Chapter 52: Making Plans

"So. This...area you found. You believe it could be the source of everything happening?" - Ontoki

"Correct." - Jak

"And what proof do you have of this?" - Hunopil

"None." - Jak

"So we’re going off your own gut instinct? Nothing more?" - Kruger

"Yep." - Jak

"Fine." - Ontoki

It took a solid while to properly round up all relevant individuals, or rather the main individuals that Jak had conversed with the past few days, towards the Parthenon. Trying to find where they were and then telling them to follow after him with as little information as possible due to Jaks own displeasure of repeating himself was a rather difficult venture. However, despite that, the redhead managed it after repeated sets of trial and error and an annoyed look from Hunopil.

Once gathered, Jak gave them the rundown of what he had just experienced and what it could possibly mean.

And as expected, he was immediately met with doubt and intense criticism from everyone apart from his fellow rookie Adventurer.

"With all due respect Chief, this is foolhardy!!! Entertaining this sort of talk without any sort of proof is just us wasting our time!!" Hunopil didn’t even hesitate in rebuking Jaks alleged findings. "I pass through the Village Center every day. If something was there, I would be among the first to know about it!"

"Meru claimed to have felt nothing." Kruger calmly looked at the map that had been placed on the table before them. "The Blood Guard were also at a loss. Unless proof is shown, I have to agree with Hunopil on this one. I don’t think we can afford to waste time on something that only Jak and the black lion monster can feel."

Mako took that moment to speak up, having waited until both parties had said their piece.

"Then how about this." Mako touched his chin lightly. "Jakky boi and I will scope out this lead together. Meru can stay behind to continue their research with Kruger. This way, you won’t be that much shorter on man power. Instead of getting the whole Village involved, we’ll do things our way and handle the situation without any assistance. Should we come across the source, we’ll be sure to destroy it OR notify you immediately. If not, then you get to say ’I told you so’."

Ontoki stared at the ever changing map of NorthClaw, eyes narrowed in contemplation. After what felt like an eternity, the Oxuon Chief flicked his golden hues over to the redhead.

"You sure about this?"

"Nope."

"Chances of it being the source we’re looking for?"

"Fifty percent. Give or take."

"Very well." Ontoki gave a nod, as if reaffirming his own decision. "You two are free to act on your own. I have little right to stop you from doing so. Follow those instincts of yours as far as you need. I pray Desira leads you to good fortune, Adventurer Child. Keep in mind, tonight is the Shiìn Bredalik. You are invited to attend should you choose to do so. The great goddesses discriminate not."

"We’ll definitely be there," Mako said, following up Ontoki’s words of approval. "Now, if you’ll excuse us."

Slapping Jak on the shoulder, the blue haired Rookie motioned for his compatriot to follow as he made his way to the door, intentionally ignoring the glares from Hunopil. For whatever reason, the Equenik seemed just as mad at the duo as when he had first made contact with them, which seemed rather odd since it looked like he had been warming up to them as the days went on. Not that Jak was concerned of course, but he was certainly curious as to why the Chiefs right hand beastfolk was shooting looks intense enough to kill them ten times over.

Jak didn’t even have time to address Meru before the door to the Parthenon was quickly shut behind him.

"I may have....lit his tail on fire." Mako let out a small sigh before backing away from door.

"Excuse me?" Jak raised an eyebrow.

"Hunopil’s. I accidentally set it on fire." Mako gave a sheepish grin before walking towards the forest surrounding the ancient library.

"How did you-"

"Last night’s dinner at the Supper Hall."

"Ah." Jak nodded.

"I think he might still be pissed off about it." Mako’s grin morphed into a small smirk. "Not sure if you noticed."

"It was like he was trying to see into my soul. And then burn it."

"Understandable." Mako laughed a little. "So. I suppose all we have to do is wait for Knox to come back from the direction you sent him in. Also. Why are you always the one who manages to find these things? It’s like you’re a magnet for the strange and dangerous. Does it come with that rotten luck of yours?"

"How do you think I snagged you as a brother?" Jak rebuttaled, giving his friend a side eye.

"Scathing." Mako rolled his eyes.

"I found it on accident." Jak placed a hand on the hilt of his sheathed katana. "I can’t tell you why I was able to pick up on it or even what it means. However, that doesn’t matter at the moment. The only thing we need to focus on at this point is following this path to its conclusion."

Mako nodded. "I agree. Let’s focus on what we know and piece everything together afterwards."

After that final bit of conversation, the dual rookies left the front of the Parthenon and set a course for NorthClaw’s center, towards the very spot that Jak had noticed the strange mana resonance. The twin suns hung at their precipice, shining down intense midday rays as the two Adventurers sprinted towards their destination, weaving in and out of the literal jungle now coiling through the entirety of the Village. Over the course of the last five days, the situation had escalated to such an extreme degree that it wasn’t even worth attempting to clear away foliage.

As a result, NorthClaw was nothing but a chaotic vegetative ecosystem, a virtual mishmash of plants that would normally have never been clumped together.

It was at a point where Jak wondered if they could fix things even if they eliminated the source.

Nevertheless, despite the newly forming doubts, the fiery redhead continued along the current objective.

"What do you think of this find, Meru?" Ontoki glanced toward the frail looking girl, arms crossed over his chest. "Do you think he’s making the right choice?"

Meru didn’t give any sort of response right off the bat, remaining silent as she pondered the Oxuons question. Having been left alone again, without Jak or Mako saying a word to her, had left her feeling more than a bit panicked. She knew she wasn’t in any sort of danger, having been treated exceptionally well by not only Ontoki and the others but by NorthClaw as a whole, however her body didn’t seem to care. Without any direct orders or commands, she felt lost and stumped, frightened and anxious, as if a whip would descend upon her at any given moment, like she was used to. Even Knox, of which had been a security blanket for her for the last few days, had all but disappeared.

Still, despite the swirling mass of emotions within her, Meru managed to grip what little sanity she could and pull herself together.

At least enough to formulate an answer.

"I believe...we should trust in Master Yanda." Meru glanced to the side of Ontoki, but never directly at him. "He isn’t a liar."

Ontoki nodded. "I can agree. At the very least, your friend is as truthful as they come. However, honest and capable don’t always go hand-in-hand. All we can do is wait and see. Hunopil."

"Right here Chief."

"Ensure that the preparations for Shiìn Bredalik are being taken care of. It may very well be out last one within this Village." Ontoki let out a heavy sigh. "It’s a depressing thought but it’s a possibility we’ll take into account. Use up all the food we can’t take with us and use unnecessary baggage as kindling for the bonfires. Should we find the source, we won’t lose too much as a result."

"It’ll be as you say."

Wasting no time, the Equenik set out to follow his given orders, exiting the Parthenons innards.

"Kruger."

The Fennelis didnt speak up, but he did acknowledge his father, turning his head towards the Oxuons general direction. With the talk that happened a few nights ago, Meru was able to see the state of the two relationship in person. Though unable to discern anything herself due to her own lack of understanding regarding people, she did note that neither of the two could properly look each other in the eye.

"I would like you and Meru to continue your research." Ontoki kept it rather brief, turning away from them both. "When night falls, come to the Supper Hall for the Bredalik."

Just like Hunopil, Ontoki made his exit as soon as the instructions were given, leaving Kruger and Meru completely alone within the Parthenon. Meru wanted to say something, to break the heavy silence that enveloped the room shortly after, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak up.

"You can take the front Meru." Kruger didn’t even glance in the water spirits direction, immediately heading towards the rear end of the Ancient Library. "I’ll take the back. Let’s continue our work as we usually do."

Knox was laying on the ground when Jak and Mako pulled up, sprawled out on the simmering sands without a care in the world. Even when the two youths stopped in front of the young Vox Lion, the monster didn’t seemed to be in any hurry to pry himself off the ground. It was only after the Rookies stared at him for a bit that he finally rolled onto his feet, stretched himself out, and shook the sand off his midnight colored fur.

"Did you find anything interesting?" Jak reached out and rubbed the top of Knoxs head.

The lion immediately let out a soft growl before turning around, facing the same direction Jak had watched him run off earlier.

"Definitely seems like a yes to me." Mako nudged his fiery haired companion.

"Yeah."

"Well Knox? Lead the way."