Wednesday, August 27th, 2042, Sumner, Portland, Oregon.


    Ryan sat on the floor, back pressed against the front door of his apartment, legs pulled up against his chest and his arms draped limply over his knees. His head rested against his forearms, a dull ache throbbing at the base of his skull. Exhaustion washed over him, but not the physical kind—the kind that weighed down his mind, dragging him into a pit where nothing made sense anymore.


    His father had left minutes ago, the sound of his vintage Eagle Talon’s engine having faded in the distance. Despite it being mere moments, their conversation felt like it had happened a lifetime ago. He was still trying to understand where the unexpected hug had come from, let alone everything that had happened afterward. Ryan had called him Papá. That used to be how he and his sister called him. Lucia still did, but Ryan had stopped long ago. At least since his teenage years.


    He lingered there, sitting on the cool floor tiles, feeling like a stranger in the familiar apartment. No. It was not even familiar anymore.


    He lifted his head, his eyes tracing the lines of the freshly tidied living room. It was cleaner than it had been in years. The floor was visible for the first time in… he could not remember how long. The piles of laundry were currently in the washing machine, or waiting their turn in cloth hampers. His hoard of empty energy drink cans was nowhere to be seen.


    A faint scent of lemon-scented cleaner had replaced the stink of stale food and damp towels.


    He wanted to be amazed. He wanted to look at this, and feel some sense of pride or accomplishment. But he only felt disoriented.


    He blinked at the space, trying to connect the dots, to remember what had driven him to clean after himself. Did he want to impress his father? Show solidarity with him by working alongside him instead of doing his best to tune him and his silent judgement out?


    Where had that urge come from? Where did that compulsion to tidy up, to make the space, and himself, presentable for his father, come from? It was not like him, not at all.


    He was not the neat type, or the type of person who scrubbed surfaces clean. He never folded clothes neatly and barely took care of himself, let alone his apartment.


    So where did it all come from?


    Objection, your honour! He thought bitterly. That’s a dumb question. He knew exactly where that drive came from.


    Young Kaelyn’s memories.


    He could still feel the echoes of her mind lingering in the back of his head. Her small room, scented with wildflowers and summer breezes. Her mother’s gentle touch as she tucked a loose strand of hair, speaking words of comfort. Kaelyn kept her place tidy, because it helped her recenter herself. It helped her recall her mother’s love and the innocence of her youth.


    It came from her desire for control and comfort. Keeping things orderly made her feel in control.


    But that was not him.


    Ryan let out a shaky breath, his chest tightening as a sense of unease crawled through him. How did something that made her feel so safe could at the same time make him feel so lost, confused, and afraid? Why was her desire the one that won out in the end? Why had he not been able to stop himself, to control his thoughts or actions? But had he really tried to stop himself? No. I haven’t. Because it had felt right in the moment.


    He remembered getting up, putting away dishes, wiping down the counters. It all felt so automatic and appropriate. His body was moving without waiting for permission from his brain.


    Although he could tell it was not him in control, he had not resisted. Would I have been able to, had I tried?


    He wondered if that was how getting roofied felt like? Acting, but being unable to stop yourself? How about when someone coerced or manipulated you? Maybe if the manipulator was very good, he wondered.


    He rubbed at his temples; what had been a dull ache before was growing sharper. Ryan really could use some acetaminophen right now. He stood up, and the FullDive rig came into view. He glared at it as he walked to the medicine cabinet.


    That virtual reality device. It was not supposed to mess with his mind like this. Sure, when he was diving in VR, it could make him feel whatever it wanted. The taste of fear, the pain of an injury, the adrenaline of a high-octane chase. But once he unplugged himself and walked about here, in actual space? The device should hold no sway over his mind anymore.


    But this had been different. Kaelyn’s memories had lingered. They had not faded away when he logged out.


    But that made some sort of sense, didn’t it? Short of specific mental conditions, memories did not simply fade away after you are done with an event. But something like a sharp needle prick of pain? That were ephemeral. A fleeting event, a signal send through your nervous system. But the memory of the event? That stayed with you.


    So if the calibration system had given him Kaelyn’s memories, would he now remember her life for the rest of his days, as if it had been his own childhood?


    He tried to liken it to watching a movie and being able to recall the scene later. But there was one fundamental difference between Kaelyn’s memories and those of a movie. He had felt like it had happened to him. Those scenes and memories were in first-person perceptive. It was not the memory of “Ryan watching Kaelyn’s past”. It was the memory of Kaelyn’s past as she have lived through it. The same as if it had happened to him.


    He really hoped his brain would sort them out. He was not looking forward to being able to recall how she had felt shortly after her first period, or the icky feeling of… He shuddered and forced himself to stop thinking about it.


    His eyes went back to the seat, neural jack and tubes. He knew the device could to deal with many medical emergencies. It could take basic blood works, monitor your health, and intervene if necessary. If you drank coffee in VR, it could even inject you with something that stimulated your brain. That made him wonder if the FullDive rig had pumped him full of some drugs? Perhaps it had made him more receptive to those memories, more pliant, to make sure the calibration went smoothly? The same way alcohol would smooth out the edges. Maybe the device manipulated his brain so it would not fight the new influx of memories? And maybe that was why it had been so easy to just… slip into Kaelyn’s habits?


    He frowned, shaking his head, and stared down at his hands. They were his hands, but they did not feel like his own anymore. They felt disconnected, like they were someone else’s hands, responding to commands, thoughts and instincts that did not belong to him.


    His mind flickered back to when he logged off earlier. He left Kaelyn in the markets of Luminara, having just relived young Kaelyn’s intense childhood memories. When he woke up in the real world, all of her emotions were still washing over him, his brain not being nearly done sorting out all that had just transpired.


    Her fear, the vulnerability and her mother’s love and tenderness were still there, at the forefront of his thoughts.


    It had made him feel small and exposed.


    And after his father left, that feeling of vulnerability surfaced again. And it felt right to curl up like that. To fold into himself like he was trying to hold on to that sense of warmth and safety.


    But that’s not me. That’s not something I do, is it?


    He desperately wanted to hold on to his sense of identity. To who he was.


    Yet, here you are. It had felt right in the moment. Why fight it?


    But some part of him wanted to brush these concerns away. Why bother fighting it, or trying to understand the reason behind it all? It was all in the past. You can just move on.


    But no, he would not. So he tried to recall the moment. Why had it been so easy to fall into her thoughts, to act on her instincts and desires? To let her memories take control?


    He clenched his fists, nails biting into his palms. This isn’t normal. Not how it’s supposed to be. When you logged out of the game, you were supposed to leave it all behind. You were supposed to return to your regular self.


    Yet. Despite knowing how it should work, he was still here, somehow. Carrying some pieces of her around, like they were his. Just like she was leaking into mind, creeping into his thoughts, changing him from within.


    Lucia had told him to watch out for that. Had she really known this could happen?


    Would things keep getting worse? What if he logged back in the game, returned to Kaelyn? Would he lose even more of himself? Change even more? Cleaning habits and fleeting emotions were not that big of a deal. You’re still yourself, after all, right?


    But what if I wake up one day, and there’s nothing left of my old self? What if Kaelyn took over completely?


    It’s a hypothetical, but if that happened, why should I even care? “I” would be Kaelyn, and Ryan being gone shouldn’t matter to me, then?


    His heart stammered, his breathing quickened. Pull it together, Ryan. What are you thinking? He opened the cupboard and fished out two tablets, which he promptly dry-swallowed. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    He gripped the kitchen counter tightly as he waited a few seconds, controlling his breath.


    You are stronger than a video game character of your own creation, Ryan.


    Or you want to believe that, he corrected.


    Once again, he looked at the FullDive Rig in the living room, and could feel the siren call of the game. He actually did not even have time to try playing as Kaelyn.


    She deserves a chance to stretch her legs and play, don’t you agree?


    He recalled how fun her little chat with Lucia had been in the VR hub.


    Even that had been intoxicating. All of it had come to him so naturally. Moving around in her body, teasing Lucia. It felt exactly how he imagined someone like Megan would experience the world.


    He had created her to leave the drudgery of his boring, pointless basement existence, and to know the feeling of being seen, noticed. Why stop there? Adored, worshipped, even!


    He wanted to have more of a taste of her confidence, the ease with which she moved. Of her power and poise. She did not hesitate and ask herself questions about who she was. She knew, and she acted.


    Maybe, if he logged back, he could make sense of it all, and figure out how to prevent her from seeping into his life. To stop her from bleeding over his sense of self.


    But deep down, he knew that was just an excuse. He wanted to log back in, because being her felt good.


    Being in control felt good.


    She was his polar opposite. He had no reason to exist in this world, no role to fulfil. And he had built her to take space, to shine, and to defy anyone who would deny her the right to live.


    He only had a short taste of her power, but he was already drunk on it.


    And now? He needed more. Just a little more. And it’s right there, waiting for me.


    Surely, whatever that had happened to him so far was as far as things would go.


    The developers would not let things spiral out of control, right? They understood the way the rig worked, and how human brains worked with them, and it was all kept within safe, proven and acceptable parameters, surely.


    He walked the couple of steps until he was by the rig’s chair.


    Kaelyn was still a level one priest, and there was always a shortage of healers when a new MMO launched.


    There were many people just waiting for him to log on to complete quests and dungeons.


    If he waited too long, then other players would give in and roll healers to fill the void.


    And then Ryan would have missed the biggest opportunity.


    After all, there were hundreds, if not thousands, of suckers out there he could manipulate.


    Players. I mean players. Not all of them are suckers. Thousands of players depended on him.


    That was the best part about being an in-demand healer. There were thousands of players who would fight each other just so they could do all the work for him. Isn’t it great?


    All he had to make sure was that they would have him join their party rather than any of the other healers.


    To do that, he just had to make sure he sold himself better than they did. And knowing MMO players, that should not be a problem at all. Healers were notorious for being difficult and picky.


    Ryan was no Mother Theresa. He did not plan to be the most altruistic healer around. He did not have to. Other healers would set the bar so low, as long as you were not an ass, they would have him.


    And I assure you, we can easily do that. I can show you exactly how it’s done.


    Ryan gave in. Fine. Let’s log back in and play a little. Not like I had any other plan for the day, anyway.


    ***


    As she opened her eyes, the market of Luminara, bathed in the light of the setting sun, appeared before her. In the sky, the ominous charcoal moon stood vigil over the city, and distressingly visible in the dusk light.


    The market plaza’s many lanterns were being lit, people using magic or matches to bring them to life, one at a time.


    Grilled meat, sweet pastries, aromatic teas and the smell of coffee greeted her. The sound of crashing waves outside of the city, a constant reminder of the cliff-side nature of the trade metropolis. The cry of seagulls circling above the many trade vessels anchored at sea mix with the voice of the patrons and hawkers exchanging coins for goods and services all around her.


    “Oh, how I missed you, Luminara. Told you to hold on to your horses. I am back, at last.”


    Ryan wanted to smile, but Kaelyn grinned instead. He would finally get to experience the fantasy he had conjured when he heard about the game’s release. He could go forth and see what it felt like to take charge, to be in control of what people saw, and how they would react. Ryan had built Kaelyn just for this.


    Here she would be in her element. A city like Luminara was the ideal hunting ground for one with her skills. Countless gullible fools that would give up their precious time, goods or coins at a mere suggestion.


    But she would not phrase it as a request or order. No—it has to come from them.


    That was the trick, and it was far simpler than one would expect. Any woman working in a male-dominated industry would confirm. Other people were quick to claim your ideas as their own, if they thought they were good ideas. Try claiming credit over your own work, see how that goes.


    So why fight against people’s tendencies, when you could simply learn how to weaponise them? Whisper something in someone’s ear, and see how fast they run around telling others about their great idea.


    Her delicate Felinae ears twitched, catching snippets of conversations, while her glowing, emerald-green eyes scanned the bustling marketplace with an ease that Ryan could only marvel at. Her senses were so much sharper than his. Nothing escaped her notice. The sound of the coins in that merchant’s fat purse. The hesitation of this other man has he tried to argue the vendor did not return the correct change. Curious onlookers throwing furtive glances her way, while pretending not to, of course.


    And just like that, his nervous tension vanished. She did not even have to think about it. She knew how to move, where to walk. There was a magnetic pull to every step she took. Eyes turned to her, no longer pretending not to gawk. They can’t help but stare.


    The flick of her tail. The sway of her hips.


    They’re all watching you.


    The thought whispered in his mind, not from Ryan, but from Kaelyn. She revelled in the attention. It fed her, ignited something in her chest that throbbed with satisfaction. And Ryan? He could almost taste the power that she wielded, like a sweet nectar. He was just as comfortable with it as she was.


    Ryan’s resolve, however, wavered. Should I really be here doing this? Part of his mind was still trying to make sense of what was happening to him in the real world. But in this moment, his concerns felt so far away, like the world beyond Luminara was an afterthought. Kaelyn pushed those thoughts aside. Focus, Ryan, this is serious. We’ve got a game to play.


    And just like that, she locked her gaze on her first mark.


    A tall blonde homini guardian, armour gleaming under the soft glow of the market lights. A spiked heavy mace hung heavily at his side, the shimmering sigil of the Astralius etched on the gigantic shield hanging on his back. He was strong, broad-shouldered. Exactly the type to fall for a damsel in distress—or perhaps, a helpless priestess in need of aid.


    His gear clearly showed he was no level one newbie. A high level player on day one? A skilled gamer, or one with a lot of free time. Surely you can imagine how good his social skills are going to be, right?


    Kaelyn’s lips curled into a smile. One that came so effortlessly. Her entire demeanour shifted from her predatory confidence to one of demure helplessness. She tilted her head slightly, her golden hair cascading down her shoulders in soft waves, as she allowed her tail to wrap around her thigh—a gesture of uncertainty. The best lies are wrapped in layers of truths. The hesitation you are feeling at the back of your mind is a boon to us, here. It makes us appear even more convincing. But enough talk. Let’s have at it!


    “Excuse me, sir?” Her voice slipped from her lips like honey, soft and lilting, but with just a hint of vulnerability. She bit her lower lip, her emerald eyes wide and shimmering as though she had a secret to tell, but did not quite know how to ask.


    Ryan’s heart thudded in his chest. Suddenly, doubt crept into his mind. Surely, he’ll find out? Won’t it be obvious to everyone that it’s a guy piloting this body right now?


    But Kaelyn had no such doubt. She was thrumming with excitement. She knew what she was doing and was confident in her acting. Ryan’s worries had just made the bait even more enticing.


    The guardian turned, his armour clinking as he took in the sight of her. His eyes widened slightly. Kaelyn smiled inwardly. Predictable, but since he picked the lord of truth as his god, that just made him an easier mark.


    “Yes Miss? Can I help you?” His voice was gruff, but there was a softness there—a willingness to help. The kindness of a seasoned player, eager to prove himself in more ways than one.


    Kaelyn swayed on her feet, playing up the uncertainty in her posture. She looked up at him through her lashes. “Oh, thank the stars you stopped. I was so worried—I’m new to Luminara, and I seem to have... well, got turned around.”


    Ryan could feel it—the flutter in his stomach, the twinge of guilt trying to rise. But Kaelyn’s instincts overpowered it, her words spilling out like practiced lines from a play. It really is that easy. Each flirtatious gesture, each glance, felt as though it was part of a well-oiled machine.


    “Ah yes, Luminara can be overwhelming at first,” the warrior said, his tone friendly, but his eyes betraying a glint of interest. He took a step closer. “Where were you headed? I can help.”


    Wait for it, Kaelyn thought, her inner voice practically purring.


    Kaelyn allowed a soft, relieved smile to bloom on her face, and she gently touched his arm—just a light touch, enough to send a spark through him. “You’re too kind. I was looking for the priest guildhall. I just started and I could use some pointers and a guide to help me with the newbie quests...”


    The man’s chest puffed out just a little. “Oh, you’re a priest?” His eyes flicked up and down on her attire, lingering longer than necessary on her curves.


    Kaelyn giggled softly, her voice ringing like a melody. “Oh, yes, well, this is my starter gear.” She looked up at him again, her smile turning coy. “I’m still learning the ropes...”


    The warrior was hooked; the bait swallowed whole. Hook, line and sinker. His posture shifted, more protective now, his hand hovering near his weapon as if he’d just appointed himself her personal bodyguard. “I could show you where the best quests are, and with suitable rewards for your build. I can help with any killing outside, too.”


    And there you have it. Kaelyn’s voice echoed in Ryan’s mind, the triumph swelling.


    But Ryan’s heart pounded harder, an edge of guilt creeping in. This was not him. This was not who he was. Manipulating someone like this, toying with their kindness—it felt... wrong.


    Kaelyn, though, had no such reservations. She leaned closer to the warrior, her body language a perfect mix of vulnerability and allure. “Would you really? I’d feel so much safer with someone like you by my side.”


    The warrior flushed, his cheeks darkening under the flickering market lights. “Of course, I’d be happy to help.”


    As they began walking away from the market plaza, Kaelyn’s conversation flowed effortlessly. Each time the warrior spoke, she responded with perfect precision—laughing at his jokes, complimenting his bravery, weaving small bits of charm into her words. And as they walked, Ryan could feel her growing confidence, her control tightening over his thoughts.


    See how easy this is? Kaelyn’s voice whispered. They all want to help you. All you have to do is ask the right way.


    Ryan’s hesitation, that sliver of discomfort, was shrinking. Drowned out by the sheer thrill of success, Kaelyn felt. This was power. Not in the way of brute strength or flashy magic, but in the quiet control of social finesse, in the way people bent toward her without even realising they were being pulled in.


    Every time she batted her lashes, every step that brought them closer together, Ryan felt himself slipping further into her mindset.


    By the time they reached the steps of the priest guildhall, Kaelyn had charmed the guardian into gifting her a few mana potions. He sent her a friend request, offering his services for future adventures. She promptly accepted, and promised she would not hesitate to call on him, should the need arise, her hand lingering on his arm just long enough to send a shiver through him.


    Ryan, somewhere in the depths of her mind, exhaled.


    This was is real. The power, the control—she had it. And if he was being honest with himself, it had felt good.


    Maybe too good.


    But thanks to this player’s help, maybe she would make up for lost time and climb levels fast enough to make her a useful addition to adventuring parties. Everybody who played the game knew that higher-level picks would yield greater rewards. But Kaelyn was not thinking about mobs’ levels. Raid leaders would be the real gold mines. And to get into raids, she had to level up first.