Emergency

Clemence wrapped up Thomas and Vira's visit while Anthony began thinking about how he could get Clemence to share his knowledge with him. Unlike when he was Anastrus, the strongest Dragon King, he didn' have anything he could offer in exchange except his own knowledge. But that would be incredibly suspicious since no ordinary baby would know what he knew.

Besides, a lot of his knowledge was still sealed within the creases of his soul. So, offering to share what he knew in exchange for what Clemence knew about mundane medicine wasn't a viable option for Anthony.

In the future, Anthony would certainly have something to bargain with. But by then, there wouldn't be a need to seek out Clemence. And why would Clemence agree to divulge his knowledge for an unreliable promise made by a kid that still smelled like his mother's milk about repayment in the future?

Anthony wondered if he could get Thomas and Vira to pay for it somehow, considering they were sickeningly doting.

Anthony continued thinking about it as they left the clinic. Based on Thomas' and Vira's expressions, even if Clemence hadn't told them what they wanted to hear, he had still managed to instill some calm in them. He had probably told them that Anthony wasn't in pain or in danger of getting worse at the moment and that they should keep an eye out but not let their worries get the best of them.

Well, it didn't matter much to Anthony what they talked about as long as he could get back to trying to control his hearing, sleeping, and strength training. And as soon as he was ready, he would ask Thomas and Vira to get Clerence to teach him what was new in the medicinal world. If possible, he could also use that opportunity to start making potions that would help his Natural Breathing.

Anthony did his best to shut out the avalanche of sounds that started pouring in on their way back.

Back in his crib, the majority of sounds Anthony had picked up were the ones from himself and those from Thomas and Vira. But now, in addition to those sounds, he also heard everything and everyone in the village around him.

The sounds of other people walking around, digging in their gardens, cooking and slamming with pots, chopping wood, kids playing, and farm animals and pets roaming around the village.

Anthony felt like he was trapped in a living nightmare, and he clapped his hands over his ears to try and protect himself. Of course, it was futile since the soundwaves easily found their way through the gaps in his fingers and palm, and palm and ear.

He couldn't contain the soft cry that slipped its way out.

Thomas and Vira instantly noticed Anthony's discomfort. Not only did he cry out while clutching his ears, but his face was also scrunched up, almost like a piece of paper. Anthony's eyes were closed as if he wanted to shut the world out.

Thomas and Vira exchanged one quick look before hurrying back to Clemence's clinic and bursting through the door. Vira led the way and almost sent the bell flying.

"What–?!"

The ruckus sent Clemence to his feet as he sat behind the counter. He was about to question what was going on when he saw Thomas and Vira and their distraught faces. It was only one thing that could make them look like that, so he turned his gaze to the baby in Vira's arms while moving around the wooden counter to take a closer look.

Anthony had involuntarily curled up and pushed his face into Vira, right between her shoulder and neck. But he was in no position to resist as Vira and Clemence pried him away so the doctor could take a better look at him.

Since it was the first time Anthony had hugged her or let her hug him without a frown, Vira was almost reluctant to peel Anthony off of her. But she knew Clemence had to get a better look, so she didn't show that reluctance.

Thomas bit his nails nervously as he watched, powerless when his child was suffering.

Clemence took a look at Anthony's ears after forcing the latter's hands to the side, surprised at the baby's strength, but a baby was still a baby, and Clemence didn't struggle.

However, they looked just the same as when Thomas and Vira had left only moments earlier. Clemence couldn't see anything that would cause Anthony's suffering. But he didn't give up and say he couldn't do it, not when he had an ailing patient in front of him.

It might have been different if it was another baby who was just crying.

But Anthony hadn't cried once since his birth. And even now, Anthony was doing his best to suppress his cries. It wasn't a baby throwing a tantrum. It was a human in pain.

As a doctor, it was Clemence's duty to do everything he could to stop it.

He grabbed Anthony and brought him into the slightly more isolated room behind the curtain.

The thick log walls, covered in tool boards, were designed to create a temperate and controlled room isolated from the outside world. It was where Clemence performed most of his more delicate surgeries as well as his general check-up room. But since he could require utmost privacy, peace, and quiet when inside it, it was as soundproofed as possible with the available resources.

So, when everyone was inside, Clemence gestured for Thomas to draw the curtain and close the door.

Immediately, the room fell silent, with only the muted breaths of Thomas and Vira decorating the silence.

Clemence held his breath out of focus and not to disturb Anthony. He had confirmed that Anthony's pain stemmed from being overwhelmed by sounds by the fact that the baby's expression had eased up as soon the door closed and shut out any sounds from the rest of the village.

Clemence held up a finger in front of his mouth to signal Thomas and Vira to stop breathing so loudly. Now that he had identified the cause of Anthony's suffering, he could at least do his best to alleviate it. He wasn't sure how sensitive Anthony's ears were. But eliminating as much sound as possible would be for the best.

Clemence carefully put Anthony on the bench and started scanning the walls for suitable tools until he found an octagonal stethoscope with weird symbols engraved on the octagon and the tube.