"I think we might be lost," Tess spoke with a shaky voice.
"What do you mean we are lost? I thought you said we just have to go north until we are out of the waste."
"Yes, but… take a look at this." Aria opened the map and placed it on the sand.
"You see this, besides the red line." She pointed at the eastern chunk of the wastes on the map.
"Hundreds of explorers have already scoured this part of the wastes, mapping every inch they could find. There isn't a single landmark that exists in this chunk but isn't on this map."
"Now focus on the other side, separated by the red line. This area has been largely unexplored because of the large number of very powerful sandstorms in the region. Honestly, I am surprised we haven't encountered one yet."
"So you are saying we are on the other side? Who cares? We still have to go north, right?"
"It's not that simple. Sure, there are other ways for us determine where north is but- Do you know the reason we can't use modern technology in the Gleaming Wastes?"
"It's because of the mana field generated by the sandstorms; those things interfere with technology on a different scale altogether, which is also one of the reasons why this part is largely unexplored. With this many sandstorms in the region, it's only a matter of time before a storm brews nearby and our compass starts malfunctioning; maybe it already has."
Hearing Aria, I couldn't help but suck in a deep breath. This was bad, really, really bad. If our compass started malfunctioning or might have already begun malfunctioning, then-"
Suddenly a horrifying thought made me pause my mind. I looked towards Aria, and it seemed like she had realized it too.
"If our compasses can start malfunctioning anytime now, then what about our spatial storage?"
Aria didn't speak, but her silence was enough of an answer. Different types of technological devices behaved differently when exposed to certain parts of the Expanse. Spatial storages and thankfully my face changing ring, thanks to being powered by primarily runic technology and years of research, were one of the few things capable of powering through most of the regions.
But even that had its limits. According to Aria no one had ever explored this deep inside the Wastes, if our compasses were to malfunction, then who was to say our spatial devices would remain intact.
"Depending on the storm, we might not be able to use them for days," Aria spoke with a heavy voice.
"How can this even happen? Didn't you take this into account when we were back in the room?"
"The room is not supposed to rotate to this region; the runes in the room are capable of connecting to a total of twenty-two forts, all of which are accounted for." She pointed to the map.
"Well, that's just not true, is it?" I shouted in frustration and turned around, only to see Tess sitting on the ground, looking out into the horizon with a dazed look on her face.
"What was she- had she even heard what we just talked about?"
"Tess-" I was about to say something when she spoke.
"I think we should stop for today," Tess suggested, breaking out of her reverie.
"We should go into the city and rest, make a new plan."
I didn't know how to feel about the suggestion. Sure, we needed a new plan, but going into an unexplored city that might potentially be filled with beasts.
Besides, there were still a couple of hours until sunset. Plus, with our already limited food supplies, was it a good idea to limit our travels to just half the day?
I initially wanted to disagree but paused. Aria's reflection was still out there, following us. It wasn't safe for Aria to keep watch at night as long as that thing was there.
I hadn't slept properly in the last couple of days. Staying inside four walls for the night might shake it off our tail.
"When Storm Raven flew across the city, did it see any monsters?" Aria asked
"No." I shook my head. "But it might have missed some things, just like it did with the sandweavers."
"I also think we should head for the city; maybe we will find something that can give us a clue regarding our location. As for the beasts, that duskwraith of yours can check the perimeter with its stealth skill." Aria spoke.
She had a point; Duskwraiths stealth skill had improved considerably since it reached Level 2.
As for a chance of an even stronger monster lurking around? Guess we'll just have to risk that.
"Let's not go too deep inside and stay on the outskirts," I suggested.
Our path was decided, and all of us cautiously began moving toward the destroyed city.