From the moment I opened my eyes, I was conscious, but I thought it was something normal that everyone experienced. I was wrong. As I grew older, I realized that it wasn't normal and that I was special—but I didn't know why. The question that constantly lingered in my mind was:"Am I the only special one, or are there others like me?"I couldn't have known the answer back then, so I didn't dwell on it too much.
While other children were learning to understand and use mana around the ages of nine or ten, I had begun gathering it roughly thirty days after my birth. At first, I thought it was normal, so I did it in front of my family. But when I noticed their strange and bewildered reactions, I started doing it secretly.
In fact, I had already grasped the language of my country when I was just ten days old. My learning speed was far beyond that of others, though I didn't realize it at the time. Previously, I mentioned my family—but actually, I only lived with my mother. My father had been labeled a "traitor" and killed before I was born, and the rest of my relatives lived in another city.
Five days after learning the language, I taught myself to read and write. To understand the world, I began reading books. Within fifteen days, I had finished three relatively large books and had figured out what mana was, as well as how to obtain and increase it. Normally, schools teach these lessons over several months, but I had learned them in just fifteen days through three books. Of course, the rare collection of books left by my father also helped me greatly—both in my childhood and in shaping my future.
The most important lesson I learned was this:"No matter how talented you are, the one who works harder and spends more time will always have more mana."Talent may allow you to progress faster, but it doesn't change the truth that those who strive the hardest will ultimately become stronger.
I was both extremely talented and dedicated, so reaching a mana level of 30,000 didn't take me long. Normally, it would take a person three to four years to reach this level; I achieved it in just eight months after understanding mana. Despite my father's passing, I couldn't understand how our financial situation was so stable—until I learned that my mother had carried the title of "the best courtesan in the country" to ensure I could live and attend the continent's most prestigious academy. I learned this when I was only three, and on that day, I made a promise to myself:"I will be the best for my mother."
As I grew older, I faced the harshness and realities of life. As expected, I had no friends. Everyone called me "the devil's child." Normally, I wouldn't have cared, but whenever someone insulted my mother, something inside me snapped. I knew I had the power to easily destroy them.
Yet, I held back for a single reason: the words my mother had told me."They continue to believe in the wrongs they think are right because they cannot see the goodness within you. But you are different, and you know your own heart. If you retaliate and hurt them, what they say will seem true. Never allow that to happen—ignore them and always rise above."
I lived by these words, so I never caused trouble…That is, until that day arrived.