Solving of the Countries (Book 2)

Chapter 106

China watched them, his expression unreadable. Hopefully, Russia wasn't too far gone. Right now, BRICS had his hand outstretched, fingers hovering near Russia's temple. A white light glowed. His eyes remained open.

He blinked once.
"Fragments."
He saw them, like shards of a broken mirror, reflecting various memories. But BRICS wasn't there for memory sightseeing. He got to work, quickly. With a small glow from his fingertips, he maneuvered. Gathering the shards that were more bold, and not fading, he pressed them back into the thread, bringing them back to Russia.

It wasn't an easy process. Some shards faded before reaching it.
Outwardly, Russia stirred. He was confused, clarity sometimes entering his eyes before fading as another memory was taken. BRICS almost winced as another memory ripped itself from him. He couldn't stop his own from disappearing.

China could sense the struggle. He wasn't supposed to interfere. Pushing in that one memory took some of his energy. Only Organizations were qualified to do this meticulous work, especially ones that had the country they were helping.

However, this was not simple spell-casted memory loss. Russia was actively losing them, and he didn't, couldn't resist.

That made it difficult for BRICS. If Russia was able to muster some form of defense for his Mind, such as a mental barrier, he could protect some of them from being targeted. In Russia's case, there was no barrier, no spear to drive the intruder away.

"Who is doing this to you?" BRICS asked, quietly.

"Third Reich." China answered. "I know little of him, a Mind Breaker. Soviet told us."

"Soviet... I know by some of Russia's memories," BRICS sounded almost puzzled. "Third Reich... I don't think I've ever heard of him."

"Third Reich?" Russia asked, looking at BRICS. He looked thoughtful, not tensing at the mention of the name. China's eyes narrowed in concern. Russia used to stiffen whenever he mentioned Third's intrusion. "He said he'd fix something for me. Но я не знаю, что он имеет в виду." (But I don't know what he means.)

"He's not fixing, he's dismantling," BRICS' voice strained as another mental barrage was thrown against his defenses. He was trying to retrieve Russia's memory while at the same time warding off Third's attacks.

He amplified the white streak, "China, seal the memories in place. I need to work faster."

China nodded and knelt beside him, he looked at Russia who met his eyes, "Вы нам доверяете?" (Do you trust us?)

Russia hesitated, a conflicted look crossed his expression. Then, he said, "Я не уверен. Но ты не враждебен." (I'm not sure. But you aren't hostile.)

BRICS exhaled, "That's good enough." But his eyes dimmed as another memory was eaten up.

China watched them both closely, linking them close as best he could. He sensed that BRICS was faltering, and trying to hold himself together while stabilizing Russia. Complicated feat.

It went on for some time. BRICS would reach out, using bursts of energy to wrap around a memory, and even using his own strands, to keep them from fading. When he pressed them back, China would seal it, a golden light flaring protectively against the shadowy tendrils that reached for it. The seal remained steady against Third's intrusion.

Then suddenly, BRICS stopped. He steadied his hand, reignited the white stream of energy. "This Third... he's taking the memories faster than I can put them back in."
"It's easier to take things apart then build them back," China sealed back two more memories.