The Systems Challenge-Chapter 424: Confronting Elwin

When Kim didn't return after going to take a look at what had caused the explosions, Elin wasn't sure if that meant that something had happened to her or if she was fine and just chose not to return for whatever reason.

At the very least she knew that either everyone had been killed or that no one got hurt, since they likely would have at least come to collect Heather if not Elin as well to take care of any actual injuries.

However, even though Elin had heard from Kim a saying of 'no news is good news,' she couldn't say that she agreed with that. Not when she was the one waiting for any kind of news in general.

When the morning came, Elin felt like she hadn't slept at all, even though she knew that she'd had to have slept some for the sun to start rising so quickly from when it had set.

Although, as she thought about it, they didn't have anyone keeping watch through the night. That everyone had slept, even Bart. Although, Bart had slept with his staff in hand, as if that would be useful if any threat could easily be on top of them by the time he woke up.

While Sonya technically could be considered to be 'on watch' all the time, Elin wasn't sure how well she was able to do that in any of her forms other than her dragon form. Which wasn't one she really cared to take lately. Not since she'd been stuck in that for weeks.

As they had a quick meal, Elin was already itching to get moving to follow after Kim. She wasn't sure when her legs stopped aching, but the idea of not having to slog through the bog was probably at least part of what had her so interested in getting going for the day.

They just needed to meet up with the others before they could really continue on with their journey towards where they thought the library might be.

While Kim had located it with her sword's ability, they couldn't be sure that they hadn't gotten off course since then. Especially with how the bog was. Though, Elin didn't plan on mentioning it to Kim. She was afraid that Kim would take it as criticism about her navigational skills when it came to things they couldn't control, like the bog pools.

The morning announcement wasn't especially helpful, as it merely detailed a quick summary of what had happened, which wasn't much. Though it did at least relieve Elin of some of her worries in regards to Kim. Such as: no new challenge completions to aware, no new deaths, and especially no new actual news of anything that Elin would have considered important.

While she was happy that Kim was alright, she couldn't help but wonder what it was that had kept her from returning the night before. If they had found Jonas and Elmo, then they could have brought them over and they could have shared a fire together.

Although, if it was Jonas and Elmo, that wouldn't exactly explain what the explosions were about. Especially if it involved Elwin and Patricia. As she couldn't imagine why explosions would be involved if it was Elmo and Jonas, or even how they'd be able to cause the explosions in the first place.

When they'd finished their breakfast, it was more decided by common assent, rather that anyone talking about it, that they'd head up to meet up with the others. Which Elin felt was rather troubling, given that they hadn't even sent anyone to check on them. Almost like they didn't care if anything had happened to them.

However, when they reached where Kim and the others had gone, she understood what the reasons were.

It was the fact that this camp was in much more chaos.

"Look, I don't care how long it's been. He hasn't said anything to indicate that he's not going to go crazy like that again," Elwin was saying when they came within earshot of the camp.

"And how is he supposed to say anything that we'd understand if you won't let us remove the gag from his mouth? Owen has a point on this," Kim replied dryly. Elin couldn't help but hope that it wasn't like it sounded. Especially since she couldn't say exactly what it was that they were talking about.

Just that it involved someone who was gagged and probably bound too.

When she saw who it was, she felt appalled. She didn't understand why Elmo would be treated like that. Even if he had been the cause, she didn't like seeing him treated like that. Seeing any friend of hers like that would have been just as unacceptable for her.

"What's going on!?" Elin cried as she looked around at the camp, taking in as many details as she could.

"Ah, good, you're here!" Elwin said, sounding grateful. "Would you please let them know that keeping him like that is for everyone's safety? We can't have him going off like he did with his magic last night."

"What did he do?" Elin asked, unsure that anything Elwin would say would justify leaving Elmo like that. Especially with how miserable he looked.

"Well, he did kind of lose it and start throwing spells around apparently, causing the explosions we heard and saw. Though, one nearly hit Elwin and he kind of lost it after that. He won't even let Elmo say anything in his defense on the off chance he'll start slinging spells around again," Kim answered. "Or at least that's what Elwin and Patricia said. Elwin has been adamant about not letting Elmo explain himself until he explains himself."

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"Hey, it's not like that," Elwin protested, clearly not happy with the way Kim worded everything as he tried to sound reasonable. "I'm just saying that he needs to remain like that until he can demonstrate that he's not a threat to us. I'm not asking much, just an assurance that he's not planning on going off on us once he's untied."

"Uh, how can he do that when he's bound and gagged?" Heather asked, sounding like she was regretting coming over to this camp in the first place.

Elwin merely shrugged. "Not my problem," he said simply. "That's Elmo's problem."

"Well, it'll be your problem if you want to treat Elmo like this," Owen said, sounding like he was trying to remind Elwin of something. "I mean, you are the one who's been pushing to keep him like this. Even when we'd suggested that we deal with him while you gathered firewood you refused. Almost like you either have something against Elmo or there's something else about this that's got you on edge."

"Hey, getting nearly killed like that is going to have an effect on anyone. I'm a little surprised that you're willing to debate this rather than reading his mind."

Owen merely shrugged. "Who says I didn't? I merely didn't say anything because it was clear that you weren't open to hearing anything other than your own voice speaking."

Elwin opened and closed his mouth, clearly at a loss for words, which Elin took to mean that it should be fine to start untying Elmo. As it was clear to her that he was the only one who had been pushing for Elmo to stay tied up.

As soon as she started untying his gag though, Elwin seemed to collect himself. "Hey, I didn't say you could do that!" he cried, looking like he might lash out at her over it.

"Yeah, and you're the authority on all things that we can and can't do around here, right?" Patricia asked dryly, s smirk on her lips.

"Stay out of this, Patricia," Elwin growled.

"No, she has a point," Patrick added. "I mean, when Kim was making suggestions on what to do that sounded like she was giving orders and directions, we spoke out against on that, yet you're doing the same here."

Elin wasn't sure she remembered Patrick being the one who was part of that, but she didn't think it was important enough to say anything. She was more worried about getting Elmo untiled. Which Heather and Kim joined in her efforts after she finished with the gag, which meant se knew that it would go much quicker now.

"Yeah, you may be saying that this was about the safety and security of us, but Elmo's part of us, so who's to keep him safe from you?" Bart asked, his expression one of genuine amusement.

Elwin glared at everyone, clearly losing the argument, even as he persisted in his efforts to fight it. Which Elin wasn't sure was admirable or pathetic. Regardless of which, he'd still lose and she couldn't see what the point of that effort would be. Unless he couldn't see it himself, which Elin felt would only make it more pathetic for him.

"Look," Jonas said, yawning. "Let's discuss this more on the road. The sun's getting high, so we should get going. Otherwise we'll have to stay here another day if everyone wants to hang out by the bog some more."

Elwin gave a final glare then went to go pick up his things. Not saying another word about the matter. At least for this moment.