Reality overload

The carriage rolled up to Cordova's gate. Two guards stepped forward, spears crossed, doing their best "we are serious professionals" faces.

Riley leaned out. "Hey! We woul—"

But Reia had already hopped down from the carriage.

Silently.

Like a falling shadow. Her aura activating inadvertently making Both guards flinch at her appearance.

(what I imagine they saw, vs what they actually saw)

She walked right up to them, hands folded politely. "Hello...We are entering your settlement. Please do not be alarmed. I am not here to raise the dead."

I slapped both hands over my face. "Oh my God."

Charlie scrambled out of the carriage. "Reia—Reia, honey, no. No. You can't open with that."

Reia blinked. "But... I thought it would reassure them."

One guard was pressed against the wall, shaking. "S‑she said 'raise the dead'—"

The other pointed a trembling spear at her. "S‑stay back! Stay BACK!"

Reia tilted her head. "Why? I'm being friendly."

Riley stepped between them so fast she nearly tripped. "Okay! Okay! Everyone breathe. She's with us. She's not dangerous."

Reia raised a hand. "I was dangerous."

I grabbed her wrist and gently lowered it, and said, "Not helping."

Charlie reassured them. "She's reformed. Mostly. We think."

Riley added, "She's on corpse‑probation."

Lucas called, "Zero corpses in the last hour!"

Nate gave a thumbs‑up. "She's doing great."

The guards stared at the group like they were witnessing a traveling circus of chaos.

I took a deep breath, put on my best "please don't arrest us" smile, and said

"She's a kid. She's scared. She's with us. And she's not going to raise anything. Right, Reia?"

She nodded vigorously. "Correct. I will not raise anything unless asked."

I winced. "We're not going to ask."

She nodded again. "Then I will not raise anything."

The guards slowly lowered their spears.

One whispered, "Is she... housebroken?"

I choked. "She's not a pet!"

Reia whispered, "I can be if that helps."

Me: "NO."

Charlie: "Absolutely not."

Riley: "We're not doing that."

The guards exchanged a look, then stepped aside. "Fine. Just... keep her away from the graveyard."

Reia perked up. "You have a graveyard?"

Charlie grabbed her shoulders. "NOPE. Eyes forward. Inside we go."

And with that, the we entered Cordova — Charlie dragging Reia gently but firmly, Nate laughing under his breath, Riley muttering threats, Lucas looking stoic as ever, taking the horses and carriage to be

Stabled and the guards praying to every god they knew.

Cordova was around us as we walked through the empty market square. Reia stayed close to Charlie's side, hands clasped behind her back, it was a quiet night in the town.

Riley muttered, "weird not seeing anyone out."

A group of adventurers passed by, giving the us a wide berth. One of them tried to be friendly.

"Hey kid, what's your class?"

Reia harrumphed. "Necromancer I raise the dead...also I'm not a kid!"

The adventurer tripped over his own feet. Walking away into the night.

Reia blinked. "Was that not the right answer?"

I patted her head. "It was the honest answer."

Someone walked by lantern in hand. One look, and awkward smile from Reia and he sprinted away.

She looked back at me.

"Are you sure you... still want me here, my charisma stat is pretty low. It might cause you problems?"

I didn't hesitate.

"Yeah. We do."

Charlie nodded. "You're weird, but you're our weird."

Riley sighed. "And we'll work on that charisma so you don't accidentally terrify everyone"

Reia brightened. "Really?"

Riley smiled. "Really."

She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and said in the most cheerful voice she could manage. "I will try very hard not to mention corpses."

A passing guard dropped his torch."

Charlie gently guided Riea forward. "Okay. Good start. We'll work on it."

Finally we reached the Hearthside Inn, a cozy little building with warm lanterns and a carved wooden sign. It looked friendly. Safe. Normal.

Which meant it was doomed the moment we walked in.

I held the door open. "Okay, Reia. Just... be yourself. But maybe the less creepy parts."

Reia nodded earnestly. "I will be the least creepy version of myself."

Charlie whispered, "That's the scariest sentence I've ever heard."

I sighed as we stepped inside.

The inn lobby was warm and bustling — a fireplace crackling, travelers chatting, a clerk behind the counter sorting keys.

Then the clerk looked up.

I stepped forward quickly. "Hi! Rooms for six, please."

The clerk's eyes darted between Reia and me. "Is the creepy one with you? "

Reia nodded. "Yes. They adopted me."

Charlie choked. "We did NOT—"

Riea continued, "They said I am their weird."

The clerk dropped the key he was holding.

Riley muttered, "We really need to stop saying things around her."

The clerk cleared his throat, trying to regain composure. "R‑right. Well. Um. Welcome to the Hearthside Inn. We offer warm beds, hot meals, and good ale."

I leaned over the counter. "So what's the cost per night We'd like four rooms."

The clerk smiled at me and said "It's one silver a night two if you want dinner and breakfast.

I pulled four silver coins out and handed them to him. In return, he held up four room keys. I smiled and took them gently. "Thank you."

We were about to walk away when the clerk spoke up.

"Umm... excuse me miss."He said looking at me. "You wouldn't happen to be the ice princess would you?"

I looked at him in surprisemy face frosting over at princess. "How did you...?"

He gave me enlightened look at the frost on my face. "There were some unsavory people in here earlier asking about you... I didn't know you, but I assumed it was you given your armor.

Charlie spoke up. "What did they want?"

"Something about trying to find you they didn't say what for, but I would be careful nonetheless. Wouldn't do for you to be achausted by brigands." he said

I smiled at him and slid him another two silver coins. "Thanks for the information. If they come asking again we were never here."

He nodded happily as he took the silver tucking it into his apron and walking away as a customer called for more ale.

As we headed toward the stairs, Reia whispered. "Why are people trying to find you, Kris?"

Charlie whispered back, "We will explain later."

Reia nodded thoughtfully. "That is fair."

We walked up the stairs, down the hall, and found our rooms at the end of the corridor. The moment the door shut behind us, everyone sagged like deflated balloons.

Riley flopped onto a bed. "Okay. I'm done. I'm so done. I'm logging out."

Charlie nodded. "Yeah. We've been on for hours."

I stretched my arms over my head. "Feels like days."

Reia raised her hand politely.

Everyone turned.

"Yes?" I asked looking at her.

Reia blinked. "Is... is it time to log out?"

Charlie smiled. "Yeah...You can stay if you want, but we need a break."

Reia nodded. "Good. I have been awake for two days."

The room went silent.

Lucas sat up. "Two DAYS?"

Nate stared. "Like... forty‑eight hours?"

Reia nodded again, completely calm. "Yes, excluding meal breaks and bathroom breaks. I was exited you know new game and all."

I laughed at that Charlie giving me a look.

Riley sat bolt upright. "Reia, Sweetheart. Baby crypt gremlin. You need to SLEEP."

She tilted her head. "I do sleep. Sometimes. When my body forces me."

I nearly had a heart attack. "NO. No. That's not how sleep works."

She blinked. "I know that."

Charlie put both hands on her shoulders. "Reia. You need to log out. Right now. Immediately. Before you die."

She nodded obediently. "Okay."

She opened her menu.

Paused.

Looked at them.

"Will you still be here when I come back?"

I didn't even hesitate. "Yeah. We're not going anywhere."

Charlie smiled. "You're part of the party now."

Riley added, "And we're not letting you wander around alone for another two days."

Reia's eyes softened — that tiny, fragile hope flickering again.

"Okay," she whispered.

One by one, the party opened their menus.

Log Out

Confirm?

Reia hovered her finger over the button.

"Goodnight," she said softly.

I smiled. "Goodnight, Reia."

Reia's finger hovered over Log Out, but she paused when I spoke.

"Wait—Reia, don't log out yet."

She froze mid‑tap. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, no," I said quickly. "I just... wanted to give you something first."

Reia blinked, tiny and confused.

I opened my U I contacts window and sent a small glowing card toward Reia.

Contact Request: Kris H***

She stared at it like it was a rare drop.

"For... me?" she whispered.

Charlie smiled. "Yeah. Kris's college starts tomorrow, so she won't have a lot of free time to play for a bit. She probably didn't want you to think we were disappearing on you."

I rubbed the back of my neck my cheeks flushing cold. "Yeah...It's gonna be pretty busy."

"You're... going to college?" Reia asked

I nodded. "Yep."

Reia leaned forward, suddenly very alert. "Which one?"

Charlie answered casually. "Uh—University city college.

Reia froze.

Her eyes went huge.

"I— I'm going to UCC as well."

The room went silent.

Riley sat up so fast she nearly fell off the bed. "Wait. WHAT?!"

She nodded again, very matter‑of‑fact. "Yes. I am eighteen."

Nate whispered, "She's like a haunted Build‑A‑Bear."

Reia continued, oblivious. "I've been telling you guys I wasn't a kid. I'm just short so my avatars tend to be like this. I enrolled months ago. I just... forgot to log out, I've already got my id and everything already I did it earlier this week."

Lucas blinked. "No way."

Riley whispered, "This is either fate or a sitcom."

Reia looked between them, stunned. "I thought... I thought I would be alone."

I smiled at her. "Well...you're not alone."

Charlie grinned. "We're literally going to the same campus."

Reia's hands trembled. "Does that mean... Will I see you? In the real world?"

I nodded. "Yeah. If you want to."

Reia's breath hitched — a tiny, overwhelmed sound. "I've never... gone to school with people who wanted me around."

Charlie gently nudged her. "Well, now you are."

Riley added, "And we're not letting you wander around campus like a sleep‑deprived crypt goblin."

Reia nodded rapidly. "I will not wander. I will follow."

I laughed. "Maybe don't phrase it like that."

She corrected herself. "I will... accompany."

"Better," Charlie said.

Reia looked down at the contact card again, then tapped ACCEPT with a tiny, shaky smile.

"I will message you tomorrow," she said softly. "If that is allowed."

I smiled again. "It's more than allowed."

Charlie nodded. "It's wanted."

Reia's eyes shimmered.

"Ok... by the way Reia is short for Reianne... not the other stuff I said. I was nervous..."

her cheeks flushed crimson. "see you guys later."Then she finally tapped Log Out, dissolving into light.

The pod hissed softly as it opened, warm mist rolling out like a sci‑fi coffin releasing a princess instead of a corpse‑witch.

Her brown pony tail swaying as she stepped out of the pod. Reia blinked her amber colored eyes against the soft lights she was dressed In workout clothes, her very short stature becoming more a parent as she walked out on wobbly legs

Artwork done by a very close friend of mine. I love her style╰(*´︶`*)╯♡

Her room was enormous — marble floors, velvet curtains, a chandelier that probably cost more than most people's cars. A wall of holo‑screens flickered awake as her vitals synced.

And waiting just outside the pod were three maids in immaculate uniforms.

They bowed in perfect unison.

"Good evening, Young Miss ."

Reia stepped out, wobbling a little. Two days in VR had her legs feeling like noodles.

She rubbed her eyes.

Then she smiled. "Evening everyone."

A real smile. Bright soft, and excited.

The maids froze.

They had never seen that expression on her.

One of them whispered, "She's... smiling?"

Another whispered back, "Is she possessed?"

Reia clasped her hands together. "I'm going to college!"

The maids exchanged looks.

"...Yes, Miss Reia," the head maid said carefully. "Term start is tomorrow morning.

"No, no,"she said, bouncing on her toes. "I'm going to college with friends."

The maids all blinked.

"Friends?" one repeated, like it was a foreign word.

Reia nodded rapidly. "Yes! Real ones! They gave me their contact information! And they want me to message them! And they're going to the same school!"

She spun in a little circle, nearly tripping over her own feet.

The maids stared.

One whispered, "Should we call the doctor?"

The head maid shook her head. "No. I think... she's happy."

Reia stopped spinning and pressed her hands to her cheeks, overwhelmed.

"I've never gone to school with people who wanted me there," she said softly.

The maids' expressions softened instantly.

They'd raised her. They'd seen her lonely. They'd seen her quiet. They'd seen her strange.

But they had never seen her so happy.

The head maid stepped forward. "Miss Reia... would you like dinner before we prepare your bath?"

Reia nodded. "Yes, please! I need energy! I have to look normal tomorrow!"

The maids exchanged a look of mild panic.

One whispered, "Define normal."

The head maid whispered back, "We'll figure it out."

Reia practically skipped toward the dining hall.

And the maids followed, whispering among themselves like they were escorting a ticking time bomb that had suddenly decided to become a firework instead.

The dining hall doors closed behind her with a soft, echoing thud — the kind that always made the room feel even bigger, even emptier.

Reia stood there for a moment, hands clasped in front of her, letting the silence settle around her like a familiar coat.

Reianne Mirabelle Veyra had always carried her name like a lantern—beautiful, delicate, and heavier than anyone realized.

Her mother had chosen it with intention. Reianne, drawn from the old tongue of the southern isles, meant grace born of truth. Mirabelle, passed down through generations of Veyra women, meant wondrous beauty. And Veyra—the family name—came from Veira, an ancient word for light that reveals.

Reia grew up hearing these meanings whispered by maids, tutors, and distant relatives. But never by her mother.

Lady Mirabelle Veyra did not speak of heritage. She embodied it.

She moved through the mansion with the quiet precision of someone raised among diplomats and poets, her footsteps soft on marble floors, her voice calm even when the world demanded storms. She was a woman carved from discipline and expectation, a figure whose presence filled rooms even when she wasn't looking at anyone in them.

Reia had adored her.

And feared disappointing her.

The Veyra estate was a world of its own—arched windows facing the sea, hallways lined with paintings older than the country itself, and balconies overflowing with clay pots of herbs that perfumed the air. The southern isles had shaped her mother's people into artists and negotiators, believers in beauty as truth and truth as duty.

When she was seven, she learned what her mother's love looked like.

And what it didn't.

The rain had been falling since dawn, turning the windows into blurred watercolor. Reia sat on the marble step outside her mother's study, a book open on her lap, though she hadn't turned a page in half an hour. Inside, voices murmured—advisors, diplomats, the low hum of decisions being made.

Reia wasn't supposed to be here.

But she waited anyway.

She had drawn something that morning—a clumsy sketch of the sea, the way she imagined her mother's childhood home must have looked. She wanted to show her. She wanted her mother to smile, even a little.

The door opened.

Reia's heart leapt.

But it wasn't her mother. Just an advisor, tall and hurried, stepping over her without a glance. His cloak brushed her shoulder like a cold wave.

The door remained open.

For a heartbeat, Reia saw her mother inside—standing straight, listening intently, her hair pinned in the elegant style Reia had once tried to imitate. Mirabelle's eyes flicked toward the doorway.

They landed on Reia.

Reia lifted her drawing, voice barely a whisper.

"Mama..."

Her mother's gaze softened. A fraction. A shift so small only a child desperate for it would notice.

Then Mirabelle turned back to the table.

"Close the door, please."

The door shut.

Reia smoothed her drawing with trembling fingers. She didn't cry. She had learned not to. Instead, she tucked the paper into her book and walked away with small, quiet steps.

That moment became a seed inside her—one that grew into the belief that love was something distant, something earned, something she must not ask for.

After her mother's passing Reia inherited all of it, But she inherited the loneliness, too. Her father was nowhere to be found. That was ok though Reia didn't care for the man. Let him stay lost. He was never there to begin with.

That's when Reia became obsessed with the dead. It started subtly, but grew

Over time into part of who she was. When she had heard of DLO and it's necromancer class she was drawn in to trying it. Having the pod delivered and set up withing a week.

With trepidation from her maids. About such an obsession.

Years later, standing alone in the vast dining hall, Reia felt that seed stir again.

Then she walked to her seat.

Not the head of the table. Not the one her mother used.

Her seat — the one she'd quietly claimed over the years, where the chandelier light didn't feel so harsh and the shadows didn't feel so judgmental.

She glanced at her mother's empty chair.

The place setting was perfect.

The crystal glass untouched.

The silverware aligned with military precision. But forever empty

The chandelier glowed above her, scattering light across the long table. The room was too big for one person, too quiet, too formal.

A maid poured her water. Another adjusted the napkin. A third hovered, unsure if she should say something.

Reia didn't mind the fussing tonight.

She was too full of something warm and bright to feel the usual ache.

The footman returned with her meal, placing it gently before her. Her favorite comfort dish.

The galette rested at the center of the table like a small, sun‑born miracle. Its crust—golden, uneven, unapologetically rustic—curved around the filling in soft, imperfect folds, as though the baker had shaped it with more affection than precision.

Inside that buttery frame, the tomatoes glowed. Thin slices, ruby and amber, overlapped in a slow, spiraling pattern, their edges just beginning to wrinkle from the heat. They had roasted down into something deeper than themselves—sweet, warm, and fragrant, holding the memory of the garden they came from.

She cut into it. The crust crackled softly. Steam rose, carrying the scent of roasted tomatoes and basil. It brushed her face like a memory.

She took a bite.

It was simple. Honest. Comforting.

And suddenly she was seven again, sitting outside a closed door, wanting warmth she didn't know how to ask for.

But this time, the warmth was hers.

And for the first time, she didn't eat because she was lonely.

She ate because she was excited.

Because tomorrow wasn't a void. It wouldn't be a repeat of every year before. It wasn't a hallway of strangers pretending she didn't exist.

Tomorrow had faces.

Voices.

Names.

Nate who joked and smiled at everything Kris, who laughed like she was daring the world to stop her.

Charlie, who felt like a warm blanket and a punch to the arm at the same time.

Riley, who was rambunctious and unashamed.

Lucas, who was quiet and observed more than he spoke.

Reia took another bite, cheeks warming.

She ate slowly, savoring each bite as if she were learning something new about herself. When she reached the last piece, she paused—not out of hesitation, but reverence.

She finished the meal.

The plate was empty.

But she wasn't.

she felt the faintest shift inside her worldview—like a lantern being lit in a long hallway. Her mother's heritage had shaped her into someone quiet, observant, careful with her heart. But it had also given her resilience, dedication, depth, and a capacity for hope that refused to die.

Reia stood, smoothing her dress, and looked back at the empty plate.

Tomorrow, she wouldn't be walking into a building full of strangers.

Tomorrow, she'd be walking toward people who wanted to see her.

And that thought followed her out of the dining hall like a lantern in the dark.

The head maid placed a gentle hand on Reia's back. "Come, dear. Let's get you cleaned up for bed."

Some time later Reia curled up under the blankets, still glowing.

The head maid smoothed her hair back. "You seem very excited for tomorrow."

Reia nodded. "I am. I want to see them again. I'm glad I picked a smaller college to attend."

"And you will," the maid said softly. "You deserve that."

Reia's eyes fluttered. "Do you think they'll still like me in the real world?"

The maid smiled. "I think they well."

Reis hugged her pillow, cheeks warm. "Good."

And for the first time in a long, long time...

Reia fell asleep smiling.

The head maid dimmed the lights.

"Goodnight, Miss reia."

"Goodnight," she yawned, already drifting.

The door clicked shut.

The maids stood in the hallway for a long moment, staring at each other.

It was wonderful.

And terrifying.

Because Reia was gentle.

Naive.Lonely. Yes a bit strang with her obsession, and very, very rich.

The head maid folded her hands tightly. "If she goes to college like this... someone will take advantage of her."

The youngest maid bit her lip. "She trusts too easily."

"She always has," another murmured. "She just never had anyone her age to trust before."

The head maid exhaled slowly. "We must find out who these friends are."

The maids all stiffened.

They all glanced at Reia's door.

The head maid sighed. "She deserves happiness. But she also deserves protection."

The others nodded.

And with that, they headed down the long, polished hallway the head maids mind on tomorrow. She would protect Reia no matter the cost. After all it was her late mistresses last order.