"Mother...?" I asked. "Yes, Mother," she affirmed. "You... you can't be my mother. My real mother passed away the day I was born," I spat out, my voice shaking with a mix of anger and wariness. To my anguish, the entity wearing my mother's form laughed. However sweet its laughter was, it didn't please me at all. I felt anger welling up inside me, directed both at the impostor before me and, in a bizarre twist, at myself. Exasperated, I demanded, "Enough! Tell me who you really are and where we are!" In response to my request, she offered a soft smile. "We were here, we were there, we were everywhere." I was left utterly bewildered by her mystifying words. "W-What are you playing at?" She looked at me with a gaze that mirrored the way my real mother used to look at me, as if I were the most precious thing in the world. With that same soft smile, she replied, "Why? I am not playing games. And please, one question at a time. As for the question of who I am, I believe I alread
The days seemed to blend together, and just like that, another year arrived, replacing the previous one. In a year filled with major events and dramatic turns, the little boy's own small world didn't lag behind. Just to share a few highlights: He had the opportunity to learn more about the world, including its cultures, powers, nations, and influential figures, etc... And yes, table manners were on the list too! His diligent Nana didn't hold back in teaching him the ins and outs of proper behavior at the table. She made sure those lessons were ingrained in his young mind. It's safe to say that he now knows how a noble should act and carry themselves. Although he found the process a little unpleasant, Nana made it clear that being mannerless at the table was not acceptable as they prepared to enter the new year. To sum it up, he learned the basics of etiquette—from using utensils properly and not speaking with his mouth full, to greeting others with politeness and using "pleas
As he had not been born into nobility, he had never considered the possibility that it was customary for the father of a noble family to refrain from meeting his second wife's child until the child reached the age of six. He couldn't place blame on his dutiful caretaker for this unexpected twist. Many times he had asked, and many times she had denied him an answer. All in a span of a day. But with his persistent questioning, she had no choice but to spill the beans. She did so as gently as possible, considering the circumstances, but it didn't lessen the shock and bitterness he felt afterwards. Aggrieved and steadfast, he was resolved never to forgive and forget this day! He was sure of it! Already harboring grievances towards his siblings, the addition of the entire family now felt cruel, saddening, and...chaotic, yet strangely but surely necessary! It was a tumultuous experience, and to add insult to injury, the gifts thrown his way served as a reminder of the previous year.
Wiping his forehead, he looked at his chubby little hands, now glistening with sweat. Breakthrough! "It's a success...!" Huff... Huff... 'I didn't expect it to be this...challenging...but it's incredibly fulfilling! Damn, I feel amazing right now...like I'm on a winning streak or something...' And not only that, as he felt himself starting to cool down, he didn't need to check to know that his bed was now soaked. Realizing his predicament, he let out a sigh. 'How am I going to explain this? No matter how you look at it, it definitely seems like I wet the bed...well, there goes my dignity...I can't find a way around it...damn.' He groaned, pulling himself up to sit upright. 'It's twice as challenging with a toddler's body. How troublesome.' Giving the [nameless] book a quick glance, he traced its cover with his finger. 'Soon...soon, it will be your turn.' Nodding to himself, he gave it one last look before retracting his hand. 'Let's see just how much it has changed!' Wit
I reached my destination and couldn't help but feel a pleasant surprise at how smoothly everything had unfolded. I was mentally preparing myself for delays and all sorts of complications. But here I am... It's truly astonishing how 'effortlessly' things fell into place. I mean, just a moment ago, I was drowning in boredom, and now, in the blink of an eye, everything has transformed into this exciting whirlwind! My luck seems to be going absolutely bonkers! "Should've sneaked from the start." Standing before the towering, old oak door, I couldn't help but feel a bubbling sense of anticipation. It's just a door, right? But there it was, perhaps my excitement playing tricks on me, making it seem so imposing. Regardless, this door was the only thing standing between me and the library. 'Finally!' Just the thought of it brought an almost silly grin to my face. Wait, did I just call myself silly? Shaking my head, I dismissed the self-accusation. Who am I kidding? It's me we're tal
To my surprise, the doors didn't budge! "Huh?!" I tried again, exerting more force, but the doors remained firmly shut. Not even a slight tremor. Despite my small stature, I possessed an awakened power, something beyond the ordinary. Yet, these doors were refusing to yield, no matter what I attempted! Exhausted, I plopped down onto the ground, feeling an overwhelming sense of fatigue wash over me. "What in the world is happening? Why wasn't I warned about this? Scratch that, nobody prepared me for any of this!" 'Could it be that Mother truly didn't want anyone to enter the library?' After catching my breath and regaining some energy, I stood up. "I have my doubts, but... I can feel it calling. I think I know what it wants, and it's going to be one of the most challenging endeavors I've faced so far. This might just take the cake." Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself. Slowly, I gathered mana, bit by bit, allowing it to grow denser and more concentrated. 'Good!' Using the
Before I could even process those words and integrate them into my thoughts, I instinctively leaned back, trying to create distance between myself and the book. Suddenly, my surroundings shifted, and in an instant... ...gone was the library basement filled with books, replaced by a tall and majestic structure that towered before me. I couldn't quite discern its exact form, but it loomed above me, tall and expansive. "What's happening?!" I managed to stutter, my voice trembling. I dropped to my knees, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me. It was as if the air itself had been sucked out of the space, leaving me short of breath. Panic surged through me, and I found myself struggling to regain my composure. The tightness in my chest overwhelmed me. And then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the sensation vanished, leaving me gasping for air. "What the hell is going on?! Where am I?!" My confusion only deepened with each passing moment. Everything seemed to defy logic, la
With controlled breaths, I withdrew my hand from my chest and cast a basic darkness spell, barely at the lowest level, to rid my body of the perspiration that had drenched it. Despite the intense sweating, I still carried a pleasant scent. It was a peculiar observation. "Lavender, huh? Good to know." Try as I might, I couldn't distract myself any longer. What cursed Inheritance had I been burdened with? Where was I exactly? Why did the towering structure felt so familiar? Why did I feel this inexplicable urge to plunge into the pitch-black chasm? And who was it that that prevented my fall? A torrent of questions inundated my thoughts, causing my head to throb with pain. "Ugh, how troublesome... I'll have to tackle one problem at a time." Groaning I massaged my temples. I knew all too well that simply mulling over them wouldn't magically provide the answers I sought. There had to be other avenues to explore, other sources of information that could shed light on these mysterie