12 | Story of Elise

Everyone agrees on the distribution of the loots after a deliberation. Although gritting his teeth, Sir Isidore cannot argue about it. He was pulled into the mission at the last minute and contributed only a few for the boss fight.

Elise and Vi are still on their knees.

"We simply want a single item among the loots." Keen points at a large chunk of the Beast of the Lake's armored skin. It has a property that allows collection of human memories. If his theory is correct, Keen may be able to avoid further losing memories. Also, the boss monster's skin can make a good armor for Vi. Light but durable, as well as capable of multiple smithing to forge into better, upgraded material.

Sir Isidore clenches his fists, but cannot come up with words enough to validate his underlying intentions. The gold loots will be sufficient.

"So you were the sole survivor of that tragic boss raid." Jerud's eyes are only on Elise.

"Yes. That's why she asked for my help who is an expert in defense incantations." Sir Isidore adjusts his posture to flex his flashy equipment.

'So he knew?' Keen didn't expect that.

"Let's get you a bit more loots before heading back to Topsy Town." Keen starts his footsteps to a definite location.

Vi follows while assisting Elise. Jerud follows quickly and offers his help, but Keen's partner insists she can manage to do it.

Sir Isidore's face lights up in excitement.

Keen shows them the loots he left before rushing to the acacia tree for the rendezvous with Elise's group. Over a hundred monsters worth of items and gold!

Since loots stay at the same place unless a Transfer acquires them, Keen is still able to trace back what is left from the horde he annihilated.

Even Jerud who was focused on Elise until now is taken by surprise by almost a mountain of loots.

"Woah, woah, woah. You did this alone?" His face hovers in all directions. Many fine items that are difficult to forge into weapons are lying on the ground for free.

"You really are something." Elise manages to stand firmly on her feet with a faint smile on her lips. "So you were grinding to level up even before you called us out so you can face the boss monster with sufficient strength."

"The bounty is yours." Keen laughs dismissively and gestures for the two other men to proceed with the collection. The flashy armored paladin briskly walks and acquires some gold and rare items.

"I'll be back," Jerud looks back at the elf, who nods approvingly.

"Won't you be trying to go on with your journey to recollect your Release fragments?" Keen is instantly before Elise.

She shakes her head.

"No need. I only have a month left before all my memories fade. It's not enough to gather everything with the skill set that I have," she manages a smile.

"I see. So your only goal until now is to recover the memories of your comrades." Keen looks at the core she is holding.

She nods admittingly.

"You're going to stay here until all your memories fade?" Vi presses the elf's arm.

The elf nods again.

"My reason for coming to this place...," she removes the elven hat from her head and looks up at the man in blood-red hooded long coat at her front, "...is to save my family who were Black Market captives. My father took an odd job that led him to that despicable organization. He was a victim. But he was not allowed to leave. When he tried, my whole family was brought with him into Esprit.

"I was working abroad during that time as a genetic researcher, and only came home upon hearing the news that they have been missing for months. After some digging, I ended up facing some high-ranking officials of the Black Market and insisted that my family should be released.

"They agreed. But on one condition: that I would stay here and let my memories be consumed by the system. During my six months of tenure in Esprit, I can try to find my family and save them. But..."

When she trails off, tears start falling down on her cheeks.

"Your family is part of the guild that raided the Beast of the Lake." Keen patches her story up.

She nods while wiping the tears with an index finger.

"That's..." Vi finally puts the puzzle pieces together.

"Yes. They are among those Insane that tried to capture you," Elise turns to hug Vi, "I'm sorry, Vi. When I came to Esprit, my family was almost completely 'consumed'. They didn't even remember me."

"So the elf girl among them is truly your sister, as Keen figured." Vi brushes the elf's back with a hand while the other presses gently on her shoulder.

"Yes. My father is a body enhancer ability class who wore a clown mask that was supposed to weaken the effect of memory depletion, but it broke while facing the Beast of the Lake and caused an accelerated effect. He was the first to lose to insanity. When my mother tried to subdue him, he killed her. My elder brother Sid who acquired a spearman ability class, along with my assassin kid brother Eddie and my scout elf sister Marianne joined together in dealing with dad.

"The boss fight was putting a strain on the other members of the guild. Upon reaching the third rage mode, the guild was almost wiped out by the Beast of the Lake. I was on the backline all the while when it released an amnesiac steam.

"I was able to teleport my guild to the south of Topsy Town. But they've lost all their remaining memories by then. I...I couldn't do anything for them.

"The only thing I could do was to enclose them in a barrier that would always loop their destination back to their starting place. That is, inside the secret connecting tunnel that separates the inner gate of the south and the outer gate that leads outside Topsy Town."

Vi remembers the spearman, assassin, and body enhancer with a clown mask that Keen tried to face during her first encounter with him.

"Is that the reason why your neck collar has a different color?" Vi asks earnestly.

Again, the elf nods.

"Sorry for dragging you guys in all this mess. Especially you, Vi. You were hurt badly because I was not able to maintain the barrier around my guild well enough." She reaches for the other's hands.

"You have been suffering all this time. I'm in no position to make you responsible for what happened to me then." Vi shakes her head.

"What are your plans for them?" Keen asks in a monotone.

He has a point. If Insane can live in Esprit with mere instincts, Elise's barrier will most likely be dispelled at the moment her six months are up and her guildmates will be set free. By then, she will be an Insane as well.

"I already talked to the Guild Hall Master regarding that." She tries to smile again, but she is obviously struggling. "I have cast a lethal poison spell on myself that will activate once I reach the end of my six months. I can die alongside my guildmates."

"You have this all planned out until the last moment." Keen looks at the ground, not sure of what to feel. He is finally aware of one of the noble reasons for being dragged into the mind-eating system called Esprit.

'Perhaps I have a similar reason?' he thinks. He knows he is not stupid enough to willingly let himself be in such a dangerous game for petty reasons.

"Is this the only way?" Vi shows her concern.

Elise doesn't know any other option. Keen, despite acquiring the Release fragment core that most probably has the memories of Elise's family, still doesn't know how to separate the components of the Release among many recipients, or if it is even possible. But then a thought occurs to him.

"Don't give up." His words are more than just pure inspiration. It has an air of comprehensive analysis. "You stated that you were a genetics researcher in real life. Do you think you can somehow use your knowledge to develop a way to separate the components of the Release fragment and distribute it among many people?"

Elise lights up, but then admits that she has already lost some of her researching skills and genetics knowledge due to the login requirement and her already long tenure in Esprit.

"Don't give up." Vi stares at her eyes without blinking.

"I guess I'll help you with that," Jerud butts in while exposing his renewed purpose, smirking proudly. "I came here purely for the thrill of the game. But since I met you, everything changed."

His sudden indirect confession makes Elise fluster.

"A confession? How nice." Sir Isidore arrives with his sarcasm.

"Everyone seems to have done all tasks necessary in this place. What's your level, Vi?" Keen turns to his assassin partner.

"Eleven," she answers briefly while still convincing Elise to not give up.

Keen then navigates on his Missions Tab using his mind. He only has one mission left: Surviving the night in Northern Forest.