The forest was quiet in that way that made every thought feel louder.
"So... we should probably log out for a little bit."My voice came out softer than I meant it to.
I looked between Charlie and Riley. "If we're going to get Lucas and Nate in on this... it should be in person."
Charlie raised a brow at me, the are you sure about that kind of look only an older sister can pull off.
"You really want to tell them?" She asked.
Riley crossed her arms, frowning. "Yeah, like, are you actually okay with that? I get Lucas. But my dunce of a brother too?"
"They're our friends... and family." I looked at Riley pointedly.
Cold crept across my cheeks, frosting over before I could stop it. "If everyone playing DOL is going to turn into fantasy novel magic beings with main character vibes, we can't keep them in the dark. We owe it to them to know what's coming."
Riley's expression softened into something complicated, concern, agreement, and maybe a little fear.
"Yeah... you make a good point, Kris."
A breeze drifted through the trees, stirring the branches overhead. Sunlight filtered through the leaves in shifting gold patterns, dancing across the path. I let my eyes follow the movement, grounding myself for a moment. Thinking.
The rip in reality. The devs hunting me...hunting us, both in-game and out.
Hestia making me her daughter.
And my body changing in ways I still didn't fully understand.
It all pressed in at once, but I breathed through it.
"Just because I'm uncomfortable doesn't mean we should hide this from them," I said quietly. "Hestia told me to trust my friends. So... that's what I'm going to do."
Charlie's face softened instantly, proud big sister look on her face. Riley smiled like I'd just said something wise enough to engrave on a plaque.
"Well," Charlie said, clapping her hands once, "That settles it. Let's log out and drag dumb and not so dumb in."
We exchanged a look, as Riley sent them a message. "Hey point break you and chief need to come over asap code word 'black night'
I looked at Riley "I can't believe you remembered that.
"Well you and Lucas made us remember those codes when we were younger. Though I never thought it would come in handy. Plus we don't know who might be spying in. So I thought it would be better to be discreet."
"Yea I didn't think of that." Charlie agreeing.
"Shit... Riley way to think outside the box."WHAP... OW... That hurt Charlie.
"Ladies should not speak with fouls language Kris...I told you already."
"Uh-." I had no words my brain stopping."
It was only a few seconds before we heard a 'PING'
"Point break here received and understood. Chief is with me give us ten..."
Then the three of us hit the logout &
The world around us dissolved into drifting motes of light, the forest fading as my consciousness lifted, weightless, toward the our world.
As they dissolved a lone figure slowly rose from where he'd been crouched in the tall grass. A faint blue glow lit his face, a holo-screen hovering inches from his nose, replaying the footage he'd just captured.
His breath hitched.
"O‑oh man... I can't believe it... I actually got a video of her... the Ice Princess..."His voice trembled with giddy disbelief, eyes wide and shining like he'd just witnessed a miracle.
He pressed a hand to his chest as if steadying his heartbeat.
"She's even more beautiful up close... that hair, that frost, that look in her eyes..."
A dreamy sigh escaped him, completely involuntary.
"('∇｀) I'm so lucky..."
"I'm gonna make a fortune off this," he whispered, though the excitement in his voice wasn't about money.
Not even close.
"It's not every day you get to film an angel..."
Cold.
That was the first thing I felt. Sharp, and thin. Like winter air slipping under my skin. My eyes fluttered open, and for a second everything looked hazy, like my pod had decided to run on potato graphics.
Then I saw it.
A thin lace of frost clung to the inside of the pod's glass, delicate and branching like tiny frozen ferns. My breath caught, fogging the air in front of my lips. The frost patterns shimmered faintly in the dim pod, catching the soft blue glow of the computer panels.
"...oh, that's new..."
My voice came out small, calm, almost like I'd just woken up from a nap instead of a magical identity crisis. Another puff of mist drifted out.
I lifted a hand touching the glass, the frost melted under my fingertips, leaving a streak of clear transparency surrounded by crystalline edges.
The pod hissed as it unlocked, the seal releasing with a soft exhale of warm air. The temperature shift brushed over my face like the pod was apologizing for nearly turning me into a popsicle.
I sat up slowly. "It seems like magic is a thing now....That's going to be fun to explain to everyone."
"Totally normal sentence. Totally normal..." I looked at the clock 4:25 PM "afternoon."
I swung my legs over the edge of the pod. The tile felt warm compared to me, too warm. Like the floor was judging me for being a walking freezer.
Charlie's pod hissed softly. She was waking up.
Riley's followed a second later, already reaching up to remove the headgear like she hadn't just seen a tear in the fabric of reality.
I took a breath, steadying myself.
We were about to tell Nate and Lucas everything.
I had to hold it together.
I couldn't hide this anymore.
Both of them stretched like they'd just woken from a nap instead of a full dive session that nearly gave me frostbite.
Charlie yawned, rubbing her eyes. "Ugh... my spine is going to implode."
Riley set her helmet on the table. "Same. I swear this helmet gets heavier every time I put it on, and it makes my head itch something fierce."
Neither of them looked at me long enough to notice the frost still clinging to my hair or the cold mist drifting off my breath. They were too busy complaining about their gear like normal humans.
"Alright girls " Charlie said, hopping out of her pod, "let's go wrangle the idiots."
I ignored the 'girls' remark, if i didn't give it power it couldn't affect me...right?
We stepped into the hallway, warm afternoon light spilling through the windows. My body still felt like it was carrying winter inside it, but the warmth helped... a little. Like a space heater trying its best.
Riley walked ahead of me, stretching her arms over her head.
That's when I saw it.
At first I thought her hair was sticking up weird from the helmet. Helmet hair is a universal curse. But as she tilted her head, the light caught something that wasn't hair at all.
A small, triangular shape. , and a flash of pink? And it was flicking, furry. Looking way too soft.
My breath hitched, but not in panic.
More like, Ah. Of course. Why not. Riley... was sprouting wolf ears now.
They weren't fully formed yet. Just little nubs pushing through her hair, the fur matching her usual color. But they moved when she reacted to Charlie's voice, flicking instinctively toward the sound like tiny satellite dishes.
My thoughts echoed Hestia's words.
"Changes, and balance..."
She didn't notice. Neither did Charlie.
But I did.
A cold ripple went through me, not fear, just confirmation. It wasn't just me anymore.
It wasn't just Hestia's influence. The changes were happening to all of us.
Part of me didn't want to believe it.
Part of me felt relieved that I wasn't the only one anymore...and I hated myself for that relief.
Riley scratched the side of her head absently, completely unaware she was touching the base of a forming ear.
"Man, I'm starving," she said. "Think Nate gonna bring snacks?"
Charlie snorted. "If he did, I'll be shocked."
I swallowed, my voice catching for a second before I managed to speak.
"Riley... your ears..."
She turned, confused. "My what?"
She reached for her ears her human ears that looked slightly smaller.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. Bang bang bang
Nate without a doubt. Impatient as always, knocking like the door owed him money.
Charlie glowered. "Uugh... they're early."
The door rattled again, like it was considering filing a restraining order.
Riley sighed. "I'll get it before my stinky brother knocks it down."
She hurried down the steps, the small ears on her head twitching toward the front door like they were excited to greet him.
"Riley... hold on."
But she didn't hear me. My thudding heart made my voice too quiet.
As she disappeared, my panic should have spiked. Instead, it just... tapped me on the shoulder.
A polite little "hey, things are about to get wild."
Charlie turned toward me. "You ok, squirt?"
"Yeah... I can do this..." My voice was calmer than normal. Weirdly calm. "Char, you sho—"
She cut me off.
"Hey." Charlie stepped closer. "Look at me.”
She reached out to comfort me, and froze.
"Kris...!" she whispered. "You're... frosting over." I looked down. "Yep. Looks like it, huh."
Still calm.Still steady.
Because now I wasn't alone.
Frost spread across my hands, delicate and branching like the patterns on my pod glass. My breath fogged the air in front of me, thicker now, like winter storm clouds gathering.
But I wasn't bothered like before.
I was looking at Charlie.
"Char..? Keep calm... but, you should look in a mirror..." My voice stayed level, almost gentle. I gave her a sympathetic look.
"Huh, Kris what are you—"
Charlie's eyes widened with instant clarity.
"Oh my god," she breathed.
She ran to the bathroom. Dang she's fast on the uptake. I don't think I've ever seen her move so fast.
I followed at a slower pace, like someone strolling toward a disaster there was no chance of avoiding.
Like when you're about to fall hard, And you know that there's nothing you can do. So you just grit your teeth, and brace for impact, while you tell yourself. ' yup this is gonna hurt.'
Downstairs, Riley opened the door.
"Can you give it a rest, you stinky! You're going to scare the whole neighborhood!"
I couldn't move my feet glued in place...
Standing there like watching a train derail in slow motion.
Nate's voice echoed up the stairs. "Finally, jeez, what took you so long... where's Charlie and Kris?"
Charlie saw herself in the mirror.
"OH MY GOD they are pointy OMGOMGOMGOMG..."
I heard Riley answer Nate. "They'll be down in a minute, Kris is having issues right now."
Three sets of feet headed toward the living room.
Well....It wasn't me freaking out now, that was Progress.
I heard Charlie psyching herself up.
"Ok Charlie, it's only pointed ears. It's not that bad... plus they are kinda cute."
I smiled.
Leave it to Charlie to talk herself through life altering events like prepping for a math test.
Lucas spoke up, voice echoing up the stairs. "Riley, what's that on your head... it's moving?"
"Here we go..."
"What!! What is it—get it out—eeeek!"
Downstairs, Riley's voice rose in pitch. "Lucas, is there something in my hair? Is it a bug? Did something crawl in there?!"
“Hold still Riley, quit moving...I... I can't get it."
Lucas sounded like he was trying very hard to stay calm.
"Riley... I don't think that's a bug."
Nate, of course, had zero tact.
"Sis, is that dog ears? Why are you wearing those?!"
Riley's gasp echoed up the stairs.
My breath calmed even more.
"Charlie, we need to go down there now."
She came walking out of the bathroom.
"D... do they look weird, Kris?" Her voice hesitated.
"Nope, sis. They look cute."
Relief flooded her face."Good, I was a bit freaked out by-"
Riley's shrill voice blasted up the stairwell.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN DOG EAR?!"
Nate: "Like a dog's ear. It's kinda...OW! Why'd you hit me?!"
Lucas tried and failed to stop the budding wolf girl.
"Riley, stop touching it. You're making it twitch."
"IT TWITCHED?! WHY IS IT TWITCHING?!" Riley screeched like a banshee.
Charlie squeezed my arm gently. "Yeah, we should probably intervene."
I nodded on auto pilot.
We headed downstairs, and my heart started racing cold rising in my chest like a storm front.
Because Riley's ears were showing...
Charlie's were obvious...
I was a walking refrigerator...
And Nate and Lucas were about to see everything.
They were going to see me.
I was calm.
But my legs were still wobbly.
The moment we turned the corner into the living room, Nate stared at me like he'd just walked into a celebrity meet and greet.
"Bro, look," he whispered loudly to Lucas. "The campus belle is in Kris's house. Kris is gonna LOSE HIS MIND."
Charlie made a strangled noise. "Nate...stop..."
But he was already on a roll.
"I mean, look at her! She's exactly like the pictures on the forum. The hair, the eyes, the whole cute aesthetic. Like...like she's about to judge my life choices."
Lucas tried to interject. "Nate, don't be rude!"
“No, no, hang on," Nate said, pointing at me . "Why is she here? Did Kris invite her? Did she come to see him? Oh my god, is thaaat the emergency??? Is Kris finally getting a girlfriend?"
Charlie slapped a hand over her face. "Nate, please stop talking."
But he didn't.
He was digging a deeper and deeper hole with the enthusiasm of a golden retriever.
He leaned closer to Lucas, whispering even louder. "Dude, Kris is gonna be so jealous we met her first. Hey beautiful wanna go on a date with me."
My heart dropped, my face going sour.
His words made me want to give him a good whack.
Riley turned around, her half‑formed wolf ears flicking wildly.
She took one look at Nate pointing at me like I was a poster girl and snapped.
"THAT IS KRIS!"
Silence. Absolute, perfect, stunned silence.
Nate's finger slowly lowered.
Lucas blinked once. Twice.
Riley jabbed a finger at me, ears twitching in outrage. "That's Kris, you moron!"
Nate's mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
Nate pointed at me again, baffled but now getting louder, like volume would make reality bend to his will.
"That's the girl from the forum! Kris is..Kris is...NO. No way. No freaking way."
He threw his hands up.
"This is a prank, right? Some kind of cosplay ambush? Did you guys hire her? Did you hire someone to pretend to be Kris?!"
Charlie groaned. "Nate—"
But he was already spiraling.
"Because there is NO WAY this is Kris. Kris is—Kris is—KRIS. He can't look like—like—THIS!" No offense you're very pretty. He gestured at me like I was a malfunctioning hologram. "This is false advertising! This is ILLEGAL! And to think you guys made me think it was an emergency!!!
Lucas tried to interject. "Nate..."
"No! Don't 'Nate' me!" he snapped, pointing at Lucas like he'd personally betrayed him. "I have SEEN Kris. I have KNOWN Kris. Kris does NOT sparkle like a frosty anime protagonist!"
He jabbed a finger at me again, outraged.
"And WHY is she....YOU...whatever, why are you in his house?! Did Kris INVITE you?! Did he BRIBE you?! Is this some kind of sick joke?!"
Riley facepalmed so hard her ears twitched.
Nate kept going, voice climbing.
"And if this IS a prank, then that's messed up." He looked at me again saying " No offense you are pretty.... Kris is gonna LOSE HIS MIND that we met you first! Actually...NO, he's gonna combust! He's gonna explode! He's gonna..." I crossed my arms a vein pulsing on my temple.
He finally looked at me.
Really looked.
At the frost on my cheeks.
At the cold mist drifting from my lips.
At the way my hair shimmered like snow under the hallway light,and like magnets his eyes strayed to my chest....Σ(-᷅_-᷄๑)
"NATE!!" Carlie stepped forward like a riled up grizzly. "I've had just about enough of you asinine behavior!!!"
"Oh no.....Ohhhh no I didn't mean—
To late Charlie was on a war path. and Riley looked confused. Lucas took a step away from Nate, his sixth sense saving him from the crossfire.
And that was it.
She snapped like a whip at the rodeo.
She stepped forward, heat waves coming off of her like smoke from a pissed off dragon.
"Oh, NOW isn't this dandy?" She seethed, voice flat, sharp, and absolutely done. "Now? After the last three days of kris having a full‑blown magical meltdown, you still can't put two and two together?"
Nate blinked, still half‑outraged, half‑terrified. Charlie could be real scary when she wanted to.
She kept going.
"Let me guess, Nate the ice wasn't enough. The hair wasn't enough. The literal cold front following her around wasn't enough. But the moment your two brain cells finally decided high five each other, sand you still decide to ignore what we're saying?"
"Charlie.." I'm still a guy I thought, but I didn't interrupt her one sided slaughter.
She jabbed a finger at him, like a hot fire poker with an attitude problem
"You've been talking nonstop since you walked in the door... No even before that, and every single word has been dropping your IQ into the dirt. Do you know how hard that is? Statistically? Impressively idiotic. World class stupidity at your service."
Nate tried to opened his mouth, probably to argue.
But she cut him off with a glare that could've melted lava.
"And if you say ONE more thing about Kris 'getting a girlfriend, or calling her to date you, I swear I will have her personally turn this entire living room into a skating rink and let Riley body check you across it."
Riley nodded aggressively beside me, ears twitching like angry pom poms.
Nate whimpered.
Her tone grew sickeningly sweet as she leaned in, voice dropping to a cold, deadly whisper. And if you ever, and I mean look at her like that again. I'll expose your little issue for the whole college to see...you know what I'm talking about... go ahead and try me."
I grinned at Nate hammering the final nail in his already sealed coffin"You heard her 'Mrladysman_1296."
A puff of white mist blasted out with the words. Sharp, icy, and absolutely please with Charlie.
Nates eyes rolled back and he fainted so hard he folded like a lawn chair.