"A disgrace it will be, should this monstrosity be allowed outside, Sire," a high-pitched voice comes out of a crone sitting by the bedside where the woman is sprawled on, panting heavily. In the hands of a tall, imposing man is settled a small child with a massive gash going over one of the eyes. Despite the obvious bleeding and the fact the baby was just given birth to, the child isn't crying.

  "...Disgrace or not, it is still my child. But this... wound..." Even before he can finish, the other voices yells out. "It's a curse! This child will only bring misfortune and nothing else!"

  Had it been anyone else, the patriarch of the Han family would have surely killed them on spot for speaking such things about their child, but the old woman squeaking was not just anyone. She was his nanny, someone who has been by his side forever, and maybe she hasn't had the clearest of minds as of recently, but it was still hard to say anything with such clear evidence before his very eyes. If this wound was not a sign from the heavens, what else?

  That evening, a decision was made. The fourth child of the Han clan would stay at the family's land, but kept away from everything. He will not be taught breathing exersices, he will not take lessons in swordsmanship and he will not make contact with his siblings, his parents, nor anyone in the family aside from the single servant to keep him alive. That was to be the only "blessing" bestowed upon him, as the last gift from his father.

  Somehow, I knew and understood what they were saying even when I was just born. The whole conversation that happened between the old lady and my father, I can remember it vividly.

  I never cried. Even after being tossed into the small, dusty house with one bedding for the servant and barely a cloth for me, no tears came out of my eye. Due to whatever reason, I already knew my surroundings even as a small baby. I started walking when I was only two months. Clumsily, but I still managed to. I doubt my "servant" was ever going back to my family to give them reports. In their eyes, I was surely just a misfortune that needed to be waited out.

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  I didn't do much for a couple of years. I was given porridge and a bit of fruit for breakfast, barely cooked meat scraps for dinner and... that was it. Every day, without a change. My "house", if you can even call it that, was on the very edge of our estate. To the left, there was a huge wall that showed where our family clan's land ends. Behind it, there was always a commotion; probably a road? I could hear people talk. That was how I learned how to speak.

  If you think about it, it's pretty easy. If two people haven't talked to each other yet today, they will probably start each conversation with a greeting. Hello? Hi? Good to see you? If one person's footsteps were accompanied by a cart, that must mean they were most likely a merchant of some sort. So, after greetings, the person without the cart would ask how much is something. And so on.

  Well, I suppose the few books inside this crappy old hut probably helped. "100 Ways Children Need To Be Disciplined," or "All Symbols In Our Language, A Lesson For Kids", and so on. They were useless to the ones with access to famous scholars and nomad teachers who would pay visits to the main family occasionally. It helped me get a hold of the language, at the least.

  To the right, there was a massive forest. This was supposed to be family's personal beast forest. Who walks in never walks out, ghosts roam it, you know the deal. If my life was to be confined in this place only for my death to be slow and agonizing as I turn to dust, I would rather go quickly being torn to pieces.

  When I turned five, I knew what to do. Grab a wooden sword I made myself for at least a bit of protection and escape at night, into the heart of the forest. Somehow, I knew it was the best decision. Other children probably don't worry about things like this, but I must be not a normal child. Whatever it is, as long as I escape and live, I will learn more about myself. And if I die, so be it.