Ch. 9 An Unfair Exchange

                                    

                                          
Still Sesshomaru's POV *****
Sesshomaru halted in his steps and turned to Jaken. "Nymphs. I need to look for the nearest area where nymphs reside."
Jaken hesitated, blinking rapidly. "The nymphs, my lord? Are you certain—?"
The order was not to be questioned, and Jaken obeyed immediately. Muttering under his breath, the grotesque heads atop his staff began to glow faintly. A dim light extended from the staff, pointing a path northwest. Jaken looked up, wide-eyed.
"Duskmire Grove, my lord. That is the closest dwelling of nymphs. But might I ask why—"
"We are going to acquire a Kaizen Essence," Sesshomaru said bluntly.
At these words, Jaken froze, his eyes widening in confusion and shock. "Kaizen Essence? But my lord! That is one of the rarest, most concentrated... it typically could be used as wound treatments and packs a powerful punch in terms of effectiveness! It's effective, yes, but why would you need such a thing?" His voice wavered with concern.
Sesshomaru began walking forward, unwilling to dignify Jaken's incessant questioning with a response.
"My lord! If you are unwell, perhaps there is another—"
"Enough," Sesshomaru commanded, his tone as cold as ice. Without breaking stride, he added, "We're heading there now."
Before Jaken could speak another word, Sesshomaru teleported them once again, this time directly to Duskmire Grove.
The air shifted as they materialized within Duskmire Grove. The magic in the atmosphere was thick—dense and otherworldly, with twisting roots and glowing flowers that pulsed faintly like living creatures. A mist clung to the ground, cool and damp, curling around Sesshomaru's feet with each step he took.
Jaken, ever cautious, glanced nervously at the shimmering lights above them. "This place always gives me the chills," he muttered under his breath, clutching his staff like a lifeline.
Sesshomaru ignored him, his golden eyes scanning the grove. Somewhere within this forest, the nymphs held the key to his wound—Kaizen Essence. With it, he would neutralize the effects of the tainted venom.
Ah-Un trailed behind them silently, its twin heads occasionally glancing around the grove with mild interest. Sesshomaru stepped further into the heart of the grove. He could sense them nearby, hiding in the shadows like timid prey. "Show yourself," he commanded, his voice cutting through the stillness like a blade.
The grove remained silent for a moment too long before a faint shimmer appeared at the base of a particular tree. A figure stepped forward, her form gradually solidifying—a nymph, her skin faintly glowing. Her eyes were a pale green, wide with caution, though she tried to mask her fear with a forced composure.
"We wish no trouble, great demon lord," the nymph said, her voice tinged with unease. "Why have you come to Duskmire Grove?"
Sesshomaru's expression remained impassive. "Kaizen Essence. You have limitless amounts of it."
At his words, the nymph tilted her head, clearly surprised but also intrigued. Her lips curled into a small, sly smile. "Indeed, we do. That's a rare request from one such as you." She paused, as if weighing her next words carefully. "We can offer you a bottle of the essence, but... at a price."
Sesshomaru's gaze hardened, his irritation flickering on his face. His voice was icy as he responded, "I could burn this grove to ash, leaving you and your kind with no home."
The nymph's smile faltered, and a flicker of fear crossed her delicate features. She hesitated, scrunching her face in frustration before finding a thread of boldness. "Perhaps, but if you did, you would never get what you want."
Sesshomaru raised a brow, silently daring her to continue.
"The Kaizen Essence cannot be taken by force," she explained, folding her arms across her chest. "For it to work, it requires our approval—a part of us. Without it, the essence is as useless as water."
Sesshomaru's claws flexed at his sides, his nails digging slightly into his palms. The thought of slaughtering every nymph here was a tempting solution to his growing irritation. But even as the idea played in his mind, a sharp throb from the nape of his neck reminded him of the whole reason he had come here in the first place.
Thinking about it, as tempting as annihilating these creatures sounded... maybe it was more of a pain to search for another nymph grove. Besides, time was of the essence.
"What is it you want?" Sesshomaru demanded, his tone sharp and cutting.
The nymph's expression shifted, her face softening into something more calculating. She tucked one hand beneath her arm, and with the other, she idly brushed her fingers together. "Human blood," she said, her voice light yet pointed. "Bring me human blood, and I will grant you the Kaizen Essence you seek."
Sesshomaru stood in silence, the nymph's words hanging heavily in the air. The idea of bending to a lesser being's request was distasteful, but the poison... The silence stretched between them, oppressive and thick. The nymph shifted, clearly uneasy, her earlier boldness wavering under his unrelenting gaze. She seemed to second-guess her words, as if she might offer the Kaizen Essence unconditionally just to hurry his departure.
"Jaken," Sesshomaru said, breaking the silence.
"Yes—My lord!? I'm here!" Jaken rushed forward, his voice high-pitched in confusion.
"Stay here," Sesshomaru ordered, turning away from him.
The imp flinched and pointed a tiny hand at himself. "Ah, yes, of course, my lord, but—" Jaken stammered, his face filled with confusion.
"Burn this place to the ground if the nymphs attempt to run," Sesshomaru commanded coldly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Jaken's jaw dropped. "BURN??—Ah! Yes, of course, my lord! But where are you—"
In the blink of an eye, Sesshomaru was gone.
Jaken blinked twice. "AWHH, he LEFT me AGAIN-AHHH!"