"Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
Without a word, I nod to the driver commandeering the carriage, who sighs at my response.
"You're the fourth one I've brought all the way out here in the past month," the carriage driver continues. "You should know that none of the others have turned up since, and are likely dead."
"You act as if I don't already know the dangers of this task, or of those who have already passed," I reply in a frustrated, but calm manner, lightly stamping the metal cane rested in my right hand down. "The only way to find a cure is to head to the epicenter of the disaster."
"Why even bother?" the driver asks me, clearly growing irritated of my attitude. "You're immune! It's not as if the disease will affect you!"
"Perhaps not directly," I acknowledge him. "However, once those around me become infected, it's only a matter of time before I'm forced to deal with a town of monstrosities."
"Point taken," the driver begrudgingly grumbles, turning back towards the dark road ahead, with the only light to illuminate our path being the flaming horses known as Rapidash bringing forward the carriage. Both of us no longer wishing to speak to the other, we continue to ride for a good while in complete silence, before our time of peace and quiet is broken by the slowing, creaking wheels of the carriage. Within moments, we've come to a complete halt. Looking out past the driver from the back of the carriage, I can faintly see a large, unlit city down the road.
"Here's your stop," the driver tells me unenthusiatically, beckoning me to get out of his carriage. I take a few moments to stretch and adjust the rugged backpack strapped over my shoulders, before standing up and hopping out of the side of the carriage, keeping a hold on my black top hat as I do so, so that it doesn't fly off of my head.
"Thanks for the ride," I tell the driver as I reach down for my belt with my free hand and detatch an oily lantern from my belt.
"You know, it's not too late to turn back," the driver attempts to persuade me while I switch on my lantern with some difficulty (doing so with only one hand isn't the easiest thing to do).
"Perhaps in your case," I reply, shaking my head as I begin to walk towards the distant city. "However, this is a mission I must see through until the end, and I refuse to give up before trying."
"Whatever!" the carriage driver shouts to me as I walk away, whipping the reins of his Rapidash in order to get them to turn the carriage around. "Your funeral!" As I head down the road, I begin to hear the creaking, turning wheels of the contraption moving along, which grows quieter and quieter by the second. Before long, I turn back to find the caravan no longer visible or audible to me, the darkness now even managing to shroud the bright flames of the Rapidash.
I am now alone as I approach the large city, its gates coming into my view at last. Knowing this is only the beginning of what will likely be a long, arduous journey, I walk up to the gate, only to freeze in place as I feel a cold tap on my shoulder.
"Welcome..."
Author's Note: I will try to update this as I get time to do so. The Nuzlocke itself begins Chapter 1.