Waking up the next day, Rowan splashed cold water on his face, the shock quickly banishing the remnants of sleep. Feeling refreshed, he made his way downstairs to eat breakfast.

  His mother, Selene, was already waiting at the table, but his father had left for work.

  “Hey sweetie, did you sleep well?” Selene asked with a bright smile as he took a seat.

  Rowan nodded, picking up his utensils and starting his meal.

  “Since you don’t have school today or tomorrow, why don’t you come with me to the market? A little outing might help clear your mind.”

  Blinking, he paused to consider her suggestion. After a moment, he shook his head. These two days were critical for him to prepare for the placement exam, and he couldn’t afford to waste a single second. The test didn’t just determine specialization but also heavily influenced the quality of the school he would attend.

  “Alright, but don’t overwork yourself, okay?” Selene said with a soft sigh, masking her disappointment.

  Finishing his breakfast quickly, Rowan returned to his room, leaving his mother sitting alone at the table.

  “Having a talented child is both a blessing and a curse,” Selene murmured to herself as she cleaned up. She missed spending time with her son the way they used to before he started school, but she also knew how important his future was. She wouldn’t hold him back.

  Back in his room, Rowan resumed his studies with renewed focus.

  He had already noticed something peculiar about himself. His memory had significantly improved, allowing him to retain and recall information with ease. More importantly, with two minds operating simultaneously, he could think and process knowledge at a speed that more than doubled his efficiency.

  Having already grasped most of the basic concepts yesterday, he decided to delve deeper into magic and rune studies today. Searching through the bookshelf in the corner of his room, his eyes landed on a thin volume titled Basics of Magical Runes. It seemed perfect for his next step.

  Taking the book to his desk, he carefully opened it, his attention captured from the very first line.

  ‘Runes are the most fundamental tools for magic manipulation. Without them, ordinary people like us would never dream of controlling mana. However, with their guidance, mana becomes something that can be harnessed and shaped, opening a path to endless possibilities.’

  The words struck him as profound. He had seen the term “runes” mentioned briefly in the notes from yesterday, but this book went into much greater detail.

  ‘So runes act as the bridge between mana and the physical world,’ he thought, flipping to the next page.

  Diagrams filled the book, each explaining how specific rune patterns influenced mana. There were examples of runes used for basic spells like lighting a small flame, creating a shield, or amplifying strength. Each rune was a blend of geometry and intent, requiring precision and understanding to function correctly.

  The further he read, the more immersed he became. Concepts of mana flow, rune stability, and the dangers of poorly constructed runes captivated his mind. For the first time, he understood why the people of this world valued this knowledge so highly.

  Like this, time began to tick by.

  …

  On the other side.

  Wen Hao woke up, stretching as much as his small body allowed inside the confines of his crib.

  ‘Damn, I really don’t belong here,’ he thought, staring at the simple wooden bars surrounding him.

  After some time, his mother, Wen Meiyun, entered the room. She smiled softly as she picked him up, cradling him gently before heading toward the kitchen.

  One thing he felt profoundly grateful for was his age. He was just old enough not to require breastfeeding, sparing him what would have been an unbearably awkward situation given his mental age. Small blessings, but they mattered.

  Soon, his mother arrived at a large dining room where breakfast had already been prepared. The scent of freshly cooked food filled the air. His father, sitting at the head of the table, was already eating. When he noticed them, he glanced up and smiled warmly, gesturing for them to join him.

  Looking around, Wen Hao observed the two young girls in maid uniforms walking in and out of the kitchen, clearing dishes and bringing in fresh food.

  His mother placed him in a baby seat, letting him eat on his own. She turned to his father and began talking casually as they ate.

  “How did the surrounding clans react to yesterday’s news?” she asked, picking up a piece of meat with her fork and biting down, her movements lacking the grace of a refined woman.

  “They were shocked, of course,” his father replied, his voice calm and measured. He elegantly cut the vegetables on his plate, chewing slowly before continuing. “But the clan is already the overlord of the city. They could only suppress their dissatisfaction. Still, there are whispers of an alliance being called among them.”

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  “Hmph!” His mother’s expression hardened as she slammed her fist on the table, causing the dishes to rattle. The sudden action startled Wen Hao, who blinked wide-eyed at the unexpected outburst.

  “If it weren’t for Grandpa’s generosity, they would have been wiped out long ago!” she exclaimed, her voice sharp with frustration.

  “There is no need to get so agitated,” his father said softly, glancing at Wen Hao. “You even scared little Hao.”

  Wen Meiyun glanced at her son and froze. His bewildered expression, complete with wide, blinking eyes, was enough to diffuse her anger.

  “Pffft~” She covered her mouth, chuckling as her frustration melted away. “Don’t worry, Hao’er, your mother can get a bit temperamental,” she added, scratching his cheek gently with her finger.

  Wen Hao blinked as if he understood, then returned to eating, though his focus was split. Part of his mind was assisting his other self as he delved deeper into magical rune studies.

  After they finished eating, his father excused himself first, leaving the table with a quick farewell. Shortly after, his mother picked Wen Hao up and carried him out of the dining room. They soon arrived at a separate room within the estate.

  The sight that greeted him left him stunned. In the center of the room was a metal cauldron, and inside it was another child around his age. The thick red liquid inside bubbled slightly, and the boy grimaced in visible pain, his body twitching as he let out weak cries.

  ‘Wait, what?’ Wen Hao’s mind raced. Panic surged as he squirmed violently in his mother’s arms, suddenly terrified that he was about to be cooked alive.

  Feeling his fierce reaction, Meiyun glanced down at him. Her eyes softened for a moment, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face. She understood how painful this treatment was and wished he didn’t have to go through it, but she also knew the benefits were invaluable. This was an opportunity to secure her son’s future and elevate his status within the clan.

  She took a seat on a nearby chair, holding Wen Hao close as they waited for their turn.

  Meanwhile, Wen Hao slowly calmed down, though his apprehension remained. ‘Damn, I thought I was about to become soup. Looks like that’s not the case,’ he thought, letting out a small sigh of relief.

  He focused on the scene in front of him, analyzing what was happening. The child in the cauldron continued crying and twitching violently, but Wen Hao noticed that the once thick, red liquid in the cauldron had gradually turned transparent and water-like. It reminded him of the precious medicinal baths the protagonists used to bathe in to improve their strength and talent.

  After a few minutes, the old man overseeing the process picked up the child carefully. The boy’s mother stepped forward with a towel, drying him off before thanking the old man and quickly leaving the room.

  The old man, indifferent to the emotional scene, turned his gaze to the next in line. His eyes twitched slightly when they landed on Meiyun and Wen Hao.

  “Miss Meiyun, it’s your son’s turn,” he said respectfully, his tone even and composed as he reached for a bottle on a shelf behind him.

  As he prepared to pour the liquid into the cauldron, Meiyun’s voice snapped sharply through the room. “Only one bottle?! Since when has the clan been so stingy with its talents?!”

  The old man froze, his hand hovering over the cauldron. “Miss, one bottle is already very generous. Most children are allotted only half a bottle of the clan’s special medicinal mixture,” he explained, his voice tinged with both fear and helplessness.

  Meiyun’s eyes narrowed. “Didn’t you hear the news yesterday? The clan will be prioritizing the youngest from now on. Or are you going against Grandpa’s orders? It has to be three bottles at a minimum!” Her tone was fierce, her words carrying an unspoken threat.

  The old man hesitated, his expression conflicted. “But miss—”

  “No buts! Three bottles, or I’ll have you reported for treason against the clan and for deliberately holding back its talents!” Meiyun interrupted, her voice rising as she glared at him.

  The old man gritted his teeth, clearly caught between his duty and his fear of Meiyun’s wrath. After a tense pause, he relented. “Fine! Three bottles! But no more!”

  With a defeated sigh, he returned to the shelf and retrieved the additional bottles before walking back to the cauldron.

  From his mother’s arms, Wen Hao watched the exchange, dumbfounded.

  ‘Damn, it seems my mother in this world is quite a character,’ he thought.

  After the old man poured one bottle’s worth of the medicinal mixture into the cauldron, Meiyun began undressing Wen Hao. He froze at first, startled by the sudden action, but quickly reminded himself of his current reality. He was a baby now, and he needed to act the part.

  Once undressed, his mother carefully lowered him into the cauldron, ensuring only his face remained above the surface.

  The moment his body touched the liquid, he shivered. The cold, slimy texture was uncomfortable, but not unbearable. However, within seconds, his skin began to tingle as the medicinal mixture seeped into his pores.

  ‘What the hell is this?’ he thought as an intense itchiness spread across his entire body. He instinctively tried to scratch himself, but the sensation quickly shifted into something far worse.

  A tearing, searing pain coursed through him as the mixture forced its way into every pore of his body, nourishing him from the inside out.

  “AGH!” he cried out, his voice filled with agony. The pain was overwhelming, leaving him incapable of any coherent thought or movement.

  Outside the cauldron, Meiyun watched with a mix of worry and determination. The old man, on the other hand, was visibly sweating, his expression betraying a deep unease.

  ‘Poor kid,’ he thought, shaking his head. ‘Why did he have to be the son of this crazy woman?’

  The old man knew all too well why most children were limited to half a bottle of the medicinal mixture, and even that was diluted with water. The primary reason wasn’t the scarcity of the mixture but the unbearable pain it caused. Children subjected to excessive amounts often became so traumatized that they refused to continue the treatment, rendering all prior efforts useless.

  But this was no ordinary bath. Wen Hao’s cauldron was filled with an undiluted medicinal mixture, and the effects were beyond anything most children experienced.

  ‘One bottle is already too much. Three is outright suicidal. It will be a miracle if this kid makes it through in one piece,’ the old man thought grimly, watching Wen Hao’s face contort in agony.

  Inside the cauldron, Wen Hao was enduring a level of pain he had never imagined possible. It felt as though his entire body was being torn apart and rebuilt simultaneously. The sensation was so intense he almost lost consciousness several times, but something kept him grounded.

  To his dismay, he realized that having two bodies meant the pain was split between them, making it harder for him to faint, forcing him to feel every bit of the process.

  Minutes crawled by as the liquid grew thinner, its potency draining into his body. Just as the pain began to subside slightly, the old man sighed heavily and reached for another bottle.

  Wen Hao’s eyes widened in despair as the second bottle was poured into the cauldron.

  ‘This damned mother of mine!’ was his last coherent thought before his mind was consumed entirely by the overwhelming agony.