Chương 11: 11-An Eldrigital Interview

{"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 an investigation lasting several months 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 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... 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, and I appreciate the fact that 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 2000s, 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 was released, right? {DECRYPTION AT 59%} ROBE[#?]: December 22, 2000-I was still in diapers.

It was one of the biggest releases before Crown 2 was 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 the 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 was kind of like a child witnessing the sun rise for the first time and asked so many questions. I kind of made excuses, and I also decided to talk to him. {DECRYPTION AT 85%} If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. 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 as my buddy 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 during 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, telling 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 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 endgame 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 had come 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 noon? 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 had breakfast, ate in my bed, and opened Lethe to talk to Onarius as 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 that 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 him again as we were friends, but he wanted me as well-to-do as the person he talked to wanted him to do something that he felt Onarius was suitable for doing.

ROBERT: > SNAPS FINGERS The 5San post! ELNA: > SLAMS HANDS ON DESK Yeah! ROBERT: > ALARMED > CHILLS OUT Which I said was not to make people look at him, because he was going to intervene in a lot of people's 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 the following Malevolent 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 who 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 in 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 {me} 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: That you so happened to pull from the Bugview fan page? > CONFIDENT SMIRK Which I just so happen to have pulled up on my screen. > SHOWS {me} THE WEB PAGE ELNA: > ANGRY BREATHING I didn't get it from there, you-! ROBERT: > EYES ROLL Look, I can tell a troll a mile away, and I for goddamn certain that these memories of yours are fake by how you say them.

ELNA: Well, I don't suppose you post your own Warden fanfic on Warden Watch, huh?! > GRITTING TEETH ONARIUS: {Elna, relax…} ELNA: {NOT WITH THIS JACKASS!} ROBERT: Warden Watch TOS is pretty strict on who can post there, and they really don't like rumors. If I were to post something like that, I would get banned. > RAISES EYEBROW Do you have any idea how that site works, kid? ELNA: > HEAVY BREATHING {I think the interview is going to be cut short} ONARIUS: {This is fine. I've already read all the journal entries; I have already judged him…} ELNA: > AFRAID I-I am not a kid! I met him; I know he does these things because he wants to help people! ONARIUS: {Elna, you need to stop} ROBERT: > ANGRY Bullshit. > CLICKS QUICKLY And I don't suppose Warden Watch thinks his acts of vigilantism is something abhorrent? > SLAMS FISTS ON TABLE When it causes multiple disappearances leading to a 15 year long cold case?!

> CLEAR THROAT I'll read this to you:"We do not condone any violent acts of vigilantism, as it interferes with criminal investigations by official law enforcement. We strongly encourage all readers to report all crimes to their local authorities and not take matters into their own hands." > GLARES AT {me} Does that not sound hypocritical? ELNA: Onarius- ROBERT: I'm not talking about him, I'm talking about you, kid.

> QUICKLY SHAKING HEAD Jesus Christ, you're standing up for some random guy I'm pretty sure you never met, and you're some weirdo! ELNA: I did meet him, though! I'm not lying to you, John. ROBERT: Tell me what happened on Christmas Day until the day you made that post. ONARIUS: {Do as he says} ELNA: {WHERE'S YOUR JUDGEMENT?! Throw this guy in a cell!} ONARIUS: {I am not going to} ELNA: > SWEATING stammering W-Well, I got my present, golden wrapping paper, Lethe was inside, I walked up to-NO!

I went downstairs to play- ROBERT: > IMPATIENT FINGER TAPPING ELNA: stammering I-uh played for so long that I barely went outside my room to get ramen, and say hi to my parents- > EYES WIDEN mumbling Why can't I see their faces? [NOTICEABLE VIDEO INTERFERENCE DETECTED] ROBERT: > SUSPICIOUS Can't see their faces? Your own parents? ELNA: Uh, well, it was infrequent, but I- ROBERT: > GRIMACES I'm pretty sure they would have checked up on you. Do me a favor and just describe their appearances.

ELNA: Uh, my dad, he was, uh… slim. Always wore a suit and tie, and he had pixels for his head? ROBERT: > CLENCHES DESK Pixels? ELNA: > EYES DART AROUND very nervously* And uh, my mom, she-I think she was a car m-mechanic? She wore these overalls, constantly carried her tools around, and her face looked like- > FREEZES … Pixels… [VIDEO FEED INTERFERENCE GETS WORSE WITH A NOTICEABLE MAGENTA LIGHT] ROBERT: Uh, does your headband have a magenta glowstick or-?

[VIDEO FEED FREEZES] ELNA: > HEAVY BREATHING ONARIUS: {Calm down…} ELNA: {I'm sorry, I just, I can't remember anything about my parents} > SOBBING ONARIUS: {Elna… can stop trying, you know what it will lead to…} ELNA: {I know…} > SNIFFLES {Why did you make me interview him?} ONARIUS: {Because I needed to assess him for something very important. Robert, as I know him, is a very good man} ELNA: > ANGRY {And yet he's doing this shit to make me uncomfortable!} ONARIUS: {Robert, after that day, became justifiably suspicious of people… His WeVid career is a reflection of that…} ELNA: > ANNOYED {… And his deadbeat dad} ONARIUS: {He let money and fame go to his head. Christopher, on the other hand, took pleasure in the suffering of others} ELNA: > ANGRY {LIKE NOW?!} ONARIUS: {No, he's actually more or less concerned about you} ELNA: {That I'm an extension of you?!} ONARIUS: {That you are a kid. I have made my judgement, and this was what I really needed} ELNA: > MOUTH OPENS SLIGHTLY {What do you mean?} ONARIUS: {I have been watching Robert for a very long time, more so than those I helped. What transpired nearly 15 years ago was something that made me rethink things. I need him for something important, but as well, I want him to know there are some entities of his "investigations" that are not "evil" as he thinks} ELNA: > HEAD TURNS AWAY {So, me then?} ONARIUS: {Correct} ELNA: > SADDENED {I don't feel like I should tell him that I'm not "human" anymore} ONARIUS: {He has already figured that out from your "glowing headband"} ELNA: {BUT-!} ONARIUS: {I do not want to interfere. I have to do something to ensure that Ned does not notice, but I will tell you this: I would not leave you alone if I did not trust Robert. He is a very good man, but he can be tough to deal with} ELNA: > HEAVY BREATHING {But what if he tries to attack me, or-?!} ONARIUS: {He won't. I'm sorry, I cannot be here, but I will say this: Robert is concerned about you, and I know very well he will help you. I must go; I cannot delay any longer} ELNA: > SADDENED {Okay…} ONARIUS: {One more thing… You have my permission to enter the real world} ELNA: {Wouldn't that-?!} [VIDEO FEED RESUMES] ROBERT: -Or do I see? > EYES WIDEN ELNA: > EMBARRASSED WHILE COVERING FOREHEAD Uh, it's probably just an error on your-! ROBERT: > DEEP SIGH Elna, take your headband off-slowly.

ELNA: > RELUCTANTLY DOES AS TOLD [VIDEO FEED SHOWS ELNA WITH A MAGENTA GEMSTONE ON HER FOREHEAD] ROBERT: > EYES WIDEN AS HE BLANKLY STARES AT {me} quietly Holy shit… ELNA: > DEFEATED I'll just leave. I'm sorry that- ROBERT: > SHAKING HEAD I don't think so, but I'm ending the interview early. ELNA: > STARES AT ROBERT, CONFUSED Why? ROBERT: very slowly How long have you been in there? ELNA: The computer? Just uh… 44 minutes? ROBERT: very slowly No… Where are you and the Warden from? ELNA: A strange place....

ROBERT: very slowly How long? ELNA: > LOOKS AWAY mumbling 25 years… > DEEP SIGH … 250 years from my perspective, actually… ROBERT: > HORRIFIED whispering Sweet Jesus… {END INTERVIEW} {CLOSING FILE… DONE} {CREATING FILE "consultation. mp4"… DONE} {OPENING FILE…}