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
As the first light of day began to filter through the trees, casting a misty haze over the world, the boy found himself waking up to the familiar sound of a lone wolf's howl. "Ughhh! This is driving me mad! I always hear that damned wolf's howl every time I wake up. Someone just shut that mutt up already!" he exclaimed, irritation evident in his voice. "Shit! I didn't even get to sleep because I was nervous, and now I have to put up with a damn whining mutt on top of that?! Ugh..." Letting out a deep breath, he covered his face with a pillow. "...Must be nice to be free..." The days had stretched into weeks, and the weeks into months, and the months into years, all spent inside the confines of his room. He didn't even know the ins and outs of the place he called home. Being trapped in his room for years was taking its toll on his spirit, and the longing for freedom grew stronger with each passing day. But assuming today was the day he finally had the chance to get out of his room a
I stood groggily in front of the mirror, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. My disheveled bed hair was in dire need of taming, and a quick shower seemed like the perfect remedy. Glancing at my reflection, I observed my slender frame and smooth, fair skin, still adorned with the remnants of a peaceful slumber. My body was lean and slender. While my muscles were not yet fully defined, I could sense the budding strength within them. "Not bad," I commented to myself. 'But I definitely need to build some muscle...' It was easier said than done. Gaining muscle overnight was simply impossible. Given my current lifestyle, maintaining a fit physique was challenging. If it weren't for a peculiar aspect of my physique and occasional exercises, I would probably be overweight. Not to mention the amount of food I consumed—it could easily feed a village. I chuckled at the thought. Remembering the numerous times I hesitated to work out while indulging in hearty meals, I made my way to the bath,