"A room for two, please," I said, chucking a gold coin at the nearest hotel's front desk.
A teenage girl, likely the receptionist, stood silent and slack-jawed as I dragged Hazel Blaze past her into the nearest hallway. I knocked on the door, and after confirming it was empty, opened it and threw Hazel Blaze on the bed.
*She's still breathing. ... Now what?*
I'd brought her all this way, but I didn't know what to do next.
*Maybe I can identify the cause of her damage. I feel like I've seen it somewhere before.*
Something told me that, if I studied the black mark enough, I'd have a shot at determining its antidote.
Looking closer, it wasn't exactly a burn mark, but rocky in texture instead. I ran my fingers over it to confirm my suspicions.
*It's bumpy, but crystallized. It's smooth, but jagged too. Maybe it really is a basilisk like the ones I'm familiar with.*
If the source of the wound was an "Obsidian Basilisk", this was probably... obsidian.
*Or something similar, anyway. Can't be 100% sure in this magic-frenzy world.*
"You- you-!"
Hazel Blaze awoke and realized she wasn't in the same place she passed out and immediately directed all her anger at me.
"Get- get away!"
She pummeled my head and back with her bare fists since I'd already tossed her weapons to the other corner of the room. Naturally, a little girl's hands were extremely harmless.
"Nope, can't do," I said. "You already said you needed help, so I'm trying to figure this out."
"..."
She stopped as if a remote had clicked the pause button on her.
"Let's see," I continued. "If this really is obsidian, then something like a stressful heating/cooling cycle could shatter it. We already know where we can get heat, but for ice..."
"Grimmia," Hazel Blaze suddenly said.
"Hm?"
"I need Grimmia."
"What's that?"
"It's a grey herb with acidic properties."
*Herb? How convenient.*
"So you knew what the antidote was the whole time? Why didn't you ask someone to get some for you?"
"..."
"Whatever. We're already here now. Where can we get this 'Grimmia'?"
"..."
"Clock's ticking. Every second wasted is a step the reaper takes towards you."
*... and me. You better say something quick.*
"In the basilisk's cave..."
"What."
"The Obsidian Basilisks eat Grimmia. They stash a bunch in their lairs."
*So she went up to a basilisk's lair... alone?*
I pinched my eyebrows in anguish. "Why would you-"
"I thought I could, okay?? I would've been able to, too, if it wasn't for- Wha-! Hey!! Put me down!!!"
"It's too late for excuses," I said, throwing her over my shoulder again.
She pummeled my back as if her life depended on it. Naturally, I returned her daggers in her frenzied state.
"You understand what happens if you stab me, right?"
"....."
*Even she can't be *that* stupid.*
If she took me down, we would both die.
Fortunately, I was right - she promptly quit complaining.
*A feisty little one, but harmless overall. Classic.*
"Now give me directions," I said, heading towards the hotel exit.
"You're NOT taking me outside like this."
"And how're you going to stop me?"
"Like this-! *COUGH*..."
She spasmed and went limp before she could try anything funny... and I felt something warm and thick drip down my back.
"I see," I said with sarcasm dripping harder than her vomit. "Good luck with that."