ch 1

I found myself in a liquid and dark place. The last thing I remembered was sitting at home, typing away at my novel, when a loud explosion shattered the silence.

"Mmh, what happened? Am I blind? Or... dead?" I wondered, trying to make sense of the warm liquid enveloping me. Straining my memory for what happened after the explosion, I focused intently.

Then, something stirred within me—not a sound, but a sensation, almost like a communication without words. I decided to engage with it, silently giving my consent to this mysterious presence.

After a few seconds, it responded, conveying to me that I was in a womb. But this communication was through feelings, not words.

Shock coursed through me. "Have I died and been reincarnated?" The thought lingered as the entity continued to communicate in this unique, feeling-based manner. Curious and desperate for clarity, I asked it to change its method of communication to something I could understand more easily.

It processed my request slowly, and then, after what seemed like an eternity, it adapted to my needs. The feelings transformed into words, comprehensible and clear.

As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, a golden screen materialized before me. It shimmered with an otherworldly light, displaying options that seemed both unreal and fascinating:

Absorb: This function allows the absorption of various energies for bodily growth or use.

Learning Time: This function allows you to use energy to acquire new knowledge in any desired field. Each activation expends 100 units of energy and, in return, imparts an amount of knowledge comparable to what would be gained from an experience worth that much energy. The current available capacity for this function is 1000 units of energy.

Analyze: This tool can analyze anything with the expenditure of energy.

Visualization and stat display: This feature not only visualizes but also provides detailed statistics of the user.

I was awestruck. What I was seeing... could it be my special ability, a 'cheat' granted to me upon reincarnating in this new world?

Exhausted from the onslaught of thoughts, I realized that being in the womb, my brain couldn't handle too much strain. Before succumbing to sleep, I instructed the mysterious entity to use 20 years of the 'Learning Time' feature to grasp mathematics as I knew it in my previous life. Mathematics, I reasoned, would be invaluable in any world, be it fantasy or otherwise.

A notification appeared on the golden screen: "Do you want to use 20 years to learn mathematics? Yes/No." I selected 'Yes' and immediately fell into unconsciousness.

Meanwhile, in the outside world:

"My son is quite active today," observed a lady with a tender smile.
Her husband, standing beside her, chuckled. "Indeed, my dear. It seems our son can't wait to be born. He will make a fine king one day."

The lady, Lady Lianne, turned to a maid. "Please fetch the healer. I wish to ensure there's nothing amiss with our son; he's more active than usual today."

The maid bowed respectfully. "Right away, Lady Lianne," she replied, swiftly exiting the room to carry out the request.

In a simple, bright white room, my journey of learning mathematics began. This wasn't just any room; it was a place where time and reality seemed to pause, a special space for me to grow and learn.

Year 1-5: Grasping the Basics

At first, everything seemed confusing. Numbers and formulas were all around me, but they didn't make much sense. Slowly, as I kept looking at them, things started to click. Basic math, like addition and subtraction, led to more interesting stuff like algebra. It felt great every time I solved a problem or understood a new concept. It was like unlocking a new level in a video game.

Year 6-10: Tackling Tougher Challenges

As I got better, the math got harder, but also more exciting. I dove into calculus, where I learned how to find patterns in change and movement. Geometry showed me the beauty of shapes and spaces, and trigonometry helped me understand angles and curves. It was like discovering secret codes that explained how things work.

Year 11-15: Connecting Math to the Real World

Halfway through my journey, I started seeing how math is used in real life. Statistics helped me make sense of data and probabilities. I learned about physics and how math explains the forces and motions in the universe. It was amazing to see how numbers and equations are behind so many things we use every day.

Year 16-20: Reaching New Heights

In the last few years, I started to master math. I explored more complex topics like number theory and complex analysis. I even tackled quantum mechanics, which showed me a whole new world of possibilities. I felt like I was unlocking the secrets of the universe.

As the twentieth year came to a close, the white room began to fade, but I felt ready for whatever was next. I had spent 20 years learning everything about mathematics, and I was eager to see how I could use this knowledge in the outside world. Whether it was going to be a world of magic or something completely different, I knew I could handle it.

As consciousness returned, I sensed a dramatic shift. The warm, comforting liquid that had enveloped me was disappearing. A gentle but firm pressure signaled a momentous change. It was time to be born.

"Keep pushing, Lady Lianne. You're almost there," encouraged a soothing voice. I instinctively knew I had to behave like any other newborn. With a final push, I emerged into a world of light and air, immediately crying out to announce my arrival.

The room erupted with a joyful proclamation. "It's a boy!" I heard someone say.

I was swiftly cradled into loving arms. Looking up, I saw my mother for the first time. Her face, weary yet brimming with love, sparked an innate affection within me. Sensing her fatigue, I ceased my cries, instead offering a small, contented laugh.

"My sweet boy," my mother whispered, her voice a melody of happiness.

At that moment, my father entered. "My dear, you must rest now," he said tenderly, gently taking me into his arms. Turning to my mother, he asked, "What shall we name our son?"

With a tender smile and eyes filled with affection, she responded, "His name will be Arthas."

My father nodded with a proud smile. "Arthas Menethil," he declared.

The moment I heard my name, 'Arthas Menethil,' a brief flicker of panic stirred within me. That name, notorious as the Lich King from the World of Warcraft, resonated with a dark legacy from my previous life's memories. The character, known for leading a kingdom to ruin, now shared my identity.

But that initial shock quickly transformed into a firm resolve. I wasn't destined to follow the same tragic narrative of a video game character. With the foresight and knowledge from my past life, I understood the crucial role I could play. My primary concern wasn't heroism or righteousness; it was about pragmatic survival and ensuring the prosperity of my kingdom.

"This name may be associated with a tale of downfall, but my journey will rewrite that story," I thought determinedly. My focus was clear: to prevent my kingdom from suffering a similar fate as portrayed in the game. The lore of Azeroth would stay in its fictional realm. Here, in my new reality, I would use my name, Arthas Menethil, as a beacon of change and hope, guiding my kingdom away from destruction and towards a flourishing future.