"Do you mean his mental state? It's been at least over a decade." Sean replied.

"No, that's not what I meant. It's more like he's developed this habit of mistaking me for my grandmother." Freya clarified.

She recalled that just a few days ago, he didn't exhibit this condition. It was strange how suddenly he couldn't recognize people properly.

"And just a moment ago, he mistook me for my dad. It happened without any warning." Sean added, sharing Freya's sense of helplessness

Meanwhile, Xavier, seated beside them, fell into contemplation.

After a long silence, he broke it with a sudden revelation. "Master had previously interacted with the Beast Army. He conducted experiments with their poison in order to develop an antidote. When I left, his emotions were unstable, but he hadn't yet exhibited signs of split personalities. But now..."

"What do you mean? Great Uncle was experimenting with that poison too?" Freya was taken aback.

"Yes, he took a significant risk and ingested a substantial dose. He fell ill several years ago as a result. Once, I said something that angered him, and he expelled me from the sect. I assumed he would create an antidote for himself, but I never imagined he would deteriorate to the point of complete mental instability."

Upon hearing Xavier's revelation, Freya's heart sank even further.

To think that Hayden Barnes had experimented with the poison and had suffered illness as a consequence...

Now, his mental faculties were being compromised by the poison.

Did this mean that if Bradley didn't detoxify in time, he could face a similar fate in the future?

The more Freya pondered the situation, the more ominous it seemed.

Bradley still bore the weighty responsibility of revitalizing Solterra. What would become of their plans if he succumbed to such mental instability?

No, there had to be a solution.

At any cost, she had to procure the antidote for him.

"Now that he's confusing me with my grandmother, it's the perfect opportunity for me to gain his trust. Once he awakens, I'll cautiously inquire if he remembers his medical expertise." Freya strategized.

"Alright, he tends to sober up quickly after drinking. He should regain consciousness shortly." Sean, who had supplied him with alcohol over the years, offered his insight.

True to Sean's prediction, Hayden Barnes stirred awake in less than ten minutes.

"Sue, I'm famished. Why are you still sitting there? Get up and cook!" Hayden Barnes demanded upon seeing Freya.

"Okay, brother, wait a moment. I'll prepare something right away." Freya responded, swiftly making her way to the kitchen to attend to her duties.

The kitchen gleamed with cleanliness, the stove devoid of even a speck of ash. It was evident that Hayden Barnes upheld meticulous tidiness.

Surveying her surroundings, Freya located a jar of rice, washing it thoroughly before setting it to cook.

Adjacent to the kitchen lay a door leading to a bountiful vegetable patch—a testament to Hayden Barnes's self-sufficient lifestyle, as Sean had mentioned prior to their arrival.

Freya plucked fresh vegetables from the garden and procured fish from the nearby pond, swiftly cleaning and steaming them.

Despite the remote location, Hayden Barnes seemed adept at sustaining himself, his existence not overly austere.

Forty minutes later, an array of aromatic dishes graced the table, eliciting Hayden Barnes's eager anticipation.

"Sue, your cooking skills are getting better and better. Your future spouse will be blessed indeed." He remarked, eyeing the spread hungrily.

"Please eat more. Alcohol is good, but excessive drinking is detrimental to one's health." Freya reminded him, summoning Sean and Xavier to join them for the meal.

Hayden Barnes furrowed his brow and gestured toward Sean. "Look at you, not getting any younger. Why haven't you found a wife yet?"

Sean exchanged a knowing glance with Freya before responding.

"How could I dare to marry before my aunt?" he quipped, playing along with Hayden Barnes's confusion and assuming the role of his father, Lawrence Barnes.

"Sue, you're lagging behind. Bring your suitor for me to assess. I've set aside a dowry for you. Once you're married, it's all yours." Hayden Barnes insisted.

"Brother, he's very busy. How about in the next few days, I bring him here for you to meet?" Freya suggested, her thoughts momentarily distracted by Sean's adept performance in referring to her as his aunt.

She didn't expect this kid to be such an excellent actor.

Hayden Barnes knocked on the table again and looked at Xavier seriously. "I've noticed your interest in my sister from the start. Are you courting her?"

Caught off guard, Xavier struggled for an explanation.

Which of his glances had Hayden Barnes interpreted as interest in Freya? If Bradley caught wind of this, he would surely fly into a rage.

"Master, you've misconstrued. I was merely gazing ahead," he clarified hastily, his gaze inadvertently traversing past Freya to settle on the space before him.

Hayden Barnes's erratic mind conjured these improbable notions effortlessly.

"Don't try to deceive me. I'm quite perceptive in these matters. I know you fancy my sister." he persisted, undeterred by Xavier's protests.

"I really don't, Master." Xavier insisted.

"Master? Don't just throw around titles to chase after my sister." Hayden Barnes chided.

Xavier found himself at a loss for words. Hayden Barnes had entirely forgotten about him, now envisioning him as Freya's potential suitor.

This complication would surely lead to trouble when Bradley arrived and discovered the situation, given his petty nature.

After their meal, Freya cleared the table, and Hayden Barnes beckoned her over.

"Sue, your big brother doesn't have many skills. I'm only knowledgeable in a bit of medicine. You should learn from me. It could come in handy for making a living someday." he advised.

Freya's interest was piqued by this suggestion.

So, Hayden Barnes still retained memories of his grandmother's medical expertise?

This simplified matters considerably.

Following his lead, she inquired further, "Brother, when did you acquire your medical knowledge? I had no idea."

"Sue, are you confused? The Barnes family has been steeped in the study of medicine for generations. You were just a playful child and never took an interest. You don't even know how to treat a simple headache or fever. That won't do." Hayden Barnes scolded her.

Freya recalled her grandmother's modest medical skills as a local healer.

She had often mentioned her own lack of interest in learning medicine as a child, only grasping the basics.

Hayden Barnes's clear recollection of her grandmother's narrative surprised her.

"Don't fret, I've had a change of heart. I'm eager to learn medicine properly." Freya assured him.

Hayden Barnes regarded her with a skeptical squint. "Sue, is something troubling you?"

He vividly recalled Sue's aversion to needles and medicine. She had shown no inclination to learn the medical skills he had attempted to impart over the years, and he had long abandoned hope of her showing interest. Now, her sudden resolve to pursue medicine struck him as peculiar.

Seizing the moment, Freya began to rub her eyes, conjuring tears and a quivering voice.

"Brother, my boyfriend is unwell," she sobbed, tears and mucus staining her cheeks. "He's been injected with a venom that's triggered manic episodes. During these fits, he becomes violent, driven by paranoia to the point of locking me away for days, convinced I don't love him. I fear for his well-being and mine. If this continues, something dreadful might occur."