Rajah Bayani replaced the stone pot's cover before answering his son. He met Silak's nervous gaze, stifling a laugh as a bewildered sigh escaped him.
"There's nothing wrong with Senior Gahumdagat's gift, son," Rajah Bayani began, his voice softening. "My reaction was because this gift is simply too precious."
"Have you checked its contents before bringing it home?" he asked.
"I haven't opened it since Senior Gahumdagat gave it to me," Silak replied. "I just assumed it was some kind of precious herb or mineral for my bath. Is it neither, Father?"
"And what do you mean, 'too precious'?" Dayang Iskra pressed, her brow furrowed.
Rajah Bayani carefully set the stone pot aside, his tone turning grave. "The gift you received is the blood of our guardian beast."
"What?!" Silak blurted, recoiling. The word blood' tasted foul on his tongue. "What use would Senior Gahumdagat's blood be for me?"
Dayang Iskra's expression mirrored Rajah Bayani's earlier shock, then a slow dawning realization. "Well, that explains why you called it precious," she murmured.
Rajah Bayani regarded his wife's stunned face oddly. "If it were simple blood from Senior Gahumdagat, I'd only be shocked at most. But this... this worries me for the entire tribe." He grimaced. "The gift was actually Senior Gahumdagat's blood essence!"
"Iskra, you know our guardian's current situation," Rajah Bayani reminded her, his voice edged with worry. "This gift simply doesn't make sense."
Dayang Iskra froze, her thoughts racing. 'Not just blood, but essence blood!' The possible ramifications of this gift crashed over her, and she began to rapidly analyze the situation. Blood essence, she knew, was critically important for all cultivators, regardless of race, realm, or gender. It was found only within one's heart valves, directly tied to the body's vitality. An excessive loss could lead to death or irreparable damage.
'Based on their interaction and the clues I've gathered, this gift from Senior Gahumdagat isn't simple blood at all, but something called 'blood essence,' Silak mused, observing his parents' grave expressions.
"Father, it looks like this gift from Senior Gahumdagat is extremely precious, judging by your reactions," Silak ventured, a genuine concern for the ancient beast he'd met six years ago stirring within him. "Are there any possible negative implications if I keep and use it?" He hesitated. "We can also return it to Senior Gahumdagat if necessary. What do you think?"
Rajah Bayani sighed. "There's no need to return it, son. Once essence blood is extracted, it can only remain outside the heart's valve for a limited time. Its stability increases with the cultivator's realm, but unfortunately, this pot of essence blood can no longer be returned inside Senior Gahumdagat's heart valve."
Having sorted her thoughts and recovered from her husband's revelation, Iskra added, "I believe the best course of action right now is to ensure Senior Gahumdagat's blood essence isn't wasted." She looked at her husband. "I suggest we ask Elder Shardani to communicate with Senior Gahumdagat and check his condition. I believe there's a reason behind this gift to Silak." Her gaze then shifted to her son. "By the way, since you can also communicate with him like Elder Shardani—likely a gift from the Goddess—did he mention any reason for the gift?"
Silak paused, sifting through his memories to ensure he wasn't missing anything. "I remember that before he gave me the gift, he said he'd need my help. I immediately agreed, and Senior Gahumdagat mentioned he'd inform me when it was time." He clarified, "I didn't decline, since he protected Father and drove away those uninvited guests six years ago."
"Hmm, it seems there truly is a reason behind this gift if he asked you to agree to help him," Rajah Bayani mused, deep in contemplation. "Anyway, I'll go report this to Elder Shardani. I'll leave this gift with your mother to be processed into something you can add to your bath."
Rajah Bayani stood and walked away briskly to find Elder Shardani. The tribe was currently searching for a new haven, because the forest is in great turmoil. Danger lurked constantly, and their warriors, mostly injured, were tired and far from peak condition.
"Alright, son, let your father worry about the tribe and those kinds of things," Dayang Iskra said, smiling warmly at Silak. "You're too young to carry such a burden and responsibility. It won't be too late to shoulder those burdens once you're older and ready to lead our tribe."
Silak slowly released the frown on his face, the weight lifting as his mother's words sank in. 'That's right, I'm too young and too weak right now. My priority is to get stronger; I can't remove this nagging feeling that there's danger to me, my family, and tribe nearby.'