[…] The system couldn't help but facepalm when it saw the trio.
They were actually laughing about a serious topic. If something was to appear in such a narrow space they were in the worst position to react and considering how the walls weren't meant to be touched it would be a massacre.
But putting into consideration that these were a bunch of 16-year-old kids who were going through a tough time, the system could only cut them some slack and hope that nothing bad would happen.
[Let's hope they aren't that unlucky.] The system thought to itself.
After fighting and avoiding beasts in such a tense atmosphere, the trio had reached their limits both mentally and physically causing them to not care less about anything. All they wanted right now was to take a rest and hopefully when they woke everything will be a dream.
…
The trio slept for close to 5 hours and if not for their location and the unknown danger that lurk in the corridors they were ready to go up to 10 hours because of the fatigue.
Immediately they were all awake and confirmed that they weren't sent to heaven in their sleep, they went into the 2nd most important thing, food.
"I'm not sure if it was paranoia or your love for food, but I have to thank whichever for making us store a weeks' worth of food..." Brian said as he munched on a glazed chicken drumstick.
"No matter the amount we have, it wouldn't be enough if we end up not finding a way." Blake would have loved to brag about it and shame them for persecuting him when he ate, but after considering that they hadn't left the spot they arrived and had no idea how big the place might be, he had a feeling that their food supply might not be enough.
"Set the system to make a map as we go just in case we end up separating. We don't want to get lost." After their eating and regaining their energy, the trio decided it was time for them to look for a way out.
"Right now, we have no idea of our position and the closest thing we have to a compass is these freaking walls..." Blake said pointing at the walls.
"We can either go with the flow of mana hoping it could lead us out or we could go against the current and hope it takes us to the source of the energy. So, what do you guys think?" Blake asked.
"I suggest that we go against the current because the chances that the current will lead us to the exit is quite slim. But with our knowledge as forgemasters, we all know that power of any magical item comes from the core." Castiel mentioned valid points that couldn't be overlooked.
"Well, I suggest we move in the direction of the current because even though we might not be sure it leads to the exit, we shouldn't forget about the thing that has been causing the chaos had most likely come from here, meaning going deeper in search of the so-called core is very dangerous." Brian objected with another valid point causing them to turn to Blake for his opinion.
"Sorry Brian, but I have to go with Castiel on this one. With how long this corridor is, you can tell this isn't a small place and we can't act on a hunch."
If mana is distributed by the core to power everything in this place, it means anything can be in that direction." Blake said pointing forward.
"But if we go for the core, although dangerous, we could get a better understanding of where we are and what to do next. Besides I don't think there is anything we 3 can't handle." Blake reassured Brian of the plan.
"Fine, but if we end up dying it would be on both of you." At this point, Brian couldn't care less about what fate had in stock for them because he was tired of having so much bad luck, but if this was meant to be their end he was hoping it would be quick.
After coming to an agreement the trio went against the mana current. They kept their eyes and mana senses up as they walked for close to 20 minutes before reaching a cross-intersection.
"Do we keep moving forward?" Brian asked.
"Wait, this is doesn't make any sense..." Blake said while scanning the mana flow of the walls. "The mana current from all paths except for the way we came through meet at this point. The question is which path leads to the core."
"Why are you looking at me that way?" Castiel asked Brian who had an 'I told you so' look on his face.
"Nothing…" Brian said with a smirk as he turned to Blake with the same expression.
"C'mon man, you can't blame us for this. What are the chances that we wouldn't have met the same thing if we followed the current?" Blake said in justification.
"I wasn't blaming anyone, when did it become a crime for someone to smile?" Brian said as his smirk grew wider.
"So which way?" Resisting the urge to smack his face, Castiel asked for their next course of action.
"I think we should just keep going straight." Blake's suggestion was unanimously accepted and as they were about to move the system's voice rang in Blake's head.
[Wait, there is something wrong here. Place your hand on the ground for a second.] Not questioning the system, Blake crouched and placed his palm on the floor.
[Just like I thought. This is a misdirection, there is an array here and for you to know the right path we have to break it.] The system reported.
"Breaking an array?" Both Castiel and Brian were shocked by the discovery. "Why haven't we been thought that in the magic academy?"
"According to the system, the reason why we haven't been thought about it is that breaking an array involves having profound knowledge of the said array and having a lot of mana control required to cast the breaking spell and all these are things we lack." Blake relayed the system's words to them.