I Accidentally Became the Guild's TherapistChapter 15: Essence of Emotion
Livia Marcelline Quinn, Mental Supporter Lv. 5, stood in the center of the Crystaline Atrium, an MMORPG plaza where prismatic spires refracted light into kaleidoscopic patterns and floating platforms pulsed with arcane energy. Her robe shimmered with iridescent slime trails, a remnant of Slivia Mode—the fusion with Glimmer, the Collective Sentiment of Bloodbath & Beyond's emotions. Her eyes glowed faint green, her voice a harmonic blend of the guild's tones, but her mind teetered on the edge. The system's timer ticked in her HUD: [Slivia Mode Duration: 71:22:19] and [Mental Crash Reboot: 23:12:47]. The Verdant Nexus's fusion had saved her from collapse, but Glimmer's cryptic warning—"Three days. Use it wisely"—echoed, and the guild's wary gazes lingered. A system totem hovered nearby, glitching with text: "Atrium Status: Neutral Zone // Error: Emotional Volatility Detected." Livia's heart pounded. I'm their vessel, but I'm fraying.
The Atrium buzzed with restrained chaos—players darted between platforms, trading skill scrolls, while NPCs droned, "Harmony Buffs: 70% Off!"
A holographic sphinx loomed above, advertising "Riddle-Based XP Boosts!" Livia's Slivia Mode thrummed, amplifying her senses. She felt the guild's emotions—Bron's dread, Nyx's fear, Phina's longing, Alaric's guilt, Miles's doubt—like a storm in her chest. Her HUD flickered: Mental Supporter Lv. 5: 300/5000 EXP, stagnant from her mental crash. Empath Surge, Therapist's Insight Lv. 1, and Reverse Psychology Lv. 1 remained locked, but Slivia Mode unlocked a new ability: Essence of Emotion:Read thoughts of those you've healed. Cost: 30% mental stamina. Her Mirror Resistance +1 dulled the feedback, but her Instinct +5 flared: Threat: Internal Chaos, Rising.
A notification popped, dripping with snark: [Warning: Empath Overloading Server. Devs Not Paid Enough for This.] Great, even the system's throwing shade, Livia thought, her sarcasm sharp despite her blended voice. She tested Essence of Emotion, focusing on the guild nearby. Their thoughts flooded her, unfiltered and raw. Bron's mind roared: She's glowing, but is she still Buffer? What if we lose her? Nyx's thoughts whispered: I failed her. She's a freak now because of us. Phina's sang: Empath Eternal, divine yet fading—will you leave us? Alaric's jumbled: Bet she's a raid boss! But… she looks haunted. Miles's cut deepest: She's not Livia anymore. What's controlling her? Her heart sank. They're scared of me?
A notification jabbed:[Achievement Pending: Mind-Reader or Privacy Invader? System Reviewing Terms of Service. +10 Insight Points (Risky)] Livia's chorus-voice faltered. "Stay back," she said, the guild's tones clashing in her throat. Bron stepped closer, shield raised, his eyes torn between awe and fear. "Buffer, you're… reading us?" His thought echoed: She knows I'm scared. Phina's runes flickered, her voice trembling: "Your divinity sees our souls!" Her mind whispered: She sees my loneliness. Nyx shrank back, flashlight shaking, his thoughts screaming: She knows I'm weak! Alaric laughed, too loud: "Mind-reading? Bet I'm an open book!" His mind betrayed: She'll see my regrets. Miles's smirk tightened, psychoblade humming: "You're in our heads, Buffer? That's a dangerous trick." His thoughts hissed: Is she still human, or something else? Her Therapist's Insight pinged: Patient: Miles. Intent: Protective, Distrustful.
The Atrium's platforms pulsed, amplifying the guild's tension. Livia's Essence of Emotion surged, pulling more thoughts. Bron's fear of irrelevance, Nyx's phobia, Phina's longing, Alaric's guilt, Miles's betrayal—they overwhelmed her, a cacophony of pain. She stumbled, her glowing eyes dimming. I know too much. Their pain… it's mine. Her own thoughts surfaced: flunking psych, her parents' silence, her fear of being nothing. Am I just their mirror? A system wisp—a glowing orb with a winking emoji—zipped by, chirping, "Error: Emotional Overload. Reality Lagging." Livia tried to speak, but the guild's thoughts drowned her. She raised a slime tendril, hoping to calm them, but Bron flinched, thinking: Is that her or the slime? Phina gasped, her mind crying: Don't leave us! Miles's hand gripped his blade, his thought sharp: If she's not Livia, what do we do? The guild's chaos spiraled, their voices overlapping: "Buffer, stop!" "You're scaring us!" "What's happening to you?" A notification mocked:[Achievement Unlocked: Chaos Therapist. +15 Discord Points (Whoops).] Livia's chorus-voice cracked. "I'm… trying to help!" But their thoughts screamed louder, her loneliness deepening. They don't trust me. I'm too deep in their pain. Glimmer's consciousness stirred within her, its voice cryptic: "You said, 'You're not alone.' But their minds isolate you." Her Instinct +5 flared: Threat: Guild Fracture. She tried to deactivate Essence of Emotion, but her stamina was too low, the ability locked on. The Atrium's spires flickered, reflecting the guild's fear in prismatic shards.
A portal flared, and an NPC vendor—a glitchy construct with a distorted smile—shouted, "Buy Trust Potions! Fix Your Guild Drama!" Livia ignored it, her glowing eyes tearing up. I know their pain, but it's breaking us. She stumbled to a platform's edge, the guild's thoughts a storm: She's not herself. She's dangerous. She's ours. Her own voice, faint beneath the chorus, whispered, Am I still me?The wisp returned, its emoji now a confused frown. "System Alert: Empath Causing Guild Instability. Suggest Logging Out." Livia's HUD flashed: [Slivia Mode Duration: 71:19:33]. Glimmer's voice echoed, haunting: "You carry their souls, but they fear your sight." The guild closed in, their faces a mix of awe, fear, and doubt. Miles's blade lowered slightly, his thought piercing: If she knows everything, can we still trust her?
A final notification glowed, biting : [You've seen their souls. Achievement Unlocked: Lonely Seer. If you know all their pain… are you still human?] Livia stood frozen, the Atrium's light dimming around her. The guild's thoughts swirled, their voices a cacophony, her loneliness a chasm. As the system's timers ticked and Glimmer's presence pulsed, she wondered if she was their savior—or a glitch tearing them apart.