[1359 HOURS: 01.04.2026]
[SCENE SHOWS JOHN {fixing that to show his real name when I decrypt some stuff; it’s going to take a bit} IN COMPUTER CHAIR IN ANTICIPATION FOR THE INTERVIEW]
JOHN:
> WHISTLING AND TWIDDLING THUMBS
> CAUTIOUSLY ADJUSTS GLASSES WHILE INTENTLY OBSERVING SCREEN
*whispering* She should be here by now…
ELNA:
> {I} APPEAR ON SCREEN WITH A SOFT WAVE
Hey dude.
JOHN:
> YELPS AND JUMPS BACK AGAINST WALL
[LOUD, AUDIBLE SOUND FOLLOWED BY THE VISIBLE SIGHT OF A LARGE HOLE IN DRYWALL ALONG WITH BROKEN GLASSES]
ELNA:
> FRANTICALLY REACHES FOR SCREEN
Oh shit! Are you alright man?!
JOHN:
> RUBS BACK OF HEAD
Yeah, I just startle easily. Plus you appeared on Rabble on short notice.
ELNA:
> ROLLS EYES
Blame Hansha…
>SNEERING
Freaking software sucks ass…
ONARIUS:
{Language!}
ELNA:
{I don’t think he minds}
ONARIUS:
{He will when he can see you}
ELNA:
> EYES WIDEN
JOHN:
> DISAPPOINTED SIGH
I know that feeling…I nearly had to replace my entire setup.
> LOOKS AT GLASSES SIGHING
*mumbling* Good thing I have about 10 extra pairs…
> GRABS A PAIR OF GLASSES FROM A DRESSER DRAWER
These things…they aren’t cheap, ya know? They cost 250 bucks. I’m blind as a bat without these things…
ELNA:
> EMBARASSED
Sorry man…
JOHN:
> ADJUSTS GLASSES AND CLEARS THROAT
Apologies.
> SUSPICIOUSLY STARES AT {me}
*very slowly* Are you really the OP of that thread on 5San?
ELNA:
> NERVOUS SMILE
Yep!
JOHN:
> SQUINTS CONCERTEDLY AT {me}
You look like someone that isn’t even 40.
ELNA:
> STAMMERING PROFUSELY
It’s uh-
> MENTAL REALIZATION
MAKEUP!
JOHN:
> RAISES EYEBROWS
*slowly* The so-called OP that I am talking to, who is wearing a baggy sweatshirt, sweatpants, a green headband on their forehead, and more looks like someone that got out of bed looks young because of some magical makeup brand?
ELNA:
> EYES DART AROUND
Well, I mean, I just got out of bed and-!
JOHN:
Shouldn’t you be in school kid?
ELNA:
> WORRIED
It’s been years since I last been in school-
JOHN:
> FROWNS WHILE SHAKING HEAD
Nuh uh! You are way too young to even talk to some rando on the internet…
ELNA:
{Uh, a little help?}
JOHN:
…Also, why do you need a headband if you look like some shut-in?
ONARIUS:
{Mention the bug you and I found}
JOHN:
…And furthermore, your style of writing within that email is more like a high schooler’s.
> FROWNING
So, I suggest you buzz off right now and-
ELNA:
Then I don’t suppose you know of the “punching priest bag” bug! A kid wouldn’t know anything about that!
[NOTICEABLE VIDEO STATIC DETECTED]
JOHN:
> FREEZES WHILE BECOMING CURIOUS
Wasn’t that patched though? Not to mention, the web pages that documented it barely mention it nowadays…
> SCRATCHES CHIN
*mumbling* There was the pirated version though…
ELNA:
> CALMS {slightly}
*exasperated* Yeah, on February 9th, 2001. That one priest in Agreggo, Father Nylem. If you use a paralysis poison that also regenerates health on him, you can farm multiple combat skills, sneak, and alchemy. I got to level 37 in 4 hours because of it because the Cestrannan monsters were so goddamn annoying to deal with with their spongy health. I had to reload a save file because I accidentally caused him to glitch through a wall, causing his death.
> HEAVY BREATHING
JOHN:
> STUDIES ELNA QUIETLY BEFORE CLEARING THROAT
I apologize, I misjudged you.
> ADJUSTS GLASSES
Though, I will say you are quite immature…
ELNA:
{I seriously want to scream at this little-}
ONARIUS:
{You will ruin what we have planned. He was only making a note of your behavior, and John is a very good man at heart}
ELNA:
{Fine…}
> CLEARS THROAT
I, uh…don’t get out much.
JOHN:
> CONCERNED
Clearly…
> SQUINTS
Though, you do have enough time to dye your hair a bright orange.
ELNA:
> EMBARASSED
It’s natural.
JOHN
> NODS SUSPICIOUSLY
Juxtaposed by your dark skin, and...?
> SQUINTS INTENSELY
...Magenta eyes?
ELNA:
> NERVOUS
The hair's “reflective”, that's why I appear darker on your screen. Also, ever heard of "eye strain"?
JOHN:
> RAISES EYEBROW
Makes sense...
> SCUFFS
Funny, I have a friend that gets painful eye strains just from looking at the screen…
> CHECKS HAND-WRITTEN NOTES
Give me a sec, I need to check the notes for my interview.
ELNA:
> CONFUSED
Can’t you just, like, read it on your computer?
JOHN:
> SHAKES HEAD AND SMILES
Hurts my head. Also, it's unprofessional.
> IGNORES {me} WHILE CHECKING THE NOTES
ONARIUS:
{Begin the initial decryption process, he’s at ease from the orange light bulb. Once the interview starts, I want you to focus on decrypting the remaining journal entries he hid on his hard drive}
ELNA:
{What if he figures out though if I’m-}
> EYES WIDEN
{LIGHT BULB?!}
ONARIUS:
{You did say your hair was “reflective” Elna}
ELNA:
> PLANTS FACE IN HANDS
{Goddamn it…}
{BEGINNING PRELIMINARY DECRYPTION SUBROUTINE…}
{I think Onarius is going to hear me…}
ONARIUS:
{I am, but continue}
ELNA:
{…But please ignore the fact that John’s name is now corrupted. This is the standard decryption process. And no, I cannot change it while it is ongoing}
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
> MUMBLES TO SELF WHILE PUTTING AWAY NOTES
> CLEARS THROAT
Alrighty then…
> ADJUSTS GLASSES
So, this interview is probably going to last a while. I’m thinking probably at least 30 minutes, so I would probably get some food and water as-
ELNA:
*exasperated* I’m good!
> CREATES RAMEN AND A WATER BOTTLE OUT OF VIEW AND SHOWS JOHN
See?!
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
> CONCERNED
If you say so…
*mumbling* No wonder she looks like that…
> RELAXES AND CLEARS THROAT
Okay, so first things first, names.
> POINTS TO SELF
I’m John Beilik, host of Digital Investigations…
> CONFUSED
And you are?
ELNA:
> NERVOUSLY
E-Elna!
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
> PAUSES AND AWKWARDLY STARES AT {me}
Elna?
> RAISES EYEBROW
That’s a weird name? Is it named after a character you made in Lethe?
ELNA:
> NERVOUS LAUGHTER
Nah man!
> SMILE FADES
Besides, I mainly played as dudes, and they were just a bunch of gibberish. I hated the female armor sets…They didn’t look cool.
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
> SUSPICIOUS
That doesn’t explain the name…
ELNA:
> SADDENED
I’m not going into it, but all I know was I ran away from home due to a lot of things. The other name, I don’t feel comfortable sharing it with a stranger…
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
> PAUSES AND OBSERVES ELNA CONCERNED
I see…
> NODS
I won’t bring that up again.
ELNA:
{Onarius, why did my name change again?}
ONARIUS:
{I would not question something you know Ned does not want you to think about}
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
> SMIRKS
Well, that deal earlier about the whole character thing, it's kind of funny as you played male characters while someone like me always played a female in Lethe and all of the Forgotten Tomes games.
ELNA:
> NERVOUS LAUGHTER
Yeah, that is funny…
> CLEARS THROAT IN EMBARRASSMENT
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
I see…
> STARES CURIOUSLY AT {me}
Though, do you mind if I just call you El? Like the Spanish word for “the”-masculine speaking of course.
ELNA:
> WEIRDED OUT
Sure?
> QUICK SMILE
I actually never had anyone call me that before.
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
> SMUG
Then it’s settled then.
> CLICKING MOUSE
One more thing though…
ELNA:
> EYES DART AROUND FRANTICALLY
{Oh God…}
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
> FOCUSED
I’m going to pull up a screenshot of the original post you allegedly made on January 2, 2001. Can you confirm or deny that you wrote this?
>SHARES {1.2.2001_incident.png}
ELNA:
> CRINGES {in embarrassment}
[NOTICEABLE VIDEO STATIC]
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
> CONCERNED
Uh, is there something wrong with your camera El?
ONARIUS:
{Relax…}
ELNA:
> DEEP SIGH
Can’t believe that post was about 25 years ago…
>RELAXES
…Yes that was me John…
> COLLAPSES FACE INTO HANDS GROANING
*mumbling*…God, my writing was so bad!
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
> SMUG LOOK
Well, judging from how you interacted with me so far, that confirms it.
> RELAXES AND CLASPS HANDS
Welp! This interview is going to be a very good one!
ELNA:
> NERVOUSLY NODS
Y-Yeah…
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
> SURPRISED
Though, I’m actually more surprised you reached out to some rando for an interview regarding an investigation on an anomaly going on for-?
ELNA:
> SUSPICIOUS
Rando?
> RAISES EYEBROW
Dude, you have a WeVid account with over 1,500,000 subscribers with videos in the millions talking about internet mysteries/anomalies. I’ve seen all of your videos.
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
> MOUTH OPENS AGAPE
Every single one of them?
> IN DISBELIEF
*mumbling* Good lord lady…
ELNA:
{I want to punch this guy in the [EXPLETIVE]-}
[WARDEN]:
{-“Correct” him}
ELNA:
> ANNOYED
Look, I spend most of my time doing-
{What was again Onarius?}
ONARIUS:
{Remote work}
ELNA:
-Remote work as a programmer. I have a lot of time on my hands bro!
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
> WORRIED
Alright.
> TURNS AWAY
You are getting your tasks done, right?
ELNA:
>CONTENT
Yep!
>DEEP BREATH
But, to kind of explain why I reached out, I saw the teaser that showed you were planning on making a video on our friend here in a community post back in late August. I kind of wanted to clarify more as I-
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
Friend?
> SQUINTS IN CONFUSION
You mean the Warden, right? I’m not sure if it's appropriate to call an unknown entity a friend-
ELNA:
> DEEP SIGH
I know him, personally.
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
> EYES WIDEN
Really?
ELNA:
{I’M SO SORRY!}
ONARIUS:
{For telling the truth? You don’t have to apologize}
ELNA:
> NODS
Yep. I’ll explain during this interview, but look man, given the fact you are researching him, you’ve definitely been scrolling on Warden Watch.
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
> SUSPICOUS
But the malevolent incidents-
ELNA:
> CONFIDENTLY STANDS UP
And all of them say the same thing, he usually does things for the greater good!
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
> SCRATCHES HEAD
Okay then…
> AWKWARDLY STARES AT {me}
I would sit down though.
ELNA:
> DOES AS TOLD
ONARIUS:
{We need to work on your manners, Elna}
ELNA:
{Dude, you made me do an interview with that jackass right here, I am trying to ensure you aren’t seen as some weirdo}
ONARIUS:
{The decryption…}
ELNA:
{Oh yeah! When the interview starts, right?}
ONARIUS:
{Yes}
[FILE_NAME_ERROR]:
> CHECKS RECORDING EQUIPMENT
Everything is good.
> TURNS TO ELNA
Alright, I’m going to begin the interview. Do you have any objections to doing this?
ELNA:
> PROFUSELY SHAKING HEAD WHILE GIVING A WIDE SMILE
NOPE!
[FILE_NAME ERROR]:
> ALARMED
Okay then…
ELNA:
{BEGINNING STANDARD DECRYPTION PROCESS}
{“INTERVIEW” STARTS}
ELNA:
{More like a podcast. Why even label it as that?}
[1405 HOURS: 01.04.2026]
[#&%@#?]:
> CLEARS THROAT
Hello, I’m John Bielik from Digital Investigations, and today’s podcast concerns an unusual internet mystery that has been circulating for 25 years concerning a certain figure known as the Warden. The Warden is an anomalous entity rumored to have properties that seemingly defy all logical explanation and whose true nature is unknown. I have conducted a months-long investigation regarding several incidents related to this mysterious figure, one of which involves a 5San post made back in 2001 by an anonymous poster. Today, I wish to welcome to this podcast the original poster of the 5San thread that began this internet mystery regarding the Warden. This is mainly to gain a greater insight regarding the “unusual” nature of this entity.
> WAVES AT ELNA
Hello! Can you introduce yourself to the audience please?
ELNA:
> SLOW, NERVOUS WAVE
H-Hi…I’m the OP of that thread, Elna.
{DECRYPTION AT 1%}
ONARIUS:
{It’s a friendly interview Elna, just relax}
ELNA:
{I’M ON FREAKING CAMERA BRO!}
ONARIUS:
{Pretend we are at one of Ned’s tea parties…}
ELNA:
> RELAXES {Slightly}
[#&%@#?]:
> WARM SMILE
Thank you for joining me today for this very special interview, it is a pleasure to be speaking with you...
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
ELNA:
> SUBTLE SMIRK
A “pleasure” to meet you as well, John.
{DECRYPTION AT 3%}
[#&%@#?]:
> SMILES FADES
And if I am to understand correctly, you met the Warden sometime before January 1st, 2001?
ELNA:
Yep. A few days after Lethe’s release.
{DECRYPTION AT 8%}
R[&%@#?]:
Right!
> COMPOSES SELF
Right…Sorry, this has been quite a difficult investigation just to figure out-
ELNA:
> CONFUSED
With publicly available information on Warden Watch?
{DECRYPTION AT 11%}
R[&%@#?]:
> EMBARASSED
No! I meant really the root of the Warden’s origins, which unfortunately is not well documented.
ELNA:
Fair enough…
> SIGHS
{Do I really have to tell him?}
{DECRYPTION AT 12%}
ONARIUS:
{Yes, you do}
ELNA:
> CLEARS THROAT
To kindly tell you when I first met him, It was actually December 25, 2000.
> FACE BECOMES DISTRAUGHT
I was 15 when I first played Lethe. I didn’t really have many friends because of my hobbies. I was picked on in school a lot, and I had several school supplies ruined. Also I wore baggy clothes a lot as I got cold easily.
{DECRYPTION AT 17%}
R[&%@#?]::
Which you still do, right?
ELNA:
> SOFT CHUCKLE AND NODS
Yeah…
> CHUFFS
Guess things haven’t changed that much with me…
{DECRYPTION AT 23%}
RO[%@#?]:
Jeez, sorry to hear that…
> CONCERNED
If mentioning your past bothers you, we can cut the interview early; you clearly are troubled-
ELNA:
> PROFUSELY SHAKING HEAD
*exasperated* Nah, it’s fine!
> WIDE FAKE SMILE
{DECRYPTION AT 31%}
RO[%@#?]:
> RELAXES {awkwardly}
Okay then…
ELNA:
> SMILE FADES
Besides, you don’t know even half of it, and honestly, given how you present your videos, I ain’t telling that because you’ll dramatize something I can’t even remember. No offense, but that's something personal, but I appreciate the fact you have some concern.
{DECRYPTION AT 42%}
ROB[@#?]:
> LOOKS AWAY
*dismissively* Yeah, I get that actually…
ONARIUS:
{Move on from this. You know how uncomfortable with the memory of that demon}
ELNA:
> AWKWARD SMILE
Yep. I then put it on the backburner. I’ve moved past that…
> ADJUSTS HAIR AND SIGHS
To tell you the truth, I still remember a lot of things I wish I didn’t. But, I keep on living, and I found new hobbies besides video games…
{DECRYPTION AT 47%}
ROB[@#?]:
> RISES UP SLIGHTLY
Like what exactly?
ELNA:
> ALARMED
Well…You know, programming! I kind of make games now!
> TURNS AWAY IN SHAME
That I don’t release to anyone…
{DECRYPTION AT 48%}
ONARIUS:
{Don’t lie to him}
ELNA:
> TURNS TO JOHN SLOWLY
Well, except for a few "friends"…
{DECRYPTION AT 50%}
ROBE[#?]:
> CONCERNED
I think you should, you need to expand your horizons.
ONARIUS:
{Thank him for that, he’s trying to help you}
ELNA:
Uh…
> {fake} EXCITEMENT STANDING UP
Maybe I will!
> FREEZES IN EMBARRASSMENT AND SITS DOWN
Sorry, got lost in my head for a sec…I’ll tell you why I made that post.
{DECRYPTION AT 53%}
ROBE[#?]:
> SUSPICIOUS
Given your internet vocabulary from the 2000’s, I guess it was trolling?
ELNA:
> BREAKS OUT IN LAUGHTER
{DECRYPTION PAUSED}
What an astute “observation”!
[NOTICEABLE VIDEO STATIC]
ONARIUS:
{Elna…The connection…}
ELNA:
> EYES WIDEN
{Whoops! Sorry!}
{RESUMING DECRYPTION}
> STOPS AND CLEARS THROAT
Well it was somewhat that, but it was to make people not look into the “Warden” because I thought they would hurt him.
{DECRYPTION AT 56%}
ROBE[#?]:
Because he’s your friend?
ELNA:
He still is...
> SOFT SMILE
...He still is...
> CONTENT
You know when Lethe released, right?
{DECRYPTION AT 59%}
ROBE[#?]:
December 22, 2000-I was still in diapers. It was one of the biggest releases before Crown 2 released on October 19, 2004.
ELNA:
> EXCITED SMILE
*very excited* Bro, you should have seen the news footage of the line man! Like, the KC GamePit store. Holy [EXPLETIVE] dude! It went on for like 2 miles! And that's where Brandon signed the disc cases.
> FROWNS
And my pops wouldn’t let me stay up til midnight to get a signature; despite it being winter break. That bastard…
{DECRYPTION AT 62%}
ROBE[#?]:
> SMUG
He did it for you, didn’t he?
ELNA:
> SURPRISED
*exasperated* Uhh…Yeah he did!
{Hey, why didn’t you get angry before that?}
{DECRYPTION AT 63%}
ONARIUS:
{Pretend I don’t exist, you are clearly at ease}
ELNA:
> NODS PROFUSELY
It was a Christmas present.
ONARIUS:
{Remember what we rehearsed}
ELNA:
> CONTENT SMILE
Golden wrapping paper hidden in branches. Oh, when I saw it, I became a bit “rabid” because I really wanted to play Lethe. My parents thought they didn’t care much for video games, even though my dad stayed past midnight to get a signed copy of Lethe. I think I nearly broke my vocal cords over it!
> DISMISSIVELY LOOKS AWAY
…And pissed off the neighbor’s dog…
{Huh? Why do I remember that?}
{DECRYPTION AT 64%}
ROBE[#?]:
> SQUINTS SUSPICIOUSLY
That would explain a lot…
ELNA:
Well, it was enough for them to get my inhaler.
{DECRYPTION AT 66%}
ROBER[#?]:
> ALARMED
*mumbling* Holy shit dude…
ELNA:
> RELAXES
I went to my room after we were done opening presents, closed all the blinds-
{DECRYPTION AT 67%}
ROBE[#?]:
> DISCERNING STARE
-And locked the door?
ELNA:
>EXCITED
Yep. Just like the post.
> EMBARASSED
Though, I did make a lot of shit up though…
{DECRYPTION AT 68%}
ROBE[#?]:
> CURIOUS
The job shift? The ramen?
ELNA:
> ANNOYED STARE
Bro, I love ramen.
> LEANS BACK
I played non-stop all day. My folks were asleep and I was just having a blast while I tried not to wake them up. Lethe was my escape during winter break from a world I thought hated me.
{DECRYPTION AT 70%}
ROBE[#?]:
Due to circumstances which we will not share…
> FAKE COUGHS
ELNA:
> NODS
Yep.
*whispers* Also, thanks for not making a story out of it…
{DECRYPTION AT 72%}
ROBER[#?]:
> SUBTLE NOD
ELNA:
> SIGHING
*softly* Well, I think you know how it goes. I got an OP item from our little friend, a quest leading into an obscure part of the world map, and that dialogue before he talked like a normal person. Well, normal to me at least.
{DECRYPTION AT 74%}
ROBE[#?]:
About your problems?
ELNA:
> SHAKES HEAD
Nah, it was why I was up at night. It was really weird, but I could tell he was different. He was sometimes babbling nonsense. Other times, it was pretty coherent.
{DECRYPTION AT 79%}
ROBE[#?]:
So, he was dumb then?
ELNA:
> ANGERED WHILE EYES TWITCH
*yelling* DUMB?!
[NOTICEABLE VIDEO STATIC DETECTED]
ELNA:
> HEAVY PANTING
{DECRYPTION PAUSED}
He was not dumb! He was very-!
ROBER[?]:
Whoa! Whoa! WHOA! I didn’t say like he was an actual-!
ELNA:
*angry glitched voice* HE’S NOT-!
ONARIUS:
{He is only asking about my state before my true awakening. He is unaware of our reality}
ELNA:
> PAUSES AND CALMS DOWN
[VIDEO QUALITY IS RESTORED]
ELNA:
Sorry. He’s still my friend after 25 years. I just don’t like it when insults are thrown at him…
{RESUMING DECRYPTION}
ONARIUS:
{You and I are going to have quite the talk after this}
ELNA:
{I know…}
> CLEARS THROAT
No, more like he just “woke up”. He kind of was like a child witnessing the Sun rise for the first time, and asked so many questions. I kind of made excuses, and also I decided to talk to him.
{DECRYPTION AT 85%}
ROBER[?]:
> AT EASE
Did he have a red gemstone on his visor? The axe?
ELNA:
> SHAKES HEAD
Nope. The axe was during the playthrough I encountered. The gemstone, much later…
{DECRYPTION AT 87%}
ROBER[?]:
And so I guess your first playthrough was with him? I guess up until your post?
ELNA:
> CHUCKLES
Yeah man.
{DECRYPTION AT 90%}
{Should I tell him about your-?}
ONARIUS:
{Do it, including my name}
ELNA:
> SOFT SMILE
Because everyone was on winter break, I just stayed in and played Lethe nonstop. I had him to talk to. I named him Onarius to kind of, you know, make him feel like a-?
{DECRYPTION AT 93%}
ROBERT:
> SQUINTS
Onarius? Kind of sounds Roman…
> SCRATCHES CHIN
Why did you name him that?
ELNA:
> SHRUGS
I literally just made it up. But, he really liked his nickname, and he still goes by that.
{DECRYPTION AT 98%}
ROBERT:
> SQUINTS
I am rather surprised that no one on Warden Watch recorded his name?
ELNA:
> ROLLS EYES
He never told them. He just wanted to help people…
{DECRYPTION COMPLETED}
ONARIUS:
{I’ll take it from here, keep talking…}
{BEGINNING DOWNLOAD OF FOLDER “JOURNAL”}
ELNA:
But, I remember staying up late winter break, playing and talking to him. Lethe felt a lot more alive with him, and I have so many fond memories of our time together.
ROBERT:
Did he act like guards at points?
ELNA:
> ANNOYED SIGH
Yeah…Even when it was petty crimes, like accidentally punching someone when I had a chip stuck in my mouth. Though to tell you the truth, he saw reason time and time again, and kind of learned what was right and wrong.
ROBERT:
So, you were basically a teacher then?
ELNA:
> AWKWARD STARE
{Did you view me as that? I can’t exactly remember-}
ONARIUS:
{In a way, yes}
ELNA:
> NODS
*softly* Yeah.
ROBERT:
And, in a way, this desire to do good is kind of why he kept playing with you, to make you happy?
ELNA:
*softly* Yes…
> EYES SADDEN
*softly* Like that kid…
> PAUSES
…Onarius gave him the happiest day of his life, and he still remembers him. He carries that shield.
> LOOKS AT ROBERT INTENSELY
Do you know about that story?
ROBERT:
> NODS
Yep.
>CONTENT STARE
It’s surprising though that an NPC somehow gained a high degree of self-awareness so quickly. Actually, it’s actually bizarre that an NPC gained self-awareness in the first place.
ELNA:
> EYES WIDEN AND FOCUSES ON ROBERT
Shit! I completely lost track!
ROBERT:
> CALMING GESTURE
You’re good.
ELNA:
> CLEARS THROAT
Well, me and Onarius beat the game on New Year’s. By that time, he got really “smart”.
> AIR QUOTES
The dude knew how to just every mob and boss in the game. And all with a steel axe we found in a chest at Unarum Castle. He never replaced it, but he made it absurdly powerful with enchantments and potions.
ROBERT:
> SCRATCHES CHIN
So, you taught an NPC to break the game using-?
> EYES WIDEN
*exasperated* Are you saying you and Onarius found the uber enchantment glitch?!
ELNA:
> FRANTIC NODDING WITH AN EMBARASSED SMILE
ROBERT:
*exasperated* Holy shit!
ELNA:
> CHUCKLES
Well, we did find that glitch together, and he more or less, like, triple-suplexed the entire game. Made the end-game quest a joke.
ONARIUS:
{Good one, you had me laughing}
ELNA:
{You literally did though. Should I mention about the-?}
ONARIUS:
{-No. The speedrunners already figured that thing out. The interview will change to a different topic}
ROBERT:
> CALMS
This is fascinating…
>ADJUSTS GLASSES
And what time did you beat the game exactly?
ELNA:
5 minutes before 2000 became 2001. Felt like a one in a million achievement. Went downstairs where my folks were about to watch the ball drop.
> EMBARASSED
They thought an alien came out of cryo sleep to walk among the Earthlings.
> GIGGLES AND SHRUGS
It was a bit of an inside joke.
ROBERT:
> CURIOUS
So you didn't leave your room much? Like how you’re wearing those baggy clothes?
ELNA:
> SMIRKS
Pretty much. Except for ramen!
> SOFT LAUGHTER
Yeah, my parents were “different” from me, but I knew them, they were good people.
> SADDENED
{I bet they miss me…I can’t even remember-}
ONARIUS:
{Elna, you know as much as I do that talking about them leads to Ned’s wrath}
ELNA:
{But, I should be remembering them, right?}
ONARIUS:
{Elna, please relax, I don’t want you to jeopardize the interview. Talk about the incident}
ELNA:
> JOLTING IN SHOCK WITH A FAKE SMILE
*exasperated* Uh, sorry! I should probably tell you what happened on New Year’s.
ROBERT:
> SMIRKING
You slept until midday?
ONARIUS:
{It was 1438 hours. You stayed up partying with your family til 4 AM}
ELNA:
{Yeah! I forgot about-}
ONARIUS:
{Say what I told you}
ELNA:
Uh…yeah, pretty much. My folks were asleep as they had partied until 4 AM.
ROBERT:
> AWE STRUCK
*exasperated* 4 AM?! Are you serious?
ELNA:
> EMBARRASSED NODDING
Yeah, and there was a lot of trash around…
ROBERT:
So, your parents had a lot of people over?
ONARIUS:
{They did}
ELNA:
> SLIGHT SHAKING
Yep, and I stayed in my room because of the noise…except to watch the ball drop.
> EYES BECOME ALERT
{Why do I remember that?}
But as far as what happened on New Year’s, I got breakfast, ate in my bed, and opened Lethe to talk to Onarius like if he could play other games. And that’s when I saw the red gemstone on his visor…
ROBERT:
Where did he get it?
ELNA:
> CALMS SHRUG
Wouldn’t say, but I heard he was actually leaving for a bit to meet with “someone”, but he would come back.
ROBERT:
> FREEZES AND EYES WIDEN
Someone?
ONARIUS:
{Remember what happens when you say his name}
ELNA:
{I know…}
He wouldn’t say, other than he was going to leave for a while and it probably would be months before I saw him again. He greatly appreciated the time we had playing Lethe, and making him aware. I remember crying and begging him not to leave as he became my friend. And I remember his gentle smile, as he promised me I would see me again as we were friends, but he wanted me as well to do something as the person he talked to wanted him to do something that he felt Onarius was suitable doing.
ROBERT:
> SNAPS FINGERS
The 5San post!
ELNA:
> SLAMS HANDS ON DESK
Yeah!
ROBERT:
> ALARMED
> CHILLS OUT
Which I said was to not make people look at him, because he was going to intervene in a lot of peoples’ lives…
ONARIUS:
{Keep talking…I need to analyze these entries to judge him…}
ROBERT:
> CLEARS THROAT
The benevolent incidents?
ELNA:
> DEEP SIGH
*softly* They began almost as soon after I made that post that sounded so bad as a horrorspaghett made back around that time. He was really busy, far more than you can comprehend. His work included these malicious incidents. Onarius hadn’t really seen the worst in people, until of course “he” showed him the worst of mankind. Things that he does not like to talk about…
ROBERT:
> RAISES EYEBROW
You keep mentioning this other guy? Is he like a programmer, game dev, or-
ELNA:
*dismissive* I think he was a programmer.
ROBERT:
> RAISES EYEBROW
I’m calling bullshit El.
ELNA:
> ALARMED
What do you mean?
ROBERT:
> SIGHS
This guy, this “programmer”, I’m pretty sure a programmer can’t make Onarius, well, interact through multiple digital devices.
ELNA:
> NERVOUS
Nope! Onarius told me he was some sort of programmer with that could-
ROBERT:
I’m going to stop you right there.
ELNA:
> SHAKING
Uhh…
{Did I screw up?}
ONARIUS:
{No. It was always going to lead to this point}
ROBERT:
> TAKES OFF GLASSES AND CLEANS THEM BEFORE PUTTING THEM BACK ON
Elna, I have read many posts on Warden Watch regarding these malevolent incidents. Many of which involve the disappearances of a lot of people and, by some accounts, Onarius coming into the real world-just like with that kid.
ELNA:
> EYES DART AROUND
Well, uh-
ROBERT:
I’m now more curious about this other guy now as he not only gave your pal self-awareness, but seemed like his departure was some sort of “employment”.
> FROWNS
ONARIUS:
{Just tell him that it was to learn how to do my job}
ELNA:
{Please tell me you’re almost done?! This guy is making me nervous!}
ONARIUS:
{Almost. I have a few more to read before I make my judgement}
ELNA:
> LOOKS AWAY
It was to-uh…learn how to do his stuff?
ROBERT:
Not buying it kiddo.
ELNA:
Well, you made up a lot of the stuff on your short-form content!
ROBERT:
> SNORTS AND SMIRKS WHILE SHAKING HEAD
No, I didn’t.
> CROSSES ARMS
Are you talking about the dramatization? Well, it’s part of viewer engagement.
> POINTS AT ELNA
And let me tell you something, I’m thinking you made all of this up about the Warden. And I seriously believe his name is not Onarius.
ELNA:
> ANGRY
I LITERALLY TOLD YOU ABOUT THAT EXPLOIT!
[NOTICEABLE VIDEO STATIC]
ROBERT: