Chapter 143 “Hypnosis”
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As Nina observed the crystal pendant gently swaying in Heidi’s hand, she felt a wave of nervousness wash over her. Although Heidi had assured her to try and relax, Nina found it challenging to let go of her apprehension. This was her first experience with hypnotherapy, and the unfamiliarity of it filled her with anxiety.
Her eyes, mesmerized by the pendant’s movement, wandered to the beaded bracelet on Heidi’s wrist. The bracelet was intricately crafted from durable string, interwoven with vibrantly colored stones. Some of these stones bore engravings—symbols that resembled runes or mystical markings.
Noticing Nina’s interest in the bracelet, Heidi smiled warmly and gently shook her wrist, causing the beads to jingle softly. “I am a student at the Academy of Truth, dedicated to serving Lahem, the God of Wisdom,” she explained. “Though it might not be obvious, I am officially registered as a cleric in the order.”
A cleric? Heidi was not just a mental health therapist but also a member of the prestigious Academy of Truth?
Nina was familiar with the name Academy of Truth. Despite its educational connotation, the Academy was one of the four major religious organizations upholding the social and ethical fabric of their “Deep Sea Age.” Unlike the other three orders—the Storm Church, the Death Church, and the Flame Bearers—the Academy of Truth focused less on traditional spiritual practices and more on the pursuit and dissemination of pure knowledge and technological advancement. Relationships within the Academy were often built on mentorship and scholarly lineage.
While other religious orders operated from churches and temples, spreading faith through organized ceremonies, the Academy of Truth established universities and research labs across various city-states. Senior clerics often evaluated the intellect and faith of junior clerics through rigorous intellectual tests, contributing to their unique and unconventional methods.
This unorthodox approach likely resulted in fewer members compared to other religious orders. Being officially registered as a cleric, symbolized by recognizable items like the beaded bracelet, was even rarer due to the Academy’s high standards.
In typical educational settings, only a select few students each year qualified to become followers of Lahem. For someone like Nina, who grew up in the disadvantaged lower districts and attended public school, the odds were even slimmer.
As Nina began to see Heidi in this newly esteemed light, she felt a mix of awe and respect. However, this newfound admiration for Heidi only heightened her anxiety. It was similar to the nervous admiration a vocational student might feel meeting the valedictorian of an elite university.
Heidi, perceptive as ever, noticed the shift in Nina’s emotional state but remained calm. Continuing to move the pendant with effortless grace, she addressed Nina in a soothing tone. “Would you like to talk about your childhood? You mentioned your parents died in an accident. Do you think that event might be affecting your emotional well-being? Would you like to explore that?”
“Actually, there’s no topic that’s off-limits for me,” Nina said, narrowing her eyes in contemplation before continuing. “I’ve told this story to many, but they often think I was too young to remember accurately and accuse me of making it up. Eleven years ago, there was a chemical leak at a factory in the Sixth District, compounded by cultists causing disturbances. Many were arrested. Are you familiar with that incident?”
“Absolutely,” Heidi nodded thoughtfully. “I was a teenager then. My family and I were near the Crossroad when chaos erupted, and we witnessed the frenzied crowds.”
“Do you recall a large fire happening at the same time?” Nina pressed.
“A large fire?” Heidi paused, her hand momentarily stilling the crystal pendant. She tilted her head slightly, searching her memories. “I don’t remember any large fire.”
“Exactly, no one does. But in my memories, there was a raging fire where my parents died. People tell me I must be misremembering,” Nina said, her voice tinged with frustration.
Heidi absorbed Nina’s words carefully, focusing intently on her. After a long pause, she finally spoke, “So, this might be the lingering shadow haunting your psyche. You’re tormented by a fire that exists only in your memory. You fear such an inexplicable event could happen again, causing you to lose more loved ones, while no one else understands or acknowledges what you’re going through.”
Nina nodded faintly, confirming Heidi’s assessment.
“Have you been experiencing any new forms of stress lately?” Heidi probed. “Whether academic pressures or personal issues, new stressors could aggravate the dormant anxieties you’ve been carrying.”
After a moment of hesitation, Nina cautiously said, “Well, my uncle has been battling deteriorating health, and his condition worsened recently. It’s been weighing heavily on my mind…”
She paused before quickly adding, “But he’s improving now, and I’ve felt a significant relief in my stress levels. I haven’t had that strange, recurring dream for the past few days.”
“Worrying about a family member’s health can be incredibly stressful,” Heidi mumbled thoughtfully. She observed Nina, who now seemed on the brink of sleep, leaning comfortably against the bed’s headboard.
Setting down the crystal pendant, Heidi’s mind wandered to her specialized training at the Academy of Truth. This training prepared her not just as a mental health therapist but also to handle the paranormal or supernatural. In truth, she didn’t need the pendant or aromatic incense for hypnotherapy. They were merely tools to capture Nina’s attention, helping her relax and become more receptive to suggestions.
Taking a gentle breath, Heidi looked compassionately at Nina, who now seemed to have slipped into a deeper state of relaxation. She could see Nina’s eyes growing heavy as she transitioned into a more profound sleep. This was an opportunity for Heidi to delve deeper into Nina’s psyche, hoping to understand the mysterious fire that haunted her memories and provide emotional relief.
“It’s clear you’ve been carrying a heavy burden,” Heidi said gently. “You’ve stored layers of stress and anxiety deep within your emotional core, fooling yourself into thinking it’s normal, perhaps to comfort those around you. But you’ve neglected your well-being. Now, it’s time for you to relax and get a good night’s sleep. Let all that pent-up tension and worry fade away into a distant dream. When you wake up, those concerns will feel as if they were never really part of you.”
Caught between wakefulness and sleep, Nina murmured softly, “…Thank you…”
Heidi smiled warmly. To guide Nina into deeper relaxation, she casually asked, “By the way, you mentioned earlier that your uncle wasn’t feeling well. What was ailing him? When I met Mr. Duncan earlier, he seemed healthy.”
Nina’s response was even slower, her words barely audible, “He was just weak for a while. But he is… completely fine now.”
Yet, Heidi could no longer hear Nina’s soft answer.
The moment Heidi asked that last question, she suddenly collapsed at the foot of Nina’s bed, succumbing to a dream state far deeper than her patient’s. The beaded bracelet on her wrist, each bead adorned with intricate runes, began to glow faintly. This bracelet wasn’t merely decorative; it was a potent symbol worn by followers of the Academy of Truth, indicating rigorous training to become a cleric, favor from Lahem, the God of Wisdom, and opposition to heretical forces. Each rune-engraved stone symbolized an instance of divine favor from Lahem.
After a few flickering moments, one colorful stone emitted a soft cracking sound and disintegrated into fine dust, vanishing into thin air.
Meanwhile, downstairs in the shop, Vanna continued her conversation with Duncan. Her questions served dual purposes: to uncover overlooked details about the mysterious museum fire and to determine if Duncan and others were affected by something known as the “sun fragment.”
As their discussion progressed, the initial stiffness and formality gradually gave way to a more congenial atmosphere. Duncan sensed that Vanna, a high-ranking “inquisitor” within the church, genuinely cared for the fire’s survivors. Her inquiries weren’t solely about combating heretical elements or gathering information; they stemmed from authentic empathy.
Duncan wasn’t sure if Vanna’s kindness extended to all city-state inhabitants or was influenced by her connection with Heidi, but her sincerity left a lasting impression on him.
“Come to think of it, Ms. Heidi and Nina have been upstairs for quite some time now, haven’t they?” Duncan mused aloud, momentarily distracted from their conversation. He glanced towards the staircase leading to the second floor, where Heidi and Nina were.
“Indeed,” Vanna responded, her eyebrows knitting in subtle concern at Duncan’s observation. “Heidi’s sessions are usually efficient and don’t take long.”
Duncan smiled slightly, elaborating, “Well, we shouldn’t necessarily inquisitor today’s session by her usual quick pace. Both physical hypnosis and kinetic anesthesia generally yield rapid results, regardless of the administrator. But I admit, they’ve been up there for quite a while. Do you think something might have gone wrong?”
Vanna shook her head confidently, “It’s unlikely. Heidi is not just anyone; she’s a rigorously trained professional from the Academy of Truth. The idea that she would falter in a standard hypnotherapy session is hard to believe. She’s handled many cases, some involving paranoid cultists. Perhaps talking to someone she considers ‘normal,’ like Nina, is a refreshing change for her. Shall we go upstairs to check?”
“Let’s do that,” Duncan agreed, his concern lingering but somewhat eased by Vanna’s reassurances.
Both Duncan and Vanna pushed back their chairs and stood up in unison. They then ascended the staircase to the second floor, their steps heavy with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Upon reaching the door to Nina’s room, they paused, exchanging a glance to synchronize their intentions. But before either could reach for the doorknob, a peculiar sound stopped them.
The distinct yet incongruent sounds of two people snoring echoed from within the room, their individual rhythms harmonizing to create an unexpected lullaby of deep, restful sleep.
HUH!? Of all the things that could have happened she fell ASLEEP!
The same as the museum, I suspect.
I wonder if its because of Duncan on the information state protection of the 6th