novelraw Chapter 26 : Chapter 26
Chapter 26 : Chapter 26
Chapter 26
“Are you not having any problems in your daily life?”
“In my daily life… yes, there is no major problem. Only the prophecy….”
I gazed steadily at Cassis.
Her long red hair and green eyes were unchanged. Her beautiful appearance as well.
‘She looks particularly haggard these days.’
It seemed as though the vitality that once lingered on her face was gradually fading.
Her trembling eyes revealed anxiety and worry, and her lips were dry as well.
“You are taking care of your health, correct? Are you eating properly?”
“Pardon? Well… I am taking care of myself. I eat and drink water, more or less….”
Cassis trailed off.
I took hold of her wrist and observed the flow of mana within her body.
The flow of mana inside her was rough and jagged.
That meant she was lying.
“You are not eating properly, are you?”
“Ugh. I, I do drink water.”
“I do not think so.”
Even her claim about drinking water was a lie.
I let out a sigh.
“As I have told you before, you must eat properly. And drink plenty of water.”
“Yes….”
“There are many reasons why auditory hallucinations occur, but in your case, it may be because your body has weakened. We have not discovered any other cause.”
There are many causes of auditory hallucinations. Needless to say, they can arise from delusional disorder or schizophrenia, and they may also occur in cases of severe depression or anxiety disorder.
‘None of those apply to Cassis.’
She does show mild depression and anxiety symptoms. However, not to the extent that they would cause hallucinations.
‘There are no signs of schizophrenia or delusional disorder either.’
I adjusted my posture.
“What about the others in the Sun Church—the priests, I mean?”
“What do you mean?”
“I am asking how they are treating you. I believe I heard last time that there is a priest who disapproves of you even coming to this counseling office.”
“Ah….”
Cassis’s expression darkened briefly.
Soon after, she forced the corners of her lips upward into a smile.
“...It is the same as always. Some priests like me, but others disapprove.”
“Last time, you mentioned something like factional strife. Is that correct?”
“Factional strife, yes, something similar. It began with light debates over doctrine, but the conflict has been deepening.”
As is often the case with factional disputes within religions, the strife in the Sun Church also arose over doctrine.
“It is a debate over whether anyone who has received a divine oracle should be recognized as a Prophet, or whether even those who have received an oracle must strictly adhere to doctrine to be recognized as one.”
“I remember now. The former was called the ‘Oracle Faction,’ and the latter the ‘Doctrine Faction,’ was it not?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
The Oracle Faction, as the name suggests, places importance on divine oracles.
No matter what the Prophet’s conduct may be, if one has received an oracle, the divine will must be respected.
On the other hand, the Doctrine Faction values doctrine more. Even if one has received an oracle, if their conduct does not match the qualifications, they cannot be recognized as a Prophet.
“So the priests who support you would be from the ‘Oracle Faction.’”
“Yes. Even coming to a counseling office like this is considered somewhat contrary to doctrine.”
The Sun Church has a strong tendency to resolve problems that arise within the order internally.
Even if Cassis has lost her prophetic abilities due to auditory hallucinations, they believe it should be resolved through prayer and faith healing within the Church.
She should not come here for treatment.
‘What nonsense.’
Doctrine is doctrine, and treatment is treatment.
“I am not very knowledgeable about the Sun Church’s doctrine, but is not an oracle, by definition, the will of the divine?”
“That is correct.”
“Then if they value human-made doctrine more than divine oracles, would that not be putting the cart before the horse…?”
“The Prophet right before me committed apostasy and joined the Idra Church. His name was Judo.”
The Idra Church.
A religion hostile to the Sun Church, one that reveres the World Tree as the origin of the world’s creation.
It had once been the state religion of the Elf Empire, which ruled the entire continent.
‘After the fall of the Elf Empire and the felling of the World Tree, their power greatly diminished.’
Now, I had heard that they survive while hiding from the Sun Church’s surveillance.
However, their influence has not vanished entirely. Like a secret society, they are constantly plotting the overthrow of the Sun Church.
Cassis fidgeted with her fingers as she continued.
“The debate arose because of Judo. Since Judo also received a divine oracle, the Oracle Faction insists he should be recognized as a Prophet. The priests who could not accept that formed the Doctrine Faction.”
“I see. Hmm….”
After hearing about Judo’s case, I could not entirely dismiss the Doctrine Faction’s reasoning either.
“In any case, it is quite a confusing situation.”
“That must be difficult.”
Perhaps Cassis’s hallucinations originated here.
‘Auditory hallucinations arising from factional conflict within the order and the stress it caused.’
Of course, this too was only a hypothesis.
‘There are many unusual aspects to Cassis’s hallucinations.’
Normally, when someone hears hallucinations, their daily life is severely disrupted.
Hallucinations that mock them, curse at them, or even attempt to kill them… Amid countless voices, they come to suspect and distrust everyone around them.
‘Cassis is not at that level. Her prophetic abilities have been affected, but she does not hear hallucinations that interfere with her daily life otherwise.’
Her depression and anxiety do seem to have increased recently, but they are not as severe as those of typical patients who suffer from persistent hallucinations.
“The medicine I gave you last time—you still have some left, correct?”
“Pardon? Ah, the medicine. Yes, I still have some.”
“How much remains?”
“About a week’s worth….”
“That is quite a lot. Were there days when you did not take it?”
“...Lately I have been so overwhelmed that there were days like that occasionally.”
“From now on, please take it consistently. As I said, eat properly and stay hydrated. Mental health and physical health are closely connected.”
“Yes… I will keep that in mind. Thank you.”
After the session ended, a faint scent of emotion lingered where Cassis had been sitting.
Anxiety, depression, and guilt.
‘…Guilt.’
I considered the guilt Cassis must be feeling.
‘Is it chronic guilt as a Prophet who has become incompetent?’
Or perhaps she feels guilty toward me, her counselor.
It happens sometimes—when a mental illness does not improve easily, a client may feel unwarranted guilt toward their counselor.
It is not a good sign. If her condition does not improve, depression and anxiety may worsen, and her overall state may deteriorate.
I must find a solution as soon as possible.
***
After the session, I stopped by the library.
I wanted to gather information about auditory hallucinations.
‘As expected, there are no books that deal with auditory hallucinations professionally.’
This world has no concept of mental illness. Thus, there are no books that address hallucinations in a professional sense.
However, there were quite a few that studied similar phenomena under different names.
‘Not auditory hallucinations, but “spirit possession.”’
The book I was currently reading was of that sort.
“A boy named Humit suffered for a long time from symptoms of hearing unidentified voices. The cause was a wandering spirit. It was evident that the spirit was attempting to seize Humit’s body by periodically injecting tempting voices into his mind.”
The story of a boy named Humit who heard voices.
People of that era concluded that Humit was possessed by a spirit and attempted exorcism rituals.
“Priests of the Sun Church, shamans of barbarian tribes, and even a mage specializing in spirits were hired to attempt exorcism. However, the ‘voice symptoms’ only worsened.”
If anything, that was to be expected.
Exorcism rituals are typically loud and bizarre. To a boy already suffering from hallucinations, such rituals would have felt terrifying and horrific.
‘As a result, his mind would have weakened further, and the hallucinations worsened.’
I continued reading.
“The solution, surprisingly, was exercise. Once he combined proper strength training with running, the voice symptoms disappeared as if washed away. The priests claimed that as Humit’s body grew healthier, the spirit became frightened and fled….”
‘So in the end, exercise.’
Most other records were similar.
The hallucinations heard during periods of weakness disappeared once health improved.
‘That will not be of much help to Cassis.’
As I flipped through more books, I found something intriguing.
“A woman suffering from voice symptoms responded positively to a decoction of the Longevity Herb. Originally not a mage, she began to wield magic after consuming the potion brewed from the herb. She no longer heard hallucinations!”
‘A Longevity Herb Potion?’
As it happened, I had been researching the Longevity Herb I received from Director Justin not long ago.
“For several days, she was able to wield magic, and she became sharper of mind. Her strength increased, and she grew wise and perceptive, as if she could accomplish anything….”
‘Come to think of it, it might affect hallucinations as well. It is a herb with strong stimulating properties. If used properly….’
My heart quickened as I continued reading—only to be disappointed.
“After living those sparkling days, a week later she died. Upon autopsy, every blood vessel in her body had ruptured. It was likely a side effect of the Longevity Herb potion.”
Only then did I check the book’s title—“The Dangers of the Longevity Herb.”
‘Wrong book.’
After flipping through a few more volumes, I closed them.
“Phew.”
In the end, I found no particularly helpful information.
“That makes five books in total, correct?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
I borrowed several books from the library.
All of them contained records on auditory hallucinations or studies of the Longevity Herb.
Tonight, I planned to stay up and read, researching both.
It was when I returned to the counseling office.
“Um… who are you?”
A stranger stood at the entrance of the office.
He was a boy with a youthful face.
“Ah, well, I….”
The boy looked flustered upon seeing me and suddenly began rummaging through his pocket.
What he pulled out was silver coins. A bundle of them.
“I heard that counseling is done here. That this is a place that treats mental-related… things.”
“That is correct, but today’s business hours have ended….”
“Ah….”
The boy rolled his eyes uncertainly. He clearly looked embarrassed.
I offered him a smile.
“...Well, I can take one more person. Please come in.”
“Ah! Thank you!”
I led the boy inside.
Erisa and Draksan had already left for the day, and there were no other clients, so the office was quiet.
THUD.
I set the borrowed books roughly on the counseling desk and sat down.
The boy glanced around warily before carefully taking the seat across from me.
“This is your first visit, correct?”
“Yes, it is my first time.”
“Your name?”
“Yurion Lumaine.”
When I asked, the boy answered in a low voice.
It was not loud, but there was a strange firmness within it.
‘Lumaine?’
The surname felt oddly familiar. As I searched my memory, my eyes widened.
‘If it is Lumaine, is that not the surname given to children from the orphanage operated by the Sun Church?’
Children in the orphanage have no parents, so the Sun Church gives them the surname “Lumaine” collectively.
Cassis is also from the orphanage. That is why she is Cassis Lumaine.
‘There is no need to point that out.’
He might wish to conceal that he is from an orphanage, and I might make him uncomfortable by pretending to know.
Keeping the smile on my lips, I continued.
“You said you came for counseling. What are your symptoms?”
Yurion squeezed his eyes shut before opening them.
“Auditory and visual hallucinations.”
“I see. Auditory and visual hallucinations….”
I calmly repeated his words and studied him.
Even auditory hallucinations alone are enough to drive a person into extreme anxiety.
If one suffers visual hallucinations as well, it becomes nearly impossible to maintain sanity.
Yet Yurion appeared remarkably calm for someone suffering from both. Almost…
‘Just like Cassis.’
I carefully maintained my expression and continued the session.
“Can you describe the hallucinations?”
“I keep seeing certain scenes, and I hear voices.”
“What kind of scenes? What do the voices say?”
“The church burns.”
The voice that had answered bravely until now began to tremble.
“...The Sun Church burns. The voice says I must save it. That I am chosen, that only I can save it. It keeps saying that.”
Yurion’s eyes wavered dangerously.
“I see. When you experience these visions and voices, how do you feel?”
“I am scared. The visions are detailed. Exactly where to go, who to save, all of it appears so vividly… It feels as if it will truly happen. That is what frightens me.”
I calmly observed Yurion’s expression.
‘Severe anxiety….’
Throughout his explanation, Yurion trembled violently. Beyond the shaking, there were signs such as wavering pupils, cold sweat, and slight difficulty breathing—various symptoms of anxiety.
“Have you ever felt anxiety from such imaginings before? Or perhaps experienced a fire in the past?”
“No. I have never experienced anything like that before. I have never been in a fire. It just suddenly started one day….”
“For now, let us try medication. If it does not improve with pharmacological treatment alone, we will proceed with more in-depth counseling.”
“Yes… I understand, sir.”
After the boy named Yurion left, I fell into thought.
‘If it is hallucinations about fire, surely there must be a related experience… Is he unable to remember it? Or perhaps some trauma has been distorted and manifested as visions of fire.’
It appeared to be a rather complex issue.
‘A case that combines Berian’s Fire Phobia and Cassis’s auditory hallucinations. This will not be easy….’
***
Two days later.
As usual, I was reading the weekly newspaper when an article caught my eye.
A large fire had broken out at a Sun Church on the eastern outskirts of Lumiere.
Fortunately, there were no casualties. Thanks to a young hero.
The young hero, affiliated with the eastern Sun Church orphanage, had rescued thirty-three children from the orphanage and eighteen Sun Church priests from the main chapel. Nearly fifty people were saved alone.
The hero’s name was Yurion Lumaine.
The very boy who had visited our counseling office two days earlier.