A few more months passed, pretty sure I am a year old now. I am bad at math, even basic but pretty sure I started reading and writing again 8 months after my birth. And around 4 months have passed. I am unsure what calendar type this world uses, since it wasn’t listed in the kindergarten to 5th grade textbooks. But it seems to follow the same days as us AKA Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.

After several months of crawling, stumbling and falling. I have finally learned to walk properly, or at least my new body has adapted. Pretty sure most babies take 14 to 18 months just to start walking properly but I have the upper hand due to my memories from my life before this one. You know, I would throw a party or parade just for this little success but no one would acknowledge my triumph, as its a normal thing as far most people see it. So, for the moment, my personal accomplishments would remain unsung. But hey, I am able to walk on my own and was at least walking in a stable way. That’s something.

I walked through the hallway, stumbling time to time, though that was natural. It was an occasional stumble, nothing too bad. Soon enough, I will be able to sprint through this house like a mini-titan, scaring my poor parents who are already concerned about me. I wonder, when did I start walking in my previous life?

I was unsure whether to be offended or proud of myself for taking a few months just to walk properly. Then again, its an achievement that many kids don’t get early. But, as the cliché goes, it wasn’t the destination, it was the journey. So I took what I could.

I sounded kind of philosophical there for a second, didn’t I?

In fact, now that I was mobile, I began to explore the house more thoroughly. Not that it was a mansion, mind you. A fairly modest 2 story home, comfortable enough, but not exactly bursting with adventure. The study, though... that was a different story.

The study was where my mother, Bathsheba, spent most of her time. I’d seen her retreat into that room many times before, always carrying the faint aroma of tea and parchment. And despite my curiosity, I’d never been allowed in. That is, until recently, when I happened to enter the room as it was left partially open for little old me to explore!

Of course, I stole- I mean, borrowed, a few useful resources from the study. In fact, I feel like I have gotten a little smarter, despite only doing 5th grade problems or questions. I then looked up at the door, glancing at the doorknob. I had grew a bit despite only being a year old, but I was still too short, short to the point I couldn’t reach the doorknob.

As such, I created a small invention. I had found unused rope in the yard the other day by the shed. Oh yeah, we had a shed by the way, I only discovered it yesterday. The shed was small and run-down but still usable. But lets forget about the good old shed, since I wasn’t allowed to enter it as it locked anyways.

I had tied the rope into a noose, this time not for you-know-what. I then threw the noose or loops around the handle or doorknob. Most of the time I fail as it either misses or slips off. So I decided to tightened the rope around the doorknob. Then I slowly pulled it down, as the doorknob turned and door opened with a small screech.

Hah! Take that Dad from the previous life, messing around with useless things can sometimes create marvelous inventions!

Then I waited for a moment. That reminded me. What happened to my parents from the previous life? I wonder how they are doing. Are they in despair and distraught after I ended my own life? Did I make a mistake by ending my own life? I shook my head as I opened the door. No point getting depressed about bygones.

I entered the room and found it was… quite messier than the last time I saw it. Papers were scattered on the floor and the desk was filled with folders with probably materials. I moved slowly, trying to not step on the papers on the ground. I carefully watched my steps as I made my way across and towards the shelf. This time, my eyes however didn’t find anything worthwhile. Or at least not anything special in my view.

I looked around and found 2 books stacked on one another. I quickly walked over and glanced up the desk. I could see a knot or thread hanging from the desk. I presumed it was connected or tied to the books. I pulled the thread and the books came stumbling down, one landed on my faced while another landed on chest.

“Ow…”

I groaned in pain as I moved the books off me. I quickly closed them and looked at them. They stood out from the rest, both had good covers and the pages were well maintained. I turned the books onto their front and read the names of the books.

Oh ho! What do you have here?!

The first was titled The High School Overall Questionnaire. It seemed to be a collection of various academic subjects, most likely used as a mock exam or a method of assessing students' skills. I had to admit, I was intrigued. I might be reincarnated, but I wasn’t dead inside. The other, a more worn-out book, was titled A Guide to Magic.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here?”

I muttered under my breath. Magic. I had already seen my mother use it to light my father’s cigar—not that I had a particular interest in cigars, but I wasn’t about to pass up a chance to learn something new. Plus, fire magic was pretty cool. Maybe I could even replicate it.

I quickly grabbed both the books into my hands and slowly made my way out of the room. I made sure not to leave any traces of myself behind and not to step on any papers. I slowly walked as I then reached the door, I slid through the gap that open.

I slipped out of the room and into the safety of my own little space. I quickly made my way through the hallway and then into my room. I then closed the door by pushing it using my back. Once I looked around and made sure I was in a secure place, I put both the books down.

I sat cross-legged on the floor of my room, the two books spread out before me. I opened the first one, the questionnaire. The starting few pages just had the names of the authors, the tables of content and a few unneccesary stuff that I didn’t bother paying attention. I first focused on the science subjects- Chemistry, Physics and Zoology. I mostly ignored Botony since I hated learning about these stupid plants.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Zoology, child’s play. Physics and Chemistry? Eh, bit tougher, but nothing I can’t handle.”

I mused, skimming through the questions. To my surprise, most of the questions were quite easy to answer, at least in my opinion.

“Wait… is this high school level? These kids have it easy.”

I breezed through most of the sections- history, civics, politics and geography- flying through with ease. Of course, math was a different story. As soon as I turned to the algebra questions, my face twisted in annoyance and I let out a sigh of irritation.

“Ugh, mathematics. The devil’s subject,”

I groaned, tapping my pencil against my cheek.

“I don’t care how many times I reincarnate. That cursed subject will always find a way to haunt me.”

Despite my complaints however, I didn’t back down. I focused on answering all the questions, leaving none unanswered. I was certain I made many mistakes in math and minor mistakes in the other subjects but I didn’t care. As long as the majority of my answers were correct, I was satisfied.

It felt like a while since I was studying with such passion and let alone bothering to answer questions. I was quite the lazy bum in my past life. I decided to stay ignorant of any problems or hardships. I decided to be a reject and outcast from society. It was the consequences of my own actions that every resented me.

Eventually, I set the questionnaire aside, and I turned to the second book: A Guide to Magic.

I felt a wave of anticipation, the kind of rush that comes with the thrill of discovery. The first few pages were filled with basic information about mana and its role in this world. According to the book, mana was supposedly limited at birth, a fact I wasn’t entirely convinced of. I mean, how could it be, right? If that were true, no one would ever improve their magical abilities.

But I, of course, was determined to prove that theory wrong.

I spent the next few weeks experimenting with what little I could understand from the book. At first, I focused on creating simple spells—tiny sparks of fire, the faintest wisps of water. But it wasn’t until one day, as I was concentrating on water magic, that something clicked.

I hovered my hand in the air in front of me. Then closed my eyes as I said the spell out loud.

“Aqua Orbis!”

Within a few seconds, I felt some sort of… energy surge through me and then… I managed to form a small water ball! A glowing orb that hovered in the air, suspended by my focus. But when I tried to launch it, it simply fell to the ground, a sad little puddle at my feet.

“Great. A floating puddle. I guess I’m an amateur wizard,”

I groaned, slouching against the wall.

But I didn’t give up. I kept practicing, kept experimenting. There was a method to the madness, I was sure of it.

I closed my eyes and focused, recalling everything I knew about physics and chemistry.

Mana is energy. Water molecules are made up of atoms. If I manipulate the mana to affect the molecules, I can control the water. Simple, right?

With my newfound concentration, I cast the spell.

"Aqua Orbis!"

I focused on the water ball again, concentrating harder. Slowly, I managed to push it forward, just a little. The ball wobbled as it moved, but it didn’t fall this time. It was flying.

“Ha! I did it!”

I exclaimed, pumping my fist in victory.

“Physics and chemistry meet magic. Who knew?”

But then the real lesson hit me. It wasn’t just about manipulating the magic—it was about refining it, shaping it, using my mana efficiently. My mana capacity seemed to increase the more I practiced. I couldn’t quite explain it yet, but I knew one thing for sure: the idea that mana was limited at birth was complete nonsense. I could feel myself growing stronger.

I sat back, wiping sweat from my brow.

“Okay, maybe I’ve been wrong about a few things. Who needs a fixed limit when you’ve got this?”

The method normally is hard to go by, but you can slowly get used to it. Concentrate by focusing the mana in your body at a specific point or location, then adjust or create the size of the water via manipulating the molecules around you. But here comes the hard part. So far I was only able to generate water balls but they would fall down instead of firing ahead. It was only later that I slowly discovered a way to use force of action and gravity to send the water balls flying. Its a tad bit complicated but you will get used to it as you try. That is, if you have a sufficient amount of mana or any mana at all.

I dropped onto the floor, laying on my back as I closed my eyes. I did it. I had… cast my first spell. And it was quite the success.

I quickly got up, sitting up as I skimmed through the pages. According to this book, there is also fire and earth magic. However that was the limit of the book. Besides that they isn’t much written in it. Then my eyes shifted to a small note left behind written in cursive.

‘Despite mana and magic being mass used in the past, it is no loner considered a normal thing. If anything, it is considered a taboo on this continent due to the advancement in technology.’

I put my finger to my chin as I thought about this. According to this book, in the medieval ages, magic was heavily used in battle by mages. It dates back to a long time in history. However, it later slowly decreased in use as technology took advancement.

“I see…”

I muttered to myself. Then I slowly started feeling weak as I started losing consciousness. My head spun, and a wave of exhaustion washed over me. Had I overused my mana? Darkness crept into my vision, and before I could even react, I was out cold.

*