Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 969: The Burden and Benefit of Past Memories

Chapter 969: Chapter 969: The Burden and Benefit of Past Memories

"Phew..." Arabella sighed in relief as her heartbeat calmed down.

The sensation that someone was eavesdropping or watching them also stopped.

Even Alwin sighed in relief as well when it felt like the presence was gone.

[It was faint, but it must have been him. How was he able to see or hear from so far away?]

Alwin was sure it was Elrond since he had felt his presence before.

From Alwin’s thoughts, Arabella learned that Elrond was likely able to hear and see them because they talked about him and kept mentioning his name and title.

Alwin thought that it must have been because they kept talking about him time and again, so he got curious and peeked at who it was.

It was quite scary to be easily spied on because they merely said his name and title.

They did not dare talk about Elrond again and continued with their topic instead.

"It’s because older souls have higher mana capacities.

They have lived several lives and experienced a lot more things over time.

Thus, regardless of whether the previous reincarnations used magic or not, their experiences and memories, the time they spent living, contributed to empowering their soul and raising its mana capacity," Alwin explained.

"I see..." Arabella said as she thought about it.

"This means that given enough time, your capacity might even surpass Uncle’s or even mine," Alwin said.

"That’s a bit too much. I’m sure both of you will keep growing as well," Arabella was, overwhelmed.

She recalled that she had met Ferdinand when he was still young.

Then, this meant her soul was probably only a few millennia younger than his.

She had also reincarnated several times and came across Ferdinand several times, but they never got together as husband and wife.

Reflecting on what she knew, Ferdinand said the Dragon God forgot to make it possible for the primordials to have a mate. Thus, it was only when the problem was fixed that Ferdinand and Arabella finally got married because the possibility opened up.

Since Arabella was the nth reincarnation of Ellie, whom Ferdinand met a long time in the past when he was still young, her soul was indeed very old.

Ferdinand did explain to her when they talked about former reincarnations that the soul remains the same and unchanged, only improved due to more experiences and time added to it.

Meanwhile, it was the body that changed in every reincarnation and the known "self," since a new reincarnation usually does not possess memories from its past self.

Ferdinand explained that the Dragon God said it was a system made so people won’t live their lives grieving what they had lost and not living their lives for the future, but for the past instead.

Arabella and Alwin were perfect examples of this, even though their situation was a bit different.

As a "regressor," as Alwin called them, Arabella could attest to this statement.

She and Alwin were proof of it. Even now, what drives them is their fear of the life they once lived and the tragedy of how it ended.

Thus, they are doing everything they can now to change it instead of simply living their life to the fullest in whatever way they please to enjoy their second chance at life in this same lifetime.

Arabella and Alwin both believed they were doing what was best for the future.

But if they reflect on it, they are slaves to their past who keep doing everything they can to run away from it or prevent it.

Yet, despite already knowing this, both of them are still set on continuing what they had been doing so far.

Truly, slaves to their past due to the memories they had.

But they are grateful for it anyway since they had the chance not to repeat the same mistakes again.

They both believe that this was the right thing to do, and it was why they were given this second chance in this same lifetime instead of simply letting them move forward to the next reincarnation.

If they needed assurance that they were right, they could at least tell themselves that by doing this, at least, they were not only protecting what they cherish, but also saving lives and improving the living conditions of a lot of people.

At least, this could not be a sin, right?

Just the memory of one life they once lived made them this kind of person.

How much more if they recall all the past reincarnations they had?

Then they would be a bundle of regrets, sadness, loneliness, and longing for the people they once knew.

It was indeed reasonable for the system to be made, ensuring that memories were wiped clean for the next reincarnation.

Arabella wouldn’t mind forgetting about this life as well, but only after doing their best to change what they could change in this one.

And she was grateful that they were given the chance to change this life before they moved on to the next reincarnation, if ever they still had one.

Arabella was also grateful that even though she had lived several lives before the one she knew, she could not remember any of her memories from previous reincarnations because the memory starts clean with the new body or vessel of the soul.

However, Ferdinand said that the soul remembers everything. That it had everything recorded. It simply remains dormant and hidden from the known "self."

It must be why Arabella suddenly recalled past memories when she stayed in Estrella with Ferdinand as they consummated their marriage.

Perhaps it was due to the long-held fervent wish, longing, hurt, and hatred all her past reincarnations who fell for Ferdinand had that she suddenly remembered some of it.

Even the pain and frustration they felt.

Arabella was rather relieved she did not get any more of those memories since even just the small peek she had was already too heavy to carry.

It made her angry and frustrated with Ferdinand, even if it was something that had already long passed.