Chapter 121 “Miss Psychiatrist”
This Translation is hosted on bcatranslation.com
As Duncan and his companions stepped out from the museum’s west wing, they were greeted by the invigorating freshness of the open air and the uplifting sight of a bright, clear sky. Shirley was the first to express her joy. “Fantastic! We made it out!” she exclaimed, her face beaming with a sudden shift in emotion.
Duncan was just about to make a light-hearted comment about Shirley’s mood swing when he felt the woman he had been carrying begin to stir in his arms. It appeared that the combination of fresh air and the somewhat bumpy escape had finally roused her from unconsciousness.
Without wasting a moment, Duncan carefully lowered her onto the ground.
Heidi’s senses gradually started to awaken. The first thing she felt was a throbbing pain in her forehead. This was swiftly followed by a sudden fit of coughing, a consequence of the smoke she had inhaled while trapped in the museum. However, once her coughing fit subsided, she began to piece together her situation. The warm rays of sunlight on her skin and the scent of fresh air were undeniable signs that she was no longer inside the burning museum.
“You’re awake,” said Nina, kneeling down beside Heidi. Lines of concern creased her youthful face as she asked, “How are you feeling? Are you in pain?”
“Headache… Did you save me?” Heidi squinted as her eyes adjusted to the bright outdoor light. “Ah, it’s the two girls…”
“You recognize us?” Shirley couldn’t hide her surprise and blurted out the question.
“We haven’t met before, but I remember seeing you two in the museum,” Heidi clarified. Propping herself up into a sitting position, she looked around, trying to make sense of her surroundings. “This is…”
“You were unconscious when the fire broke out,” Nina quickly explained. “Shirley and I managed to drag you to a safer area. Then my uncle Duncan braved the flames to come get us. We carried you out as well. You’re safe now.”
“Uncle… Ah, this gentleman?” Heidi’s eyes settled on Duncan, who was standing nearby. She tried to stand to thank him, but her legs were shaky and gave out.
“Easy there,” Duncan caught her by the waist, steadying her upright position.
“Thank you,” Heidi said, standing weakly and bowing her head in gratitude. “I can’t express how grateful I am. Without your help, I would have lost my life in that fire.”
“There’s no need for thanks,” Duncan reassured her with a kind smile. “It seems we have a mutual acquaintance… Mr. Morris, do you know him?”
Heidi’s face momentarily froze in surprise, then she looked at Duncan, puzzled. “That’s my father… how do you know him?”
“Your pendant,” Duncan gestured toward the amethyst pendant that hung around her neck. “He purchased it from my antique shop.”
A look of astonishment crossed Heidi’s face as she glanced down at her pendant. “Really?”
Duncan chuckled, “Small world, right?” He extended his hand for a handshake. “Allow me to introduce myself formally. I’m Duncan, owner and manager of an antique shop in the lower city. This is my niece, Nina, and the young lady here is…”
“Shirley!” interrupted Shirley, anxious that Duncan might inadvertently omit her if she didn’t introduce herself. “You can just call me Shirley!”
“Heidi, it’s nice to meet all of you,” Heidi shook Duncan’s hand, still feeling a bit overwhelmed but recovering her composure more and more. “I work as a psychiatrist.”
And so, under the most unlikely and harrowing of circumstances, the group found themselves connected not just by the dramatic events of the day but also through the smaller, intricate threads of life.
“A psychiatrist?” Duncan’s eyebrows arched upward in a blend of surprise and curiosity. “You practice psychiatry?”
“Yes, I know I might look a bit young, but I assure you, I’m fully licensed with senior credentials,” Heidi responded, a note of pride coloring her voice. She began searching through her bag, eventually pulling out a somewhat crumpled business card and handing it to Duncan. “Here’s my business card. If it’s ever needed, I’d be happy to offer a free consultation.”
Duncan took a moment to scrutinize the business card. It was professionally designed and featured all the expected details: the clinic’s address located in the upper city, Heidi’s full name, her license number, and even a mysterious five-digit code made up of both letters and numbers.
Just above the alphanumeric code was a small note: “Express Courier Code.” Duncan found that intriguing. According to the wealth of memories he had inherited, this code was part of the Pland postal system—a premium service that cost a small fortune, about ten times more than the standard mailing rate. His host body, which had no close family apart from Nina, had never needed to resort to such an extravagantly expensive postal option.
Duncan understood that this express courier service utilized a network of high-pressure steam pipes and standardized capsules for quick deliveries. It was not just for letters, but also for small packages. Even accounting for manual handling and potential delays, it could get a package from one end of the city to the other within a matter of hours.
The luxury of the upper city never ceased to amaze him, and he found himself shaking his head internally at the notion.
Carefully stowing the business card in his pocket, Duncan refocused his attention on Heidi, who had begun to speak again. “By the way, would you be interested in a post-traumatic assessment?”
Heidi’s offer was met with puzzled looks from the group, prompting her to hastily elaborate. “I don’t mean to offend anyone. It’s a free service. People often struggle with psychological issues after traumatic events, especially in places like museums that are filled with historical objects and relics. The intensity of the trauma, combined with the influence of ancient artifacts, can sometimes create lasting psychological imprints.”
It was evident that Heidi was doing her best to distill her professional jargon into layman’s terms, wary of how her well-intended offer could be misinterpreted as condescending or insensitive.
As for Duncan, he felt no offense, nor did he see a need for any psychological evaluation. He knew that his very presence was a force to be reckoned with—a man like him could make even malevolent spirits or demons think twice before making a move.
And Shirley, well, she was a tough young woman who had faced down cultists and dark entities singlehandedly, unleashing her ethereal hound like a comet of destruction. She was hardly the one in need of psychological help. If anything, those unfortunate enough to cross her path might require some serious mental health support after encountering her wrath.
In that moment, Duncan found himself considering the intricate layers of each individual’s life and experiences, all coming together in unexpected ways. Even amid the chaos and danger they had just survived, here they were, connecting through a mix of happenstance, generosity, and shared adversity.
However, Duncan couldn’t help but think that Nina, his so-called niece, might genuinely benefit from professional psychiatric assistance. It wasn’t just the recent fire ordeal that concerned him; Nina had been experiencing unsettling dreams and emotional ups and downs for some time now. He realized that his own expertise was insufficient for addressing the mental and emotional complexities Nina was navigating. And, while the option of seeking spiritual guidance from a church was usually a fallback, they now had a willing and credentialed psychiatrist right in front of them, offering her services without charge.
“You know, Nina could genuinely use some expert advice,” Duncan began, casting a warm gaze at Nina before affectionately ruffling her hair. “She’s been dealing with more than just the stress of today’s fire. She’s had some disturbing dreams, and her emotional well-being has been a bit shaky.”
“I’m really okay, Uncle,” Nina protested softly, a bit uncomfortable at having her struggles laid bare.
Still nursing her head wound, Heidi pointed to herself and grinned. “Well, I’m offering my services for free.” She winced as she inadvertently touched the swollen area where a brick had struck her earlier. “Ouch! That hurts.”
“Since she’s offering, and she kind of owes us one, why not?” Shirley interjected, breaking her silence.
“Fine,” Nina finally agreed, although somewhat reluctantly. “What’s involved in a mental health assessment? Can we do it right here? Do I have to fill out any forms?”
“For a comprehensive evaluation, I’d prefer a quiet and more private setting, and quite frankly, I need to be in better physical condition—free from this painful lump on my forehead,” Heidi responded, chuckling lightly. “I pride myself on thorough assessments, not like some doctors who scribble down a diagnosis after a few questions. How about this? Tomorrow is a school day for you, Nina. If you’re available in the afternoon, I could come over to your house for a session. I can get your address from my dad.”
She paused and cautiously touched her forehead again. “Right now, though, I need to find some medical assistance for this—ouch!”
“There are police and medical professionals across the square,” Duncan pointed out after a moment’s pause. “Would you like us to accompany you? Given your current state…”
“I’m fine, really,” Heidi waved them off dismissively. She looked back at the smoke rising from the museum, causing her expression to shift into one of regret and sorrow. “My much-anticipated vacation has literally gone up in smoke.”
“It’s unfortunate when a vacation turns into a disaster,” Duncan remarked, “but we are all still standing, aren’t we?”
“You do have a point,” Heidi admitted, managing a smile despite her evident fatigue. She then sighed, muttering almost to herself, “If only these heretics would give it a rest, maybe I’d actually get to enjoy some time off. Oh, I apologize. I shouldn’t vent my frustrations to people I’ve just met. That’s rather inappropriate of me.”
“Duncan originally wanted to comment on her quick change of attitude when the lady on his suddenly stirred—the woman finally woke up under the stimulation of the fresh air and the bumps along the way.”
That should be “the lady on his back”, right?
They have pneumatic tubes lmao
Very sucky?