As the days passed in the warm embrace of Mandane and Cambyses, Kourosh discovered a wondrous ability within himself. An eidetic memory that kept all the knowledge from his previous life alive, from history lessons to modern concepts, had emerged like a hidden treasure in his mind. This discovery both astonished him and filled him with excitement. Every time his eyes gazed at the stone walls of the room, images from his university classes, history books, and his discussions about Cyrus the Great came to life in his mind. This power, like a light in the darkness of his infancy, opened a path to an unknown future. The sound of Mandane's gentle footsteps and the smell of burnt wood in the air reminded him of a life he had left far behind.
Since only a month had passed since his birth, Kourosh was still unable to interact directly with his environment. Long periods of sleep, a natural part of an infant's life, consumed him. But in these quiet moments, his mind was at work. His deep interest in the Kingdom Building genre of novels, which he had followed for years in his modern life, had given him familiarity with diverse sciences like engineering, military strategy, economics, and even the principles of diplomacy. In his dreams, he categorized this knowledge in his mind and drew up plans for the future, as if the workings of these sciences were in his hands. These fantasies, even amidst his physical fatigue, kept him vibrant.
His eidetic memory, which operated with incredible precision, helped him quickly become familiar with the sounds and words around him. Mandane, with her warm and gentle voice, would tell him stories of ancient heroes, Persian myths, and reverence for Ahura Mazda. These narratives, along with the whispers of Old Persian, gradually took root in his mind. Despite his young age, his memory allowed him to understand the Old Persian language to some extent within a few weeks. Every word he heard from his mother's lips was like a key that unlocked the doors to ancient knowledge, and he listened to these sounds with delight.
The deep analysis of social and political issues, which he had learned in his previous life, now took shape in his mind. In the privacy of his thoughts, he recalled the servants' whispers about the pressure of taxes, the discontent of the tribes, and the corruption of the court. This information, combined with his knowledge of the history of the Medes and the Achaemenids, showed him that the court, despite its outward splendor, was weak from within. In his dreams, he saw images of a people exhausted under the oppression of Astyages, and these thoughts drove him to seek solutions for justice and reform. These analyses, even in infancy, gave him hope for a brighter future.
His enthusiasm for ambitious ideals grew in his mind during these days of physical stillness. He remembered how, in novels, kings built empires with innovation and strategy. This inspiration led him to draw up a plan for an empire based on justice, tolerance, and progress. His dreams were filled with images of flourishing cities, organized armies, and a contented populace living under the shadow of a just government. These dreams, intertwined with his modern knowledge, made him think of building something greater than what history had recorded.
Ultimately, Kourosh realized that this eidetic memory was not just a gift, but a heavy responsibility. He believed that the Farrah-e Izadi—the Divine Glory that in history belonged to the kings of Iran and was bestowed upon them by Ahura Mazda—had manifested in him through these abilities. Consequently, he felt he must guide his people and the world toward happiness and justice. This thought, while he was still in his cradle, transformed him into a character who learned from the past and shaped the future.
With every whisper of Mandane's stories that reached his ears, this ideal took deeper root in his heart, ready for the day he could turn it into reality, just as the real Cyrus had sworn in his declaration of human rights. His mother's voice, speaking of the justice of Deioces and the courage of Cyaxares, acted as a driving force for this inner fire that guided him toward a great destiny.
With each passing day, Kourosh felt more prepared to play his historical role. Although he could not yet move, his mind was like an active workshop. He reconstructed the geographical maps and military strategies he had read about in books. Sometimes, in his imagination, he would sketch designs for qanats and metal-smelting furnaces, ideas inspired by his novels and lessons. Mandane and Cambyses, amazed by his unusual calmness, protected him with love, unaware that this infant, with every breath, was preparing himself for a grand future. This mental preparation freed him from his physical limitations.