Reality overload

The moment I pulled back from Lucas, and we started walking, I heard it.

A shuffle.

A gasp.

A tiny, strangled squeak.

I turned...

Ahead of us, around the bend, Charlie saw us coming.

Her eyes went huge.

”Oh no...oh NO...” she whispered, spinning around to the group behind her. ”SCATTER. SCATTER. SCATTER. THEY’RE COMING. MOVE. NOW.”

 But they were so bunched together none of them were able to move in time before we turned the corner.

And I saw them.

Charlie, the elder, All of them standing there like they’d been caught stealing royal treasure.

She was tangled behind a railing with the rest of them...Nate, Riley, Reia, Alexa, Halden, even the elder, stacked in a crooked line like they were trying to form a human periscope.

They’d seen everything.

”Oh...Lady Zora! Hi! You’re... early.” Colette said happy to seem me.

Lucas made a tiny noise beside me.

My face went full blizzard.

”What,” I said slowly, ”are you all doing.”

My stomach dropped straight through the floor.

My cheeks went cold and hot at the same time.

My magic twitched.

My breath caught.

”You...you were WATCHING?!” I said as a vein appeared on my temple.

Nate elbowed her. ”We’re caught.”

Riley elbowed him back. ”Shut up.”

I stared at them.

They stared at me.

Charlie’s eyes went huge.

Charlie mouthed something that looked suspiciously like ”sorry, not sorry” but she didn’t dare say it out loud.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

I felt it…the rush of heat, the sting of humiliation, the urge to run before my face exploded.

I snapped upright, fists tight at my sides.

”I....I wasn’t doing anything weird!” I blurted, even though that was absolutely not the point.

No one answered.

No one moved.

Lucas was still behind me, stunned, silent, probably forgetting how breathing worked.

I couldn’t stay there.

I couldn’t let them look at me like that, like I was some storybook romance scene they’d stumbled into.

”S-SO WHAT, I kissed the boy I like! D-Deal with it!”

My face was burning and freezing at the same time, my heart was doing acrobatics, and my brain was screaming at me in twelve languages.

So I turned sharply, chin high, shoulders stiff, and marched away, and snapped:

”Com-on Colette seems like your the only one here  I can trust not to be a spy.

”Coming Lady Zora!!” She says scampering after me.

My boots hit the stone steps harder than I meant them to.

My breath came out in little frosty puffs.

My hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

”What about me.. ”Lucas called.

I didn’t answer him, I was to far gone to be able to.

Behind me, I heard nothing else.

No footsteps.

No voices.

Just the stunned silence of people who absolutely were enjoying the gossip they had acquired.

I didn’t look back.

The chateau’s secret opening came into view, pale stone glowing in the magic torch light. Colette floated beside me, humming softly, hands folded neatly like she was escorting a queen. I kept walking, needing distance from the chaos behind us.

I didn’t want to see Lucas’s face again yet.

Or Charlie’s.

Or Nate’s terrible attempt at pretending he hadn’t been about to tease me way too much.

Just... quiet.

”I can’t believe I missed him like that what was I thinking!!” 

Colette drifted a little closer. ”Lady Zora, your breathing is steady again.”

”Good,” I murmured. ”I’d like something to be steady. My mind is a mess.”

We reached the base of the steps when I heard footsteps behind us.

Soft.

Light.

Almost hesitant.

I turned.

Reia stood a few paces back, hands clasped in front of her, shoulders slightly hunched like she wasn’t sure she was allowed to approach. Her smile was small, shy, and just a little too still…the kind that made you wonder what she was thinking behind it.

”Z‑Zora?” she said quietly. ”Um... may I... walk with you?”

Colette brightened. ”Miss Reia! Hello!”

Reia flinched at the volume, then gave Colette a tiny nod. ”Hello.”

She stepped closer, but not too close, just enough that I could see the way her fingers twisted together nervously.

”Zora,” she said, voice soft and careful, ”I... wanted to ask you something. Before we go inside.”

I slowed. ”Okay.”

She swallowed, eyes flicking up to mine, then down again.

”We... talked about it before,” she whispered. ”About my maids.”

I nodded. ”Right.”

Her fingers tightened.

”I... um... wanted to ask if I could call them. Tonight.”

I blinked. ”Tonight?”

She nodded quickly, then looked away like she regretted being bold.

”So they’ll be here by morning,” she murmured. ”If... if that’s okay.”

Colette tilted her head. ”Will they help Lady Zora?”

Reia’s smile twitched...small, and sweet, but with that eerie cuteness underneath.

”Yes, but I wanted to tell you,” she said softly. ”They’re... not normal maids.”

I frowned. ”Not normal how?”

Reia’s shoulders curled inward, like she was trying to make herself smaller.

”They’re trained,” she whispered. ”In... um... certain things. Useful things. Things that help keep... situations from getting out of control.”

Her eyes flicked toward the path behind us...where Lucas and the others could still be heard talking their voices echoing up the corridor.

She didn’t say anything about them.

She didn’t have to.

Colette floated closer, curious. ”Will they help me too?”

Reia nodded, her smile softening. ”Yes. They’ll adore you.”

Colette glowed happily.

I swallowed. ”Reia... you already know I trust you.”

Her breath caught, just a tiny sound. Like she wasn’t used to hearing that.

I stepped closer.

”Yes,” I said. ”I want you to have your support. Call them.”

Reia froze.

Her eyes widened a fraction, her fingers loosening, her posture straightening in a way that looked almost fragile.

”You... want me to?” she whispered.

I nodded. ”I do.”

She blinked rapidly, like she wasn’t sure how to process it.

Colette floated closer, glowing softly. ”Miss Reia, you look very happy.”

Reia’s smile twitched...tiny, shy, almost trembling.

”I... I’ll send the message,” she said. ”Right away.”

She hesitated, then added in her soft, eerie‑sweet voice.

”They’ll take care of things. For you.”

Reia took a breath... then reached into her pocket, as we came back I to the chateau sitting room.

And pulled out her phone.

A sleek, rose‑gold smartphone with a glittery case and a dangling star charm.

Reia swallowed and finally tapped the screen.

The phone lit up.

Bright.

Warm.

Colorful.

And that’s when it happened.

Two small voices shrieked behind us.

”WHAAAAA—!!”

”EEEEEEP...!!!”

I screamed like a girl, I mean I was a girl now, but still.

I spun around.

Elias and Mira stood in the hallway...freshly cleaned, no longer dust‑goblins, wearing normal clothes now. Elias in a simple linen tunic and pants, Mira in a brown wool play‑dress that swished around her knees.

They had clearly forced Geld to bring them back early.

But none of that mattered.

Because they were staring at Reia’s glowing phone like it was a divine artifact.

Mira pointed at it with both hands. ”WHAT IS THAT? 

Elias chimed in. ”I saw sir Nate with one a while back but he had a creepy looking face so I left.”

”Hey... I did t have a creepy face.”  He retorted.

Riley teased. ” You always have a creepy face, even more so with all those wrinkles appearing.

Nate looked mortified and without another word took off to find the closest mirror.

Reia’s lock screen lit up...soft pastel colors, tiny stars, and a picture of her maids smiling beside her.

Mira scrambled over, eyes huge. ”It’s glowing!”

Elias grabbed my arm. ”Zora! Zora! It has PEOPLE inside it!”

Mira gasped. ”It’s a tiny magic window!”

The elder who had came out of the secret corridor followed by everyone, stepped forward slowly, like he was approaching a sacred relic.

”What... is that object?” he asked, voice low and reverent.

I saw Lucas his eyes met mine and I looked away quickly. I heard him chuckle.

Reia held it gently, almost shyly. ”It’s my phone.”

The elder blinked. ”Your... phone?”

She tapped the screen. The icons shifted. The brightness changed. The device responded instantly.

Elias screamed again. ”IT MOVES WHEN SHE TOUCHES IT!”

Mira clapped her hands. ”It’s alive!”

The elder leaned closer, eyes wide. ”This device... shows images? Light? Without runes? Without crystals? Without enchantment?”

Reia nodded. ”It’s normal here.”

The elder whispered, ”This is... beyond anything I’ve ever seen.”

Reia scrolled through her contacts, names written with neat little hearts and stars.

Elias leaned so close he nearly fell off the table. ”It has WORDS inside it!”

Mira grabbed my sleeve. ”Big sis Zora, it’s magic!”

I sighed. ”It’s not magic. It’s technology.”

”Like me!” Colette said excitedly.

”Kind of Colette, just without magic.” I said thumbing my chin.

Colette tilted her head in confusion.

The elder whispered, ”Technology... is this what your world uses?”

Reia nodded. ”Yes, and I’m calling my maids.”

She pressed the call button.

The ringing tone chimed softly from the speaker. A bright, melodic sound that echoed through the hall.

Everyone froze.

Even the castle maids stopped moving.

Elias whispered, ”It sings.”

Mira whispered, ”It sings to her.”

The elder whispered, ”It communicates across distance... 

Reia held the phone to her ear, cheeks pink, voice trembling with excitement.

”Hi! Yes, it’s me. I’m okay. I’m safe, no really I am ok. I’m...actually lady‑in‑waiting to a queen now. Yes a real queen... I know! I know! Listen...can you come here? I miss you.”

She paused, listening.

Her eyes softened.

”Yes,” she whispered. ”I’ll send directions. It’s not that far away, I can’t wait to see you all! Oh and bring everything.”

Another pause.

”Yes, I want a full set up here, we’re completely in the dark about what’s been happening.”

Pause...

Yes ring them as well, and I want a perimeter set up, so bring  Claudet and her squadron. I want everyone fully equipped with spares, oh and the tech maids.”

Speaking on the other end.

”No tomorrow morning is fine, I’ll let them know to expect everyone.”

”Ok bye bye.. See you guys tomorrow!!!”

She hung up.

Reia lowered her phone, cheeks pink and glowing, clutching it like it was precious.

Elias stared at the device. ”It talks to people far away...”

Mira nodded. ”It’s magic.”

The elder shook his head slowly. ”No... this is something else entirely.”

Reia turned to me, glowing. ”They’re coming, I’m so exited!”

I smiled. ”Good.”

Charlie pointed at the phone dramatically. ”Reia’s maids are gonna walk in here and think we’re insane.”

I shrugged. ”They’ll fit right in.”

They were still staring at it like it was a dragon egg.

Elias whispered, ”It sings... and then it stops singing... and then it talks...”

Mira nodded, eyes huge. ”It’s a tiny magic window that knows her friends.”

Kathrine was watching the whole thing with disciplined interest.

The elder folded his hands behind his back, leaning in with scholarly reverence. ”This device... it is Remarkable.”

Reia smiled shyly. ”It’s just a phone.”

Elias gasped. ”It that what it’s called, a phone!”

I rubbed my forehead. ”Okay, okay, before Elias tries to adopt it...Reia, your maids are coming, right?”

She nodded. ”Yes. They’re already packing...”

I blinked. ”Packing? Like... right now?”

”Yes.”

Charlie choked on her bread. ”They’re coming TONIGHT?!”

Reia shook her head. ”No, no. Tomorrow morning. They need time to gather all personnel and everything.”

I exhaled, and turned to Reia.. ”Okay. Good. We can prepare. How many people are coming?”

Around one-hundred I think, maybe more.”

”EEH!?” 

She nodded. ”Yes, they are my personal maids, equipment, gear, a security outfit. And the tech outfit as well. They’ve been around me since I was young. Honestly this is the longest I’ve been away from them. It was good I called them when I did. They were going to start searching today.

I blinked. ”Well that’s good you let them know where you were. what are they dressed like? I should warn Geld so he doesn’t panic.”

Reia thought for a moment. ”They usually wear matching outfits. Very neat. Very tidy. Soft colors. Lots of bows. Very... coordinated. They will be arriving in suv’s...pink ones.”

Charlie snorted. ”So they dress fancy, and drive fancy.”

Reia nodded. ”Very.”

I groaned. ”Geld is going to think they’re royalty.”

Reia giggled. ”They do look like it sometimes.”

I rubbed my face. ”Okay. A hundred fancy people arriving tomorrow. We’ll be ready. I hope...”

Reia smiled softly. ”Thank you, Zora.”

I smiled back. ”Of course, at least it will be nice to have some tech, at our fingertips again.”

Behind us, the elder was still staring at the phone.

”It glows,” he whispered. ”It glows when she touches it...”

Charlie leaned over to me. ”Zora, he’s gonna write a whole tome on Reia’s phone.”

I sighed. ”Let him. I’m too tired to stop him, we need to find a place for Reia’s people to set up.”

Reia tucked her phone away, cheeks still warm, eyes bright with excitement.

I turned toward Elias, who was still staring at the phone like it might sprout wings.

”Elias,” I said.

He snapped to attention. ”Yes, Your Majesty!”

”Can you go tell Geld that a group of people will be arriving in pink metal mounts at the gate tomorrow, and there will be around one hundred of them. They are friends, and tell him to send them up to the chateau.”

He puffed up proudly. ”I can do that!”

I nodded. ”Good. We don’t want him thinking they’re invaders or... metal‑mounted evildoers again.”

Elias saluted so hard he nearly fell over, then sprinted out of the hall like he’d been launched from a catapult.

Mira ran after him yelling, ”Wait for me! I wanna tell Geld too!”

I sighed. ”They’re way too exited.”

Halden smirked. ”Geld will survive.”

Her maids were coming.

Elias and Mira were already hurtling towards the stables.

Alexa burst into the room so fast the door slammed against the wall. Her white little ears twitching violently.

”GUYS—HEY—HEY—LISTEN—”

Charlie jolted upright. ”Alexa?! What now?!”

Her ears went flat, tail puffed, breathing hard. She held her phone out like it was burning her hands.

”It’s bad,” she said. ”It’s way bad.”

Halden stood immediately. ”What happened?”

Alexa turned her phone around.

A massive red banner filled the screen.

BREAKING NEWS — GLOBAL RESPONSE ESCALATES

CREATURE SIGHTINGS CONFIRMED

QUEEN ZORA IDENTIFIED AS POSSIBLE DEFENSE.

WORLD LEADERS REQUEST SUMMIT

My stomach dropped.

Charlie whispered, ”Oh no. Oh no no no.”

Alexa scrolled, hands shaking. ”They’re talking about you, Zora.”

I froze. ”Me?”

She tapped a video.

A news clip played, shaky, zoomed-in footage from earlier today.

The Hilguard gate.

The courtyard.

The moment it opened.

And then—

All of us stepping out into the sunlight. Surrounded by our security, reporters shouting, officials waiting, cameras everywhere.

Charlie slapped her hands over her face. ”NO. THEY GOT MY BAD SIDE.”

Alexa didn’t laugh. She was too pale.

The clip continued...the moment I raised my hand to quiet the crowd, the moment the officials approached, the moment I told them about Cross.

The anchor’s voice narrated over the footage:

”Queen Zora of Solaire, accompanied by her attendants, emerged from the ”inter‑realm” gate earlier today to meet with government officials. In a public briefing, she confirmed that the merging of worlds is the result of interference by an individual known as Cross.”

Halden’s ears flattened. ”They’re broadcasting that?”

Alexa nodded. ”Every channel. Every platform.”

The anchor continued:

”Queen Zora stated that the merging can be controlled, but only if Cross is stopped. Officials are now requesting an international summit to discuss coordinated response efforts.”

Charlie grabbed my arm. ”Zora. Zora. ZORA. You’re trending.”

I laughed. Will it only took me becoming a queen to do so.”

Alexa scrolled again.

Another alert popped up.

WORLD LEADERS REQUEST MEETING WITH QUEEN ZORA

SUMMIT LOCATION UNDER DISCUSSION

SECURITY LEVEL: MAXIMUM

Riley leaned forward. ”They want to meet you. Like... all of them.”

Alexa nodded. ”Prime ministers. Presidents. Defense councils. Everyone.”

Charlie flopped backward. ”I’m gonna pass out.”

Alexa tapped another video.

This one was worse.

Footage of a Gravemaw Stalker lumbering across a highway at night, its silhouette unmistakable.

The anchor spoke over it:

”Multiple Elyndor-origin creatures have been confirmed in rural and suburban areas. Experts believe the wall between our realms is thinning rapidly.”

Another clip, a Sky‑Split Wyvern circling over a neighborhood, wings slicing through the air.

Another....a Hollow‑Horn Creeper crawling across a fence.

The anchor continued:

”Officials believe Queen Zora’s information may be critical to containing the merging event.”

Charlie whispered, ”Send help.”

Halden whispered, ”Help might not be enough.”

Alexa looked at me, eyes wide and scared.

”They’re calling you the key to stopping this.”

I swallowed hard.

My name was still on Alexa’s phone screen when the panic hit me like a punch to the ribs.

QUEEN ZORA

WORLD LEADERS REQUEST SUMMIT

MERGING CAN BE CONTROLLED

Everyone expected me to panic.

To gasp.

To freeze.

To crumble under the weight of it.

But instead—

My mind sharpened.

Controlled...?!

Controlled...??!!

”I told them it can’t be controlled only guided, man they didn’t listen!”I groaned

A cold, clear line of thought cut through the noise.

I stepped forward, taking Alexa’s phone gently.

”Okay,” I said, voice steady. ”What do we know so far?”

Alexa blinked. ”Zora... you’re not freaking out?”

”I don’t have time to freak out.”

Reia stared at me, wide‑eyed, her creepy‑cute stillness turning into something like awe.

Colette floated closer, hands folded. ”Lady Zora is thinking.”

I scrolled through the alert, scanning fast.

”Sightings in three regions,” I murmured. ”Unconfirmed numbers. Leaders arguing about protocol. No unified response yet.”

Charlie whispered, ”She’s doing the scary calm thing.”

Nate whispered, ”I think she’s ascending.”

Reia whispered, ”She’s... Zora.”

I kept going.

”We need information,” I said. ”We need to what creatures are appearing, what they’re doing, and whether the summit is actually going to help or make things worse.”

Alexa swallowed. ”Zora... this is world‑level stuff.”

”I know.”

Colette drifted beside me, glowing softly. ”Lady Zora will protect everyone.”

I took a breath.

”I’m going to help,” I said. ”Whatever that means.”

And the weight of it didn’t crush me.

It settled.

Like something I could actually hold.

”I need air,” I whispered.

Charlie sat up instantly. ”Zora—”

”I’m okay...I just... need a minute to think.”

I slipped out of the room before anyone could stop me. Deciding to go on a walk alone to figure out a game plan and organize my thoughts.

The hallway was quiet. Too quiet. My footsteps echoed as I walked toward the outer courtyard, overlooking the town and the distant shimmer of the Hilguard gate.

The night air hit me like a shock...cool, sharp, grounding.

I gripped the sword at my side, knuckles white.

Kathrine and the elder had insisted I get used to wearing it at all times. 

”A queen should be armed.” Kathrine had said to me. But it was still bothersome, and heavy, and I swear it was trying to trip me.

”Zora...”

I flinched. ”Kathrine...sorry...I just needed...”

”Air,” she finished softly. ”I know.”

She stepped beside me, Just enough that I could feel her there.

For a moment, she didn’t speak.

She let me breathe.

Then, quietly.

”You are overwhelmed.”

I laughed weakly. ”Understatement.”

Kathrine folded her hands in front of her, posture perfect even as we walked in the moonlight. ”Zora... you are facing something no queen in any realm has ever faced.”

I swallowed hard, and admitted. ”I don’t know how to control the merge.”

”You are not meant to control it alone.”

”I don’t know how to stop Cross.”

”You are not meant to fight him alone.”

”I don’t know how to talk to world leaders.”

Kathrine’s lips curved into the smallest smile. ”That is what I am for, you will learn.”

I blinked at her.

She continued, voice gentle but firm.

”Hestia did not choose you because you are flawless. She chose you because you are true. You speak honestly. You care deeply. You act even when afraid. That is what the world needs.”

My throat tightened. ”I am scared.”

Kathrine nodded. ”Good.”

I stared at her. ”How is that good?”

”Well,” she said calmly. ”A queen who feels fear understands the weight of her decisions. A queen who feels fear does not become cruel. A queen who feels fear does not forget her people.”

She turned to face me fully, the lantern light playing shadows across the courtyard.

”You are not fearless, Zora. You are brave.”

My breath caught.

Kathrine’s voice softened even more.

”And bravery is what Hestia saw. What Halden sees. What Mira, and Elias see. What your sister sees. What I see.”

I looked down at my hands. ”I don’t feel brave.”

Kathrine gently placed her hand over mine.

”You walked through a gate into a hoard of people. You faced an orc, and brought my family closure. You faced the truth of two merging realms. And you are still standing.”

Her eyes held mine... steady, warm, unwavering.

”That is bravery.”

My chest loosened enough to breathe.

Kathrine squeezed my hand once, then released it.

”You may take a moment,” she said softly. ”But do not doubt yourself. You are exactly where you are meant to be.”

I exhaled shakily. ”Thank you.”

Kathrine nodded. ”Always.”

The night air didn’t feel so heavy anymore.

”Come walk with me around the grounds.”