"Let... me come... with you..."
Hazel Blaze dragged her way towards me before I could delve inside.
"You're deathly sick," I said. "You'll only hold me back."
"It's as Miss Emmu says," the wyrm driver said. "Miss Blaze, you are no match for Miss Emmu. I advise you to stay back."
"Who... even are you? I'm... the Hazel Blaze..."
"Yeah, and the ever-so-strong Miss Blaze nearly died last time she came here," I said. "You didn't come out unscathed even when you were healthy going in. How can you expect this time around to be better? Just sit tight. I'll be right back."
"Hmph... Do you even know... what Grimmia looks like?" Hazel Blaze asked haughtily.
"No, but you told me it's a gray herb. It's quite dark inside, so there can't be much else growing down there."
"Hah. Of course! What if I told you there was a fake? Obsidian Basilisks feed on Grimmia and Gray Dusk, and they look a lot like each other."
"Okay...?"
"Don't you get it? *cough* - You need me to identify the right one..."
"If that's the case, I'll just pick up both and bring them back to you."
"What if you pick up the wrong one?"
"Like I said, I'll pick up both types. I'll be able to tell the difference. On the off-chance I can't, I'll bring back a boatload of herbs. Grimmia will have to be in there somewhere."
"That- That won't work..."
"Why not?"
"..."
"... LET ME COME WITH YOU PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE-!"
Hazel Blaze leapt at me and clung to my arm like a monkey. I tried to shake her off, but she stuck on so tightly that it was hard for me to believe she was sick at all.
"Fine..." I sighed. "Let's go."
"Yessssss~ *COUGH*-!"
"Don't regret your decision."
I peered over the edge into the abyss.
*It looks like there's a lot of space inside.*
I didn't know how long it would take to search the entire cavern, so there was no time to waste. I slung Hazel Blaze's arms over my shoulders like she was a backpack and warned her that I was going to jump.
"Wait, what? It's gotta be at least over 30 metron deeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
As I entered free fall, the updraft bombarded my skin with sharp grains of sand. If I were an ordinary human, I'd be bleeding in no time. Hazel Blaze, despite her pathetic antics, wasn't ordinary, either, so this much should be well within her tolerance.
Down, down, and...
*THUD*
"Guh-"
I made sure Hazel Blaze's fall was cushioned somewhat, but this fall still would've been fatal for an ordinary adult.
"You're pretty resilient," I said.
"..."
No response.
*Uh oh.*
I checked for a pulse and breathed a sigh of relief when I discovered she was still alive. She passed out again, but I wasn't sure how long she had left. The taxi driver said she still had over a day left, but it was possible this little excursion would shave some time off her remaining lifespan.
*It was her choice to come down here anyway. That being said... we better get a move on.*
Step, step, step...
Every step I took grandly reverberated around the cave. Unsurprisingly, it was hollow as far as I could see.
*Which I guess isn't that far...*
I'd walked far enough to lose sight of the entrance, and visibility plummeted. Despite this, I was still able to keep my sense of direction and continue forwards.
The cave split into multiple paths, but each time it remained obvious as to which one would lead me towards my goal.
*If you're trying to stay hidden down here, Mr. Basilisk, you've done quite the opposite.*
No matter how often or how many times the paths forked off, there was always one that descended the steepest.
Down, down, down...
The further we got, the steeper the pathways descended. It didn't take long before we were descending borderline plumb cliff faces.
*All this and not a trace of Grimmia to be found.*
The cave floor and walls were devoid of any life.
*I was expecting there to be some monsters at least, but not even that.*
The place was deathly silent.
*But not for long, I see!*
As I descended the cliff face, the air trembled in the distance. I was carrying Hazel Blaze with my left arm and finding holds with the other, so neither was free. If it wasn't dumb luck, whatever was attacking me had at least some level of intelligence.
I let go of the rocks, and with my right hand, drew my sword and slashed. It was a tough rocky projectile, but I'd severed it cleanly in two. Faster than the blink of an eye, I'd already swung and sheathed my sword. My right hand easily found the place I'd just let go of - I didn't even have time to lose balance.
*BOOM* *BOOM*
The two halves of the rocks crashed into the cliff face sending debris floating everywhere. Visibility was borderline nil, but the familiar dusty sensation I'd felt all throughout the city permeated the surroundings.
*rumble...rumble...*
*Uh oh.*
My whole body was pressed against the cliff face, so I felt it all over when slight tremors rumbled through the walls. Whatever had shot that cannonball at me had done so with enough force to send this rocky enclosure tumbling earthward. I had to move before I got crushed by the sheer mass plunging towards me.