Chapter 3 - I Had a Headache
"Ha!" Jack spun around to face his friends, showing a mocking grin on his face. "You hear that? He just called me 'Jackass'!"
The boys behind Jack erupted in laughter, feeding off their leader's arrogance. To them, Carn's response was nothing but a joke. Jack chuckled as well, but there was something malicious in his eyes.
His laughter barely faded when he suddenly pivoted back toward Carn and threw a sucker punch.
Carn's eyes followed Jack's fist as it approached his face. The punch was so slow that Carn almost yawned in boredom.
For a normal human, strength in a punch comes from weight, muscle, and speed. But for someone who was forged in a world of demons and supernatural beings, an ordinary attack from a fragile human was nothing.
Curious about his own abilities in this world, Carn decided to let the punch land. It was a perfect opportunity to test his current physical limits.
*PAK*
Jack's fist collided with Carn's left cheek, but Carn didn't even flinch. There was no pain or recoil. He barely felt the impact.
Jack, on the other hand, recoiled instantly. He cursed under his breath as he cradled his hand while his face contorted in pain.
"SHIT!" Jack hissed through clenched teeth.
His knuckles were already swelling, turning deep red as blood pooled beneath the skin. He stared at his hand, confused and in shock. The sensation of hitting something as hard as a stone lingered.
Everyone's attention shifted to Jack, watching him howl and nurse his hand. No one noticed that Carn's cheek had momentarily turned stony gray upon impact, before instantly fading back to its normal color.
Carn, however, wasn't concerned with Jack's injury. His gaze had drifted back to Jack's neck.
The temptation to snap Jack's neck intensified with each passing second. Carn's lips curled into a small, amused smile as he slowly stood, pushing his chair back to give himself more space. The desire to put this arrogant child in his place swelled inside him like a rising tide.
But there were too many witnesses. What could he do?
Ah, perhaps a little bone-breaking would suffice. Snapping a few bones might not offer the same satisfaction as the sharp crack of a neck, but the feeling of hard objects inside soft, juicy flesh giving way… the victim's face contorting in shock and pain… Those were quite enjoyable too.
Yes, breaking a few bones would do just fine.
Everything was self-defense. Ah, yes… self-defense.
Carn made up his mind.
But before he could act, a sharp pain of a searing headache shot through the back of his head. His vision blurred momentarily as the agony surged. He clenched his eyes shut, suppressing the urge to scream.
Instinctively, Carn covered his face with his right hand, massaging his temple in a desperate attempt to ease the pain. His body wavered, and he staggered a step as dizziness overwhelmed him.
At that very instant, the homeroom teacher, Big Mama, burst into the room. Her eyes blazed with fury. It seemed that Malinda's friends had clearly reached her in time.
Upon seeing Carn stumbling and holding his head, Big Mama's face twisted in rage. Her voice boomed through the classroom like a thunderclap.
"Jack! Are y'all back at it, bullying my baby boy again? You better believe I'll go to your coach and have you kicked off that team if this keeps up!"
Jack shot the teacher a defiant look, clearly annoyed by her interference, but he wasn't stupid enough to provoke her. Big Mama had enough influence with the school to cause problems for him. Despite the pain in his hand and the humiliation boiling inside, he gritted his teeth and retreated.
Jack turned toward Carn one last time. His voice was full of venom. "Consider yourself lucky, twink. I'll see you in gym class."
After dropping a threat like a third-rated villain, Jack spat on the floor before storming out. His entourage of boys looked back and forth between Carn and Jack for a moment. But ultimately, they followed after their ringleader.
Carn watched them leave in silence. His thoughts lingered on how easy it would have been to end Jack's life at that moment, but he knew better than to act rashly. There were too many eyes on him, too many witnesses.
As the group finally disappeared down the hall, Big Mama approached Carn, her fierce demeanor softening as she shouted at the lingering students.
"Alright, y'all, break it up! This ain't no circus!"
The bystanders stopped recording the incident and dispersed as the drama had ended. Some of them inwardly booed Big Mama for spoiling the fun.
Big Mama turned her full attention to Carn. "Now, baby, let me see your face. Did he hurt you?"
Carn remained still with his expressionless face, but the dangerous glint in his eyes had faded. He let Big Mama fuss over him, gently inspecting his face and checking his body for any signs of injury. Even though he didn't need her concern, there was something almost comforting in her maternal worry.
Big Mama gave him a once-over, clearly relieved when she didn't find any serious damage. However, Carn's pale face concerned her.
At that moment, Malinda quickly reported the situation. "Mama, Jack punched Carn in the face. He might be hurt."
Big Mama's face darkened as she processed the information.
"I see. We need to get you to the infirmary right away." She glanced at Malinda. "Can you help me support him?"
"Okay!" Malinda agreed without hesitation.
Despite the fact that they hadn't had lunch yet, both Big Mama and Malinda wrapped Carn's arms over their shoulders and started guiding him toward the school infirmary. Carn, still disoriented from the pounding headache, silently cooperated, letting them lead him.
As they walked, Malinda was slightly out of breath. She complained, "Carn, are you getting fatter or something? You're… kinda heavy."
"…"
.
.
The cozy white-walled infirmary of Carn's high school was a peaceful contrast to the tension he felt as he lay on one of the four neatly made beds. The school nurse, Petra, was tending to him with the meticulous care she'd developed over her decades of experience. Her stethoscope hovered over his chest, listening for irregularities, before she moved on to his eyes, prying his eyelids open to shine a small flashlight into them.
Carn winced as the sudden brightness caused his pupils to shrink. Petra noted his reaction, pulled the light away, and calmly checked his temperature next. Her movements were steady and motherly.
Petra, a woman in her retirement age, was as sharp as ever despite the toll the years had taken on her appearance. Her short, curly hair had long since turned white. Her light skin, which had been through a long life and many days under the sun, was dry and rough.
Despite this, she carried herself with a sense of grace. She was still slim and healthy. Her posture suggested that she was a former beauty queen, and the humble diamond ring on her left hand hinted at a long loyal marriage of 40 years. It was clear she had lived a life rich with experiences and hardships.
"Did you vomit or feel any nausea?" she asked in her no-nonsense tone.
"No," Carn answered simply, though his mind was still buzzing from the lingering headache.
"What about your eyesight? Is it blurry?"
Carn nodded slightly. "It was blurry earlier, but it's normal now."
"I see. How about your ears? Do you hear any ringing noises sometimes?"
"Actually, yeah." Carn thought back to the strange high-pitched sound that had plagued him earlier. "Something like… VEEEEEEE, like radio static."
The nurse made a note on his health card and continued her methodical questioning. "When did you start hearing that noise or experiencing blurry vision?"
"Last night, I think. Right after I woke up."
"And how many times has this happened since then?"
"…Three times."
"Have you ever fainted or had seizures before?"
"No."
"Sudden exhaustion without any clear reason?"
"No."
Satisfied for the moment, Petra stopped her barrage of questions and went to write more notes in Carn's health file. She prepared a small batch of painkillers and some vitamins, placing them in medical zip-lock bags on the bedside table. Then, with a serious expression, she issued a final warning.
"If you start vomiting or get another severe headache, you need to go straight to the hospital for a CT scan. Just to be safe."
"…Thank you."
Petra flashed him a tight smile. "It's my job."
She stood up, leaving Carn's bedside, and walked over to where Big Mama and Malinda were sitting on a nearby couch. Petra's expression turned serious as she addressed them both.
"Keep an eye on him. If he starts vomiting, has a seizure, or—heaven forbid—stops making sense when he talks, get him to the hospital ASAP."
Malinda's face tightened with concern. She asked with a trembling voice, "Is it serious?"
Petra sighed, the weight of her years of experience clear in her voice.
"He's been bullied, right? If this isn't the first time he's been punched, there's a chance he could have a mild concussion. But it could also just be a migraine or stress."
Petra paused and shifted her gaze to Big Mama. She continued, "Either way, Maria Mama, if you catch those boys bullying him again, you should report it to the disciplinary office. We can't have a student dying of a concussion on our hands, now can we?"
Big Mama let out a huff, clearly frustrated. "Do you really think I haven't tried? I can't turn my back for a single second without those little brats going after him again. And that damn coach? Every time I bring it up, he just brushes me off like it's nothing!"
Petra pursed her lips and suggested, "Then you should call his parents."
Big Mama's expression darkened. "His father's an explorer."
A knowing silence filled the room. Petra's eyes widened ever so slightly, understanding the implications of having a high-profile parent like that. "Ah."
"Yeah," Big Mama muttered under her breath, clearly frustrated but resigned.
While the adults exchanged weary glances, Malinda moved quietly to Carn's bedside. She perched herself on a tall stool and began inspecting his face. Her untrained eyes could tell that his face looked pale, and his skin was a bit clammy. He had a slight fever too.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered, "Don't die, Carn."
Carn, hearing her ridiculous plea, rolled his eyes. "Idiot, don't jinx it. It's just a headache."
"But… the nurse said you might have a concussion."
Carn remained silent, but within the depths of his mind, he was piecing together the puzzle of his condition.
The headaches that had plagued him were not merely the result of a concussion, Jack's punches, or the remnants of past traumas. They stemmed from a more profound deficiency—a lack of a vital energy source that had dwindled each time he tapped into his powers.
Aether
He realized he was severely lacking in Aether. Unfortunately, this world seemed devoid of it, as if the very air itself felt thin and suffocating around him. The thought of being cut off from something so essential filled him with a sense of desperation.
'When was the last time I absorbed any Aether?' Carn pondered.
It felt like ages since he had adequately replenished the energy that sustained his gargoyle abilities. The headaches were now becoming increasingly frequent.
For now, he needed to prioritize finding a new source of Aether. He recalled that the most effective way to collect this elusive energy was through...
…killing people who bore certain brands.