Reality overload

The four of us walked together across campus, the morning sun warm on our backs, the air buzzing with first‑day energy. Students streamed past, many looking like races from DLO.

Lucas walked a little ahead, hands in his pockets, glancing back at me every few steps like he wanted to say something but didn’t know how.

Which was unnoticed by me, as I was busy looking at all of the different ways people had changed.

Nate was talking about something loud and ridiculous, probably food, or girls, or what it was like having bat wings, I don’t know, but Riley kept rolling her eyes at him.

I walked between them all, listening, smiling, pretending everything was normal.

But inside?

I felt that tug.

That quiet, aching wish.

I wanted to follow the boys.

Not because I didn’t want to be with Riley, I did. She had become someone I could rely on.

But it was just...

I used to be one of them.

I used to walk with them without thinking.

I used to belong in their dorms, their jokes, their rhythm.

Now I was on a different path.

Literally...

My ears twitched, and I looked at Lucas’s back, broad, steady, familiar, and something in my chest tightened.

I didn’t see that Riley had noticed.

Of course she did.

She bumped my shoulder gently.

”You okay?”

I nodded. ”Yeah. Just... weird.”

She didn’t say anything, just walked beside me, close enough to remind me I wasn’t alone.

Nate stretched his arms behind his head. ”Man, people are staring a lot today.”

I shrugged. ”Probably because of all the transformed students.”

Riley snorted. ”Yeah. Sure. That’s definitely why.”

We reached the fork in the walkway.

Left for the boys’ dorms.

Right for Maple Hall.

Lucas stopped, gripping the handle of my suitcase a little tighter before setting it down gently beside me.

”This is you,” he said, voice a little too soft.

”Thanks,” I said, smiling. ”I’ll grab it from here.”

He nodded quickly, almost too quickly, then stepped back like he needed space to breathe.

Nate waved. ”See you two later. Try not to get lost.”

Riley flipped him off cheerfully. ”Try not to set anything on fire.”

I laughed as Lucas hesitated for a moment, eyes flicking to me again, then he turned and followed Nate toward the boys’ dorms.

I watched them go, longer than I should have. I adjusted my cardigan and picked up my suitcase.

Riley smirked. ”Don’t look so tragic. We’ll see those two later.”

”I know,” I sighed. ”Still feels weird, not being part of the guys group anymore.”

”Yeah,” she said softly. ”But you’re not losing them. Just... shifting.”

I nodded, sighed, and together we turned toward Maple Hall.

Riley walked beside me, tail flicking lazily behind her as she scrolled through her phone. I tugged at my cardigan sleeve again while trying to keep the skirt from fluttering too much. I was regretting my emotionally driven choices now. Good job, past self...

Every time the wind hit my legs, I felt like I was going to ascend into the sky like a frosted weather balloon.

Students were everywhere.

And not just normal ones.

A girl with lavender skin and tiny horns walked past us, chatting with a guy who had feathery wings tucked tight against his back.

A tall elf with blonde hair leaned against a tree, flipping through a textbook. A dwarf girl with braids thicker than my arms stomped by with a coffee the size of her head.

I blinked.

There were way more transformed students than I expected.

Riley whistled. ”Dang. DLO really went all out...”

I nodded. ”I didn’t think there’d be this many.”

But even with all the fantasy chaos around us, something felt... off.

People kept looking at me.

I tugged at my skirt again. ”Riley... do I have something on my face?”

She looked at me, then at the crowd, then back at me. ”Yep, it’s called cuteness.”

”Riley be serious,” I hissed.

”I’m always serious.” she said unseriously. 

A group of girls passed us, and one of them gasped softly.

”That’s her,” she whispered. ”The new Campus Belle candidate. She’s so pretty.”

Another girl frowned. ”But her hair... didn’t she have white in it before?”

”Maybe she dyed it.”

”Yeah, probably. It looks cute though.”

I blinked.

Campus Belle candidate?

Crap... I forgot about that mess.

I opened my mouth to ask Riley what that even meant to be one, but she was already smirking like she knew something I didn’t.

A group of guys sitting on a low wall all turned their heads at the same time when we walked by. One of them straightened his posture so fast he almost fell off. Another elbowed his friend, whispering something I couldn’t hear.

I tugged at my cardigan sleeve. ”Why are people staring so much today?”

Riley smirked. ”Gee. I wonder.”

I ignored her tone and kept walking.

I tried to pretend I didn’t notice, but it was getting harder. My cheeks were frosting again, and I kept smoothing my skirt like it would magically make me invisible.

Then one guy peeled away from his group and walked straight toward me.

”Careful, Mr. Overconfident at two o’clock.” Riley’s warning came just in time.

He walked up to me smiling like he had practiced it in the mirror. He probably had. ”Hey. I saw you walking and thought I’d say hi.”

I blinked. ”Hi...”

He stepped a little closer. ”You’re a freshman? You seem new, need help with anything?”

My stomach tightened.

Last night flashed through my mind.

I wasn’t one of the boys anymore.

I couldn’t just shrug things off like before.

I had to be careful now.

So I straightened my cardigan, lifted my chin, and said politely, ”I appreciate it, but I’m heading somewhere with my friend. Have a good morning.”

His smile faltered. ”Oh. Uh. Yeah. Sure. Sorry.”

He backed up quickly, almost tripping over his own feet before hurrying back to the laughing of his friends.

”I told you she would shut you down, dude.”

”Shut up, ass,” his words sounding choked.

Riley nudged me with her elbow.

”You handled that guy back there like a pro. I’m proud of you.”

I exhaled, frost fading. ”I just... remembered yesterday. And I realized I can’t talk to guys like I used to.”

”Exactly,” she said. ”And you didn’t let him crowd you. That’s huge.”

I wasn’t sure if that made me feel better or worse, but at least my frost was fading.

We kept walking, and the crowd thinned as the path curved toward the residential buildings. Maple Hall rose ahead of us, tall and new, sunlight catching on the glass panels above the entrance.

Riley stretched her arms over her head. ”Home sweet temporary home.”

I took a breath, trying to steady myself.

We stepped up to the entrance of Maple Hall.

And I tried to pretend my heart wasn’t pounding.

The lobby of Maple Hall was loud and bright, students dragging suitcases everywhere, parents taking pictures, and a few students trying to figure out how to fit wings or tails through the doors. My stomach twisted tighter with every step.

Riley nudged me. ”Relax. We’re just checking in.”

”Yeah,” I muttered. ”Just checking in.”

We approached the desk, and there she was.

Alexa.

The RA from orientation.

The one who had seen me as Kris. She looked up, ready to greet whoever was next, and then her eyes landed on me.

She froze.

Her eyebrows lifted. Then lifted more. Then somehow lifted even more.

”Oh,” she said softly. ”You again.” she said in recognition. Her eyes drifting to mine and Riley’s ears.

I swallowed. ”Hi.”

Riley stood a little closer to me, tail flicking like she was ready to smack someone with it.

Alexa cleared her throat. ”IDs, please.”

My hands shook a little as I reached into my cardigan pocket and handed it over. I didn’t even look at it. I was too busy trying not to frost the counter. Riley handed hers as well.

Alexa took the cards.

She blinked.

Then blinked again.

Then stared at the screen in front of her.

”Alright, Zora, Riley,” she said calmly. ”You’re already checked in. Do you two already have your keys?”

My brain stopped.

Riley’s tail froze mid‑flick.

I stared at Alexa. ”What did you call me?”

”Zora,” she repeated, like it was the most normal thing in the world. ”Everything matches. Name, photo, gender marker, student ID number. You’re all set.”

Riley and I exchanged a look, but neither of us said a word.

Not here.

Not in front of everyone.

Alexa handed me a welcome envelope. ”Welcome to Maple Hall here’s your schedule.”

I nodded stiffly, taking it from her. ”Thank you.”

Riley grabbed my suitcase and tugged me toward the elevators. ”Come on, Elsa.”

I groaned. ”Please stop calling me that.”

Alexa blinked. ”Elsa?”

Riley turned and grinned. ”Long story.”

We hurried away before Alexa could ask anything else.

The moment the door shut behind us, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding. The room looked exactly like it had the other day. Three beds. Two desks. Three dressers, and a window overlooking the quad.

(Sorry but three beds cannon now lol)

But none of that mattered.

I pulled my ID out of my pocket.

And froze.

The name on it wasn’t Kris.

It wasn’t even close.

It said Zora.

Clear as day.

Printed. Official. Permanent.

And the gender marker...

Female.

My hands trembled.

”Riley,” I whispered. ”Look.”

She leaned over my shoulder, eyes widening. ”Holy crapples!”

I stared at the card, heart pounding. ”This... this wasn’t like this yesterday.”

”Nope.”

”I didn’t change it.”

”Nope.”

”I didn’t even apply for anything yet.”

”Nope.”

I swallowed hard. ”Then how...”

Riley smirked, crossing her arms. ”Your goddess mom did it.”

I blinked. ”You think Hestia?” I realized I had asked the most obvious question in existence.

”Yeah. Who else would rewrite your entire legal existence overnight, you goof?”

I stared at the ID again, the reality sinking in like cold water.

My name.

My gender.

My identity.

All updated.

All real.

All official.

Riley nudged me gently. ”Guess she wanted to make sure her girl started college right.”

I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or frost the entire room.

Maybe all three. ”Well, at least the devs will have a harder time now.” I said with a sigh.

Riley was still teasing me about my ”goddess mom paperwork update” when the door handle clicked.

I froze.

Riley froze.

The door swung open, and a girl stepped inside, dragging a suitcase almost as big as she was.

She was tiny.

Even shorter than me.

Half her hair was bubblegum pink, the top half brown, tied into a big ponytail that bounced when she moved. Her eyes were wide and bright, and she looked like she was trying very hard to appear confident while also vibrating with nerves.

(I know I said two beds before but three is cannon now) ʅ（◞‿◟）ʃ

She blinked at us. ”Um... hi. I’m Reia. I think I’m your roommate.”

Riley and I both stared.

Then Riley whispered, ”No way...”

My brain stalled. ”Wait. Reia... from DLO?”

Reia blinked again, confused. ”DLO? How did you...?”

Then she really looked at me.

Her eyes widened.

Her mouth fell open.

She pointed at me like she had just seen a ghost.

”Kris?” she squeaked.

I winced. ”Zora IRL but... yeah. Hi.”

She didn’t say anything.

She didn’t breathe.

Then she launched herself at me.

I made a very undignified noise as she collided with my chest, arms wrapping around me like she was trying to fuse us together. My frost flared instantly, shimmering across my cheeks and the tips of my ears.

”Oh my god,” she said into my cardigan. ”I can’t believe it’s you. I can’t believe you’re real. I can’t believe my friends are my roommates. I’ve never had friends before. I don’t know what to do. Am I doing this right? Is this too much? I don’t know how hugging works.”

I stood there, arms half raised, brain buffering.

Riley burst out laughing. ”Oh my god, she’s adorable.”

Reia pulled back just enough to look up at me, still clinging. ”You’re shorter than I imagined.”

I groaned. ”Everyone keeps saying that.”

Riley grinned. ”Because it’s true.”

Reia turned to her next target. ”Riley? Like... Riley Riley?”

Riley spread her arms. ”In the flesh.”

Reia squeaked again and hugged her too, though Riley hugged back without freezing like a malfunctioning snow machine.

I tugged at my cardigan sleeve, trying to hide how pink my face was under the glacier that had formed. ”So... you’re really here.”

Reia nodded so fast her ponytail bounced. ”I can’t believe it. I thought I’d be alone. I thought I’d get some random stranger. But it’s you two. My actual friends. In real life.”

She paused, then added quietly, ”I’ve never had that before.”

Something warm settled in my chest.

Riley slung an arm around her. ”Well, you do now.”

Reia beamed, cheeks pinker than her hair.

I smiled too, even though my face was still frosting. ”Welcome to Maple Hall, Reia.”

She nodded, eyes shining. ”Best first day ever.”

Reia was still clinging to me like a very enthusiastic koala when someone cleared their throat in the doorway.

We all turned.

Alexa stood there with her clipboard tucked against her chest, looking like she had sprinted down the hall but was trying very hard to pretend she hadn’t.

”Oh good,” she said, smoothing her shirt. ”You all made it to your room.”

Reia immediately stepped behind me like a startled kitten, peeking out from my shoulder. Riley snorted quietly.

Alexa glanced between the three of us, her eyes lingering on me for a moment longer than I liked. I tried not to frost the carpet.

”I just wanted to remind you,” she said, tapping her clipboard, ”that the dorm mother will be doing her welcome rounds after morning classes. She likes to meet all the junior girls personally.”

Riley raised an eyebrow. ”Is she strict?”

Alexa hesitated. ”She is... something.”

My stomach twisted. ”What does that mean?”

Alexa smiled in a way that did not answer the question at all. ”Just be in your room sometime after lunch. She will stop by.”

Reia nodded quickly. ”Yes, ma’am.”

Alexa blinked at her. ”You don’t have to call me ma’am.”

Reia nodded again. ”Yes, ma’am.”

Riley snorted so hard she had to turn away.

”Oh, I forgot to mention something important during check‑in.”

My stomach tightened. ”Important?”

Alexa glanced at me, then at Riley, then at Reia. ”This applies to all residents who have undergone any physical transformation.”

Riley’s tail flicked. ”Oh boy.”

Alexa continued, ”The university medical center is conducting mandatory evaluations now to for transformed students. It is not to invasive, but its still a physical so its requires. You will need to check in sometime today or tomorrow.”

Reia raised her hand like she was in class. ”Is it dangerous?”

Alexa shook her head. ”No. It is mostly documentation and making sure everyone is stable. Some students have had unexpected side effects.”

I swallowed. ”Like what?”

Alexa hesitated. ”Changes in height. Strength fluctuations. She looked at the ice on my face. Body Temperature fluctuations. Things like that.”

Riley snorted. ”So basically, Zora.”

I glared at her. ”I do not surge.”

Riley pointed at my frosted cheeks. ”You are literally surging right now.”

I covered my face with my hands. ”I hate everything.”

Alexa cleared her throat gently. ”You can go anytime before the end of the week, but sooner is better. The lines get long.”

Reia nodded quickly. ”We will go after classes.”

Alexa smiled. ”Good. And remember, the dorm mother will be doing her rounds later. Be here after lunch.”

She stepped out, closing the door behind her, but not before I saw a large fluffy white tail swaying.

The room was quiet for a moment. 

Then Riley flopped back onto her bed. ”Well. That sounds fun.”

Reia sat beside me, swinging her legs. ”Are you nervous?”

I stared at my ID again, the name Zora shining back at me like it had always been there. ”A little.”

Riley smirked. ”Your goddess mom probably already filled out half the paperwork for you.”

I groaned. ”Please stop calling her that.”

Reia giggled. ”But she is.”

I buried my face in my hands again. ”I am never going to survive college.”

Riley patted my back. ”Sure you will. You have me.”

Reia nodded enthusiastically. ”And me.”

I peeked between my fingers.