"You're back?" the wyrm carriage driver asked with curiosity. "The ceremony hasn't even officially started yet. I'm afraid you still won't be permitted inside."
"I've got a favor to ask you," I said. "This girl here's dying, and she said she needs something called Grimmia. Have you heard of it?"
"Well, I have," he said, perplexed. "But I fail to see how it would help her condition. Grimmia is toxic, and even a small dose can prove fatal. It's dangerous to ingest it without expert supervision."
"If she dies, it's on her," I said nonchalantly. "She was the one that said she needed it, so I'm trying my best to get it for her. I've heard some can be found 150 kilome...tron? south, and I need them ASAP. This is the favor I request of you. Can you help me fulfill it?"
I couldn't care less about Hazel Blaze's life if she didn't know what to do with the "Grimmia". She probably wasn't lying about anything, but if she was too ignorant, it couldn't be helped.
"Indeed, Grimmia can be found within the Obsidian Basilisk's cave due south of here. This is a very reasonable request. You saved us, after all. Have a seat inside. We'll be off shortly."
"Is it possible for us to reach there in under 2 hours if we move quickly?"
"Indeed. It shall take no more than 1 hour. You have my word."
"Thank you," I said with a bow.
I hopped inside, and true to his word, the wyrm carriage driver had us moving in under a minute. It seemed like the rest of the guards weren't coming along, but that wouldn't be a problem. If it meant we could move faster, then it was actually an advantage.
*They might need some people to stay behind for Emma's ceremony even if they aren't let in.*
The carriage began rumbling as we took off through the desert.
*We probably came from a different direction if it's just sand all around here. There's not a blade of grass to be seen.*
Sand should've been harder to walk through than grass, but it felt like we were moving even faster than before. The ride was a bit bumpier, too, and Hazel Blaze rolled around on the seats groaning with sickness.
"Where are weeeeeeeee..."
"Ah, you're awake. We're in a carriage."
"What?"
Hazel Blaze was so surprised she actually managed to sit up. "This is a carriage?"
"Yes. Look, there's a window."
"... I don't believe it."
"We'll find Grimmia whether you believe me or not."
"This isn't a carriage. That's impossible."
"Do you want to jump out? Be my guest."
"..."
"Anyway, we should be arriving soon."
I'd been keeping track of our ride's duration with my quest timer - we'd been traveling for almost an hour now. I truly was grateful to this carriage driver. At our pace, I wouldn't have any time issues.
"Soon? How soon?"
"A few minutes."
"What??"
"What can I say? Wyrms are pretty handy, right?"
"Wyrms???"
Hazel Blaze's mouth hung open.
*Alright, I'm done with this. I wonder who I'll even be able to talk normally with in the future...*
I didn't need any more reinforcement that my life was crazy. Emma thought I was extraordinary, and her retainers treated me with reverence. And apparently, Emma was an extraordinary existence to someone like Hazel Blaze, who was seen as extraordinary by the masses.
*At least I assume so anyway. Hazel Blaze hasn't met Emma yet, but judging by the reaction of finding out this carriage's capabilities, Emma clearly isn't normal to be able to ride in such a thing.*
"You're right! We really are almost there. How fast are we going???"
"You can tell where we are?"
"Hmph, of course. You can't find this type of sand anywhere else, you know."
"..."
*Well, she's extraordinary in her own way too it seems. How the hell can she differentiate types of sand from our vantage point?*
The carriage decelerated, and we were at a standstill in around 10 seconds.
"Alright, let's get outta here," I said, picking up the girl like luggage once again.
"Hey let me gooooooo- *bleeeeghghhhhh*"
*So she was still sick...*
I jumped out of the carriage and Hazel Blaze threw up all over the sand. Up until now, her excitement kept her illness at bay, but it couldn't last forever. Fortunately, it didn't get on my clothes again.
*Eh, it's not like my plain black clothes are high quality or anything anyway.*
"What will you do?" I asked my luggage. "You're clearly in no shape to fight."
Hazel Blaze wanted to protest, but could only muster unintelligible murmurs.
I walked over to the carriage driver to express my thanks once again, and that's when I saw it.
In the midst of the merciless sun beating down on the endless rolling sand dunes was a gaping dark void. If I didn't know it was a monster's lair, I would have mistaken it for a hidden sanctuary or a shield from the blazing heat.
It wasn't like a normal cave's entrance that started perpendicular to the ground, but rather a maw of a beast waiting to swallow passersby whole. It was like the aftermath of a sinkhole, where all the sand in the area had vanished into the depths below.
Though ominous at a distance, the chill updrafts were welcoming. It was no wonder that something would like making its home here.
"Young Master, I'm sure you don't need to be told, but be careful venturing down there."
"Um, thanks."
*I'm "Young Master" now?*
I initially wanted to bring Hazel Blaze with me so I could get some help identifying Grimmia when I came across it, but on second thought, left her with the carriage driver. She tried complaining, obviously wanting to come along with me, but there was no way I was heading down there with a liability like her on my shoulders.
An updraft stronger than all the others blasted my face, and I drew my sword.
"I'm heading in now," I told them.
"Nnnnnn...."
"Good luck," the carriage driver said, nodding decisively.
"Thanks."