Confidence [The Mortal Instruments] {Rewritten}

I Simon's P.O.V

My entire reality crumbled before me. Everything I once believed to be true was shattered by the revelations of a mysterious man with golden cat contact lenses, an alluring woman, and a fiery red-headed pixie. According to them, my memories had been manipulated by a demon, and not only had I been turned into a vampire at some point, but I was also a war hero. It felt like an absurd movie plot line, completely out of sync with my identity as a simple music-loving nerd who aspired to attend a decent college.

The three strangers painted a vivid picture of a hidden world in the shadows, recounting stories of a mundane who transformed into a warrior, fighting first for his best friend and then for his newfound companions. They insisted that I was this person, this hero. It was a stretch, a narrative I couldn't quite wrap my head around. I wanted to dismiss them, to say, "Sorry, guys, but I think you've got the wrong guy."

Instead, my response surprised even me: "Okay. Cool! I'm in for the adventure."

A burst of enthusiasm erupted from the red-headed pixie, who leaped into my arms for an exuberant hug. Initially taken aback, I soon found myself reciprocating the embrace. The man with the golden cat contact lenses dropped his smirking facade, revealing a genuine smile for the first time. The gorgeous woman's tense posture relaxed, and she sighed in apparent relief.

As the two girls began excitedly making plans about who would teach me what, I interjected, "But I'll be attending the Shadow Hunters Academy." Their stances tensed at my declaration. "I understand that you guys want me back into your life, but for me, you are just strangers..." I began, only to be abruptly silenced by a stinging slap across my face. "Damn it!" I cursed, the pain throbbing on my cheek. Before I could continue, I caught the glassy look in the eyes of the gorgeous woman, and the words died on my lips. "Isabelle..."

"Don't you dare to speak my name!" She shouted, her voice filled with pain and rage, making me instinctively step back. It wasn't fear that compelled me; it was the sharp intensity in her voice. "You are dead to me, Simon, so dead!"

She turned away, leaving me standing there with an unexpected ache in my chest. "She's just hurt, Simon. Don't take it personally," the red-headed pixie reassured me. "A-are you sure you want to go to the Shadow Hunters Academy? We have really good teachers here."

"I do," I affirmed, my gaze fixed on the receding figure of Isabe... No! I chided myself. If you start using names, you'll get attached, and it will hurt more when they leave, realizing that you weren't worth it.

With nothing more to say, I departed. The following weeks were consumed by the tedious task of packing my belongings and crafting a plausible lie to share with my mother. How could I possibly reveal the surreal truth? 'Hey, Mom! I've got something important to confess. Brace yourself; this may sound funny, or downright crazy. There's an entire hidden world in the shadows, teeming with supernatural beings like vampires, werewolves, warlocks, faeries, and Nephilim. Apparently, I used to be one of these creatures of the night, but I lost my memories and abilities because I struck a deal with a demon prince. Now, I'm off to a shadow hunter academy to train and rediscover that part of myself that has been missing these last few weeks.'

Of course, such a revelation would likely result in my immediate relocation to a mental institution, or worse, a synagogue for an exorcism. So, I concocted a more palatable tale, explaining that I had been accepted into an exchange program at a private school abroad. It wasn't a complete lie, but the guilt welled up within me when my mother looked at me with pride in her eyes. Nevertheless, I pressed on; I needed to rediscover my identity and return home as the hero they claimed I was.

Attending the academy turned out to be far from a smooth experience. The challenges began almost immediately, presenting themselves in the form of bullies, confusing situations, a rogue vampire, and even an abandoned baby warlock left at the academy's doorstep. Fortunately, the day took an unexpected turn for the better when Magnus and Alec, the power couple of the Shadow World, were present to save the day. They, not only resolved the baby warlock predicament, but also served as a shining example of the changing times, where marriage and adoption between Nephilim and Downworlders were becoming more accepted, or at least Alec was pushing for it with all his might.