I stepped into the dimly lit, spartan meeting room of the Conestoga and saw that Dipton seated at the table with a drink in one hand, watching me as I took a seat across from him.

"Connor," he greeted, tipping his cowboy hat with a nod as he lifted the glass to his lips, taking a sip of his beverage before continuing. "Glad you could join me."

I returned the gesture, sliding into a seat across from him. "Dip."

"Have a mission for ya," he began, his southern drawl drawing out the words. "Need ya to scout a Server called 'Whispering Expanse'. It's right smack in front of our path, about three miles out."

Huh, so he wants me to do a recon mission? I wondered what kind of place it was as I nodded, sitting up straighter in my seat as I replied, "Any particular reason why we need to scout it?"

Dipton set down his glass and rested his elbows on the table, interlacing his fingers. "First, Vera already took a peek yesterday and told me that the Server seemed like an alien-lookin' forest that didn't seem like it had any worthwhile things for us to scavenge for resources. She also mentioned somethin' about the place gave her the willies so she didn't stick around long enough to give a thorough assessment."

"Okay," I said, considering his words before continuing, "So it sounds like it's best to check it out first and then decide if we need to make a detour or not."

Dipton nodded, giving me a lopsided grin as he responded, "I knew you'd pick up what I'm putting down." He paused, seeming to mull over something before speaking again. "Secondly, we need to map out a route for the Conestoga to travel through the area. A lot of trees and uneven terrain makes navigation difficult, so it'll be good for us to map out where the safest places to drive are. Conestoga ain't exactly a mountain climber, ya know?"

That made sense, though I felt a bit underprepared for the task. "Am I doing this solo or is someone gonna come with me?"

Dipton laughed, shaking his head as he reached up to scratch his beard. "No way I'm sending you out there alone. Brice and Vera will come with you. You can take Fii along as well if you want. Brice will hold the fort if things get rough. Vera can scout further ahead and get you out if things get really bad."

That was a relief. I didn't really like the idea of being in a hostile environment on my own again, especially since the whole point of this recon mission was to avoid conflict as much as possible. "Sounds good." I nodded, leaning back in my seat as I contemplated what we would need to bring with us. "When do we leave for the recon?"

"First light tomorrow," Sam stated, sipping his drink before continuing, "Vera said the Server time is sittin' around eight days. I'll leave it up to y'all to decide how long to scout around but just make sure to map us a path through."

I nodded again, mentally calculating how long we would need to get done with this scouting mission and making a note of it. "Will do." I leaned forward slightly and looked Dipton in the eyes. "Anything else I should know about the place?"

Dipton shook his head slowly, drumming his fingers on the tabletop as he spoke, "You'll have to ask Vera for more of the details."

Well, that's all I need to know then. I nodded and turned to leave, heading out of the meeting room to begin preparations for the upcoming scouting mission.

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The rest of the evening was a blur of preparations. I loaded up on rations and water, tossing a couple of random survival items into my pack to help with our journey, and even stopping by Vera's room to see if she had anything to add.

Vera opened her door and greeted me with a warm smile, inviting me inside as she waved me over to take a seat. My first impression of her was that she seemed like the silent and serious type, but she turned out to be pretty friendly and expressive once you got to know her.

We sat down on a couple of cushioned seats in her room while she laid out her thoughts on the Whispering Expanse—her experience during her earlier scouting, what she's learned so far, and some of her concerns about the place.

"You see, this place is not like a normal forest," she explained, picking up one of her notebooks from the table between us and flipping through a few pages, turning it around and showing me a sketch of what looked like the outskirts of the forest, trees with glowing leaves covering most of the area. "I know that sounds confusing but it's true," she continued while turning the pages back to her notebook again. "There is something about this place that feels different than other forests that I've seen."

I nodded along, listening to her speak while I continued to stuff rations into a spare backpack that I had brought along. "How so?" I asked, turning to look at her as she stopped on one of the pages in her notebook again, tapping her finger on a series of lines on the paper.

"There are odd things here," she said, seeming to contemplate her own words before continuing. "It feels like this place is...I don't know," she paused for a moment as if searching for the right word, "possessed or something," she finished, a concerned look on her face.

"Possessed?" I repeated with a raised eyebrow. "Like spirits?" I added after a moment, still not convinced by her explanation.

Vera let out a dismissive sound, waving her hand as if to tell me to ignore her initial comment. "No. That's not what I meant," she said, holding up her hands in a placating gesture before continuing with her explanation. "I don't know how to describe it...but the whispers in this place sound different—almost like they are sentient."

Wait...so it's alive? "What do you mean by that?" I asked, furrowing my brows in confusion at her words. "Like, plants that move and shit?"

Vera nodded and reached down, pulling out another notebook from under the table, opening it to show me the contents inside, her eyes flicking down to the page before lifting her gaze to meet mine again. "This is what I wrote down," she said as she turned the notebook around again and showed me what looked like an incomplete entry on one of her pages—a bunch of lines, swirls, and arrows scribbled down in an untidy scrawl with a few notes written next to them in smaller, less legible writing.

"Okay?" I said, my brows still knitted together as I stared down at her notebook in confusion. "Vera, I can't read Spanish."

Vera blinked, turning her attention to her notebook and reading what was on it before turning to give me a sheepish grin and replying, "Oh, yeah, I'm sorry," she said, closing the book and returning it to its hiding spot under the table as she turned her attention back to me again, continuing, "I tend to forget not everyone can read my handwriting."

That was...a little amusing but now didn't seem to be the best time to laugh at the situation. "Okay," I replied, leaning forward slightly in my seat to give her my full attention. "So you wrote down some of your notes from when you were in there, right? Did you see anything dangerous? Any Riftspawn?"

Vera nodded and replied, "Yes, I saw several creatures there—lots of strange insects and animals," she began, making a motion to indicate a certain number with her hand as she continued. "There were also a lot of floating rocks and...something else," she said after a moment, giving me a strange look before shrugging with a look of resignation on her face. "I'm not sure what to make of it."

So floating rocks and something else...that wasn't exactly helpful, but now I wanted to see those floating rocks. Anything that breaks the laws of physics was worth experiencing. That's something to look forward to I suppose.

"Okay," I replied, clearing my throat as I shifted in my seat again, straightening up to face her again, "and what about the...whispers?" I asked again.

"Well," Vera said, "they weren't really 'whispers'. It's more like... a humming sound. A low humming noise." she explained, reaching up to twirl one of her locks of hair around her finger as she considered her next words before continuing, "They almost sound like...a song? It's hard to describe. You just sort of...feel it, you know?" she finished, giving me another strange look before shrugging again.

Wow, that doesn't sound terrifying or anything. "Feel it?" I repeated, giving her another dubious look as I gave a slow nod. "Yeah, okay." I leaned back in my seat again, crossing my arms as I rested them on the armrests. "Any other details you want to share?"

Vera gave me an odd look but sighed before responding, "It's hard to put in words what I felt when I was there. You'll understand it when you experience it for yourself," she said with an indecipherable expression before changing the subject. "All I know is that I sensed a...power that seems to emanate from the forest. I'm not sure what kind of power it is or what it's meant for but it felt dangerous."

Hmm, so there is something dangerous there...and it seems like the feeling of being there is pretty intense as well. Well, I did just spend a few days in Mordenstradt and that was an unsettling experience so something like this shouldn't be too bad.

"Okay," I said again, trying to reassure Vera. "So it sounds pretty spooky and strange but it's just an alien forest." I gave her a reassuring smile and continued, "Nothing to worry about. With me, you, and Brice, it'll be a walk in the park."

Vera smiled at my words, resting her chin on her hand as she regarded me with an appreciative look. "Thanks, Connor," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she regarded me with a soft expression.

Hmm, she's rather trusting in my words. I guess that's one of the good things about being the newest member of the crew...you get the benefit of having a fresh perspective on things.

I gave her a brief nod of acknowledgment, shifting my attention back to the mission briefing. "Okay then," I said with a small cough as I pushed myself up from my seat and made to leave. "We'll head out first thing in the morning," I added before heading for the door. "I'll see you then."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"I'm counting on you," Vera said in reply as she waved farewell at me through the door and made my way to my own to pack up my things.

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As dawn broke, I woke up, steeled for the day ahead. I pushed off my blankets and grabbed my things, tossing them into my bag before I left to join Brice and Vera in the hold of the Conestoga.

"Sup, fresh," Brice greeted with a grin as he shot me a thumbs-up. "We ready to go?" he asked as he slung his backpack over his shoulder.

I nodded and replied, "Yeah. All set." I turned to regard Vera with a smile, noticing that she had her Interface equipped, and gave her a thumbs up. "You ready to go?" I asked.

Vera nodded in response. "Ready when you are."

We made our way to the hold's elevator platform where Fii stood waiting. Its camera swiveled to follow us as we approached, the same low humming noise it emitted when I first met it reverberating through the air.

"Sorry, Fii," I said with a smile as I patted its side. "I'm not taking you with me for this mission. Stay with the Conestoga and help Dipton and the others out while I'm away."

Fii leaned down, the metal plates on its back shifting as it offered me a strange whirring sound that sounded like a mix between a sigh and a whine before clacking its claws together again and leaning up slightly. "Understood," it said, tilting its camera again as if regarding me for a moment before adding, "Take care."

"You too," I replied with a nod and a smile. I activated my Interface, then turned to Vera and Brice. "Alright, let's get this show on the road. Got our comm channel set?"

Brice activated his Interface as well and gave me another thumbs-up and replied with a confident nod. "Yep, set." I heard him through the comm link between our Interfaces. Their status screens flashed into view on my left peripheral.

Vera Ortiz Rank: Acolyte IV Health: 295 / 295 Mana: 265 / 265 Brice Payne Rank: Acolyte III Health: 326 / 326 Mana: 225 / 225

Awesome. It looked like we were good to go. I gave Vera and Brice a final nod before pressing the button to lower the elevator platform, making my way down with them as Dipton's voice crackled through our comm link.

"Safe travels, folks," he said with a cheerful tone as we stepped off the platform. "Make sure to come back in one piece."

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Server Name Whispering Expanse Server ID 0F39 Server Size Small Timer 7 days, 2 hours, 38 minutes, 2 seconds Subquests Remaining 3 Riftgates Remaining 1 Riftspawns Remaining 43 SCAVs Remaining 0 Main Quest Status Active

The world shifted as we left the prairie and stepped into the otherworldly glow of the Whispering Expanse. The forest opened up before us, a vibrant cascade of phosphorescent green and soft violet, drenched in an almost ethereal light that emanated from the twisted, exotic flora. Their bioluminescent pulses lit up the canopy overhead, filling the forest with spectral radiance.

It was...strikingly beautiful in a way that was not entirely pleasant. The energy pulsing through the air seemed to crawl into my skin like an itch as I stood there for a moment to admire the spectacle before stepping forward to enter the forest.

We had decided that we would make a beeline through the forest, mapping out the land around us in case we needed to make an exit. First priority was to find a big enough route that was clear of trees and relatively flat so that the Conestoga could maneuver through it and get to the other side.

As we headed further into the forest, the luminous trees grew larger, with some of them rising into the canopy at least forty feet in height—err, fifteen meters. Everyone's been using the metric system and even the Interface used it. Guess I'll convert.

After another few minutes of trudging through the forest's undergrowth, we stopped to rest as we took in our surroundings.

A wash of colors, indescribable in their vibrancy, washed over my senses. This place was a dizzying spectacle of pulsating luminescence and shadows. The flora—huge, spire-like trees, undulating shrubs, and grass shimmering like an aurora—painted a breathtaking picture. But the beauty of it didn't fool me. We were stepping into a painting alright, but one painted by a mad artist.

The faint whispers of the trees enveloped us, a susurrus that wove itself into the very air we breathed. A constant, melodic hum filled my ears, emanating from all around us, stirring me with a sense of deep, subconscious unease that trickled through my nerves like a chill.

It was almost as if I were... underwater or something? Yes, that was it. It was almost as if I were swimming underwater and hearing the world above through a distorted tube. Even now, I could still hear faint echoes of my companions' voices, but they seemed far away, almost drowned out by the murmur of the forest around us. Every glowing leaf, every luminescent vine shimmering in the perpetual twilight seemed to carry the whispers further, echoing across the glowing forest. It was disconcerting, but we pushed on, our mission clear and the safety of the Conestoga relying on our success.

"Hey, guys...We should probably keep our communication through the comm link rather than talking normally," I said after a moment. "I can barely hear us now." I gestured at my helmet before turning to Brice with a concerned look. "How about you?"

Brice nodded and replied through our comm link, "Yeah, me too."

Vera held up her hand and replied with a quick nod, "Me too."

Oh, so even she has noticed it too. I looked around again, trying to find the source of the eerie murmuring that had been plaguing my senses since we arrived here—No luck. Guess we're on our own for now. I took a deep breath as I tried to relax myself, trying to enjoy the sights while taking in as much detail as possible.

"Feels like they're trying to tell us something, doesn't it?" Vera said, stepping closer to me, her voice coming in through our comm link this time. "That we should keep moving?" she added, not waiting for us to confirm before taking off again.

Brice, whose armor glistened under the alien light, merely grunted in response. He was scanning the area, his hand never straying far from the blaster holstered at his side.

"Yeah, we should probably do that," I said, my fingers unconsciously brushing against the grip of my SMG. Unseen threats lay in the melodious rustling, and I was not about to be hypnotized by a bunch of talking trees.

After a couple of hours weaving through trees and climbing over dirt mounds, I pointed to a patch of rock near one of the towering trees, indicating that we should take a break there to rest and take a breather before moving on again. The energy from the Ley Lines felt denser here, making the air around us heavy, almost suffocating.

"Reminds me of a rave I once went to," Brice's voice crackled over the comm, his usual optimism struggling to cover the nervous edge. He was right; the shifting, radiant colors did remind me of neon-lit parties. Only, there were no DJs or strobe lights here. Just us and the unknown.

Brice, Vera, and I made our way over to the clearing, and I unslung my pack, sitting down on the rocks and opening it to pull out some rations while Brice did the same. Vera, however, remained on guard, scanning the area around us with a cautious gaze.

Afterwards, we gathered our things again and continued our trek through the Whispering Expanse. We made our way through the forest for another hour or so at a snail's pace, Brice and I leading while Vera stayed at the back and watched out for anything that could be a threat.

Suddenly, Brice halted, his eyes wide. "Do you guys see that?" he whispered, pointing ahead. His fingers glowed faintly, reflecting off the illuminated trees.

Looking ahead, I squinted, trying to discern the shape amidst the glowing thicket. It was a subtle shift in the luminescent light, a ripple that flowed across the illuminated flora. Then, it disappeared. And with it, the light of the nearby trees seemed to dim.

What the heck was that?

Brice stepped forward slowly, his weapon at the ready. Vera joined him at the front. I reached for my SMG, keeping a watchful eye on the area around us as I kept pace with the group.

"We're not alone here," Vera murmured, her playful demeanor momentarily eclipsed by seriousness.

A quiet rustling resonated from our right, barely audible above the whispering chorus. I glanced at my companions, a silent understanding passing between us. We slowed, spreading apart, forming a half-circle to encircle whatever was ahead of us. Brice aimed his blaster at a cluster of trees on the left while I leveled my SMG at a group of glowing shrubs on the right, both of us watching for any sudden movements.

Suddenly, the light from a nearby tree dimmed significantly, as if something was consuming its ethereal glow. An elongated form appeared from the shadows, fluidly moving towards us, almost floating above the ground. Bioluminescent patterns shifted across its surface, a living camouflage that helped it blend seamlessly with the environment.

I didn't have time to admire its eerie beauty as its form solidified, the bioluminescent pattern crystallizing into sharp spikes that jutted out from its body. Its eyes, glowing with a deadly luminescence, locked onto us.

"Get ready!" I shouted, summoning a wall of shadow before us. A barely visible tendril shot out from the creature, slamming into the wall with a shocking force that left a resonating vibration in my mind. Brice holstered his blaster and sprung to action, his body aglow with psychic energy, while Vera blinked away, reappearing on a tree branch with cat-like agility.

I leveled my SMG and squeezed off a round while Brice charged at the creature. His fist slammed into its body as he activated Psychic Augmentation, the creature letting out a chilling hiss as it staggered back. Brice drew his other arm back and punched again, slamming into the creature's flank. The creature roared, a sound that vibrated through the air, and met his attack with swift, sweeping tendrils.

Brice sidestepped one of the tendrils, bringing his own hand down in a blur and latching onto it. There was a burst of white energy as the creature released a guttural growl from its throat, a cry that reverberated through my mind as I fought to keep my concentration.

Vera dove from her perch, slamming into the creature and disappearing in a burst of psionic energy. The creature twisted its body to try and face her, but she reappeared behind it, slamming her fist into its back while Brice let go of the tendril, his body shimmering with psionic energy as he struck again, knocking it into the glowing undergrowth.

I heard a faint noise from behind me and whirled around just in time to see another creature emerge from a thicket of bioluminescent shrubs—the same bioluminescence that were scattered throughout the forest, only now they had hardened and crystallized into spiked thorns that covered its body like armor.

Its glowing eyes locked onto me, and with a burst of speed, it leapt forward, crashing into me before I could react.

You've taken 37 Kinetic Damage

Its sharp spines pierced my body, slamming me into a nearby tree and embedding themselves in my flesh. I cried out in pain, clutching at my side as blood dripped from my wounds. It reared its head back and let out a deafening roar, its spiky form shimmering with energy before it lunged forward again.