It was almost ironic, what was supposed to be our safety rope had now become a major nuisance. The rope kept us tied together so we wouldn't get separated while wandering through the Whisperwillow Weald, a forest infamous for its tricks and illusions. But trying to run while tethered to your teammates? Not exactly convenient.

"Hey! Don't stop all of a sudden!" Darwyn yelped after slamming into Orin, who had bumped into me when I froze in my tracks.

"I think we triggered one of the traps," I said grimly, scanning our surroundings. "We're walking in place."

"You're right," Darwyn muttered, looking around uneasily. "I was starting to get suspicious too. It feels like we're just going in circles."

"So what now?" Muradin asked, clearly annoyed.

"Let's try that other path," Orin suggested, pointing ahead.

"Wait," I said, holding up a hand. "Maybe we should look around for something... off."

"What do you mean?" Muradin asked.

"Anything odd. A root sticking out where it shouldn't be, leaves that look the wrong color, or uneven ground. That sort of thing."

"We don't have time for this. What if it's useless?" Darwyn argued.

"Trust me," I said firmly. "I've read about this, the looping paths in Whisperwillow."

Darwyn didn't look convinced. He gave me a skeptical glare but didn't argue further.

We took our time inspecting the area, using the soft light from Ilumne, still hovering near Darwyn, as our guide.

"Hey, check that tree trunk," Orin said, squinting. "Doesn't the texture look a little... off?"

"Looks the same to me," Muradin muttered with a shrug.

"Let's give it a shot," I said. "Darwyn, try hitting it with a fire arrow."

As he readied his bow, I stepped back and motioned for the others to do the same. Just in case.

Darwyn loosed the arrow, but it bounced off harmlessly, leaving no mark.

The willow tree did not take that kindly.

It suddenly lashed out, whipping its branches and leaves like a furious beast. Fortunately, we were already at a safe distance.

"Well, that's a no," I said, brushing leaves from my robe. "Next."

We resumed our search, carefully navigating the area.

"Hey, look at this root," Muradin called out, nudging it with his boot. "It's weird, juts out way more than the others."

Without needing to be told, we all took a few steps back. Darwyn nodded and fired another fire arrow.

This time, the arrow hit dead-on. Flames erupted, and the root vanished in a burst of ash.

"Did... did we actually do it?" Orin asked, blinking in disbelief.

"Looks like it," I said with a grin. "Let's move."

We quickly moved forward, eager to enter the next path, hoping to finally escape the trap.

"Yes, we made it," Muradin said, eyes sharp as he noticed the area around us had changed. This new space was narrower, pressed tight against the whispering willows lining our sides.

"Help! Somebody, please!"

A distant voice called out from deep within the trees not long after we broke free from the loop. It was followed by another... and another, growing closer and more urgent.

"There are others out here?" Orin said, alarmed. "Should we help them?"

"How? What if it's another illusion?" Muradin replied sharply. "We should focus on getting out of here. Fast."

"He's right," I said, checking the map again. "We've already lost too much time in those looping paths. Let's not lose our heads now."

The cries grew louder, more frantic. Different voices, desperate and terrified, until each one was abruptly silenced by screams of pain.

"They must be what caused the monster to appear," I thought grimly.

"We need to move," Darwyn said, his voice tight. "Especially if Erynd was right."

I nodded. No more distractions.

Whispershade, the native horror of this cursed place, had a terrifyingly unique ability, it could pursue its prey with uncanny speed, especially within this forest.

And if it caught us? Game over. We had no priest, no wizard, no way to counter it.

We kept moving, fast, trying not to trip over the rope that still bound us together. The exit was close, when I noticed the air growing thick with poison. Its sharp, acrid stench burning my nose.

"It's near!" Darwyn shouted, covering his mouth and nose with one arm while pulling out a flask filled with luminescent green liquid in the other. "Prepare the items!"

Just as we'd planned, each of us hurled a Glowink Flask around us. The glowing green ink splattered across the forest floor and the willows surrounding us, coating everything it touched, even the invisible.

"It's right behind me!" Muradin cried, eyes wide with horror as an invisible shape burst through the willow-covered wall behind him. The green ink clung to the air around it, revealing the silhouette of something fast and deadly. The trees around it began whispering louder, their branches whipping furiously.

Darwyn fired an arrow toward the glowing shape, but it passed straight through.

"SHIT!" Muradin cursed, stumbling back in panic. "Orin, help!"

Without hesitation, Orin summoned a shimmering violet vial into her hand.

[Enhance Potion cast]

[Void Essence Draught used]

The glow intensified around the bottle as she tossed it at the specter.

The monster became visible in an instant.

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It was tall, grotesquely thin, a humanoid figure cloaked in strips of willow bark and tangled moss. Its face was obscured by a mask of twisted roots and hanging vines. Hollow sockets flickered with a sickly green light, and its limbs stretched far too long for comfort. The air around it swirled with dense, pale-green poison.

[Shield Bash cast]

[Lightning Bolt cast]

Muradin and Darwyn didn't hesitate. They struck together, stunning it just long enough for us to break into a sprint.

But the reprieve was short.

Minutes later, the stinging poison returned.

"Shit. It's catching up again," Darwyn growled, glancing over his shoulder.

Whispershade, the Murmuring Wight was back.

Luckily, with the Void Essence Draught still active, its Phase skill remained disabled. It couldn't pass through trees or sprint unnaturally fast.

But fate had other plans.

Muradin tripped hard on a gnarled root. Darwyn, tethered in front of him, was yanked off balance. Our entire formation collapsed like a bad joke.

I quickly summoned Gorgroth, our monstrous companion, to buy us time. While Muradin and Darwyn scrambled to their feet, Whispershade came into view, closer than ever.

Gorgroth fired its sticky goo, again and again, trying to slow the monster down. But it barely flinched, striding forward with unnatural grace. One long, twisted arm reached for Gorgroth.

I cast Inner Beast and Rejuvenation on Gorgroth, then turned and ran. It roared behind us, a brutal clash erupting in the distance.

Then came its death cry. The unmistakable, thunderous bellow of our guardian falling.

"We're almost there, just two more intersections!" I called out, forcing hope into my voice.

"Yeah! We can make it!" Orin echoed, though her voice shook.

We crossed the first intersection. The air darkened again, tainted by poison.

"I hope this slows it down," Darwyn muttered, tossing several Sticky Bombs along the trail behind us.

It wasn't long before we saw the monster again.

Whispershade emerged through the poison fog, now visibly damaged. Its mask was partially shattered, revealing a horrific black face with cold, soulless green eyes.

BLAAAR! BOOM! BLAST!

Darwyn detonated the bombs one by one as the monster stepped over them. It howled in pain, but kept coming.

We didn't look back.

We reached the final intersection.

"Finally," Muradin muttered, breathless. "Come on, just a little more…"

There, up ahead, a single narrow path stretching out like salvation.

We kept moving, legs aching, lungs burning, until Whispershade appeared again.

This time, I took the lead.

I cast Ethereal Form, turning its body into a translucent green. The monster's movement faltered, giving us just enough of a window to break away once more.

"There!" Orin shouted, pointing ahead. "That's the exit!"

A faint glow shimmered through the trees like a distant star.

We ran with everything we had, lungs burning, eyes stinging from the poison.

I was the first to reach the edge of the forest, bursting through the invisible boundary into clean air. Orin followed, then Darwyn.

Muradin was seconds behind, but Whispershade was nearly upon him, its long arm reaching, claws inches from his back.

I shouted and used Galestride on Muradin, boosting his speed just enough to evade Whispershade's lunge at the very last moment, and break free from Whisperwillow Weald.

He stumbled into the clearing, gasping, while behind us, Whispershade came to a sudden halt, held back by something unseen. It stood at the forest's edge, its glowing eyes fixed on us with pure hatred.

But it couldn't pass.

It hissed silently, then turned and disappeared back into the mists of the Whisperwillow Weald.

"That… was way too close," Muradin wheezed, collapsing onto the ground, his chest heaving.

"You think that was the Scavengers?" Orin asked, still shaken. "Were they following us into the forest?"

"I doubt it," Darwyn said, wiping sweat from his brow. "No way they followed us from the Silvered Hills. Especially not after we used the warp point. It should've closed right behind us. Right, Erynd?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "That's what was supposed to happen. More likely they were just unlucky adventurers who got lost in there."

"But," I added, "if it was the Scavengers… that's actually good news for us."

***

I was going through my items when Darwyn walked up to me.

"Hey, Erynd. I think we need to talk," he said seriously. Orin and Muradin were still resting nearby, unaware.

"Why so serious?" I replied, trying to sound casual.

"Let's talk over there," he gestured toward a spot farther from the others.

I followed him, curious about what he wanted to discuss, but I had a feeling I already knew.

"Okay, don't take this the wrong way," Darwyn began with a sigh. "But there's something I need to ask. And I hope you'll be honest with me."

"Of course," I said, keeping my expression neutral.

"I've been holding this in for a while, but I can't stop wondering, how do you know things no one else seems to know?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean Whispershade. The looping paths. That strategy against Orugg. Even the hidden status beneath the lake. It just doesn't add up," he said, narrowing his eyes. "You know... I've been hearing a few rumors lately."

"What kind of rumors?" I asked, feigning confusion.

"Answer me first. Where exactly are you getting this information?"

"Well, you know I spend a lot of time in the library," I shrugged.

"That's exactly why I'm asking. I've been going there too recently, and most of the stuff I found is basic, general knowledge at best."

"Maybe you're looking in the wrong sections," I offered with a small grin. "I'll show you sometime."

Darwyn stared at me for a moment, thoughtful. His long, pointed ears twitched slightly.

"So," I added quickly, trying to steer the conversation, "what's this rumor you mentioned?"

"I trust you, for now," he said, not falling for the deflection. "But once we're back in town, I want you to show me those sources."

"Yeah, no problem," I replied with a relaxed smile. "Now, about that rumor?"

"I don't know how true it is," he admitted. "But in the last few months, some adventurers have been growing stronger at an unnatural pace. One of them is someone people call the Collector, if you've heard of him. Another is Reid Oersted, the famous rising star swordsman."

"And what does that have to do with me?"

"Well… our team's been getting attention too," Darwyn admitted. "Somehow, word got out about our achievements in Domatio Sol Invictus. And more than that, people are talking about how fast we've been growing."

He paused, then added, "And apparently, all these unusually strong adventurers have one thing in common."

I didn't say a word.

"They somehow know secrets hidden within the Tower, things barely anyone else has even heard of. Just like you."

"Well, I don't know about that," I said, keeping my tone even. "Maybe they have their own sources. But honestly, most of what I've learned came from books. The Grand Library, the Druid Archives, and a few other places."

I let out a soft breath. "Besides, a lot of what we've encountered was completely unexpected, like Horrogoth or the Silver Tree... none of that was planned."

"And let's not forget Orin's absurd luck and that Mana Surge trick of hers. They've helped us out more than once," I added. "And you and Muradin? You're both seasoned adventurers. You've brought just as much to the table. We always made our plans together."

Darwyn fell silent, unable to answer me.

After thinking for a while, he scratched the back of his neck, still visibly uneasy. "Yeah... you're right.

At last, the tension drained from his shoulders. "Alright then. Sorry for doubting you."

"It's fine," I said with a small smile. "Just keep me updated if you hear anything new. And hey, if you ever want to talk like this again, don't hesitate."

I had managed to convince him, this time. But deep down, I felt uneasy.

Because if he ever discovered the truth...

Everything might change, including the way he saw me.

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