Glen - Hidden message

I stare at a vast and boundless world. It has no color itself, and countless shapes of various colors form in and out of existence. Some form complex patterns, others merge into their neighbors and form something new.
It's an oddly calming and bizarre sight to behold.

?!

Something soft and fluffy brushes against my face, startling me out of a sound sleep. I shoot my bloodshot eyes around the room to find what it was the startled me. For some reason it was Ami, who had decided to sleep on top of me at some point in the night. I lazily push off the small fox girl, as well as break free from Sarah's grasp, before hopping out of bed and stretching.
I look out a nearby window and check the time of day, "It's already morning?" I leave the two resting girls and gather some intel from the various towns folk on my own. It's a mixed bag...
"Can you believe that over 40 years ago the Dragoons on the eastern continent were wiped out?" A mother of two speaks while holding her rowdy kids in her arms.
"I heard that a well know criminal crossed the Great Desert with minimal provisions in only a few days!" An old man shouts out loudly, with no regard for anyone's ears.
"So there I was, fishing in the local pond with my brother, when we were attacked by Werewolves! I managed to get away, but they got my brother!" A young man broods in the corner of a bar.
"For only a few gold coins, I can repair your gear for you!" A brawny blacksmith speaks up in a jolly tone while hammering a piece of metal into shape.
"Of all the misfortunes to happen to our boats, the one that heads north was stolen by pirates..." A man with a beard growing on his neck gibbers out.
"Rare metals are pretty rare." A redundant kid says something redundant.
"Can you take care of some pesky monsters and bandits for me?" A young girl with brown hair and a long braid makes a request.
"Only the eastern port up north is safe from monsters! You can blame a certain scoundrel for this!" An angry prostitute grumbles out loud.
"On an island to the north east, there's supposedly a shrine dedicated to the Lord of the Seas!" An old man strokes his beard while giving out interesting, but useless, information.
"Killing a Troll is sure to get the Church to recruit me!" A young boy with fire in his eyes bangs his fist into his chest.
"If you plan on traveling north, I suggest you prepare properly. The desert is enormous and blistering, not to mention full of very hardy monsters and tomb raiders in search of treasure." A veteran missing an arms informs with a weak smile.
"Everyone knows that Glen fled to the south years ago because he'd blend right in with us!" A man in tattered clothes shouts from a corner.
"!" A woman angrily tips her bonnet at me before walking away.
Most of this info is useless...
I walk back to the inn to discuss things with my companions. Sarah is sitting in a chair, doodling things onto the wood with her sharp claws, and Ami is sitting on one of the beds and rocking back and forth. I take a seat on the bed I used earlier and look at the two girls, "Well, I've been around town, and I've come to a conclusion."
Ami perks her ears and turns her whole body towards me using only her tails, "So what did you find out?" I heave a heavy sigh, "We'll have to cross the desert to go north."
"Cross the desert?! There's bound to be countless riches buried beneath those sands!" Ami drools heavily while imagining vast amount of treasure. "So we're crossing through Beluite Desert then? And after that?" Sarah speaks up after stopping what she was doing.
"Maybe we'll even find the fabled 'Book of the Dead'!" The fox girl continues to fantasize about things. I ignore her and resume what I was doing, "We'll head to the port town there, and head east from there."
Sarah cocks her brow, "To the east? To Kooplan?" I pull out my word map and check it, "Yes." Ami hops on my back and rests her chin on my shoulder, "Can we stop by a few places? Please!?"
"Fine fine..." I growl out. The Kitsune gives me a hug before flipping off my and crashing into the floor. "why do you exactly want to head eastward?" Sarah questions me while munching on a goat leg. "I just felt like heading there, and maybe even visiting the ruins of the Dragoon's castle."
"So when are we leaving?"
"In a few days at least, since we need to do a few detours along the way." I point my thumb at the floored fox behind me. I reposition myself and lay down on my bed, "I'll be taking a short nap. We'll gather supplies later."
"Righto." Sarah nods at me in confirmation, while Ami doesn't respond.