50 - Chapter 45

Shao Jia took her time to think before answering Sa Bina’s question. The young noble had already raised her curiosity. The questions she had been asking, and the phrasing of those questions had given away a lot more than the young noble intended.

Shao Jia had been a healer, researcher and mental health specialist for a long time. Her cultivation speed, while not good enough for the noble tier, was not far off that mark. That was one of the reasons she chafed at others of her profession. The best healers were invariably good cultivators. The problem with that was that good cultivators lived inordinately long lives.

The result of the situation was that change came even more slowly to the profession. When powerful people had spent decades, centuries or even millennia holding the same views, and using the same methodologies, it was hard to convince them they were wrong. Worse, when those very same, very powerful people, then taught the following generations, secure in their methodologies and convictions. The students, either in awe of their masters, or in fear of losing the tutelage by challenging the status quo, would then perpetuate the same ideologies continuing the same practices.

The end result for Shao Jia was that her theories and view in relation to mental health were considered a fringe viewpoint by her peers and a nuisance by the more powerful masters. She needed a patron who would allow her to continue her research. It was not like Shao Jia had not managed to deliver results. It was just that the sample size was too small, the results too nebulous, to really change anyone's mind.

Had she been a warrior things would be so different. It was easy to show how a new technique was more destructive or better at killing. Consequently her fellow researchers on the other side, the ones who chose to take lives rather than save them, had a much easier time in getting new ideas adopted. She sometimes wondered if she had chosen the wrong path.

Yet it was the experience with mental health and the experience of how her research was treated by her colleagues that led her to see the glaring issues in the way Lady Sa Bina was asking the questions. The phrasing of her questions displayed an understanding of mental health that should not exist in this kingdom or in any other within reasonable travelling distance. Coupled with her question about amnesia and especially selective amnesia, it was clear that the young noble was trying to hide something.

She would mostly have been successful with most other healers too. Looking from a purely physiological perspective, the question was innocuous enough. The reason Shao Jia was taking her time to formulate an answer was to give herself the chance to decide on how she wanted to proceed.

She could choose to expose the Lady, and lose the chance of finding a patron. Or she could provide her with cover, and potentially gain a patron. Yet that would also leave her complicit in whatever machinations little Lady Sa Bina was involved in. She could not plead ignorance after the fact. She decided to probe further before supporting her.

“I have come across a few cases,” answered Shao Jia. “They were very specific cases. If you could provide me with the details of a situation, or a hypothetical situation, then I may be able to advise if it would be possible.”

Sa Bina thought about the question. Shao Jia was being very cagey in her answer, but then this was not a standard topic. How much did she want to share with Shao Jia? There was also Sun Li to consider. If she hedged too much, then even if Shao Jia was placated, she would raise the suspicions of Sun Li. As it was, Sun Li and Lou Sie were looking at her out of curiosity. Given it was only the four of them in the room, she decided to stick to a simplified version of the truth.

“So the hypothetical scenario is as follows,” said Sa Bina. “A young girl, around 12 to 13 years old, captured and enslaved by bandits for an extended duration. Mistreated, physically abused, but not sexually abused over the period of captivity. Then during rescue by the army, this girl suffers significant physical trauma to the head. In that scenario, could the girl suffer from selective amnesia?”

“What category of selective amnesia?” asked Shao Jia. She was more and more sure of her diagnosis. The terminology the young Lady was using was outside normal expectations for even well tutored nobles. She did not provide clarification to see the response.

“Specifically the loss of memories relating to identity and events,” replied Sa Bina, too excited to notice how obvious she was being. “Yet fully retaining skills and knowledge.”

Sun Li followed the exchange with interest. To her it seemed like Sa Bina wanted to get to the bottom of issues with her memory loss. She was happy that Sa Bina seemed to be making an effort to find out why she had lost her memories as a first step to work in recovering them. She would make sure to report that attempt to her superiors.

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Shao Jia was not certain, but based on the body language of both Lady Sa Bina and Cultivator Sun Li, that the hypothetical patient was Sa Bina. She was also certain, based on the language, and the specific terminology that even she was only just starting to formalise, that Sa Bina retained all her memories, and was only pretending to have amnesia. That left her having to decide on whether to support Sa Bina or not. The fact that she seemed to have some understanding of psychological issues, and was able to articulate said issues, gave her some comfort in being allowed to continue her research. She may even be able to win enough of her trust to gain some insights.

“Yes,” said Shao Jia. “If the girl in question had been from a wealthy background, where she had always been protected. Then to fall into such a situation, that she had neither anticipated nor been trained for. That alone could lead the child to start to disassociate from her former life. Then to suffer brain trauma could lead to a type of selective amnesia. It could also be as a result of the part of the brain that was impacted. So skills and factual knowledge could have been preserved, but identity lost. Afterall the healing of the brain would restore the organ, but not necessarily restore the memories contained therein.” She knew she was laying it on a bit thick, and stretching incredulity. Her theories would be challenged if presented before a master healer. Yet in this setting, they would be accepted as possible if not outright fact.

Sa Bina was a little taken aback that her ploy had worked so well, but did not want to look the gift horse in the mouth. This healer would give her story some credibility. She also seemed to be a good healer and a strong cultivator, both of which would be an asset to her growing kingdom.

Sun Li was surprised to hear that Sa Bina’s condition was possible and that it could have come about in multiple different ways. “Is there a way to reverse the damage and potentially restore the lost memories,” she asked.

“It would depend on how the memories were lost in the first place,” said Shao Jia. “If the loss of memories happened due to physical trauma, then the chances are low. It would also have led to a significant deviation in personality. If it was only psychological, then it may be possible to regain the memories by working on dealing with the impact of the trauma. Though that would be a long path to recovery. In both cases there is no guarantee of any recovery.” It was clear to her that for some reason Lady Sa Bina was pretending to have selective amnesia, and that Sun Li was not aware of the deception. She decided to go all the way in providing support for now.

Sun Li was surprised to learn not only that the condition was possible, but that it could also have led to significant personality changes. If that was what had happened, then it could explain Sa Bina’s strange behaviour. Further if it was not something that could be fixed, then they would have to accept the strangeness as normal.

Sa Bina was ecstatic with the way things were going. She was getting so much support for her story that she was itching to hire the healer on the spot. Yet, she did not want to come across as too eager. She spent some time asking more questions, drilling into the healer’s motivations and long term goals. This was someone who would be with her for the foreseeable future.

Shao Jia answered the rest of the questions with calm equanimity. She was actually happy that she had been asked about her motivations and plans. This would make it easier to craft the right conditions to request the terms she wanted in her new role. She felt confident that she would be offered the role by this point.

Finally, Sa Bina and Sun Li were satisfied with the responses they had received. Sun Li gave Sa Bina a small nod of affirmation.

“I would like to offer you the role of lead healer for my army,” said Sa Bina. “If you accept, I would also like you to help with the recruitment of the rest of the medical staff.”

They spent some time going back and forth on the exact terms of employment. Sa Bina did not give in to all of Shao Jia’s demands, but they came to an agreement that satisfied both parties.

Lou Sie already had the draft contracts drawn up. It did not take her long to fill in the missing parts, then present two copies to both Sa Bina and Shao Jia for signature.

“Welcome aboard,” said Sa Bina. “Now that you are one of my senior retainers, come and join us on this side of the table. Lou Sie, can you please ask the candidates we were happy with to come back one by one. In the reverse order please.”

Shao Jia came to sit next to Sun Li and Lou Sie went to bring the candidates back for the next round of interviews.

Between them, they re-interviewed seven of the remaining nine candidates. Two had been suspicious and two had not come across well in the interviews, not even as juniors.

In the end they agreed to offer roles to Hu Delun - meridian healer, Chen Dong - house healer, and four others. Two were newly qualified healers and two were journeymen looking to be trained. They agreed that it gave them good coverage across the spectrum and was a promising start to the medical core.

Hu Delun, Chen Dong and the four others waited to sign their contracts and agree starting dates with Lou Sie. Sun Li went to deliver the bad news to the remaining candidates, as well as to initiate investigations into the two suspicious candidates.

That left Sa Bina and Shao Jia alone in the room for the first time. Shao Jia took the opportunity to speak to Sa Bina.

“So,” said Shao Jia. “I am not sure what game you're playing, as long as you treat me fairly, I am willing to back up your claims.”

“Whatever do you mean,” said Sa Bina, scrambling in shock. In hindsight it was probably not a good idea to try and fool a professional healer, she had allowed her excitement to overrule her caution. Just how much had she given away.

“I am certain that you don’t have any form of amnesia,” said Shao Jia. “And I know that you are hiding it from everyone.”