D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad - Chapter 2143 Minor Headache

Chapter 2143: Chapter 2143 Minor Headache

— Lily —

It was the middle of the afternoon and Lily was currently laying across Kat’s legs groaning in pain. “Why?”

Kat huffed and continued to carefully run her fingers through Lily’s hair and around her ears. Sometimes her girlfriend would dip into purring before another shot of pain would extend through her skull and cut off the sound, and the relaxation on her part. Kat just continued to gently move her fingers around Lily’s skull in hopes it would help.

“Are you actually asking or simply cursing the world?” asked Appoline.

“Actually asking. I think. Thinking is hard right now…” mumbled Lily.

“In that case, I have no idea. I don’t think I’ve really encountered this before. Sure I’ve picked up headaches while working but that’s usually when I haven’t had anything to drink recently or some other more obvious cause… in this case I wonder if it’s the amount of alchemy you’ve just done?” hummed Appoline. “Tweedle? Have you had similar issues?”

“Ah… um… not really? But I had to take a bunch of breaks. I don’t have anywhere near the amount of mana for this, and she didn’t even stop for lunch. I mean… it might just be coincidence but considering she’s Rank 3 it has to be something other than just getting sick right?” Tweedle offered.

Appoline nodded, “Yes it does seem so. I am truthfully amazed that over practicing even had the potential to be an issue. I’m still not convinced it IS a problem, but I’m open to the possibility. Does that seem… correct to you Lily? Or Kat? If it’s easier for you to answer for her,”

[Well? What do you think?]

I’m certainly in pain but I’ve had worse headaches. I’m sure you can tell, but I’m mostly just milking this for attention at this point. I enjoy being pampered and I like giving you the excuse.

[You do realise I’d happily sit with you and do stuff like this whenever you ask right?]

Of course! I just… well first off I do sort of need it the headache is real and its fairly painful. Also not sure we have any headache medication that would work on me and we definitely don’t have it here. Well, unless a healing potion would work? Might ask why that hasn’t been offered…

Regardless, my point is that this almost feels better because there’s a reason behind it. I’m not just begging for attention, but now that I have it… well playing things up a bit just feels somewhat natural. The fact that you can tell I’m exaggerating honestly helps me feel even better about it. I don’t need to feel guilty about being manipulative or arguably lying about my pain.

[That’s all fine with me. As I said though, don’t be afraid to just ask for this sort of treatment on the regular. Though we should get back to Appoline. Just to confirm you’re fine talking?]

Yeah I am… though maybe also check our connection a bit? And my head? It all feels fine but maybe you can see something I couldn’t. “I don’t really know what I can tell you Appoline. I mean… I was checking my mana levels and they were fine. I had another cup of tea… two? Two brews ago?”

“Actually it was four, but I see your point,” corrected Appoline.

“Huh… maybe I was due for a break… but maybe not. Like I said, I was just brewing as I wanted and then… there was a bit of pressure but it’s been so long since I got a normal headache and not the weird sort of headaches you get for being low on mana that I just decided to keep working.

“A few moments after finishing the potion and relaxing it felt like someone slammed a hammer into the back of my head and now I just feel generally a bit unwell and like I have a headache… but like, I’ve had proper migraines before and this is nowhere near that bad. I certainly wouldn’t be able to form coherent sentences like I am now, nor would I really be able to spar much effort thinking.

“I’d be constantly repositioning and trying to find a spot that doesn’t hurt even though I know that isn’t how it works, and the fidgeting makes it harder to sleep because you just want the pain to be over but you can’t because there’s pain so you just lay awake knowing that you’ll be tired and perhaps have more of a headache later because you can’t sleep… so you start to fidget to relieve the pain and well…” Lily rotated her hand around a few times. “It goes on and on like that.”

“Huh, never had a migraine myself but I have heard stories. I know mortals can get them too so it’s not just a mana thing… it’s really so different?” mumbled Appoline.

Kat shrugged. She didn’t get them either back before she was a demon so it was hard to comment. Gramps didn’t either but allegedly some of the other kids had. Though with how young a lot of them were it was hard to know if they truly understood the difference. Sure they were clearly in pain and she wouldn’t deny them help… but with Lily’s memories it was quite clear the distinction existed.

“Yeah,” confirmed Lily. “It’s like… hmm… if a normal headache is the equivalent of getting slapped, you know, it hurts a bit and only for a moment and there’s not any real damage being done? A migraine is like actually being stabbed. It’s a clear escalation, it’s really painful and because it’s your own body you’re like ’what the fuck!’.”

“I’m a bit surprised you’ve been stabbed…” muttered Appoline.

“I haven’t but I can access Kat’s memories. Which are weird sometimes… like when she’s stabbed and considers it a small wound but it still hurts a bunch. Her pain tolerance is weird,” grumbled Lily.

“Ignoring that,” Appoline stated. “I’ll make a note of the distinction. Hmm… I wonder if there’s any way to know. It’s not standard, but most apprentices never have the mana to practice for so long and its possible I avoided it by simply not having enough mana, or perhaps it’s different for elves, or heck, perhaps it’s easier when you’re a child… wait you don’t age strangely do you?”

“Ah… define strangely?” asked Lily.

Appoline went to answer before nodding. “Ok yeah nevermind forget that question…”

“If we’re forgetting it… I have one. Do healing potions work on headaches? I’m not asking for one, just to be clear… but I am curious if they help,” asked Lily.

Appoline nodded. “Not every recipe does. Some do, some don’t. It’s… hmm… it depends on who you’re getting your healing potions from. Quite a few of them also come with a numbing element to help with pain, but plenty of others forgo that entirely. According to the more adventurous sorts the numbing effect can dull your instincts in combat or cause you to hurt yourself in the process.

“These potions we’ve got here don’t have the numbing effect, mostly because I don’t tend to go for it. My clients tend to either prefer it, or simply not care that I haven’t included it because they’ll pay the extra for pain relief potions, which are entirely separate things. In this case… I’m not sure how much they’d help.

“I haven’t really tested them on headaches and if yours is related to magic use, or alchemical workings I wouldn’t want to take the risk. Though perhaps… hmm… you said the pain only started after you finished brewing?” Lily nodded. “Hmmm… odd. How is your mana control?”

“Um… not the best but not impossible? I wouldn’t say I can move it as easily as normal… but the pain and slight mental fog is probably the main reason?” Lily shifted her shadow around, stretching it out to the side and running it through a few different shapes along the ground. Showing that she could still manipulate mana with some degree of efficiency.

“Hmmm… as interesting as it would be to investigate this to see if it’s just a coincidence, you working your mind too hard, or something specific to alchemy… I really don’t have the time for that and I don’t know if you do either. Plus, if it’s some sort of muscle that can be improved over time it might be the case that before we even get enough data you manage to grow ’strong’ enough to avoid it entirely. Still… take this break as a chance to relax. You’ve been doing quite well with your potions,” Appoline explained.

Lily gave a slightly pained smile but she still meant it. “Thanks for the compliments… and yeah I guess I’ll take it easy until my headaches gone. Maybe just for the rest of the day. I… hmm… I guess. Maybe I’ll take a nap… or maybe I’ll just stay here with my girlfriend. Though… no more brewing for today? Even if I feel better?”

“Already so keen for more practice?” asked Appoline.

“Not really… but you got me a bit curious. Did I just burn myself out? Is it the alchemy? I want to know… but like, eh, might be best not to risk it…” mumbled Lily.