Act. Conquer. Win.
But instead, she was here—arguing with a voice in her head.
“This isn’t helping. We need to move. We need to find out where we are.”
Mike’s voice echoed calmly in her mind.
“Yeah, but not blindly. You have no idea what’s out there.”
Tessa scowled. Of course she wasn’t afraid—but even she had to admit it was smarter to understand the situation before diving headfirst into the unknown.
“Fine.”She inhaled deeply, forcing herself to stay calm.“Got a better idea? Or are we just going to grow moss here?”
Mike hesitated for a moment, then replied:
“The river.”
Tessa blinked.
“What about it?”
“We should follow it.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Why?”
“I saw it in a documentary once. If you’re lost in the wild, follow a river. Water means life. Eventually, it’ll lead to a village, a town—something. Civilization.”
Tessa considered it.It made sense.
“Hmph. Alright. But if we run into some wild hillfolk trying to stab me in the back, I’m blaming you.”
Mike chuckled in her head.
“Deal.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Tessa moved cautiously through the tall grass. Her body was powerful and fluid—the early unfamiliarity had vanished. Every step was precise, her reflexes sharp.
The forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
She was used to the ambient chaos of Conan Exiles—the growl of hyenas, the shouts of distant exiles, the rumble of approaching boss monsters.
But here?
Just the gentle trickle of the river, and the occasional rustle of leaves.
Mike noticed too.
“It’s kinda creepy how quiet it is here…”
Tessa narrowed her eyes.
“Silence isn’t always a good thing. Sometimes it means the real predators haven’t shown up yet.”
Mike mentally gulped.
“Reassuring.”
They followed the river for a while, passing moss-covered rocks polished smooth by the current. The terrain was strange, unfamiliar—but still, somehow… familiar.
Suddenly, Tessa felt something strange.
A light tingle. A fleeting, almost childish sensation.
Excitement.
As if she were… looking forward to something. To adventure.
She froze.
Her eyes narrowed. Her hand rested on the hilt of Frostmore.
“What is it?” Mike asked.
Tessa shook her head.
“That wasn’t from me.”
A pause.
Then Mike’s hesitant voice:
“Oh… uh… I think that might’ve been me?”
Tessa exhaled slowly, studying the river like it might offer an answer.
“You’re telling me… you can’t control your emotions either?”
Mike sounded unsure.
“I—I don’t know. It felt like I was feeling your excitement, but maybe mine too? I just got this… this feeling. Like I’m in some epic adventure anime or something.”
Tessa rubbed her temples.
“Great. Not just a voice in my head—we’re sharing feelings now?”
Mike laughed nervously.
“Could be worse, right?”
Tessa sighed, but a small, barely noticeable smirk crossed her lips.
“Fine. But if you start squealing over candy or kittens, I’ll curse you.”
The river flowed on.
Tessa moved forward again, this time with even greater awareness.
Her mind was quiet—but she knew Mike was there. Watching. Thinking. Feeling.
And somewhere out there, farther down the river, something was waiting.
Something that would decide whether this was the beginning of a great journey—
—or the opening act of a nightmare.
End of Chapter 5