I jolted awake.
"AAHH!"
I almost jumped out of bed, trembling as I struggled to catch my breath.
What kind of dream was that?! It felt more like a nightmare!
"We were playing Truth or Dare with my classmates, and they dared me to go into the forest in the middle of the night. I got lost and ended up in front of this weird arch that looked like some kind of gate. Then suddenly my hand started glowing! I went inside because I was curious and I ended up in some kind of marketplace full of monsters! They all wanted to eat me! And then four ridiculously handsome and beautiful people appeared and said I was the Chosen One or something and then turns out they were vampires!!!"
I ran out of breath because of what I said.
But then I suddenly heard someone laugh.
I slowly turned my head to the right.
NO. THIS. CAN'T. BE.
THE FOUR PEOPLE FROM MY DREAM… WERE RIGHT BESIDE ME.
I screamed in my mind.
My eyes widened as I pointed at them with a trembling finger.
Which means…
That wasn't a dream?!
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Mr. Cold asked irritably. I stared at him like he might devour me at any second.
"Y-You're r-really vampires?"
I stuttered, my voice barely coming out.
"Yep."
Beauty Girl answered casually.
And because my brain and heart could no longer handle everything.
"WAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!! HUHUHUHUHU!!!"
I burst into tears like a kid who got left behind at the mall.
"D-Did I say something wrong?"
Beauty Girl looked confused at my reaction.
"Hey! You made Lulu cry!"
Playful Guy panicked a little.
"W-Wait, are you hurt somewhere?"
Eyeglass Guy asked, looking genuinely concerned.
"Tsk… humans really are weak."
Mr. Cold even had the nerve to roll his eyes.
"Big brother, come on!"
Beauty Girl scolded him.
And me?
I was sobbing like a wailing child. Literally.
I was terrified!
"A-Are you *hic g-going to eat *hic me? Why is my fate *hic so cruel? Did I do something bad?! WAAAHUHUHU!!"
"Will someone shut her up already? I might actually kill her if she keeps that up. I don't care if she's the so-called chosen one."
Mr. Cold snapped coldly.
"Brother!"
"You're so mean, dude." Shakes head. "I don't know what to do with you, Clide."
Because of what Mr. Cold said, I got even more scared. I lowered my head and sobbed harder.
Lord… if this really is Your plan…
then I accept it.
"I-I accept *hic my fate… Just please *hic don't let me feel the pain when I die, okay?! I want the kind of death where I *hic die instantly!"
They burst out laughing at what I said.
Everyone except Mr. Cold, who was still staring at me with a completely expressionless face.
"I really will eat you if you don't shut up."
Mr. Cold threatened seriously, his eyes locked on me.
I immediately clamped my mouth shut.
W-Wait… does that mean… they're not actually going to eat me?!
"A-Are you... going to let me go?"
Mr. Cold suddenly frowned and looked at me like I had just said something stupid.
"Let you go? You can't leave this world. The gate only opens on its own when it's necessary."
"Huh?! You mean… I can't go home anymore?!"
"Maybe. Besides, this world needs you too. You're the Chosen One." Beauty Girl answered while looking at me seriously.
Huh? There they go again with that "Chosen One" thing… Then a thought suddenly popped into my head.
W-WAIT?!
"T-The Chosen One?! Does that mean… I'm the one who's going to be sacrificed and fed to whatever monsters live here?!"
"Hahahahaha! Wow, your imagination is seriously dark!" Playful Guy laughed loudly, while Eyeglass Guy started explaining.
"The Chosen One means you were chosen to save this world and your world as well."
I frowned.
"Huh? Like a superhero or something? But I don't have any powers. So… why me?"
"That, is exactly the question. Why are you the Chosen One when you're such a weak mortal?"
Seriously. I've been noticing it for a while now… this vampire keeps insulting me. I really want to snap back at him, but I'd better not. He might drain all my blood!
So I just ignored him, even though I was itching to talk back.
Wait…
I suddenly froze when I realized they were all staring at me with confused expressions.
"C-Can you… read my thoughts?"
They glanced at each other, looking just as puzzled.
"What are you even talking about?" Mr. Cold looked at me with a deep frown.
"A-Aren't those your powers? Like the ones I read about in books about vampires? You can read minds. Just one stare and you can control your prey. And can you also turn into bats?"
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
They burst out laughing almost at the same time. Everyone except Mr. Cold, who looked like he might pounce on me at any second.
"Wow, mortals really do have wild imaginations," Playful Guy said between laughs.
"What else have mortals written about us?" Beauty Girl asked with a curious smile.
"Um… they say you burn in sunlight, so you're weak during the day. And during a Red Moon you become stronger. You're afraid of garlic. And you have special powers like teleportation, elemental magic, and stuff like that."
They laughed again.
Well everyone except Mr. Cold, who looked like he was slowly losing patience with my existence.
"Hey, mortal. Everything you just said about us is wrong."
He stood up, cleared his throat, and started explaining like a professor giving a lecture.
"We cannot read minds. It's true that we can control creatures with our gaze, but we don't have those so-called 'special powers' you mentioned. We also don't burn under the sun, though I admit our power weakens in bright light. And garlic?"
He paused and grimaced.
"We're just allergic to it. And we do not turn into bats. We are not animals. You fool."
FOOL?!
I grimaced.
I swear, I wanted to grab his hair and yank it.
"Aaaah... I thought you were like that. Wait, can you also turn people into vampires like—"
I didn't even get to finish my question when Mr. Cold suddenly cut me off.
"That's enough of your pointless questions. Let's go. The Queen is already looking for you."
I frowned.
This vampire is seriously so rude. Not even the slightest effort to explain anything.
Tss...
He turned around and walked out of the room, leaving the four of us behind.
"Sorry about my brother's behavior," the beautiful girl said while scratching the back of her neck.
"He's just like that. Always in a bad mood," the friendly-looking guy added.
"W-Who are you?" I asked while still clutching the blanket. I still didn't know whether I should be scared or grateful that they didn't eat me.
"I'm Elaine Montedore. The guy who just left earlier is my brother, Clide Montedore."
She pointed toward the door where Mr. Grumpy had exited.
"The guy who's been smiling this whole time is Steven Dion. And this four-eyes here is Michael Falmir."
"Nice to meet you. By the way, I'm—"
"We know. You're Luxcia Locrane Logrande, right?"
Michael cut me off.
W-Why do they know my name?!
"H-How do you know that?"
"We've been waiting for you for a long time," Steven replied, his tone now more serious.
"W-What do you mean when you say I'm the 'Chosen One'? That I'm the one who will save your world and ours too?"
Elaine smiled and looked at me as if she was hiding a secret behind her eyes.
"The Queen will explain everything to you. So… let's go."
I gave a small smile and slowly climbed out of the bed.
If all of this is really true…
Well… I guess I'll just wing it.
When we stepped out of the room, my eyes immediately widened.
WHAT THE—?!
The hallway we were walking through looked like something straight out of a fantasy movie. The ceiling was incredibly high, and golden chandeliers hung above us, sparkling with countless crystals.
"My gosh… this really isn't a dream, is it?"
I turned to look at the walls, which were filled with paintings, different people who all seemed to be royal blood lines. Some were landscapes I had never seen before in the real world. There were also swords on display, gleaming even though no light was shining directly on them. It almost felt like each weapon was breathing.
Creepy but amazing.
"The flowers are so beautiful," I whispered to myself.
There were rows of vases lined up along the hall, filled with red roses and black roses. It was my first time seeing flowers like that.
But as I continued looking around, a chill ran down my spine.
The entire place had a Victorian style, red and black everywhere. And even though everything looked incredibly beautiful and elegant it felt like every corner was hiding something dangerous. We finally arrived at the place they were talking about, and the moment the massive doors opened, I immediately felt countless intense gazes fall on me.
I felt uncomfortable.
They were all staring at me sharp, serious looks, as if they were examining every part of my existence.
There were so many of them.
I was surrounded by beings I didn't know, and somehow I felt like I was the strange one among them. Like I was the only mortal in a place where I didn't belong.
Wait.
Scratch that "like."
I really am the only mortal in this room.
"Stand here in the middle, Luxcia," Elaine whispered softly as she gently pushed me forward.
I was the only one standing in the center.
Elaine, Steven, Michael, and even Clide stayed behind me like observers. I was the one being exposed the one being examined. Wait… am I about to meet their Queen?
Or maybe even their King?
Come to think of it, ever since earlier, no one has mentioned a king even once.
I looked around.
The place was as large as an auditorium, but far more elegant. A massive chandelier hung in the center like a star in the sky, and at the front stood two thrones.
Gold and silver dominated the entire hall. The only red you could see was around the throne area.
Right… that color was reserved for royalty.
My eyes drifted to the guards standing at the sides.
Knights in full armor.
Literal knights!
The kind I thought I'd only ever see on TV.
"Wow… I feel like I just stepped into a live-action fantasy film."
Suddenly, another door at the front opened. And a breathtakingly beautiful woman appeared.
"Oh my…"
Her skin was pale like porcelain. Her lips were red, her nose sharp and elegant, and her figure tall and slender. Her black hair was long and curly, flowing freely down to her waist. The gown she wore wasn't just elegant, it looked as if it were made from light and shadow themselves.
Every being inside the hall bowed at the same time.
I had no choice but to follow them. I bowed as well, even though my knees were trembling.
"Luxcia Locrane Logrande."
Waaah!
Her voice was cold, yet filled with power. The kind of voice that even if spoken in a whisper, the entire world would listen. When I looked up, she smiled.
My gosh… she's absolutely stunning! It felt like not even a goddess could outshine her.
"Y-Your Majesty… w-why am I here?"
My head was already spinning from nervousness. She smiled again, and it almost felt like the entire room brightened.
"You are the Chosen One, selected by the Great King, the creator of your world and ours. We need you, Luxcia. Because you are the only one who can defeat Thanathos."
My whole body went cold.
Thanathos? Who is that now?!
That sounds like the name of a final boss in a video game!
"B-But… Your Majesty… I don't have any powers…"
She smiled once more, and there was absolute certainty in her voice.
"You do, Luxcia. You simply have not noticed them yet. And you cannot fully use them until they are awakened. To do that you will need keys."
"K-Keys?"
I was getting more and more confused. My brain felt like it might cramp from all this information.
The Queen nodded.
"The Chosen One is like a vessel… a container. All the power from the Seven Kingdoms already exists within you. But in order for them to awaken… you must obtain the keys."
"K-Keys?"
Now I was even more curious.
"The keys are called the Circles of Power. Each one can be found in different kingdoms of this world, kingdoms ruled by different kinds of beings. Later," she added, "Clide will explain the Seven Kingdoms to you."
"B-But… why do you even need a Chosen One if you can defeat Thanathos yourselves? And who exactly is he?"
The Queen's expression turned serious again.
She slowly rose from her throne and looked directly at me as if she could see straight into my soul.
"Thanathos is a being said to be the King of Death. And you, Luxcia, are the only one who can stop him. It is your destiny. This is the prophecy of the Oracle."
My gosh!
My head was starting to hurt from all the complicated things I was hearing. It felt like my entire life had suddenly turned into an essay-type exam.
"P-Pardon?"
That was the only weak response I could manage. I didn't even know which question I should ask first. The Queen nodded and spoke again, her voice clearer and more resolute.
"You must travel across the Seven Kingdoms and obtain the Seven Circles of Power. Only through the Circles of Power will you be able to use the power of this world."
"Why is that necessary?"
She looked at me, her gaze sharp but filled with a hint of pain.
"Because once the Gate of Hell is opened, a being known as Koteino Kyrio, the Dark King will emerge. And the only force capable of defeating him is the power of the Seven Circles. You alone, Miss Luxcia, possess the ability to gather them. You must journey through each kingdom of this world and obtain the Circle of Power that lies within."
Her tone suddenly changed. There was a trace of fear in it now. "But that is not the only thing you must stop."
I could see the worry on the Queen's face. "You must also prevent Thanathos from collecting the Seven Kings of this world. These kings are the key to opening the Gate of Hell. And unfortunately…"
She sighed.
"…Thanathos has already taken King Dracu and King Lycan of the Warolof Kingdom. He now holds two of them, Miss Luxcia."
The entire hall fell silent.
No one moved.
It was as if I could feel the weight of their grief over the loss of their kings.
The Queen slowly stepped closer and looked at me again.
"Miss Luxcia… if the Gate of Hell is opened, it will not only destroy our world. Your world will be in danger as well. We need you. You are the only one who can help us."
Me?
I'm the only one who can help them?
Me?? the girl who used to get bullied at school?
Me?? the girl who barely knows how to survive life?
I didn't even know how to react. I'm only turning eighteen. I'm just trying to survive my own life.
And now this?
"What the—"
My life, which was already full of drama…
…suddenly turned into a fantasy?!
I grabbed my head.
"Lord… what exactly is Your plan for my life?"
I mean… seriously?
The Chosen One?!
That's supposed to be me?