Trial of Empathy (1)

The trial of the Elemental Beast of the Forest, Eclio was simple. It was a test to see whether you could empathize with someone who needed help.

Of course, this trial was not easy especially if one was not aware of this. Because this trial's main goal is that they would not know what to do right away since this was a bit tricky and needed a lot of logical thinking.

Well, all of the trials were tricky and it was really not easy to solve when you are just an average person.But luckily, If not for Vivian's game knowledge then even she would not be aware that such trials of the Elemental beasts existed.

Right now, Vivian found herself in some dark space. Everywhere, from upwards, downwards, left or right, there was only darkness.It felt like she was inside the abyss since even a single light was not there.

"Who are you?"

Vivian sighed. This was the second time of the day she heard the question but just hearing it for the second time, she couldn't help but find it dreary.

When she turned around, the dark space she was in morphed into something else. It turned into a place that seemed like a hallway of a grand mansion or something. There were lit torches on the walls and the floor had green carpet across.

But what she was witnessing in front of her just did not surprise Vivian.

The owner of the voice who called her.

He was no other than the man who was supposed to be asleep after being cured by the elemental beast.

Isaiah Buenefante

'Don't tell me the trial that I need to undergo…' Vivian wanted to massage her forehead for an incoming headache. 'Seriously that tiger for all the people he could choose. He just chooses whoever is nearest to him.' Vivian just takes a few deep breaths to clear her mind and to think properly.

The trial of the Eclio was simple. You need to empathize or simply help a person that you don't know about. He would randomly choose people that he met. And the thing here is you would definitely enter that person's worst memory. The darkest part of their life that they feel scared the most where it can cause them emotional damage.

The thing you needed to achieve was to help that person overcome that memory. Once that person overcame that memory the trial would be a success since that was the only way to win this game.

The person who you used for the trial would not remember a single thing after. However, their full consciousness was together with the test taker the entire trial. And in the end, it would be like a forgotten memory to that person except for the taker of the trial.

'Hmm… Let's be positive Vivian, just don't overthink too much and focus on one goal at a time. Remember that you can't achieve your main goal if you feel overwhelmed by so many nonsense thoughts. Since he will forget about everything when we wake up, it's not like this could form a connection between us. Plus, since he is a character from a hidden route, maybe I can find some useful things for my survival based on his memories. Yes, I think that would really help me to win this trial.'

"Who are you? How did a human child like you enter this place?" The Isaiah in front of Vivian was that of a child with short fuschia hair and sharp red eyes. Red eyes, the symbol of being a vampire. And if he was in disguise, he used magic to turn his eyes into a lighter shade of pink and violet. He was wearing a blue vest-coat and black pants. The air of nobility could be seen right away.

'Child?' Vivian looked at her hands. She realized that it was small like that of a child. 'This! I guess this is to match the timeline for this quest. And the main target of this trial…'

Instead of answering him, Vivian looked sternly at Isaiah's eyes. "You are a child yourself, how did you enter this place?" She walked towards him and the latter was a bit startled as he stepped back. Also, the glimpse of fear on his face was already visible. When Vivian saw his reaction, it really gave her a boost of confidence to keep going by knowing that he was on the right track.

"I-I live in this place!" He stuttered. The confidence that he was showing a while ago was now shattered. However, both of them turned to the right corner, when they heard some voices. " I am asking you once again, who are you?" He tries his best to look confident even though his physical body speaks the opposite. Before Vivian says anything the child speaks that makes her look at him.

"Damn." The young Isaiah cursed, then he suddenly ran towards Vivian and grabbed her right hand. "Listen, you can't be seen here!" He said as they started running away. Then Vivian just doesn't say anything or try to resist him, he just lets herself be pulled by him.

'So the quest has begun huh.' Vivian thought as he stared at the back of the running Isaiah.

***

After a few minutes of running away they both entered a dimly lighted room with two torches. Isaiah locked the door immediately then he touched both his knees as he caught his breath.

"For a vampire, you sure lack some stamina." Vivian said. She seemed not breathless completely like Isaiah despite running away. That was because, since they were a child and everyone in their family needed to do certain jobs, Vivian was already used to running around completing errands left and right.

Isaiah glared at her with a little bit of confusion. "So, all this time you know I'm a vampire?"

"Yes, your eyes gave it right away." Vivian said not bothered by the glare she received then observed the room they just entered. It was a spacious room. The windows seem tight shut covered with thick black curtains. There was a huge king size bed in the middle of the room and fireplace on the right side, with a sofa and a circular wooden table in the middle. The floor was also carpeted with red. The place looks so elegant and only noble people can use this kind of room.

No matter what anyone looked at, this was definitely a fancy room, much fancier to the most luxurious room of the baron's house, where Vivian and her family currently lived.

"Tch…"

Vivian's attention returned to the boy that she almost forgot. "You know that I am a vampire and yet you seemed not afraid of me? You should avoid me if you want to live more." he forms a smirk on his lips. " Well, unless you want to die in this way, being killed by a vampire?"

His red eyes glistened as he glared at Vivian. "Do you know that I can kill you, easily a human child. Look at you, you don't even have any strength to fight me and now, you still have the strength to come here? " His voice was dead serious and menacing despite being a young boy. "You amazed me by being a fearless human being. Shall I kill you for entering our domain?"

He walked towards Vivian with intense pressure. A black fog surrounded both his hands.