As Carn regained consciousness, he felt a piercing sensation in his chest. Slowly, he opened his eyes to a bright, blinding light that made him squint. He could hear the sound of machines whirring and beeping beside him, and realized that he must be in a hospital room.
Having never been to a hospital before, Carn was at a loss as to how to alert the nurses to his wakefulness. His body felt heavy and unresponsive as if made of concrete, and he remained seated in the bed, unable to move. As he glanced to his left, he noticed an almost empty IV bag attached to his arm.
After what seemed like an eternity, Carn finally spotted a young nurse walking into the room, carrying a fresh IV bag. Startled, she took notice of Carn's open eyes and let out a small gasp. Hastily pulling out her pager, she announced, "Carn is awake!"
"Hello, Carn," she said with a warm smile. "I'm just going to change your IV bag, and your doctor will be here soon."
Carn mustered a feeble smile in return and waited patiently for the doctor's arrival. Shortly after, a white man wearing a white lab coat, square glasses, and slick black hair that was gelled back entered the room. Despite the dark circles under his eyes, his gaze was bright and optimistic. He carried a tray that held a silver necklace adorned with a symbol that resembled a combination of a water droplet and a tiny flame, as well as the black box that Granny Cho had given Carn.
"Hello, Carn," the man said with a reassuring smile. "I'm Dr. Stevenson. It's good to see you're awake. How are you feeling?"
Carn nodded weakly and replied, "I feel like I've been hit by a truck."
Dr. Stevenson chuckled at Carn's response, but then his expression turned grave as he said, "I understand that you've been through a traumatic event, but I need to ask you some questions to assess your condition. Can you tell me what happened?"
Carn took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding, "There was a gate break at our shop, and the front of the building was destroyed. I was injured, and then a Blood Imp appeared. It attacked my boss, Hector Toughwood, and sent him flying into a wall. I fought for my life and managed to grab a knife, but the Imp still managed to stab me in the stomach. I think I killed it, but I can't recall exactly how."
Dr. Stevenson handed the tray over to Carn, saying, "This matches up with the reports we've received. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that Mr. Toughwood and Mrs. Cho are both recovering well. They have injuries that are manageable and should be able to leave the hospital within a couple of weeks. Fortunately, a High-Gold healer was present during the gate break and managed to heal most of your injuries on the spot. However, you'll still need to stay here for a month or two, as your internal injuries are quite severe."
Carn started to break out in a sweat, "I don't know if I can afford that."
"Don't worry," Dr. Stevenson reassured him. "Mrs. Cho has offered to cover your hospital bills in full, so you can take the time to rest and recover."
Carn shook his head firmly, "I can't let her do that. She's an old lady, and I can't have her waste her money on me."
Dr. Stevenson looked surprised and asked, "You don't know who Mrs. Cho is? Her son is the CEO of Paradise Incorporated, you know… the company that created God's Paradise."
Carn looked shocked. He had always thought that Granny Cho was just an old lady who enjoyed eating dumplings, not someone famous.
"Have you ever played God's Paradise?" Dr. Stevenson asked cautiously.
Carn shook his head. "Nah, I can't afford it. I don't even have a real home. Just the alleyway near my job."
Dr. Stevenson's confusion was evident. "Then how did you manage to kill a blood imp? Even Mid-Copper tier players struggle with those."
Carn shrugged. "Maybe I got lucky?"
"What's your LT?" Dr. Stevenson asked, trying to remain professional.
Carn's expression turned sheepish. "I don't know. I've never been to a hospital or anything like that to check."
"Intriguing," the doctor said, scratching his chin. "We'll need to run a few tests on you while you're here. We typically run these tests on children when they hit puberty. As you probably know, ever since mana entered the world 1000 years ago, a child gains a special ability unique to them, called a Latent Talent or LT for short. For example, my LT allows me to float small items towards me." He demonstrated this by causing a pen to float from his coat pocket to his hand. "The abilities can vary widely, though. Matt Stiles, for instance, has super regeneration. Perhaps your LT gave you the ability to kill that blood imp."
"I'm fine with any tests you need to run," Carn replied. "It would be good to know, anyway."
"In that case, we'll also need to run a species test and some blood work," Dr. Stevenson said, getting ready to leave the room. "The healer on-site was quite skilled, but you'll probably have scarring everywhere you were healed. Unfortunately, there's not much we can do about that."
Carn's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, a species test? I'm human, right? I mean, I don't have pointy ears or anything. And, not to brag, but I am rather tall."
Dr. Stevenson chuckled. "I agree with you, but it doesn't hurt to check. I'll come back to check on you once we get your test results." With that, he left the room.
As the young nurse entered to draw blood, Carn stewed in his thoughts. He didn't think he had a particularly unique LT, and he was confident he was a full-blooded human. Nevertheless, he tried not to dwell on it.
About a day later, Dr. Stevenson returned to the room with a mixed expression on his face.
"Hello, Carn. The test results came back, and they're quite fascinating," Dr. Stevenson said seriously.
Carn's nerves kicked in. "Doc, you've got me worried. What's wrong?"
Dr. Stevenson chuckled, "Nothing is wrong, my friend. You're just a very unique case."
"To start, your LT is probably a factor in why you defeated the blood imp," Dr. Stevenson continued. "The name of your LT is Nature's Child, which causes all facets of yourself to become stronger the more time you spend outside. The effect is even more significant in less polluted areas."
Carn was intrigued. "Nature's Child? So, because I live outside, I'm stronger than the average person?" he asked.
"Exactly," Dr. Stevenson replied. "However, this type of LT is incredibly rare. More specifically, an LT that grants benefits without limits or caps is very uncommon. Usually, an LT grants a supernatural ability or a flat increase to one aspect of yourself. For example, Matt Stiles's healing ability didn’t get stronger as he grew older; it has only gotten stronger as he has gotten stronger. In your case, you will get stronger because of your LT, and conversely, as you get stronger, the potency of your LT will increase. It is like a self-propelling cycle. Only about one in a hundred thousand people have this type of LT."
"That's really interesting," Carn replied, amazed. "I just thought I was stronger than most due to the exercise I do… But what about my species? I'm just a regular human, right?"
"Actually, no, you're not," Dr. Stevenson replied, looking serious. "In fact, we believe that your LT is derived from your lineage. You are half-human and half-high elemental."
"Wait, really? That-that doesn't make sense," Carn stumbled over his words. "I mean, you said it yourself, I look completely like a regular human."
Dr. Stevenson took a moment to let Carn calm down. "Being a mixed race is quite common, but you're right, you look no different from a human."
Carn took a deep breath. "I've never heard of high-elementals before, let alone a hybrid with one. What are they?"
"You're right, elemental mixes, let alone high-elemental mixes, are extremely rare. There have only been about 5 recorded cases of high-elemental mixed races, and even seeing an actual high-elemental is incredibly difficult," Dr. Stevenson explained slowly. "What we know about high-elementals is that they are embodiments of nature. They have the ability to take on the appearance of any life form, which makes them difficult to spot. However, mixed bloods are unable to change their appearance in such a way. Aside from that, all I know is that if they were hostile towards humans, the world would be a very different place."
"Doc, that's quite unsettling," Carn said with a trembling voice.
Dr. Stevenson put a reassuring hand on Carn's shoulder. "I understand how you feel, but there's nothing to worry about. The main concern right now is that since you don't know your parents, we don't know which type of elemental you are mixed with. However, for cases like yours, it is mandatory for us to contact others who share the same rare species as you. We were able to locate one of the five high-elemental mixed races, who happens to be a well-known figure. He will be arriving in two weeks to meet you and answer any questions you may have about high-elementals."
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"Famous? Whoa, I might have seen them on TV. What's their name?" Carn asked with interest.
"Their name is Fen Tuolong. He's a well-known swordsman from China," Dr. Stevenson answered.
Carn's eyes widened in recognition. "Wait, I remember watching his match in God's Colosseum on the day the gate broke!"
Dr. Stevenson nodded with a smile. "Yes, that's the one. Do you have any other questions for me?"
"Do you know how old I am?" Carn asked, feeling a little embarrassed.
"You're likely around 19 years old," Dr. Stevenson replied with a smile. "Well, I should probably be going. You have a visitor, after all."
Once Dr. Stevenson left, a middle-aged Korean man in a suit walked in, flanked by two imposing bodyguards.
The two guards stationed themselves outside the door after receiving quiet instruction from the man in the suit. He then approached Carn's bed, his jet-black hair flowing and his face clean-shaven. Although he appeared ordinary, there was an undeniable pressure as he stood next to Carn. His eyes glanced at the black box on the bedside table, a gift from Granny Cho to Carn, and his head tilted slightly in confusion. But the expression vanished as soon as he focused back on Carn.
"Thank you, young man," the man in the suit said.
Carn thought the man seemed familiar, but he couldn't put a name to his face.
"I hope this doesn't come across as rude, but may I ask who you are?" Carn inquired.
The man's expression shifted to one of shock, his pride clearly wounded. Nevertheless, he managed to brush it off and put on a smile.
"My name is Peter Cho. You saved my mother on the day of the gate break," he said.
Carn suddenly realized why the man looked familiar. "You're the CEO of Paradise Inc., right? The doctor told me about Granny Cho. I had no idea," he exclaimed. "But really, there's no need to thank me. I just wanted to survive."
Mr. Cho chuckled to himself. "You're quite the funny one, kid. Thanks to you, I now know that my advertising team needs more work," he said. "My mom talked about you, too. She said you make the best dumplings on the planet. That's high praise, you know. She's been to almost every Michelin-starred Asian restaurant but always says that yours are better."
Carn felt his face turning red with embarrassment. "I don’t know what to say," he said.
Mr. Cho pulled up a chair and said, "If you don't mind, I have a couple of things to talk about."
"Sure, what's up?" Carn said.
Mr. Cho spoke clearly, "I would like to grant you a wish of some sort. As long as it is within my power, I will do my best to make it happen."
Carn was taken aback and shook his hands in the air. "You don't have to do that. I really didn't do anything special," he said.
"That's not true," Mr. Cho replied seriously. "My mom told me that you haven't been enhanced by God's Paradise yet, you still stood up and fought a blood imp. Without your bravery, my mom would be dead. So please, let me do something for you."
"If you put it that way, I can't decline," Carn sighed and thought for a moment before an idea came to mind. "I would like a Compulsory Education Solution."
Carn had seen ads for this product multiple times during his shifts. It was an expensive liquid that nourished the brain, and the Compulsory Education Solution would give Carn the basic knowledge one would receive from preschool to the end of high school. While Carn thought of asking for a place to stay, he ultimately decided on the solution. Even if he had the money, it was very hard to actually get one. He could buy an apartment eventually, but getting this solution could never happen.
"Interesting. Do you want to strengthen your knowledge from school?" Mr. Cho asked.
"Actually, I have never gone to school," Carn replied.
"In this day and age, your parents didn't make you go to school?" Mr. Cho exclaimed.
"I never knew my parents. I have lived on the streets for as long as I can remember," Carn said.
The color drained from Mr. Cho's face. "I am so sorry. I didn't mean to be insensitive."
"No worries. I have to explain this more than you think."
"Alright," Mr. Cho cleared his throat. "I have a contact who sells an enhanced compulsory education solution meant for the wealthy people of the world. You will gain the knowledge of someone who was extremely talented in school. But this much is easy. Is there anything else you want? Truthfully, what you asked for is hardly a fraction of what I was prepared to give."
Carn pondered again when suddenly he had a great idea.
"Could you give me a full ride to college and, if I may be so bold, the privilege to have no roommate?" Carn asked, his eyes shining with anticipation.
“Another easy one, I will gladly do this for you. But just one question, why don't you want to ask for a Collegiate Solution?" Mr. Cho questioned.
Carn hesitated before answering, "I want the full experience of going to college, making new friends, and learning from professors.”
"Anywhere in mind?" Mr. Cho asked. "If not, how about Stanford?"
Carn's eyes widened. "Stanford! That would be incredible!"
"I'm actually quite close with their president," Mr. Cho said with a smile. "And my daughter will be attending there next year. Their classes begin in about a month, but I don't think that will be a problem."
As Mr. Cho chuckled, Carn noticed the tension in his shoulders melting away. "It's been a while since I've felt this relaxed," Mr. Cho admitted. "My mom was right, you really are something special."
"Okay," Mr. Cho continued, "since the first two wishes were so easy, I'll play genie and give you a third wish."
Without missing a beat, Carn replied, "All I've ever wanted is a place to call home. Can you grant me that wish? A place to stay would be perfect."
"Sure thing. Do you have any specific location or details in mind?" Mr. Cho asked, tapping his wrist twice. To Carn's amazement, a pen and notepad appeared out of thin air, though they were slightly transparent if you looked closely enough.
"That's so cool!" Carn exclaimed.
After thinking for a second he continued, "I'd like to stay in California, just in case my parents come looking for me. And I'd prefer somewhere near the ocean or mountains."
Carn paused, considering the other details. "Oh, and I'd really like a kitchen and a nice outdoor seating area," he added.
As Mr. Cho finished jotting down Carn's requirements, he tapped his wrist once more, causing the pen and notepad to disappear. "Excellent," he said with a smile. "I know just the place that fits your needs perfectly. In fact, I own most of the properties in the area around where I live. How about I give you one of them? It's located right on the shore in Laguna Beach, a peaceful area of California."
Carn was overwhelmed with gratitude. "That would be amazing!” His excitement waned and as he thought about what was going on right now he asked, “H-How can I ever repay you?" he asked, his eyes wet with tears.
Mr. Cho pondered for a moment before replying, "Well, once you settle in, you could make dinner for my family."
"Absolutely!" Carn exclaimed, beaming from ear to ear as he wiped away his tears.
"The solution will come in a couple of days. As for the college, I'll let you know by the end of the week at the latest," Mr. Cho said as he stood up and straightened his suit. He handed carn a slip of paper "For the house, just call this number when you leave the hospital, and someone will pick you up."
"Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I'll make you guys dinner whenever you want," Carn replied, his eyes still puffy from crying.
"You're a good kid," Mr. Cho said, nodding toward the black box. "You should take that pill. It would be a shame if someone like you didn't play the game."
"Okay, I will," Carn said happily.
With a wave of his hand, Mr. Cho walked out of the room, and the door shut behind him.
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As Mr. Cho was driving, one of the guards spoke up. "Sir, if I may ask, what was your impression of the kid?" the guard inquired.
"He's a good kid. I haven't had such a good laugh in many years," Mr. Cho replied with a smile.
"You know what I meant, sir," the guard pressed.
"You meant his aptitude, didn't you? There's no doubt it's very high. He has the kind of presence that comes from years of playing the game, even though he's never actually played before," Mr. Cho explained.
"So, Granny Cho was right?" the guard asked.
"It seems that way, yes. In any case, I have a shopping list to take care of," Mr. Cho said, tapping his wrist.
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As the sun set below the sea outside his window, Carn sat on his bed staring at the wall, lost in thought. He felt overwhelmed by everything he had learned that day. The fact that he was a half elemental and that had received so much from the CEO of the largest company in the world - a home, schooling, and so much more - was almost too much to process. For so long, he had been alone, and having people help him in any capacity felt strange.
But he pushed those thoughts aside and turned his attention to the black box on the side table and the silver necklace with the flame and droplet. Despite having considered selling the necklace many times before, Carn knew that he had to keep it safe. Even the homeless people who had taken care of him when he was younger had told him to hold onto it.
Supposedly it was with him since he was a baby so it must be from his parents but he didn’t know what it meant. Eventually, he grabbed the black box and when his thumb touched the box the golden GP symbol on top began glowing and he heard a mechanism unlatching from inside.
When the lid opened he saw the semi-transparent pill laying in the velvet cushion. The pill seemed to shine when he took it out of the box, the moonlight pouring in from the window glistening on its surface.
Taking a deep breath, Carn swallowed the pill, and slowly, he felt himself being pulled toward sleep. The noises of the hospital began to fade around him.
Moments later, he woke up and felt as though he was floating. A slightly robotic female voice came from all around him, "Welcome to God's Paradise."