Reality overload

Colette's voice echoed through the vault like a gentle bell, her hands folded neatly in front of her as she guided us through the impossible treasure hoard. Every time she shifted into formal mode, her eyes glowed brighter, every time she slipped into wussy mode, her shoulders curled inward like she was afraid she'd done something wrong.

She had shown us the enchanted weapons, the relic shelves, the floating artifacts, the crown alcoves, the scroll archives, the sealed chambers, the constructs, the heirlooms, the vault‑within‑the‑vault.

And now she stood before us, her white hair drifting in the magic‑charged air, her expression soft and proud.

"That concludes the tour," she said, bowing politely. "I hope it was... um... satisfactory."

Charlie stared at her like she'd just witnessed the birth of a star. "Satisfactory? Colette, that was, I don't even have words. I'm out of words. I'm wordless."

The elder was crying again.

Actual tears.

He wiped them with the sleeve of his robe, muttering reverently under his breath.

My mind was still trying to process the sheer scale of what Colette had shown us. The wealth. The magic. The history. The power. The legacy. All of it mine, apparently. All of it tied to me. All of it waiting for me.

Colette tilted her head, her wussy expression returning. "Lady Zora... are you alright? Did I overwhelm you? Oh dear, I might have overwhelmed her."

"No," I said quickly. "No, Colette. I'm okay."

She brightened instantly, her eyes glowing like lanterns. "Oh! Wonderful!"

Charlie pointed at her. "Colette, you just showed us enough treasure to buy the entire kingdom."

Colette blinked. "Yes! That is correct."

"And you're acting like you just finished dusting a bookshelf."

"Oh! I can dust the bookshelves too!" she said, perking up. Then she wilted again. "Um... if you want."

Charlie groaned. "She's too cute. She's too cute, and too powerful. I can't handle this."

The elder stepped forward, bowing his head.

"Lady Zora," he said, voice trembling, "you now understand the magnitude of what you have inherited."

I swallowed hard. "I... think so."

Colette clasped her hands together, glowing softly. "If you would like, Lady Zora, I can also provide a categorized ledger, a magical resonance map, a historical timeline, or a threat‑level analysis of the vault's contents."

Charlie nearly screamed. "NO. Zora. Don't let her. My brain will melt."

I exhaled slowly, still staring at the endless treasure stretching out before us.

"Colette," I said quietly, "thank you. For showing us everything."

Her face lit up, pure joy, pure pride, pure wussy delight.

"Oh! You're welcome! I'm so glad you liked it! I haven't given a tour in... um... one thousand, two hundred, and forty‑three years."

Charlie whispered, "She remembers the exact number. Zora, she's terrifying."

Colette blinked innocently. "Terrifying?"

"Yes," Charlie said. "In a cute way."

Colette squeaked, flustered, tilting her head sideways. "Oh! I...um...I don't know how to respond to that."

I smiled despite myself.

The vault hummed softly around us, the magic settling, the dome still shimmering faintly over Hilguard.

My stomach growled.

Loudly.

Loud enough that Charlie snorted and the elder pretended he didn't hear it. I hadn't eaten since... I didn't even know when. Everything had happened so fast the vault, crystal, dome, Colette...that I'd forgotten basic human needs.

I rubbed my stomach, embarrassed. "It's getting late. I... still haven't eaten."

Charlie nodded. "Yeah, we should head back. Before you pass out and Colette tries to medically reboot you or something."

Colette perked up. "Oh! I can perform medical diagnostics! I have seventeen protocols for—"

"No," Charlie said immediately. "No diagnostics."

Colette wilted into wussy mode. "Oh... alright..."

I turned toward Lucas.

He stood near the vault entrance, quiet, watching me with that soft, steady look he always had. His cheeks were a little pink, but he kept looking at me.

When our eyes met, something inside me clicked.

A decision.

A quiet, private one.

I didn't say it out loud.

I didn't even fully understand it.

But I felt it, and wanted it.

And apparently, Colette felt it too.

Her red eyes flashed.

She tilted her head, curious, innocent, absolutely oblivious to social boundaries.

"Lady Zora," she said sweetly, "do you like Lucas?"

My soul actually left my body.

Charlie lunged. "COLETTE...NO..."

The elder choked. "Sentinel, that is not..."

Lucas went bright red, ears and all.

I froze, heat flooding my face, my chest tightening so fast I thought I might combust. My cheeks went cold...frosty...like they always did when I was overwhelmed.

"Colette," I whispered, horrified, "why would you ask that?"

She blinked, wussy and confused. "Your biometrics have elevated! And your heart rate increased by forty‑two percent when you looked at him! I thought that meant affection!"

Charlie slapped her hands over Colette's mouth. "STOP TALKING."

Colette squeaked behind her palms.

Lucas stared at the floor like it might swallow him.

The elder looked like he wanted to evaporate.

I didn't know why I said it.

I didn't know why it came out.

But it did.

"You know what....Yes."

The words echoed through the vault like a gunshot.

Charlie froze mid‑scream.

Lucas's head snapped up, eyes wide.

The elder made a noise like a dying flute.

Colette gasped, her eyes glowing bright red with excitement. "Oh! Lady Zora does like him!"

I covered my face with both hands, wishing the vault would collapse on me.

But I didn't take it back.

I couldn't.

Because it was true.

And everyone knew it now.

Colette, meanwhile, looked delighted.

"Oh! His biometrics elevated too!" she said cheerfully. "Lady Zora, you both appear to be experiencing mutual romantic—"

Charlie slapped a hand over her mouth again "COLETTE. STOP."

Colette squeaked behind her fingers.

And me?

I was starving, exhausted, overwhelmed, and absolutely done with pretending I didn't feel what I felt.

I crossed my arms, cheeks frosting and burning at the same time, and glared at Lucas.

"This is your fault you know!"

He blinked. "M‑my...my fault?"

"Yes," I snapped, frost creeping into my voice. "You made me feel like this."

Charlie's eyes widened. "Oh gods..."

Lucas looked like he might pass out. "I...I didn't...what did I do?"

I jabbed a finger at him. "The way you've been so nice to me. The way you look at me like that, and how you tell me how I'm stronger than most. You carried me through town like a princess, and deep down I didn't hate it OK! What girl would not fall for a man like that!!!"

His face went even redder. "You...you told me to!"

"I was a joke you dunce!" I shot back, cheeks freezing over. "You could've said no! But nooo, you just had to get flustered by a little teasing, you... you just picked me up like it was nothing and walked around like—like—"

I flailed.

I actually flailed.

"—like you do that every day, with your smug handsome face!"

Lucas opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. Nothing came out.

Colette, now freed from Charlie's hand, tilted her head. "Lady Zora, your heart rate is rising again."

Charlie groaned. "Colette, please, I'm begging you."

But Colette was curious. Innocent. Oblivious.

"Lady Zora," she asked sweetly, "do you like Lucas because he carried you?"

Lucas made a strangled noise.

Charlie facepalmed.

The elder pretended to study a nearby pile of gold.

And I...

I didn't deny it.

I looked Lucas dead in the eyes, frost on my cheeks, heart pounding so hard it hurt.

"Yes, I do like him," I said again.

The vault went silent.

Lucas froze like someone had cast a petrification spell on him.

Charlie's jaw dropped.

Colette gasped, glowing bright red with excitement. "Oh! She does like him!"

I crossed my arms tighter, cheeks burning. "So take responsibility...ok."

Lucas made a sound that was not human.

Charlie scurried over and grabbed my wrist.

Hard.

"Charlie..." I said trying to stope her.

"Oh no you don't," she hissed. "Come here."

"Charlie—wait—"

She dragged me across the vault, weaving between floating artifacts and piles of treasure until we were tucked behind a stack of enchanted shields. Lucas stayed behind, still malfunctioning. Colette tried to follow, but Charlie pointed at her like a scolding mother.

"Stay."

Colette squeaked and froze.

Charlie rounded on me.

"Zora. ZORA. What was that."

I crossed my arms, cheeks frosty, heart pounding. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Charlie's jaw dropped. "You told Lucas to take responsibility!"

"He should!"

"You confessed!"

"I did NOT confess," I snapped, cheeks burning colder. "I said it was his fault!"

"That's a confession!"

"It's not!"

Charlie threw her hands up. "Zora, you told him you like him!"

I froze.

My mouth opened.

Closed.

Opened again.

"...I didn't mean to say it like that."

Charlie stared at me. "Zora. You said it in front of Lucas. And Colette. And the elder. And the entire vault."

I groaned, covering my face. "I panicked."

"No," Charlie said, poking my forehead, "you tsundere‑panicked."

I swatted her hand away. "I did not... what's a tsundere‑panic.... Ugh nevermind that... I didn't... well I mean..."

"You absolutely did."

I groaned again, louder this time. "Charlie, I haven't eaten. I'm tired. I'm overwhelmed. And Lucas keeps—keeps—"

"Keeps what?"

I flailed helplessly. "Keeps being Lucas!"

Charlie snorted. "Oh gods, you're hopeless."

I leaned back against the shields, sliding down until I was sitting on a pile of gold coins. "I didn't mean to say it out loud."

Charlie sat beside me. "Do you regret it?"

I hesitated.

The vault hummed softly around us.

"...No," I whispered.

Charlie's expression softened. "Then go with it."

I buried my face in my hands. "I can't.."

"You already did."

" Yea I did didn't I..." a smile sliding onto my face.

Just be honest with yourself. At least Lucas is a good man! I support your choice." And she gave me a thumbs up. "Just remember to use con..."

"Charlie!!!" I groaned. "Don't even say it?!"

What it's important, your new to the girl biz ok. I'm just looking out for my baby sis!"

"Look.." I said voice muffled by my palms. "I'm starving Charlie."

"Then let's go eat," she said with a sigh, pulling me up. "And maybe Lucas will stop glitching."

We stepped out from behind the shields.

Lucas looked at me.

I looked at him.

I swallowed hard.

And my heart did that stupid thing again.

I turned away before I could combust, stomping toward the vault exit.

"I'm hungry," I muttered. "We're going to dinner."

Behind me, Lucas walked after me like a confused puppy.

And Colette whispered, delighted, "Oh my..."

The vault doors sealed behind us with a soft hum, magic settling like dust in the air. Lucas walked beside me, quiet and tense, his hand brushing mine every few steps like he wasn't sure if he was allowed to hold it again.

We stepped into the corridor.

Nate was waiting.

Of course he was.

He spotted us instantly, eyes flicking from me, to Lucas, to the space between us, and his mouth dropped open in slow, dramatic horror.

"Ohhhhhhh," Nate breathed, pointing. "Oh, I see"

Riley grabbed him by the collar.

"Nope," she hissed. "Not today."

"But Riley...RILEY...!"

"No."

She dragged him around the bend like a misbehaving toddler.

We walked forward.

We did not realize everyone else had gotten ahead of us as we followed them.

Reia.

Alexa.

Halden.

Riley.

Even the elder.

Charlie whipped around the corner, her eyes wide, whisper‑yelling with the intensity of a dying star.

"EVERYONE SHUT UP," she hissed. "SHUT. UP. THEY WILL HEAR YOU."

Halden whispered back, "We're whispering."

"You're whispering LOUDLY," Charlie snapped.

Reia elbowed Nate. "Stop breathing so loud."

"I CAN'T CONTROL MY BREATHING," Nate whisper‑screamed.

Riley slapped a hand over his mouth. "Yes you can."

Colette and Charlie peeked around the bend together, Colette's glowing faintly. "Oh dear...lady Zora's heart rate is very elevated..."

Charlie grabbed her shoulders. "Colette. Sweetie. Please. Stop narrating."

Colette squeaked."ok... I'll try."

Lucas and I looked at each other. Everyone else vanished like startled cats.

We kept walking until we reached the next bend, finally alone.

Or so we thought.

Lucas stopped.

"Zora," he said quietly.

I turned.

He looked nervous... really nervous...hands flexing, eyes darting everywhere except my face.

"I've been thinking," he said. "About what you said. About... how you feel... earlier."

My heart tightened painfully.

He swallowed. "I think you're mistaken."

I froze.

"Mistaken?" I repeated.

He nodded, still avoiding my eyes. "You've been overwhelmed. The vault. Colette. The magic. You're tired. Hungry. You probably just."

Behind us, from around the bend

Charlie whisper‑yelled, "OH MY GOD HE'S AN IDIOT—"

Halden whispered, "Shut up—"

Nate whispered, "I can't breathe—"

Riley whispered, "Stop breathing—"

Lucas kept talking, oblivious.

"I don't want you to think you feel something you don't," he said. "I don't want you to regret anything. I don't want you to—"

I stepped closer.

He froze.

"Lucas," I said softly, "look at me."

He did.

Slowly.

Reluctantly.

Like he was afraid of what he'd see.

"You think I'm mistaken?" I whispered.

He swallowed. "I... think you have a lot going on, maybe...."

I stepped even closer.

He backed up until his shoulders hit the wall.

"Zora—wait—"

"No," I said. "You don't get to tell me what I feel."

His breath hitched.

"You carried me through town," I said, voice trembling. "You held me like I mattered. You looked at me like I wasn't just some girl who is a flustered mess."

His eyes widened.

"You made me feel something," I whispered. "Something real, and I am tired of always being emotionally drained."

He opened his mouth.

I didn't let him speak.

I leaned forward and kissed him.

Quick, and soft. But it was enough to shut him up.

Enough to say everything I couldn't.

Lucas went absolutely still.

Behind us, the entire group around the bend exploded into silent chaos,hands flying to mouths, shoulders shaking, someone (definitely Nate) muffling a scream.

Charlie whisper‑yelled, "EVERYONE SHUT UP THEY'LL HEAR YOU—"

I pulled back, cheeks burning, heart racing.

"There," I said, breathless. "Does that feel mistaken to you?"

Lucas stared at me, stunned, breathless, redder than I'd ever seen him.

"No," he whispered. "Not mistaken."

My chest tightened painfully.

"Good," I said, crossing my arms to hide how much I was shaking. "Because I meant it."

He swallowed hard. "I... know."

We stood there, quiet, warm, overwhelmed.

Then Nate's whisper‑scream echoed,

"RILEY LET GO OF ME I NEED TO SEE—"

Riley hissed, "NO YOU DON'T."

Lucas laughed—quiet, breathless, relieved.

I grabbed his hand.

He squeezed mine back.

And we walked toward dinner together.