Jake thought for a second and sighed a little more and nodded as he chuckled a bit. "Well then, that saves all of the fuse then." He said looked down at his hands, he closed his eyes for a few seconds while he thought about what would happen when he would return to normal and get home, would he become 'Jake the the great' again? Would he begin to slay poor animals again? These question began to crowd his mind, the pass few days he had been only worried about trying to get back to normal, now he wasn't so sure. "Well... I guess the sooner we get there... The better... I hope..." the last bit was whispered mainly to himself.

"Yes the sooner the better." Mage said with a heavy heart but kept it out of her voice and so you couldn't tell that there was something bothering her... she didn't want Jake to know... not yet anyway. With a sigh Mage walked into her house beconning for Jake to fallow as she went and started to get things together. Her house looked like any other... just with allot of books and a few odd nick-nacks laying here and there... and a small dragon sleeping on a pillow by the fireplace. After Mage was done getting everything ready and packing enough food for both of them on the way there and one on the way back she walked over to the little dragon and picked it up carefully. The little dragon opened it eyes to reveil their beautiful silver-ish blue color and Mage smiled at it a bit. She then turned with the dragon on her shoulder and looked at Jake. "You ready?" she asked softly as she grabbed what she had already packed and handed one of the backpacks to him.

(oh just as an idea you could have him notice that she had only packed enough supplies for one of them to make a trip back X3 )

Jake nodded unable to tell she was trouble so he just followed close behind her, he looked at the outside of her house and chuckled a bit. "Quite a nice house... But if you do cure me. I may just be able to get you into the grand castle as a templar... Only if you wanted." He informed her as he entered and looked around at the insides and smiled a little at how cosy it felt in her home, He had been expecting the horrible smell that magic gave off, but it wasn't that strong to his nose. Jake waited for Mage to finish the packing while he looked at her small dragon and smiled a little more as she picked it up and it opened its eyes. "That is quite a creature... Where did you come to find a dragon such as that?" He asked curiously before noticing that his backpack seemed to contain much less. "Wait! This is a trap isn't it? Your going to take me somewhere lonely and then slay me!" He growled as he got into a attacking position.

"I actually raised this dragon myself... her mother had died only a few hours after giving birth to her and I took care of her egg until she hatched then I treated her as thoughs he were my own child." Mage said softly with smile as she rubbed the small dragons head. Though when she heard Jake her face flushed and she took a step back shaking her head. "No no that's not the case! I must have givin you the wrong pack I'm sorry... no yours is the full one... I won't be needing a full one." she said quickly not wanting him to take it the wrong way... she didn't exactly want to tell him why yet but she could tell that he had already taken it the wrong way... in all honesty she hadn't even picked up the other pack yet so she didn't know that he had grabbed hers instead of his.

Jake looked at her with his eyes seeming to look as if they were burning with fire, but when he saw she had meant that she had mixed them up, he stood up strait and held out the half full pack with a small growl. "Good... I am warning you now, if either you or your dragon tries to harm me, I shall tear you both up... And don't you dare try to betray me." He said as he picked up the full pack and put it on while he made sure his sword was ready just to be safe. "Let's get moving, and you get in front. I don't want you to have a chance to get me from behind." He said having a suspicion that something wasn't right. "So how DO I gget cured anyway? Some sort of ritual?"

Mage sighed a bit and took the backpack putting it on then walking out the door with Jake fallowing. "Yes actually... it's not too complicated but it has to be done in a certain location..." she said softly as she close the door then started walking with Jake heading towards the mountain that was behind her house. It was about a days climb to the summit where the ritual was to take place and she was using this time to steal and ready herself for the ritual. She had never actually thought that she herself would have to be part of such a ritual but she supposed it was her job and she would accept it fully. "So... why do you not trust magic anyway? Other then this little incidence at least..." she asked softly trying to make a little small talk not wanting the whole trip to be just silence.

Jake sighed a little as the mage moved to walk with him after locking the door, the thought of this ritual still troubled him, but he knew now it was what he must do if he was to become like a human again. Jake heard her question and he clenched his fists a little, and his eyes began like fire again. "It was what killed my mother. If my father had not been a paladin, it would have got him too... I grew up learning the ways of the paladin ever since I heard the news, I made it my duty to kill all who had anything to do with magic... But once I became changed..." He let out a sigh as he looked down while they walked. "... Ever since then, I feel like my former body died and I was reborn as I am... That is why I haven't yet killed you... or the dragons I have met today." He looked back up and shook his anger and pain away. "But that is enough of my past, what is the plan for this ritual?"

"Oh... I'm so sorry to hear that... I'm sorry for your loss..." Mage said softly and sadly then paused when she heard Jake and she got a far away look in her eyes and her face. "You have one more magical creature that you much kill at the summit of the mountain... though you must swear on your own life that you will never kill another creature unless the need arises... which would mean someone's life was in danger if you didn't..." she said softly though kept her feelings away as she spoke not saying who or what he had to kill... she would tell him that later...

(I'll bbs has to go to the store... shouldn't be too long XP )

(Okie dokie :3)

Jake ignored her words as he wanted to only remember his mother as if she was still alive, as long as he never forgot her she would always be with him, but if he didn't forget her, he was sure to kill more creature. When he heard what he had to do he was confused. "Kill a creature? Ha! That is as easy as saying it." He said picking the pace up more. "I will gladly kill what ever this creature is... I may even enjoy doing it." He said with a small hint of his former self building back up in him. "I bet you it will be dead within... I will give myself ten minutes to slay the beast."

"Yes... it shouldn't be too hard or take too long..." Mage said softly after giving a slight shiver at the thought though tried not to let it show. "So what will you do once you are back to normal? I do have a request for you but I'd like to know what's on you to-do list..." she asked softly trying not to think of what was to come.

Jake grinned some more at the thought of being human again, he was so close, and with it he grinned a little as he thought of finally get some revenge on the dragon who had done this to him. "Oh me? Oh nothing... Just go hope and then relax." He lied as he continued to walk to their destination. "I am so close to freedom... I can't wait to get to being normal..."

Mage stopped dead in her tracks and turned to stare at Jake. "You're lying to me... if you go to kill another dragon the curse will not be broken... don't you realize the one that put that curse on you was actually the one that you killed? She put the curse on you before you killed her hoping to stop you... you have to promise me that you will never kill nor harm another dragon so long as you live! Unless the dragon is harming people you are not to hurt another got it?! Either that or I will not help you! You had already promised me and the other dragons that you wouldn't kill another, REMEMBER?!" She said as she stared at Jake and hoped that he wouldn't go out and hurt anymore dragons... she really didn't want anymore to die or be hurt... she wanted them to all be safe.

Jake was a little shocked she knew, but while she spoke Jake stopped and grinned a little, it was clear he was back to who he used to be and now his sword was drawn. "Is that so? Then you will have to kill me to stop me... Why should I care about this curse? I almost lost sight on what I really want! All the dragons dead and all who help them will die too." He then grinned more widely as he stared at her. "And I will start with you and your little pet." He said raising his sword ready to attack her.

"And to think I was about to give my life for your freedom from this curse! You know what?! I have a curse for ya!" Mage growled before pulling out her staff and aiming it at Jake and his sword starting to cast a spell that would make it impossible for him to hold or pick up his blade. So long as he didn't attack her within the few seconds it took to say and preform the spell... if he did then he might just knock her out.

Jake's grin only got more wider. "Oh? Well I will still be willing to take your life!" He was about to strike when his sword suddenly began to grow heavy. As it got too heavy, the sword fell to the floor and Jake tried to pick it up, but with no success. "Well. That was quick thinking... But you forget, I have claws just as sharp as a blade." He gloated, showing his claws to her with a devilish grin. "So tell me. What spell is next?"

"I don't see how someone could be so cruel! You have no heart!" Mage growled though really wasn't sure what to do now. "After seeing what YOU did to that family of pips how could you do that again? Almost every dragon has a family like that! They're like humans in that way, they have children they have to take care of and now you are in THEIR world! You aren't human! You're a halfling!" she said hoping to get it through his thick scull though it didn't seem like it was working at all and she really didn't want to fight him... it looked like she would have to though...

Jake stood listening to the mage with a constant grin of evil, most of what she said was just making him chuckle at her while she spoke. Once she was finished Jake just shook his head and sighed a bit. "Well then, I guess I have to get revenge on two accounts, my mothers death and this curse." He said while not attacking still, instead he chuckled a little more at her still grinning. "I will tell you what. Since your a 'girl', I will let you get the first hit. After then, I wont be so kind." He said while he waited for her to take her shot.

Mage couldn't think of anything to say... she couldn't think of anything to do... what was she to do? she couldn't just leave him to do this... but she really didn't want to fight him... "I don't understand you... how can you call yourself a protector when you have such an evil, uncaring heart? You're no warrior... your a monster hiding behind a suit of armor... all you want to do is kill it seems... what would your mother think about that? I don't think that she would have wanted that for you..." she said softly not sure if it would work though hoped it would and that he would change his mind.

Jake stood and waited for her attack, yet there was none, this fact was confusing him. He tilted his head a little as he listened to the mage, most of what she said didn't bother him, but when she spoke of his mother, it toppled his anger scale. "HOW DARE YOU!!!" He yelled in rage as he hit the wall beside him, leaving a small crater in it. "No-one is aloud to speak of my mother! Do you understand!?" He yelled at her as he growled dangerously. "He name is only to be mentioned by me or my father! Not you or anyone else!"

(it would be a tree that he hit XD )

Mage was a bit surprised with his anger though was still trying to think of something she could do to help herself. "Why is that though? Talking about things helps don't you know that? You do understand that it wasn't the magic that killed your mother, it was the person wielding it... you know that right?" she said softly and calmly trying to see if she could get him to talk about this or at least think a little more clearly.

(I thought they was heading up a mountain path o.o)

Jake growled more as he listened to her, she had a point, but for so long he had never aloud people to say anything about his mother. He growled more as he clenched his fist as tight as he could, so tight even blood trickled from where his nails dug into his hand. "Shut up! She was too kind... Why did she die..." Soon his anger was replaced with a deep sorrow and hate, but this time at himself. "... I should have done something... Instead all I did was watch as she was chocked to death... It was my fault I let magic kill her." He then fell to his knees feeling defeated by his past.

"But Jake it wasn't your fault... and it wasn't magic either... it was the one who killed hers fault... that person was the one that used the magic.... if it was magic then you couldn't have helped her anyway..." Mage said softly as she moved over to Jake and lightly rested her hand on his shoulder knowing it was risky but she wanted to comfort him... she was kind it was just that she had a certain role to fulfill and she couldn't if she was always so soft and kind to everyone.

Jake listened to her and she was right, it wasn't his or magic, and in his current form, he was at one with magic. "You know... Your right." He said standing back up. "And if I remember rightly, he got away... It must have been him who sent me insane... what was his title." He thought for a moment and then growled. "That was it, Exagor (random) the thief mage." He glared at the mage and growled again. "And if you wish to help me any. Don't bother showing me where the cure is. Help me find him, So I may avenge my mother, and the dragons in which I slain."

Mage looked up at Jake when he stood and shivered some at the name of the other mage. She knew him and he certainly was a devient and evil one. "I will help you... but do know that mage... he can use magic without even saying a spell... I can show you where he dwells but that's as far as I go... I'm sorry..." she said softly as she stood and looked to the west. "His home is in a swamp... or close to it I believe..." she said softly then sighed a bit as she then looked at Jake. "It's actually a shorter journey then that to the summit of the mountain..." she said softly though wondered some if after this if he would still want to be turned back to normal... she kinda hoped not...

(I could kinda see him going off on her because she said that she wouldn't help him past getting him there can't you? XD just an idea...)

Jake heard her talk about the mage, he knew what he was going up against, he would never forget that day, but his dad had fought of the mage, so could he? "I understand... But let me tell you this... Once I have entered his lair. It is your choice should you choose to help or not... But if not, then I will be very disappointed in you. I thought you was fearless and strong." after that he shook his head and sighed while he looked down at his sword which was usless to him now. "This is going to be tough... But I shall avenge my mother... Even if I have to hunt him down to the grave."