The Systems Challenge-Chapter 423: Consequences for Elmo

Kim wasn't sure what to expect when she arrived at the site where the explosions were coming from. She had in her mind a battle fought with several bandits, Elwin and Patricia having been torn apart with the explosions, or even both sides at a stand off were merely a few of the images that flowed through her mind.

It was even possible that they were natural phenomena considering how many things in this world were so much different from what she'd experienced in the her own world.

However, what she didn't expect was to find Elmo bound and gagged, looking abjectly miserable and looking at her with pleading eyes. Likely wanting her to untie him. Which for her, would only have been something shed have done without any questions if it had been an enemy who had tied him up, rather than Elwin and Patricia. Kim was confident that Jonas likely wouldn't have tied him up himself.

"What the hell was that about?" Kim demanded as she walked into the firelight.

"Elmo just went crazy and started casting his spells around,' Elwin replied almost immediately as if he was itching to say that. "I finally had enough when he almost hit me with an explosion."

Kim glanced at Jonas, hoping that he'd be able to give her an idea of what might have actually happened. As Elwin's explanation lacked a substantial amount of substance. Which was problematic because she wasn't looking for the cliff notes version of what happened, but rather an adequate description of it.

Yet, Jonas merely shook his head. Letting Kim know that he wasn't going to be of much help. Or at least in this instance he wasn't. Assuming he understood what she'd been hoping for. Given that he was male, it wasn't certain that he was aware.

"Anyone have anything else to add?" Kim asked out loud, hoping for at least more detail Though, Elmo certainly wanted to say something, though his gag made all his sounds rather unintelligible.

"Not really," Patricia replied. "Elwin pretty much summed it up good enough."

Kim felt like she might start grinding her teeth if she couldn't' get any more information.

"So, you're saying that Elmo lost it, decided to randomly cast spells out there, nearly hit both of you, so both of you came over and tied Elmo up and Elmo didn't resist any?" Owen asked before Kim could say, or maybe do, anything else.

"Well, when you put it like that," Elwin said, looking a little sheepish. "I was the one who knocked Elmo out with one hit then started tying him up."

"Where was Jonas during this time?" Kim asked, feeling like Jonas should be saying more about this than he was. After all, he should have been there with Elmo in the first place. If not, then he should at least say something about what he was doing during that time. As it would explain why he didn't do anything to stop Elmo during that time.

"I think he'd gone to pick up firewood," Elwin shrugged, looking like he cared even less about that part than he did about tying Elmo up. "He showed up while I was securing Elmo then left again after a minute. When he returned again, he ad more firewood. At that time I realized there hardly was any left."

Kim nodded. It would make sense to send Jonas to do that at this time, since it sometimes could be difficult to differentiate between the shadows and scrap wood on the ground.

Kim glanced at Elmo for a moment before returning her focus back on the others. Elmo had been clearly trying to say something, but she'd been ignoring him. She didn't need some excuse about why he'd gone off the deep end. She wasn't interested in hearing something made up to get out of the mess that he'd gotten himself into.

"Well, if that's all there is, why don't you two go off into the dark and do whatever it is you both usually do at some point during the day," Kim commented to Patricia and Patrick.

"Hey, we don't do it every day," Patricia protested, even as she stood up, a firm grip on Patrick's hand before starting to walk away with him.

Kim merely shook her head, not caring enough to respond. She was more trying to get them out of here more than anything. She figured Patricia would act all huffy if she mentioned it, though she was a little surprised at the fact that she'd clearly left to get it on with Patrick. Not that it mattered. It would only get her more relaxed.

"So, how long do you think we should leave Elmo like that?" Owen asked. "He seems like he wants to say something."

Elwin didn't even look in Elmo's direction. "He'll stay like that until he no longer cares to throw his magic around like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum just because they were left alone."

"How do you know that's what happened?" Owen pressed. Kim didn't really care if Elmo stayed tied up, though if Elin had come with her, she was confident that Elin would have already untied him.

Elwin merely shrugged in response. "What else could it have been? It's not like there was anything else out there."

"Well, we'll have to untie him sooner or later," Kim remarked, a little unhappy with that thought. Regardless of how true it was. "I mean, he can't walk with us when he's like that."

Elwin shook his head. "Don't care. He'll just have to convince us that he's not a threat to us or himself."

Kim shook her head. She was certain this was more of the fright that Elwin had received than anything else right then. Although, she wished they had something else to talk about. She really didn't care about that, so long as she had more details than Elwin had first provided. Naturally he wouldn't have the details of what had set Elmo off, but that wasn't her concern. All she really needed to know about that was that Elmo was the source of the explosions and that he wasn't doing that because he heard Elwin and Patricia approaching and overreacted.

"Well, as long as he's tied up, you should be in charge of feeding him," Owen remarked, causing Elwin to stiffen. "After all, you've made it clear that he should remain tied up and so all that goes with it, such as helping him go to the bathroom should fall to you. Otherwise we'll have an odor in the camp wherever we go that isn't likely to be very pleasant."

Owen turned away from Elwin at that moment and Kim saw his face shift into a grin. While Kim herself didn't care what happened to Elmo, at least in regards to being tied up and all that, she had to admit that Owen had a few points and it wouldn't be something that she'd care to deal with herself. Especially the helping Elmo to the bathroom.

Although, she probably would help with that over having any odor from Elmo having done his business on himself rather than dealing with it in camp.

While it was likely that Elin would help Elmo with that if she managed to become convinced that keeping him tied up like that was for his own good, Kim didn't see any reason to inform Elwin of that. She figured that he could consider that option over what responsibilities that he'd be taking on himself by insisting Elmo remain like he was.

"That's not fair," he complained. "Patricia and Jonas are as much a part of him being tied up as I am."

"Oh? How so?" Jonas asked, amusement clear in his voice.

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"You didn't say anything about stopping me from tying Elmo up in the first place."

Elmo made a sound that almost sounded like he was trying to ask 'what' or something like that. She wasn't sure and still didn't care enough to really pay that close attention or even think about it.

"I didn't say anything because I knew nothing I said would matter to you. I could tell that you were set on tying him up so there wasn't anything I could do about that in the first place."

"Easy enough excuse," Elwin challenged.

"And if you'd like, I could tie you up," Jonas offered. "I'd be more than happy to feed you like the little kid you are."

Kim wasn't sure she liked the direction this was going. This was very much the direction she hadn't wanted the confrontations earlier that Elwin had with others to go. She'd managed to head those off then, but she had her doubts that she'd be able to do so now.

However, what surprised Kim most about this was how much self-control Elwin seemed to have at that moment.

"You better watch yourself and your mouth," Elwin snapped, pointing his finger at Jonas. "Or you'll see just what I'm capable of here."

Jonas nodded but didn't say anything. Though, Kim had a feeling anything he said, other than maybe an apology, would have addend kindling to that particular fire.

Regardless of what else happened, she had a feeling that it was going to be a long night.