[MC's POV]
It has been three months since the potential testing ceremony.
The maid had told me that my parents would be coming soon... but I guess they didn't want to meet someone who is called the "Stain of Ro'nark."
Their history of leaving me after a week has built up a good resistance to the effects of such actions.
The main change for me was the behaviour of the maids around me. Their behaviour before was good—neither overly fanatic nor too cold or distant—but nowadays they see me like someone infected with a disease that could spread just by being near me.
---
In these three months, the forever maid stopped trailing me everywhere.
Now that I had more freedom, I tried wandering around. But this time, I was stopped at the gate from leaving the compound.
It seems I have one barrier after another.
Now my vocal cords are already formed, and it wouldn't be strange if I could speak. Even after confirming this world is fantasy, I didn't want to take risks and come under the radar of that creepy grandpa again.
So, I waited a little bit more before speaking properly.
And today—I decided to try that.
---
When they stopped me at the gate again, I raised a little courage to try to speak in a less embarrassing way.
In the end, I managed to get one word out.
I pointed toward the gate and said softly,
"Outside."
Both guards looked at me.
Till now, I would either stay there and pretend to play or just go back after they rudely stopped me.
They kept staring for a few seconds.
I sighed internally and repeated, pointing again,
"Outside."
The guards looked at each other, and then the first one spoke.
"Little bugger can speak now. Should we report this to the Grand Patriarch?"
The second one chuckled.
"He's about to reach one and a half years old. He should be able to speak now—otherwise, his body will also be considered low potential. Hahahaha…"
He laughed, and the first guard joined in. They probably thought I couldn't understand their "big words."
---
For the first time since I got here, I felt rage—pure, unfiltered rage.
I was about to lash out at them with sophisticated words and maybe some curses... but I held myself back as my brain processed the ramifications of that action.
They had just mentioned reporting this progress to that creep.
If they reported it to my mother or that excuse of a father, it wouldn't matter. But that creep—even the memory of him made me nauseated.
So, I stood there and took their insults with the innocent face of someone who doesn't understand the world.
After their laughter died down, the second guard bowed slightly and said with superiority dripping from every word,
"Not yet. Grow a little more, and you'll be allowed outside."
Then he made gestures to shoo me away.
---
I left.
I may have controlled myself, but this was my first time feeling that emotion—anger.
I remember it from my memories, but I didn't know what to do about it. My mind had stopped me from doing anything stupid, but that rage was still there, simmering.
As I sat in my room, anger about everything built up—my supposed reincarnation, my supposed family, my luck or fate or whatever, my tag as one with the lowest potential.
All these things happened to me, and I couldn't do anything about them just because I was unaware or powerless.
I searched my memories for a way to deal with simmering rage and found the crudest one.
I took the pillows beside me.
First, I put one around my mouth and screamed into it like there was no tomorrow. The pillow helped muffle the sound, but I was nowhere near done.
Then I took another pillow and started hitting it with my fist.
After three or four hits, it just felt comical—what my tiny hands were doing—so I stopped and sat at the edge of the bed, breathing in and out deeply.
---
After quenching my rage, I started thinking again.
All that adrenaline wasn't gone—just redirected.
I added a mental note: I'm being actively watched.
I hadn't considered that before, but after today, it would be foolish not to.
If I can't get out of this compound, maybe I should at least roam inside and see if anything can help me understand my situation better.
Still, I refrained for now and laid back to sleep.
---
After that day, I began exploring the compound.
I found new rooms... and even secret places where maids and guards came to intermingle.
I mean, surely they could do it in a room—but where's the fun in that?
About a week later, I found a bookcase filled with old volumes. In my current situation, that was one of—if not the—best things that could happen.
I pestered a few maids to get me some books, and finally, on the third day, I succeeded—thanks to an old maid's grace.
She didn't want to be bothered again and didn't even ask if I would read or play. Probably for the best.
She just placed all six books on my floor and left.
---
The books looked quite old up close. I dusted off the first one and read the title:
"Planet Mythos & Its Families."
I was ecstatic.
This was exactly what I needed.
I placed it down, sat cross-legged, and began reading.
---
As I read, I discovered something else about myself—whatever I read, I could remember line by line, word by word.
Photographic memory.
I didn't know if I had that in my previous life, but I sure as hell knew what it meant.
And my surprises were just beginning.
I finished the entire book in about two hours. It was a roller coaster of surprises, gasps, and awe.
At the end, I finally understood some truths about this world.
I'd half expected multiple races—and this planet didn't disappoint.
---
Firstly, I'm from one of the top ten families on this planet: The Ro'nark Family.
The other nine families consist of humans and other races. The book detailed their foundations and defining features.
The most powerful and oldest is The Isaldor Family—Wood and Nature Elves. Their history goes back 7000 years.
Amidst all that information, I found something else.
The mysterious Tower of Mythus originated from this planet… ten thousand years ago.
After this, there was one more Elf family, three Human families, two Titan families, two Spirit families, and one Demon family:
---
Umbra Elves / Shadow Elves
Soldrake Family (Human)
Delmar Family (Human)
Gigas Family (Titans)
Potanis Family (Titans)
Animus Family (Spirit – Humanoid species with high affinity to Spirit Magic & are born with Spirit Animals as companions)
Bratus Family (Spirit – Humanoid species with affinity and can form contracts with powerful Spirit Elementals)
Zairos Family (Demons – Humanoid species with high affinity for Demon Magic; powerful mages)
---
Besides these top families from multiple races, there were other species—but they didn't have much presence yet.
After reading all this, I found out something else—my mother was probably from the Soldrake Family.
I didn't know whether to be happy because I had such a powerful family on my maternal side… or cry because I had such a powerful family on my maternal side.
After finishing the first book, I immediately grabbed the next one.
Its title caught my eye:
"Life Before Tower of Mythus."
I was hooked instantly.
I hurriedly opened the book, and as I read the first page, my mouth dropped open.
I was in shock of my life.
Unconsciously, I muttered:
"What the fucking hell…???"