A World Rewritten

1.

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"I hate mornings." Seriously, what’s there to love about them? The sun is obnoxious, always rising way too early, shining in through my curtains like it owns the place. Why do people even prefer mornings over nights? Don’t they want to sleep? I could sleep all day and still never get tired of it. But no, the world loves its early mornings.

And you know what else is annoying? The fact that I’m a vampire living in a fantasy world filled with every hybrid creature you can imagine—werewolves, mermen, mermaids, witches, dragons, demons, angels—you name it. We’ve got ‘em. Including vampires like me, of course. You’d think magic would be cool, right? Wrong. Magic is stupid. It’s not like I don’t have powers, but what do you mean I can fly? Seriously? If I can fly, then what’s the point of having legs? Exactly. Ridiculous. I should’ve been born a normal human, but hey, life’s weird like that.

Oh, by the way, I’m Aurillie. You all probably know me, or at least of me. And to be honest, I have no idea what I’m going to do today. Should I go outside? Absolutely not. I hate walking, even though I could just fly. But flying drains my energy, and frankly, I’m too lazy for that. Hang out with friends? Yeah, right. I barely have any. Who wants to be around people all the time? Definitely not me. Watching a movie with snacks sounds like a better plan.

I dragged myself to the fridge, opened it, and rummaged through the contents. My hand found a couple of blood packets, and I pulled them out. On my way back to the couch, I grabbed some chips from the counter—because why not? A little snack to go with blood.

I dropped onto the couch, sinking into the cushions with an exaggerated sigh. The remote was within arm’s reach, so I snatched it and flipped the TV on. The screen blinked to life, and I lazily scrolled through the channels, one after another. Nothing seemed remotely interesting, but what else could I do? Watch the news? Actually, that didn’t sound like a terrible idea. It’s been ages since I bothered to find out what’s happening in the world outside my little bubble.

“Hello everyone, this is Jim reporting live from Xavier Academy.”

Great. Xavier Academy, the kingdom’s crown jewel of schools, the place where rich kids and overachievers go to become even more insufferable. I swear, every day there’s some news about that place. Do they ever get tired of hearing about themselves? Like, alright, we get it. Xavier Academy is for the elite, where only the snobbiest of brats go to flaunt their wealth and talents. No need to keep rubbing it in our faces, okay?

I took a sip from my blood packet, rolling my eyes as the reporter babbled on about today’s big story. A basketball match? Seriously? That’s what counts as news now? Who cares about some dumb game? I mean, it’s not even real news. They’re just droning on about their precious athletes and how they dominate the court like gods. Ugh, spare me.

Oh, and don’t get me started on their ‘fashion Show.’ It’s basically an excuse for girls to pile on makeup and totter around in heels like they’re performing in some kind of circus. What’s with the loud, clacking heels? It’s not a drum; just walk like a normal person! I groaned and shoved a chip into my mouth, disgusted by how ridiculous it all seemed. Honestly, I’m starting to sound like a hater, but come on. I’m here for news, not this fluff.

“And now, for the story everyone has been waiting for… *The Chosen One*.”

I paused, mid-chew. *The Chosen One*? What’s that supposed to be? Am I the only person who has no idea what this is about?

“In case some of you are unfamiliar with the project,” the reporter continued, “we have Mr. Vincin, principal of Xavier Academy, here to explain it.”

Okay, now I’m curious. This might be the first time something on the news has actually caught my interest. I sat up a little, focusing on the screen as I took another sip from my blood packet.

“Good evening, everyone,” said Mr. Vincin, stepping into the frame. He was tall, stiff, the type of person who carried himself like he was born to run an elite institution. “As many of you know, we’ve been running a project called *The Chosen One* for several years now. This event takes place once every five years, and today marks the day of our next selection. *The Chosen One* is an opportunity for one lucky individual to join Xavier Academy, no matter their background, wealth, gender, or abilities. We select a name at random from what we call the ‘Book of Names,’ which contains the names of all eligible beings in the kingdom. Their name will be drawn from a box, and they will be given the chance to change their life.”

Hold up. So my name is also in that box? I raised an eyebrow, though I didn’t feel any concern. There’s no way I’m getting picked. It’s practically impossible. Besides, even if I did get chosen, why would I want to go to Xavier Academy? It’s not like I care about magic or elite schooling. Still, the whole thing seemed like a waste of time, so I just scoffed, already half-bored.

“Alright, Mr. Vincin, shall we begin?” the reporter asked, practically vibrating with excitement.

Mr. Vincin nodded and reached into the box, his hand disappearing inside. The camera zoomed in dramatically, the tension almost comical as he fished out a single slip of paper. Slowly, he unfolded it, his expression giving nothing away.

I wasn’t paying much attention at this point, fully expecting him to call out some random name I didn’t recognize. But then, his voice rang out, clear and distinct:

"Aurillie, is The Chosen One."

What? It must be some kind of joke. A ridiculous one. There's no way in hell I am  the chosen one—heck, how could I even think of becoming one? I’ve spent my entire life trying to avoid everything about this world. Powers, magic, destiny... it’s all nonsense. And now this? Am I having hearing problems or what? No, I’m not the only one named Aurillie in the kingdom, right?

Do they really think I’m going to walk into that Academy and just become one of them?

Uhm they wish. All I want is to live a normal life. No powers, no chaos, just peace. And now, this.

I sink into the couch, my mind spinning. Maybe it’s a mistake. Yeah, a mistake. Any moment now, someone will correct it. They’ll say, “Oh, sorry, wrong Aurillie,” and this nightmare will be over.

*Knock knock.*

Oh.

The door creaks open. It’s the royal messenger, standing there like he’s got the weight of the world in his hands. His eyes lock on mine, and in that moment, I know. It’s not a mistake.

“Aurillie,” he says, his voice too calm for my liking. “It’s time.”
And deep down I knew better. There was no ignoring this.

Because now, the whole kingdom knew my name.

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