Chronicles of the Red Sovereign

Chapter 27: A Teacher

My lady, what should I do to help her then? Kayla asked. I cant just leave her like this. I mean, it can affect her future, her career and a whole lot of things in her life!

The archduchess smiled fondly at her former student and subordinate.

What? Why are you smiling?

Youre good at this.

Good at what?

This Being a teacher. Youre quite good.

Are you kidding me? I am totally unprepared for something like this. I can teach them literature and and how to fight a monster and how to survive when attacked by one, but dealing with something like multiple personality disorder is not my forte! Kayla rambled.

Youve got the heart of one. I mean, you had long cut off our relationship and considering how prideful you are, you swallowed that and sought me for advice. If thats not the heart of a teacher, then I dont know what that is.

Youre joking.

Just compare it to my performance when I was raising you. Just how dense are you? Im giving you a compliment. the archduchess clicked her tongue in annoyance.

Oh. Th- thank you then.

Youre welcome. Now, I cant do something for this student of yours if I dont meet her myself. I have to assess her to come up with a way to help her I suppose. But, as you know I am the prime minister of this nation so Im quite busy. I cant help you with this one.

But- but-

But if the person were talking about is a student of the Imperial Academy then I can have Luna help you.

Luna? Why?

The specialty that you sought me for, I taught it to her. Well, she was quite talented in this field herself so I helped her become better I guess.

Luna Hysi? Shes already a monster. But you actually taught her your skill of understanding other peoples minds? What kind of person are you raising? Kayla asked.

See? Even youre worried at a kid who can probably destroy half the school if she wants to. You really do have the heart of a teacher.

Milady, stop joking.

Fine. Anyway, I recommend Luna to help you out on this one. After making her diagnosis and assessment, tell her she can talk to me if she ever snags on a wall or something.

I dont think thats going to happen.

What do you mean?

This particular student kind of sort of hates her.

Kayla watched as the archduchess sigh, like she already knew it and was tired of hearing it. Of course. Its a really interesting case too.

The archduchess glanced at the drawings once again. One was a green tree standing tall in the middle of a plain under a cloudless blue sky. The other was another tall tree, but the sky was colored gray. The third drawing was a leafless tree drawn in black with its background a static of color. The fourth drawing was a dead brown tree with the background of a raging storm. And last drawing was a thin dead tree in the middle of a black void.

This is my first time coming across a D.I.D. case in Afasia. What a waste.

Milady

Five personalities, including the main one. Lunas the only person inside the school that can help you. If you ask for her help or not, its totally your call. Archduchess Zaira told her. But you better do something about that student of yours soon.

The archduchess picked up the fifth drawing.

This one looks very ominous. If each of these drawings is the representation of the different personalities, this one is the most troublesome. You do not want to confront the owner of this drawing.

Kayla was at a loss.

***

It had been a few months since school started. The quarterly exams had passed as well and even without meaning to, I still ended up first rank in the magic arts department first years. I was third rank in the overall though. My friends and family were somewhat happy about it, but there was a certain fellow who wasnt as festive as them.

You probably cheated, didnt you? growled Freya as she blocked my way to the practical class.

Cheated? Like there was any way that I can. Youre just being paranoid Freya.

Ill get you for this. she sneered and purposely hit my shoulder as she passed by me.

Are you okay? asked a classmate of mine, Margaret.

Im fine, dont worry.

We continued our way to the practical class location.

The past couple of months, Kai wasnt attacked by any assassin or troublesome people. We were able to relax and focus on our studies, which was a students purpose since the beginning. But we still did not let our guard down. I knew that whoever sent the assassin last time was only waiting for the right chance. The security within the academy had been tighter after all.

I was halfway to my class when Professor Tresde suddenly barged into the classroom.

Professor Noria, Im borrowing Luna Hysi for the rest of your class. she said and made her way to where we were huddled.

May I ask for the reason, professor?

Its quite private, so I hope you will let me. And besides, its not like shell fall behind right?

I could feel the tension between the two teachers. Professor Noria sighed in defeat and gave her approval. Professor Tresde brought me to her office where she offered for me to take a seat.

Why did you bring me here professor?

I have a small problem. And Archduchess Zaira told me you can help me.

Auntie did? What kind of problem is it?

She handed me a brown envelop. I accepted and slowly opened it. I saw five different drawings of a representation of a tree. I was very surprised when I saw the name scribbled behind all of it

Freya? I inquired.

The professor nodded. Your aunt called it D.I.D. What did it mean again? Uh

Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Yes, that one. Its also called as-

Multiple Personality Disorder. my jaw hardened in disbelief. That Freya has it?

The archduchess said you would know what to do.

Really? Something like this needs closure. I have to talk to the patient myself and assess her situation. And once I have the necessary information I need, then I can diagnose her and come up with a method. Thats how psychology works. I explained.

Huh. So you really do know about it. She said you would, I just did not believe her.

So? Freya has multiple personalities. And from what I can see, there are five of them and two are quite troublesome in particular.

The archduchess already gave me the rundown. Luna, I need you to observe Freya for a few days.

Pardon?

I know you two hate each others guts, but Freyas Freyas mentally disturbed right now. So you have to understand. she said with a worried look.

Fine.

Anyway, I need you to observe her for a few days. Study the different personalities that she has and compare it to the drawings she submitted. Also, try to see if you can figure out what triggers the personalities to emerge from her subconscious.

Aunt Zairas words?

Totally. Also, try to figure out how she developed such a condition in the first place. I nodded.

Hmm I can think of a few psychotherapy methods already, but observation is still necessary. I mumbled. Very well. I will observe her.

Thank you Luna. One more thing, nobody else must know. Freya Freyas mind is fragile right now. And this kind of situation needs some privacy. Telling you and the archduchess is already a breach of that privacy.

You told me to help you assess her better and as well as help you treat her. Thats in no way, a breach of anything. I told her with a smile. Freya and I may not see things eye to eye, but it wont leave a good taste in my mouth if I defeated her and yet shes in such a condition. I might as well throw chivalry and honor out the window.

Good. Ill ask you for any updates from time to time. As a return, youre exempted from any paperwork in my subject, except for a pop quiz.

I just nodded my head with a smile on my face. Ill take that offer.

And so, I became Freyas stalker. My friends were quite confused about my actions, especially when I would leave them when we were in the middle of something. But they were already quite used to it. Anyway, I tried to keep Freya in my sight at all times ever since Professor Tresde asked me to keep an eye on her. Good thing we were in the same class most of the time. The only time I would not be able to see her was during lunch and after school. She would hang out with her circle of friends somewhere in the academy grounds, so I would send Vyfal to monitor her if it couldnt be helped that I had to be away from her.

Three days later, it looked like my suspicious actions caught her attention.

What do you want with me? Freya asked, irritation written all over her face.

What are you talking about? I just happened to be here. I said.

Really? Thats your excuse? You think I havent noticed you tailing me the last few days? I may be a rank below you, but Im neither nave nor stupid. she retorted.

No, just a little dense and thick-faced.

Ugh! Youre unreasonable! How did a girl like you become our years first rank?

She stormed out of my sight. But I did put a little of my energy on her. That way, I could track her and she wouldnt notice it.