The Systems Challenge-Chapter 461: Elin’s Problem

Jonas didn't mean to have it come out so threateningly, but he really wasn't in the mood for this, nor was he really interested in dealing with Owen's own issues. He didn't know how he was supposed to keep his thoughts from 'screaming' but at the same time, he didn't want to discuss that issue with Owen.

Some things he didn't care to discuss with anyone. Let alone someone he barely knew and likely wouldn't see again when all this was over.

Provided he was able to return to his own world, that is.

If he ended up stuck with this world, then him and Kim being siblings would be something he'd have to work out with her. Not discuss it with anyone else, except maybe Elmo and Elin, given how those two would likely end up being their in-laws at that point.

"I would, but even now your thoughts are still screaming, although for a different reason now," Owen replied, sounding more annoyed than anything.

"As I said, you leave me alone and I'll leave you alone. That's the best I can offer," Jonas stated, starting to not care what Owen thought about his response. Not when he was insisting on talking with him about it.

"Yeah, I already tried that. Your thoughts seem to be the loudest when they scream. Elwin's likely get muffled out because he doesn't hold them in. He vents them out almost as soon as they enter into his mind."

Jonas shook his head. He really couldn't care about all this. All he wanted to do now was to go to sleep. Yet, Owen was the one keeping him up, with his screaming thoughts and all.

"I don't care about the others. If you want me to vent, fine. I can do that tomorrow. When I can leave everyone else and not have to worry about getting lost," Jonas replied, but then paused as a thought came to his mind. "Unless you'd like me to vent right here. You know, around everyone else, which would likely wake them up and I'll let them know that you insisted I do it right here and right now. I'm sure they'll be understanding, right?"

Owen scowled at Jonas, clearly not as amused at his suggestion as he himself was. Not that he was really surprised about that fact.

"You're really going to do that?" Owen asked, sounding like he was getting rather annoyed.

"I can," Jonas replied, not bluffing at all. "It all depends on you." Jonas took a deep breath before continuing. "I'm tired now, so I'll go to sleep. If you don't have any objections, you can go to sleep when my thoughts have stopped screaming. Which I'm pretty sure would happen when I sleep, right?"

Owen sighed, looking like he wanted to say something more but didn't. Not that Jonas really cared. Not right then, at least.

Jonas made himself comfortable on the ground, as if Owen had already left. He was tired and ready to sleep, but he wasn't sure what would happen if Owen still tried to press the matter.

If he was having difficulty with his own thoughts, then that was his problem. Not Owen's to try and help fix. Just because he could hear their thoughts, and maybe sometimes when he didn't want to, that didn't suddenly make it his business to try and resolve or do anything about.

Besides, Jonas had a feeling that this wasn't the first time that Owen had had this happen to him, so what made this time an exception for him? While Jonas didn't really care if he got an answer for that, it at least was one that he thought Owen should figure out an answer for.

Whether or not he heard that thought, Jonas didn't know. He'd pushed where Owen was out of his mind, but that didn't mean Owen didn't hear it, regardless of if her was still standing there.

Jonas wasn't sure what to expect overall with it, but he hoped that he'd be able to get to sleep soon. He recalled a few times when he felt bone-tired but still couldn't get to sleep. He was afraid this was going to be one of those times, or at least similar enough.

When he felt someone shaking him, he couldn't help but succumb to a wave of annoyance. What was Owen shaking him for now? Were his thoughts still too loud?!

However, as he opened his eyes after sitting up abruptly and finding Elin being the one who was shaking him in the early hours of the night, the horizon in the east just barely starting to show the beginning of a false dawn.

"Sorry," Elin squeaked, clearly startled by Jonas with how he woke up. "I just had something I thought I could ask you."

Jonas sighed. His annoyance had dissipated with realizing that Owen wasn't around, meaning he'd clearly fallen asleep without realizing it. Leaving only surprise at that fact.

However, as he looked at Elin, he could tell that she really wanted to talk about something, something that had clearly made her resort to him, as normally she would talk with Elmo or Kim about whatever was on her mind.

In fact, this was the first time Jonas could recall her coming to him for anything. Outside of battle, that is. Or the time when she'd lost her memories and he was the first of their combined group that she'd come across.

"Sorry about that," he apologized. "I thought you were someone else."

Which was true. He didn't meant to scare Elin. If he'd known it was her, maybe he'd have sat up just as quickly, but he certainly wouldn't have felt annoyed about it. Not with how timid he knew Elin could be at times. Although, as he thought about it, she had come a long ways from where she had been. She was more capable even in many ways.

"Um, I have a question to ask you," Elin began after a few minutes of silence between them.

Jonas could tell that it was taking a lot of effort from her to press forward with whatever it was that she wanted to talk with him about. Which said a lot about how determined she was to learn whatever it was that was on her mind. That it wasn't something as fleeting as her usual questions or thoughts. That this was something really important to her.

"What is it?" He asked, unable to hold back a yawn.

From the looks of it, they were the only ones awake, which meant this was her time to be on watch. Which Jonas didn't think was really the best time to inquire about something, even if she really did want privacy about it and the night was quiet without any problems so far. Even though he couldn't think of a way that she'd be able to reliably get him to go with her wherever without raising a few questions.

"Um, well, Elmo and I went to get the firewood yesterday," Elin said, making Jonas wonder if something had happened between the two.

It would explain why Elin didn't want to talk with Kim about it, since Kim would be liable to condemn Elmo, even if nothing had actually happened other than maybe a misunderstanding or small fight between friends. Which Jonas hoped wasn't the case. Even though he couldn't think of what else it could be.

"...would know the reason why he said that," Elin finished.

Jonas sighed. Maybe it was because he wasn't fully awake, but he'd blanked on most of what she'd said. Either that or his thoughts had pulled his attention away from her. Which wasn't important since regardless of the reason, he still didn't catch the bulk of what she'd said.

"Sorry, but could you repeat that? I think I wasn't fully awake and didn't catch all of what you'd said."

Elin groaned, looking a little annoyed. Not that Jonas could really blame her. Though, it was her choice to try to talk with him right after he'd woken up from being asleep.

"I said that when we were gathering firewood I asked Elmo about the book he copied a little out of, Prenatal Magic, about me being able to have a child with Kim," Elin repeated harshly, apparently conflicted about taking out Jonas' absentmindedness on him versus risking waking someone else up. "He explained to me something about the essence of a person being their DNA and how it probably would be best to work with eggs rather than anything else because of chromosomes or something." Elin let out the rest of her air in a moment as she paused her problem before finishing after breathing in a little, "So I was wondering if you would know the reason why he said that."

Jonas couldn't help but chuckle. Now he understood. Elin likely wanted this to be a surprise for Kim and would probably be perfectly fine if Kim overheard it. Elin clearly didn't have the education to understand most, at least, of what Elmo had said and so took it the wrong way. Although, Jonas wasn't sure how he'd be able to explain it himself. Yet, he was pretty sure that if he gave her the basics of the biology of sex education, she might start to understand a little more. Maybe enough that she'd be willing to let him get what sleep he could before it was time to get moving again.

Although, as he looked at the horizon, he doubted he'd have much time, if any, when he finished talking with Elin about this. It certainly felt like it was going to take a while to explain everything in a way that Elin would understand. Potentially even longer than they had to talk about this in.