The Systems Challenge-Chapter 391: The Memories Return

Elmo wasn't sure what was happening. He had just been brought back to give a demonstration of his Dark Impact spell, but as he was about to speak, something happened and it felt like a flood of information came pouring into him. Not like it was 'installed' like a security update on a computer, but rather like things that he'd been blocked from accessing were suddenly available to him and his mind was taking a few minutes to assimilate it all.

He wasn't sure what it was about, but he suddenly knew all the details of his spell as well as a few others that he knew the orc elders would love to see. Although, he suspected that if he let them become aware of those that they'd probably want to keep him back longer, assuming that they wouldn't kill him when they were done with him. It was also possible that they'd even maybe put guards on him if they were aware that he had his full powers back.

Although, the female orc was still the one taking care of him, but he couldn't say if she'd gotten pregnant the time which he'd been assaulted by her with one of the male orcs. Which they still looked at him in a disgusted manner over.

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Elmo wasn't sure what his chances of escape now were, but he was pretty sure that he had a better chance at doing so. Especially with his 'Sleep' spell. That would certainly help him out when he thought he had an opening.

He didn't pay close attention as he performed his 'demonstration' as his thoughts were preoccupied with what he knew about the layout of the cavern he'd been stuck in for... who knew how long. It certainly felt like an eternity since he'd been there. It might have been a matter of days, but since he hadn't been able to see the sun, he couldn't tell if it had been weeks if not longer.

He didn't sleep like he used to, instead he was only able to sleep in short fits, each time, waking up, certain the orcs had had enough of him was were about to kill him. Plus, the only time he'd really been out for a while was the time the female orc had assaulted him, which he suspected was because of a drug that she'd given him. Probably in the food she'd brought, since she was the only source of food that he'd been able to get.

When the elders were done with him, he was led back to the cul-de-sac where he'd been sleeping and left to his own devices again. Aside from the female orc occasionally checking in on him.

This time as he kept an eye on his surroundings, he was very much aware of how many orcs there were around in the area at any point. He couldn't say if there were always this many or if it was just that he was now more aware of their presence. Which is what he suspected was the case. As otherwise there would need to be a reason for the increase amount and he wasn't hearing anything on that front.

All he knew was that he might be having some trouble down the road when he decided it was time to make his move. Which he hoped would be at a time when there were a lot fewer orcs around him then. So he wouldn't have to tax his MP as much just to put so many of them asleep.

However, if it came to that, he was willing to take that risk. He couldn't say if he'd succeed, only that he was willing to go for it when he felt the time was right.

+++

Kim nearly fell over as she walked when her memories came back. She wasn't sure what happened, but she was confident something had. She just couldn't be sure what it was, though she suspected that Jonas had something to do with it. Given how he'd convinced her to return to Sonya, which she wasn't sure how she'd forgotten about her.

In which case, so was Heather. Who seemed mortified at the fact.

"What did I do?" she whispered, mostly to herself since Kim was confident that she was the only other person who heard. "I- I left her..."

"What the hell happened?" Patricia demanded, looking like she wanted to hit something, if not use her system's abilities on that 'something.'

"My guess is our memories came back," Kim replied. "Memories we didn't realize had been gone."

"Well, how the hell did they get taken in the first place?"

Kim merely shook her head. "Not sure, but I'm sure Jonas will be able to provide us with a decent explanation."

"What would he have to do with any of that?" Patricia grumbled.

"Well, he was the one who pushed us to go back to where Sonya is, even though I don't think any of us remembered her. I mean, he did mention about going back where our camp was and didn't mention her at all," Bart added.

"So, that doesn't explain to me what he has to do with this," Patricia replied, sounding bored with the subject already. In fact, Kim had a hunch that she'd already gotten an idea of something to do and would likely have to catch up in maybe an hour. Something that would also delay Patrick.

"It's simple," Kim replied, ignoring the signs she was picking up from Patricia. "It's clear he knew something about what was going on and wanted us closer to where he was when he finished... whatever it was he came back here to do."

"You know, I'd guess he'd have had something to do with our memories coming back," Bart remarked.

"No shit, Sherlock," Patricia retorted. "Of course he had something to do with it."

"Sherlock..." Bart said, testing the name on his tongue. "Uh, is that a reference to something?"

"You know what? Let's just move on," Patricia snapped. Looking like she was getting ready to lose it.

"Why not take some time with Patrick and cool down?" Kim suggested, earning a sharp look from Patricia and a look of alarm from Patrick. "You can catch up when you're both finished."

Patricia sighed, looking rather resigned. She didn't say anything right away, though the others seemed rather uneasy about what she might do if they said anything. Kim was fine, although she did worry that Patricia would decide to decline her suggestion. As Patricia seemed like she needed to do something to relieve stress in some manner, and as far as Kim knew, that was her preferred method.

When she spoke after a few minutes, she sounded almost defeated. "Fine. I'll take Patrick and we'll catch up."

"Wait, can't we talk about this?" Patrick pleaded. "I mean, isn't there an alternative?"

"You could say 'no' if you wanted to," Kim informed him. "I mean, if you actually didn't want to 'do that' with Patricia right now."

Patrick looked rather conflicted at the moment. "I-it's not that..." he started to say but then trailed off. Then he looked at Patricia and they walked off into the trees.

"Let's get going then," she said. "I'm pretty sure I'd rather not hear what they're going to be doing shortly."

+++

Elin wasn't sure what just happened. Naturally she knew what happened, but she wasn't sure how or why it happened that way. She looked at Jonas, who looked stunned, standing over the burned corpse that used to be Douglas.

Elin hadn't really meant to kill him like that, but it wasn't like she could have expected anything different. As with how Jonas' attack had failed because he had somehow made himself immune to physical attacks. How that happened, she could only speculate, but it was clear that he had told them the truth.

Elin looked at Jonas, hoping he might have an answer or insight to help her make sense of this. As she couldn't understand why he had given her that opening when he'd been so confident when Jonas' attack had failed.

"Don't worry about it," Jonas said before she had the chance to speak first. "My guess is that if he knew you had magic, he didn't realize you had any for attack. That he'd have probably only thought you had healing abilities."

Elin slowly nodded, not sure if she really understood. Especially since if she had magic, why wouldn't she be able to use some of it to attack? Especially since it wasn't like she had Heather's system which was only for healing.

"Don't worry too much about it," Jonas told her. "Some people just make bad judgement calls and it costs them more than they realize. Just think of it as Douglas' failing rather than yours, okay?"

Elin nodded, not really sure that she fully understood. Especially since she wasn't sure she really blamed herself. It was just more that she couldn't understand how someone so dangerous could be taken down so quickly. In one shot, even. It just wasn't something her mind was ready to accept.

"You know, why don't we go back to the camp by Sonya. I'm sure the others will be able to help you understand more than I can," Jonas suggested.

Elin merely nodded, wondering if that would be true. That they'd be able to help her understand more than Jonas was. As it did feel like it was a better idea than just staying by Douglas' burned corpse. It just felt rather unsettling to remain there for very long.