"So, Ryan, what about you? How old are you? How did you get here?" questioned Wayde, leaning in closer to Ryan, who instinctively moved away.
'Is this what 3 years without a shower smells like?
Suppressing the urge to gag, Ryan vowed to learn some form of cleaning magic so that he never found himself in a similar state. He also took a moment to think about what he wanted to say before answering, "I'm 17. I came here through a Spatial Rift. And other than that, didn't experience much else."
Deciding against lying, half-truths were the way to go.
However, despite the state he was in and his seemingly unstable mental state, Wayde's gaze was piercing, to the point it was almost intimidating.
'So, he's from Earth, since he used a Spatial Rift to get to Aria, so must be registered unless he's a rogue mage, which I doubt. He's also very young, yet skilled enough to be deemed worthy for this trial, so must have powerful support either from a family or magic organisation. That would mean it's safe to assume that he isn't afraid of my family background,' he surmised, but he didn't have any way to confirm.
And seeing how on edge Ryan appeared to be, he decided against asking too much about him.
He didn't stand to gain anything from doing so, and since they were alone, it didn't matter if he was the son of Odus himself.
There was nothing anyone could do to him.
With that reassuring thought and an aura of absolute confidence radiating from him, Wayde decided to ask about something else that caused his blood to boil.
"That elf bitch. Did you come across her as well?" Wayde asked.
Ryan was surprised by his question, but remained as composed as he could, nodding his head in response.
'So, he managed to survive the encounter with that elf? He's either stronger than he seems or skilled in some sort of stealth magic. The latter's more likely since I can't even sense his mana core,' Wayde assumed.
'If it wasn't for being deemed worthy for this trial, I would have had a hard time dealing with that elf. But once I get my hands on its treasure, I swear I'll...'
"Kill her! I'm gonna rip that elf to shreds and make her grovel before me. Her and her mutt. How dare she attack me, Wayde Qidius?"
Ryan didn't appreciate his words about Elora, who he saw as a friend of sorts and was someone he was grateful to have come across, but he remained calm. He couldn't afford a heated exchange, especially with the deranged mage before him who was emitting a frightening killing intent.
One so great it made it hard for Ryan to even breathe.
Instead, he continued assessing his current situation.
Wayde was doing the same, all while continuously cursing Elora and Fluffy, as well as the damned trial he had been stuck in for years.
However, it seemed as though the time he had spent there hadn't shaken his desire to get his hands on what the trial had to offer, his eyes burning with greed and desire.
But seeing his desperation to escape and get his hands on what was at the end of the trial was reassuring to Ryan, whose main priority was survival and also getting out of the trial.
'If we work together, this might just be... doable,' both thought to themselves.
From Ryan's perspective, Wayde was powerful in terms of mana, and from the remains of beasts and scars of battles, he must be skilled. He has also experienced 3 years in the trial so far, so would be good to work with.
However, it was hard not to notice that he has a screw or two loose.
Meanwhile, from Wayde's observations, Ryan would be a big help. Not only was he able to sense him while he was employing advanced concealment magic that obscured him from all senses, but he also seemed to have a great background.
Aside from that, he was also deemed worthy for the trial and appeared to have gotten past the guardian elf with ease, so must be somewhat capable.
Or so he hoped, based on what he gathered and assumed.
But biggest of all, he appeared naive, innocent and easy to manipulate.
'If he could sense me, he must have some great mana sensitivity. Then, when I get to the centre of that maze, I can...'
Just thinking about it caused Wayde to laugh to himself, his mouth twitching as Ryan watched him cursing his luck.
'Why did I get stuck with this crazy freak?'
However, with no other options or anything better to do, Ryan stood up.
"Let's get going."
Meeting Ryan's resolute gaze, Wayde was amused as he levitated into the air while remaining cross-legged. Eventually straightening his form, he began leading the way through the underground structure's intricate pathways filled with danger and mysteries, calling out to Ryan to keep up.
-
Venturing deeper into the sprawling underground structure, Wayde led the way, his ethereal form gracefully floating through the oppressive darkness. Determined to match his pace, Ryan harnessed his mana-enhanced abilities, augmenting his speed and agility.
'So he uses Combat Magic. What a fool,' Wayde laughed to himself, while picking up speed, curious to see if Ryan could keep up.
Channelling more mana to do so, Ryan's Mana Vision revealed haunting scenes as they pressed on. Skeletons scattered on the floor and the decayed forms of various creatures, remnants of untold battles. As for the walls, they bore scars of fierce clashes, marked by deep gouges and scorch marks.
However, Ryan couldn't appreciate his surroundings for long as he rushed to keep up with Wayde, who continued to pick up the pace...