A Nose for Medicine

"Auntie what is that smell?" Rin said while burying her head into Sylas' shoulder. Sylas was surprised at the child.

"You can smell these herbs?" Sylas asked watching the child intently. Rin nodded in response.

"It smells like medicine" Rin said with a disgusted look on her face. Sylas laughed at the young child's state.

"These are herbs I've grown especially by myself" Sylas said.

"You grew these Auntie" Rin said with a disappointed look. "Could it not be grown to be less bitter?" Sylas chuckled.

"If I did that then it would mean the medicine wouldn't be as effective" Sylas pondered for a moment before pulling out a small fruit. Placing the fruit in front of Rin's nose the aroma invaded her sense. Rin hesitantly took a bite of the small piece and enjoyed the sweet flavour.

"Auntie this is so good, what is this?" Rin asked as she happily chewed away.

"It's honeyfruit, not many grow here but it's especially delicious so I like to pick it every so often" Sylas was in thought as she watched Rin stuff her mouth with the sweet tasting food. This child somehow could smell my odourless herb plants, truly a strange one. An idea then came to Sylas' mind.

"Rin" Rin turned her head up in response and issue a soft noise.

"There's a place I'd really like to show you, mind if we go for a walk?" Sylas asked sweetly.

"If you say so aunty" Rin replied as she felt relaxed where Sylas was holding her. Sylas walked around the woodlands, Rin could hear the sounds of the leaves crunching underfoot and the birds chirping to a song she couldnt understand. Sylas stopped abruptly in front of a small pool of water.

 It seemed quite mysterious as a small flow of water kept filling the pond. And yet it never seemed to overflow. The water had a quite unnatural milky hue to it which could easily be mistaken for sap. Silas put written down on the ground as she turned to her.

"Rin you have to trust me" Silas said while keeping her hand on Rin. Rin could already feel that something wasn't quite right.

"Is it something bad auntie?" Rin asked, her new found confidence was already starting to shake.

"It won't hurt my child but it will be uncomfortable" Rin nodded in acceptance honestly there wasn't much she could do to change it being at the whims of Sylas..

Silas scooped up some of the strange water and washed it over Rin's eyes. Rin squeeze her faced in discomfort as the water soaking into eyes began to sting. If Rin would try to describe it, it would be similar to having ants walk over her eyes leaving a feeling of itchiness.

 Sylas held Rin while she was experiencing the pain full well knowing the consequences but it was a pain that was short-lived she knew. As the rewards were definitely worth it.

Rin begun to blink rapidly as the pain started to fade away. However the thing that surprised her was the light that she could finally see. Rin swiveled her head around does she realise that she was in the middle of a deeply wooded forest.

"How is it?" Sylas asked. Renn could finally take in Sylas's appearance. To say she was beautiful was definitely an understatement. Having a high bridged nose and thin eyebrows. Rin was definitely surprised at the sight of a savior. 

"Pretty" Rin accidentally blurted out. Her face blushed a violent red as she didn't realise her thoughts became verbal.

"Haha search honeyed words my child. If I didn't know better I would think that you were trying to flatter me." Sylas was smiling at how upfront the child was. 

 Sylas reached out her hand for Rin to grab. Clasping the hand tightly, Rin followed behind her as they've begun to walk through the forest again. Sylas was already explaining some of the trees in the forest and some of the different fruits and nuts they would produce. Rin stared wide-eyed as she took in all the information.

Soon the two walked into a clearing, there was a clear lake there however the surface rippled as a number of girls played in the water. All of them were quite pale as they splashed each other while playing around. The sound of Sylas' arrival stopped the playing around for a moment. The girls all screamed in joy and ran over to where the two where standing on the bank. The girls were all chatting fast and all together causing Rin to look between them constantly in confusion. Scared from the commorion she gripped tightly onto Sylas' dress.

"Sylas who's the cutie have there?" One of the braver girls asked. Rin had barely noticed but they Still kept a respectful distance much like meeting their idol...or someone powerful.

"Girls, this is Rin. I've taken her in for a while. Say hi to them little one" Sylas said giving Rin a nudge. Rin gave a respectful nod and hid behind Sylas, eliciting a collective squeal from the group of girls. Too cute they all thought.

Rin observing them closely noticed there were a number of things that made her feel strange when she first looked at them. Their ears all had a faint point to them. And all of their features seemed heightened and noble. They were all beautiful but worst for Rin, they were all naked. Rin blushed furiously as she felt the group of girls were already feeling quite intimate as they chatted incessantly with Sylas.

"Look, look. The small one is blushing" one of the girls pointed out as they all giggled and wanted to get closer to the cute creature before them. Rin buried herself into Sylas' embrace in fear. Sylas lifted the young child up and held her.

" It wouldn't be good to scare the young child when you first meet her." Sylas softly berated the group. "The child is tired I'll be heading back now" Sylas said as she walked from the group. The girls all said their farewells as they chattered with each other again.

"Auntie, who were they?" Rin asked as she still felt perplexed by the girls there. Something felt quite off about them.

"I told you to call my Auntie Syl." Sylas said as a strong reminder. Sighing for a bit at being thought of as old she tries to explain. 

"Those girls aren't normal in these sense of what you are" Sylas tried to explain. Rin cocjed her head puzzled at what she was trying to explain.

"You mean they' re not like me?" Rin said trying to figure out the meaning Sylas had left hanging in the air. Sylas truly felt worried about the child knowing the truth but on her heart she knew if the people close were always disguised then it would cause heartache that would be hard to resolve.

" Those girls are Nymphs, but they are good people" Rin looked even more puzzled than before.

"The important part is that they won't hurt you. They're just curious because someone new is in the forest".

"If that's the case. Then auntie Syl, what are you?" Rin asked innocently. Sylas froze for a moment and let out a nervous laugh.

"In time maybe you will understand" leaving the conversation at a dead end, Rin could tell that Auntie didn't want to speak. However the feeling of hunger from the excitement of the day caused Rin's stomach to growl loudly. Sylas laughed as the child covered her stomach in embarrassment.

"We should grab something to eat then, shouldn't we?" Sylas said while smiling at the child. Truly youth does bring out the joy in others.

Sylas walked with Rin in her arms back to the small cottage. Rin's face was already smiling at the thought of more food as she wrapped her small arms around Sylas neck to express her thanks.