It took almost the entire day to clean out the whole interior of Jaks old home, taking far longer then the redhead had initially guessed.

The windows had to be cleaned thoroughly with rags in order to get rid of all the gunk and grime that had built up, the floors had to be swept then scrubbed, and the countertops had to be completely wiped down. Not even paying attention to the outside of his humble abode, Jak spent all of his time trying to get everything within its confines nice and situated. Of course, this was no simple feat, and it wasnt made any easier with the small bear cub walking around the area and following the youth around everywhere he went. Throughout the entire project, the small white bear had consistently gotten in his way, repeatedly tracking in dirt that he would be forced to go back and clean.

That being said, the young redhead didn't really mind, actually enjoying the company of the two animals. The small bear, of which Jak learned was named Cael, would observe Jak while the mother bear watched over both of them, sticking her head through the open, freshly washed windows. The presence of the War Bears brought a certain ambience that the young adolescent wouldn't have got if he had been alone.

So, despite all the setbacks and struggles of cleaning, Jak eventually finished, the insides transforming from an inhospitable mess to one that the youngling had remembered years prior.

"What do you think Geona?" Jak asked as he stepped back, admiring his handiwork. Hands planted on his sides, he gave off a proud look, clearly pleased with all of the effort he had put in. "Looks pretty spiffy. Dontcha think?"

"Grrrrrfffftttt," Geona huffed, her head poking through the window.

"I mean yeah, it does still look pretty shabby," Jak reasoned, giving a sheepish smile. "But still, it's better then nothing right?"

"Grrr rrroohh."

"Yeah yeah, I see your point." The youth reached out and ran his hand over Cael's head. "But I still don't see anything wrong with the way I did things. Especially since I was simply working with what I have."

Geona let out a small snort through her pitch black nose, clearly down with the conversation, her enormous head retracting from the window. Due her being much too large to fit into the house, let alone the doorway, the female War Bear had taken up residence on the side of the building, only leaving the spot on occasion to check up on her son and the redheaded youth. She wasnt lazy but since she was normally a nocturnal animal, Geona had gone back to her nighttime outings when Jak had left a little over 3 years ago. Cael on the other hand, seemed to be a radiant ball of energy who only operated in the daytime, and one who appeared to have no problem with Jak despite the redhead obviously being his first human.

"Is she upset with me you wonder?" Jak asked Cael, of whom was nudging him in the leg, seemingly to ask for back scratches. "Or does she just not like my cleaning?"

"Rrrrrrrrooooaahhhh," Cael responded, more like a purr then anything else.

"Eh heh....I guess you're too young to understand what I'm saying huh?" Jak gave an embarrassed laugh, dragging his fingers up and down the bear cubs back.

Cael was around three months old, or at least that's what Geona had told him anyways, and he had only recently become accustomed to living life in the daytime. Due to having no interaction with humans, the baby bear was unable to understand most things that Jak said or did. Such things would come naturally with time, until the young War Bear got to the point where he could communicate with other species through the use of growls and groans. Jak wasnt quite sure as to the process of it all, only knowing that his parents had done something to Geona that had helped her establish familiarity with the english language.

In other words, he knew jack shit on the subject of War Bears.

Letting out a loud yawn, the young adolescent looked out the open window, using the location of the sun to estimate the some of time of day. After doing a quick scan of the fading light off into the distance, Jak gave a small and quick nod before walking over and poking his head out the window.

"Geona, I'm going to sleep for the day," Jak announced, raising his voice. "Tomorrow. Would you like to come and visit Mom and Dad with me?"

"Roooooohhhhhhrrrr!!" Was the only reply Jak ask recieved in return, and one that seemed to please the child as he pulled his head back into the house.

Closing the window tightly, Jak made sure to close every single opening that lead outside. As someone who despised mosquitoes with a fiery passion, the crimson eyed boy had no intention of letting a single one of them into his freshly cleaned home.

"Stupid blood sucking parasites," Jak grumbled as he slapped one off his arm, hoping that was the only one that had made it through. "Go away."

As soon as he said that, his eyes made contact with Cael, their brilliant hues locking together for a few seconds.

"Oh...I didnt mean you of course," Jak explained as he walked on by, rubbing the bear cubs head. "You can follow me as much as you want."

After double checking each and every room for any spots he had missed, Jak walked to his room, the one had lived in before he had relocated. It wasnt much to look at, just a mattress and a modest blanket draped over it, of which was surprisingly clean for having been left alone for a little over three full years.

Without hesitation, Jak fell onto the bed and closed his eyes. After walking for 3 straight days and then doing a full cleaning job, the young man was beyond tired. Cael wasnt far behind and, to Jak's adundant surprise, the young bear actually climbed into the bed next to him and lay down, cuddling up close.

Ever since they had first met, the bear hadn't shown the slightest aggression or caution, and it was actually starting to throw Jak off.

(("Note to self,")) The redhead murmured as he drifted off to sleep. (("Ask Geona why her son is so....nice."))

-----------------------------------------------------

2 Days After Jak Left For Home

_____________________

"So let me get this straight. You're telling me that you have business with my adoptive son Jak and, due to its confidentiality, you're not allowed to reveal what the matter is despite me being his guardian. BUT its urgent so I should trust your word and let you see him. Sound about right?"

"Ummm....yes....sir. I w-would greatly appreciate it." The Elven male shrank back into his chair, papers clutched tightly in his hands. "I-if hes not here...I c-can always c-come back?"

"Uncle Hadok, relax," Mako chimed in, saving the quivering mess of an elf seated before them, preventing him from outright collapsing in fear. "You're scaring the man."

"Nonsense," Hadok said, crossing his arms. "I'm merely standing in front of him. I see nothing wrong."

"Yeah, standing in front of him with killing intent," Mako rebuttaled. "You're 6'8 god damnit and built like a damn suit of armor. Not to mention you're like two feet away from him. Take a seat already."

"Tch," Was Hadoks only response as he backed away, positioning himself in a large, cushioned chair.

Around two days had came and went since Jak had left the manor, heading out to the place where he had been born and raised, and in that time, not much had happened. Mako had been relaxing, waiting for news to reach him about his request to join one of the guilds he had signed up for. Due to his young age and low rank, he couldn't just dive in by himself, needing to actually be within a party if he wanted to survive. Only those who possessed little to no intelligence would barge in after just recently joining the ranks of the adventurers.

In the interest of not being killed after becoming an Elemental Rookie, Mako had proceeded to sleep the days away while waiting to get accepted. For normal adventurers, it would take around a month before anger guild would touch them, but the blue haired youth reasoned that it would be soon.

However, on that particular day, instead of a guild acceptance letter, he recieved a timid elf asking for the whereabouts of his childhood friend Jak Yanda. Clutching 2 sheets of rolled up papers in his hand, the guy had looked pretty sketchy, so Hadok and Mako had invited the man inside under the premise that Jak was merely sleeping.

This was what lead them to the current predicament, one where neither side was able to make any grounds.

"Okay, so you just want to give Jak those slips of paper right? I understand that you cant give them to us, but maybe if you explained a bit more, we'll be more inclined to help you out." Mako made sure to be as reasonable as possible, or as reasonable as a 10 year old could even sound. He didnt want the elf running off in fear so he made sure to capture the mans full attention, away from the intimidating Hadok.

The messenger seemed hesitant at first, beads if sweat trickling down his face, black hues shifting about.

"I-I cant say t-too much but," the elf sat up in his seat, eyes now zeroing in on Mako. "I w-will say that is a direct r-report from the WGC as well as the Elven Kingdom of Aladon, issued b-by Princess Aubree herself. I-It is of the utmost importance t-that I deliver this letter."

(("Princess Aubree? What the hell does Aladon want with Jak? A basic nobody.")) Mako frowned as he looked at the messenger. "Is that all you can share?"

"Yes."

"Very well. Hadok, it's on you," Mako said, giving his uncle a small nod.

As if it had been planned from the start, the two of them leapt into action. The muscular Hadok disappeared from his seat in a flash, reappearing behind the messenger, wrapping his arms around him and lifting the now struggling elf into the air. With arms locked to his sides, the messenger was unable to fend the blue haired youth off, allowing him to snatch the papers from his hand.

"Nothing personal sir," Mako said as he unrolled both sheets of paper. "I just cant have you meeting my brother under such shady reasoning. I wouldn't exactly be family if I allowed it."

"Mako. What's it say?" Hadok asked over the messengers cries for help and numerous complaints.

"Its a...well what the fuck is this?

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