It's Mandatory - Prologue (14/30)

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Jak leaned forward on the bed, a serious expression appearing on his face, one Mako hadn't seen up until that point. It wasn't quite angry, but it made it all the more terrifying.

"What do you mean by that?" The redhead asked carefully. "Execution of Rookies?"

Mako let out a breath, already having been well aware of how delicate the topic was long before ever having brought it up. If he didn't want to trigger his friend with any severe negative emotions or trauma from his past, he couldn't just say anything and everything.

"It's just a hunch," the blue haired adolescent responded, glancing back at the board. "But it seems like someone is directly targeting the next generation of Elemental Rookies."

"Go on."

Mako nodded and hurriedly explained.

Ever since the beginning, Elemental Rookies were considered the top of the line adventurers in their generation, unmatched and unrivaled individuals who held the most potential. However, they weren't the strongest and most tended to get overconfident in their own abilities, prompting quite a number of them to die young. Over the past few decades, a few Rookies had met an untimely end this way, trying to hit far above their own weight class and more often than not dragging some other promising adventurers with them. Only this time, this wasn't like any of the other instances since these Rookies had all died on the world or Ornera.

"They died here?" Jak questioned.

"Correct."

Mako turned around and quickly wrote different things on the board.

Under Jaks name, he wrote the word 'BIRD MASSACRE' in big block letters. Under one named Simone Iglano, he wrote the words 'FAIRY FESTIVAL'. For every name that had been crossed out, he wrote one or two phrases onto the board.

Ones that Jak was immediately able to understand due to the significance of each event.

Slowly but surely, without any significant explanation, Jak was getting what his friend was trying to convey.

"I don't think I need to explain what the Bird Massacre is to you," Mako said as he finished up. "That one speaks for itself."

"Yeah." A myriad of events flickered through his head. Building sized explosions, a raging inferno, screams of pain and agony, fresh corpses. "We can skip that part."

"I'm not gonna go into full details on any of them but I just wanted to show you what I was referring to." Mako tapped the tip of the marker over Simone. "Simone Iglano, killed by a rogue pack of fairies that had been released at a monster festival in the South end of Continent Eegalia. A freak accident that also killed a few dozen others. Glacier Huter, another freak accident in which her and her entire Guild fell victim to some mushrooms that poisoned them during a party they planned. No survivors. See where the pattern starts?"

"You suspect foul play?" Jak stood up from his seat. "Sounds like you put a lot of thought into it."

"If it involves you, I have to." Mako circled the redheads name. "The Bird Massacre was a planned event if you piece everything together. Someone slaughtered tons of Guilds in order to target you directly and then used the other murders as a smokescreen. After they figured you perished they haven't slowed down in their quest to eliminate the rest of the Elemental Rookies. Thing is, I highly doubt that anyone truly suspects this since they dont know you personally or know you're still alive."

Jak said nothing as he readjusted his cape, listening as Mako explained his own thoughts on the matter at hand. Grabbing his sword from the bed, the young Rookie carefully positioned back onto his hip, before turning his attention back towards Mako.

"Well, come on then." Jak motioned for the blue haired Rookie to follow after he was good and ready.

"Where are we going?"

"To the WGC," was the reply as Jak made his way to the door. "If anyone is going to have a collection of data on the Bird Massacre or Fairy Festival, it'll be the World Guild Center."

"That's true. Unfortunately I can't go with you this time around." Mako quickly wiped off the board with a dry eraser and wheeled it towards the door.

Jak frowned as he moved out of his brothers way. "Why not?"

"I have to meet up with my Guild," Mako explained, pausing by the door. "We'll be leaving for the Desert World of 'Ard Araml in a couple of days and we need to make sure we have everything we need for when the time fully rolls around. It's a serious quest and I can't waltz in unprepared. We can't all wing it like you do Jak."

Ignoring the jab, Jak tilted his head. "'Ard Araml?"

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

"What're you guys doing at 'Ard Araml?" Margaret asked, completely bewildered. "And why do you need Jak?"

Lugoh picked up his cup of tea, no longer remaining within his seat as he walked towards the wall of weapons, his black eyes seeing but not seeing at the same time. Grabbing a rapier, the brown haired butler swung it a few times before stowing it back onto the wall from whence it was grabbed.

"Tell me Ladies, what do you know of House Mapel?"

Margaret glanced towards Flora, not bothering to give an answer since she hadn't a clue about all the nobles residing within Eegalia.

"Not much," Flor admitted. "Only that they're directly descended from one of the Eight Heroes during the war with the gods."

"Yeah, in the world of nobility and royalty, they're held in high regards BECAUSE of that status." Lugoh sipped on his cup delicately, dark hues shifting back towards the receptionists. "They're given privileges that others could only dream of due to how much the Water Hero contributed during the war against those beings of pure magic. It isn't a stretch to say that the only reason they're still considered nobility is BECAUSE of their lineage rather than what they contribute or what they earn. With all due respect to that same status, they don't really do much aside from whatever they feel like."

"Okay, but what does that have to do with Jak?"

"I'm getting to that," Lugoh politely waved. "House Mapel has everything to do with it. Or rather one part of it."

"Can we skip to the part where you start making sense?" Flora questioned, no longer keeping up her business like tone. It was hard to say but Margaret could sense some underlying hostility in her vocals.

"A noble in House Mapel has been heavily involved in Slave Trading as of late and we're putting together a unit of adventurers to track and apprehend him," Lugoh stated, cutting right to the heart of the matter. "While normally Slave Trading would be overlooked due to the nature of their status, they don't even try to hide it from public viewing. Additionally, they've committed several crimes that even the WGC won't be able to overlook once the bounty request we put in goes through. Though protected by the Mapel name, this noble is one we can't afford to let run unchecked."

"And you want Jak to participate in the quest to apprehend this corrupt noble." Flora mused over the concept, head resting on folded hands.

"Do you really think we'd agree to-"

"We'll accept."

"Excellent," Lugoh stated, completely ignoring Margaret's initial complaint. "I look forward to the WGC's cooperation."

Eheh, can you excuse me and Miss Symone for a second?" Margaret asked, shooting the butler a nervous smile.

"No no. By all means, take your time."

"Thank you," the purple haired receptionist replied as Lugoh walked away from them. After he was out of earshot, Margaret leaned towards Flora. "Excuse me, but what exactly is the game plan here?"

"Relax. It's fine." Flora gave her fellow receptionist a casual look, one that held a look of utmost confidence. "If theres anyone you don't have to worry about, it's Jak."

"But-"

"You've seen what he's capable of," Flora interjected. "Or at least the surface. Furthermore, he's been travelling by himself for the last 3 years and survived without anyone's knowledge. I'm pretty sure he knows his own limits more than anyone. He'll do fine."

"Even so, it isn't our call to make." Margaret frowned ever so slightly. "It's still up to Jak-"

"Nope. This has become a mandatory thing."

"I'm sorry?"

"It's Mandatory."

"How?"

"You'll see." Flora turned around and waved Lugoh back over. "Just call me over when you see Jak pop back in. I'll handle the situation."

"I still don't understand why you would MAKE him go on such a quest when we know absolutely nothing about it, especially when you know he probably wouldn't want to after just getting back into Intok. Do you actively hate the child?"

"No. I'm just selfish."

"Oh...."

Flora turned around and waved towards Lugoh, signaling for the butler to once again return to the conversation. Though it took a second for the lengthy individual to notice, he came walking back the moment he was aware.

"I do have some questions regarding the quest but we have agreed to allowing Jak and even convincing him to join on behalf of House Raine. It would be an honor."

Lugoh gave a slight bow. "I'll answer whatever questions you have."

"Good because you're gonna be laying out the finer details for me and my coworker." Flora fished into her pocket and pulled out a small orb. Giving it a tap, a keypad and large blue rectangle popped into existence. "Let's start with how many squads you've gathered and who exactly will be in them. Surely you would know this as the one doing the scouting."

The butler gave a slight nod. "Though it is a confidential mission due to fear of it being leaked to the rogue Mapel, it's safe to reveal it."

"Perfect."

"Before that however, let's backtrack. How about I start with the full extent of the mission and how we'll be going about the subjugation."