Chapter 67 Memory Collapse
[That depends, but currently you have nothing to use. Your healing magic, no matter how powerful, can’t remove this, as it isn’t a harmful condition. You would need to reduce the burden on her mind somehow]
’Is that even possible without wiping her memories, and is it even possible to wipe her memories, and if I did, wouldn’t that solve the problem?’
[Yes, a memory wipe would stop the overload, but it wouldn’t destroy the rest of her life, her personality, knowledge, relationships, and everything that makes her a Queen. If you give that solution to the elves, I doubt they’ll accept]
’So a memory-wiping spell is possible, and yes, I’m not going down that route, as it’ll turn the Queen into an empty shell’
Aiden finally stood up from his seat; all eyes inside the room were on him. He pushed his chair backwards and stepped away, walking towards the Queen, who was still looking forward.
"I want to examine her?" Aiden said.
"Of course," The elf replied, nodding her head.
Aiden stepped closer to the Queen and stood right in front of her. He placed a hand on her forehead, and she still didn’t react to him.
[Effect Identification]
[Condition: Memory Collapse]
[Description: The target’s mind becomes overwhelmed by the sheer amount of accumulated memories. The mind struggles to process and organize them, causing mental functions to slowly shut down, until it finally stops]
’Zero is right; the cause was her memories causing her mental functions to shut down, and eventually entering an Eternal Slumber, as it was called by the elves’
’This is just like Alzheimer’s in elves, and we have no idea how long she has left’
[There is no exact answer. Her progression depends on how quickly her mind continues to deteriorate, but if nothing changes, she will eventually enter the final stage.]
Aiden slowly pulled his hand from Queen Elyndra’s forehead. She still didn’t react. Her eyes remained open, staring at the same empty space as before.
The young stepped forward. "Did you find anything?" She asked, her heart beating out of her chest.
Aiden didn’t answer immediately; he had no idea if he should reveal he knew what was wrong with her without having the cure. This wasn’t something he could simply heal with Greater Heal or Purification. Her body was perfectly healthy. The problem was somewhere in her head.
"I found the cause of the condition," Aiden finally said.
The young elf’s eyes widened along with the warrior’s. "You did?" They both spoke in unison.
The king couldn’t help but smile; no matter what happened, he knew the goddess could not abandon them. Aiden was currently the only priest and still a ray of light in the kingdom. The king wanted this; since it was the Queen directly, the debt would be huge- that is, if Aiden could cure her.
"Memory Collapse." Aiden finally spoke.
The elven warrior’s expression changed immediately as he looked at Aiden. The younger elf didn’t understand what memory collapse was, as it was described as Eternal Slumber in their books.
"You know that disease?" The elf asked.
Aiden didn’t know the disease; the system gave him the name, but he also couldn’t say yes because then he’d be expected to provide a cure, which he didn’t have.
"No," Aiden replied. "But I know what’s happening to her."
The room became completely silent. Aiden looked at the Queen again before continuing, "Her body isn’t sick; her mind is"
The elves looked confused. "What does that mean? And look at her, she’s obviously sick"
"Your Queen has lived a long time, correct?"
"Yes"
"Then every year she lived, more memories are added to her mind. Every person she met, every conversation, every single moment. Her mind has been carrying all of that for how long now, and now it can no longer carry it, so it’s beginning to shut itself down, and the final stage is called Eternal Slumber"
"Wait... If what you’re saying is true, then why hasn’t Elder Baa had this? He’s currently the oldest living elf in the entire kingdom, and he’s still perfectly fine?" The warrior spoke as the younger elf sank back to her seat.
"It doesn’t affect everyone; not everyone has the same mental capacity," Aiden said as he sat back down.
"Are you saying the Queen is weak?" He mouthed off, to which Aiden didn’t reply.
"So you have a solution?" He asked again, but again Aiden didn’t answer. His solution wasn’t really a solution, and he wasn’t planning on telling them, so he had to find something else.
"Why aren’t you answering?" The warrior shouted, and in an instant the King’s guard stepped forward, his hands already on the hilt of his sword, and he flashed the elf warrior a menacing glare.
"Do you think you have the right to speak to His Holiness in that manner!!" Katarina spoke as she pushed her chair backwards, creating space just in case.
"I’m sorry for offending you. I’m sorry, Your Majesty." The elf bowed to Aiden before turning and bowing to the king, who couldn’t care less about the warrior; his eyes were on Aiden.
"Miss Katarina, can I speak to you?" Aiden spoke as he stood up. "Please, excuse me, Your Majesty." Aiden bowed his head.
"It’s fine," The king replied as he relaxed his back on his very comfortable chair.
Aiden pushed the door open and stepped outside. With Katarina behind him, they moved away from the door and the knights guarding the door, stopping in the hallway where nobody could hear their conversation.
"How can I be of help?"
"You have access to the forbidden spell books in the underground library right? Have you gone through them?" Aiden asked.
"Not really. I haven’t opened a single book there since I became the head of the magic academy, though I’ve walked through the library many times and seen the names of most of the spells. But there is someone you can ask"
"Someone? Who else has access?"
"Well, I gave her access to the library. She’s the head of magical research, and her abilities are marvelous. Is there a specific spell book you’re looking for?"
"Yes, memory alteration"