walked. Drifted...like the water carried him forward with gentle currents. His hair floated around his face, catching the glow. His eyes...those warm, steady eyes...held mine with a softness that made my heart do an embarrassing flip.

I tried to breathe normally. It didn't work.

He stopped in front of me, close enough that I could see the tiny flecks of gold in his irises. Close enough that the warmth of him reached me even through the cool dream air.

"Zora," he said, voice low and echoing like it traveled through water before reaching me.

My chest tightened. I hated how it tightened.

"You're glowing," I muttered, trying to sound annoyed. It came out softer than I wanted.

He smiled...gentle, warm, familiar. The water rippled around us like fish darted past, scattering light in little bursts.

"You pulled me in," he said.

"I didn't," I argued automatically, but my voice wavered. My heart did another flip. I wished it wouldn't.

He reached out, fingertips brushing my wrist. The touch sent a warm pulse through me, like the water itself reacted. My breath caught. I hoped he didn't notice.

His thumb traced a slow line along my skin, and the warmth spread up my arm, across my chest, settling somewhere it had no business settling. I felt myself leaning in without meaning to, drawn to him like the tide.

"Zora," he murmured again, softer this time, like he was afraid the dream might break if he spoke too loudly.

I swallowed hard. "You're being weird."

"Only because you're dreaming."

He stepped closer. His forehead nearly touched mine. The water brightened, swirling around us in slow spirals, glowing like it was reacting to something between us.

My heart hammered. My breath shook. I felt dizzy, but not in a bad way. In a way that made me want to stay right there, suspended in that warm blue world with him.

"Tell me what you want," he whispered.

The words hit me like a wave. My mouth opened...something reckless, something honest rising up... I started to lean in. What was I doing what was I thinking?!

And then everything shifted just before we met.

The glow dimmed. The warmth drained. Lucas's expression flickered.

Then his face changed.

Into mine.

But not mine.

My own face stared back at me...too still, too sharp, too wrong. The eyes didn't blink. The smile didn't reach them. The posture was perfect in a way I never was.

My stomach dropped.

"Lucas?" I whispered, but the thing wearing my face tilted its head, studying me with eerie curiosity.

Its voice came out layered...Lucas's tone beneath mine, echoing together. "Zora."

I stumbled back. The water clung to my legs like hands. "Stop...stop that..."

It stepped forward, moving like me but not like me, too smooth, too fluid, too knowing.

"You can't run from yourself," it said...my voice, Lucas's voice, both and neither.

The water surged upward. Turning into ice as black as coal.

Its reached for me.

Cold.

Wrong.

Mine.

Not mine.

The world snapped.

I woke with a gasp, heart pounding, breath shaking, the memory of that wrong version of me burned behind my eyes.

I didn't know what it meant.

I didn't want to know.

I felt the bed shift.

"Zora? You ok." Charlie asked he voice groggy from sleep.

"Y...yeah I'm fine." I said as I lay back down. "Go back to sleep." I whispered. 

I lay there for a long while before sleep claimed me again. This time my sleep was unbothered. 

Thankfully.

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