Leo's mother looked at Leo nervously. Everyone else also stared at him, puzzled.
'What's this dumbass looking at?' The boy named Judy thought.
Leo or Ronan had finally opened his eyes after last night's incident, but now, instead of talking to anyone or looking at anyone, he was staring ahead as if reading something.
Everyone thought his head wasn't working properly, still affected by what had happened.
If only they could see the panel.
'Yes.' Meanwhile, Ronan answered inwardly. 'I first need to know who all are after my life before I say anything else.'
[Reward is being delivered. The memory will start merging now.]
[Progress: 01%]
A pain spread in Ronan's head. Memories started to flash before his eyes, information started integrating into his mind.
'I didn't think it would be this painful.' Ronan shut his eyes tight.
Leo's mother noticed the pain in Leo's face immediately. "Call the doctor. NOW!!!"
[Progress: 29%]
Ronan clutched his head, unable to endure the pain.
A maid standing beside the door had already rushed outside to call for a doctor. Leo's mother leaned toward Ronan. "Honey, what happened?"
Leo's father also looked worried. His other kids shared uneasy glances while the other woman looked at Leo calmly.
[Progress: 57%]
Ronan's fingers tightened around his head, the pain slowly increasing. His mother's face twisted in tension. "What should I do? Tell me, please...."
"Go, bring a glass of water." Leo's father turned toward one of the other boys and ordered. Judy looked displeased but still went outside to follow the order.
[Progress: 78%]
More memories flashed before Ronan's eyes. Absorbing all those information, his mind became hazy.
[Progress: 93%]
Leo's mother panicked. One moment, she was desperately stroking Leo's chest, the next, she was massaging his head, trying to ease his pain. Leo's father didn't know what to do. He could only clasp his hands helplessly.
[Progress: 100%]
[Memory integration complete.]
The pain vanished instantly. Ronan opened his eyes again, this time filled with clarity.
'So I am basically a concubine's child. That's why they can't tolerate me.' Ronan's eyes turned toward the other woman. 'She even destroyed my mana core during my birth, and everyone thought I was born useless. And now that I accidentally came to know the truth, she wants me dead. So that assassin last night, it was her doing.' Ronan now had the clear picture of everything. With Leo's memory, he wasn't unfamiliar with this world, his family, or his standing in it anymore.
Seeing the complexion returning to normal in Leo's face, his mother finally relaxed a little. "Leo, are you alright?"
Ronan looked at her. "Yes, mother." This time, he said it with affection, as if he had properly accepted this new life. 'She is a good person. So was the owner of this body. I should return the favor for giving this second chance at life to me.' Ronan decided inwardly.
"What had happened to you? And how did you get hurt that seriously yesterday? It's already a miracle that you are still alive." Leo's father said.
"Someone attacked me last night."
"Someone attacked you? Who dares?" His father roared.
"I couldn't see his face," Ronan replied calmly.
"Elly, go bring Isac here. Quick."
The young girl didn't want to add fuel to his father's anger and so left the room quickly.
"Father, it's no use looking for that person now. It was yesterday. I believe, by now, all his traces had already vanished." Ronan looked at the other woman, his father's first wife.
Her expression didn't change.
"No matter what, I will surely find that culprit and make sure he pays for it." Leo's father said angrily.
"Yes, honey. Make sure you do." Leo's mother said with teary eyes.
"Mother," Ronan said. "I am okay now. You all should go and take some rest for the moment."
"No way. I am staying with you tonight." She said that with a resolute face.
"Yes. Let your mother stay here. The moment the doctor returns, I will send him to check up on you." Leo's father lightly caressed his head, then left the room. 'I must find the culprit fast. Or who knows who he will try to harm next.' Leo's father made that promise while leaving.
The first wife, along with her son, who was still standing in the room, left.
Finally, Ronan was alone with his mother.
"Mother. I am really fine now. You should go and take some rest."
"Nope. I am not leaving you alone today. No chance." She said that and started peeling an apple.
Ronan sighed helplessly. Time started to pass. She took care of Ronan and fed him fruit so he would recover soon. Both gossiped a little before she finally fell asleep.
But Ronan stayed awake. How could he fall asleep now? This is the moment he had been waiting for.
"System." He whispered.
The panel shimmered before him again.
"You said you have the ability to awaken a person's true ability. So how are you going to do that? How do I get my powers back? Or is there a way to learn magic even though my mana core was destroyed?" Now that Ronan had decided to seek power again, he needed to know what the procedure was. Also, he couldn't stay like this for long. He knew that Sonia, his father's first wife, would already be planning her next move. So he had to get strong before that so that he could stay alive.
[There are two types of tasks. One is a voluntary task. Another is a situational task. The host can complete both types of tasks for rewards. Rewards will help you cultivate, comprehend different skills, awaken different abilities, and get different weapons or treasures.]
"What type of rewards are we talking about? I mean, how can they help me cultivate? Or awaken ability?"
[Host can complete voluntary tasks for pills that will help you cultivate. Rewards containing ability runes or skill manuals can be achieved through situational tasks only.]
"Pills, huh. So instead of sitting and cultivating for ages, I just need to complete tasks to get pills that will help me increase my cultivation realm, is it?"
[Affirmative.]
"That sounds interesting. What type of tasks can I take voluntarily?"
[1. Work out sessions
2. Monster hunt
3. Comprehending skills
4. Evil hunt
5. Rescue mission]
"What? I can earn rewards by just comprehending skills? Hahaha. Interesting. It's really interesting." Ronan almost forgot that his mother was still lying beside him and started laughing.
"Ummmmmah... What happened, honey? Do you need something?"
"N... No mother. I just had a dream. Nothing else."
"Alright. Go, sleep again. You went through a lot and need proper rest." She said that while rubbing her sleepy eyes. Then quickly fell asleep again.
"What a hassle," Ronan whispered. "I should be careful." Ronan looked at the panel again.
"Among all these tasks that I can initiate voluntarily, other than workout sessions, this weak body won't survive any. It's work out sessions then."