Jack got up as the sun started to wither into the trees, his fiery hair sticking out at random from his nap. He glanced at the waning light from the window before stretching and getting up. After nineteen years of living in the ruined castle, he had developed a fairly regular nocturnal routine. Get up, eat breakfast, change, start cleaning up after Wuya. The witch spent every day trying a new trick or recipe to get back the power she wielded before her fateful battle with Dashi. In past years, Jack would simply keep his head down and do as he was told, in hopes of earning a kind word from his guardian.

Wuya's frustration was getting worse. Why couldn't she bring back her power? She flung the failed potion against the wall, the glass breaking apart.

"Jack! Clean this up!" She shouted, whirling around. Jack peeked his head in, mop and bucket already in hand.

"Yes, ma'am…" He said softly, waiting until she was at the other side of the room before moving in. Eyes down, mouth shut, cause no trouble. Wuya flipped through her book, glancing over at her ward. The strange little creature she had taken in in a moment of weakness had become a gangly young man with a fae-like complexion. An odd sort of beauty. How she hated him.

After slamming her book closed, Wuya announced she was taking a bath before leaving the room. Jack let out a breath, alone and safe. He cleaned up the glass and potion remnants, stretching. Baths meant he had a chance to read and relax. Glancing at the doorway, Jack walked over to the spell book shelves. He picked out the one he'd left off reading yesterday, finding a fairly comfortable spot on the floor and opening it.

Magic was fascinating and so diverse, Jack wished he had the ability. He liked making things, and if he could enchant the things he made… He smiled sadly to himself, he could have someone to really talk to. He soon became lost in thought and learning.

Wuya had calmed down a little, confident in trying something else to break the seal on her powers. She turned the corner to her workshop and stopped. Jack was engrossed in the book still, he hadn't heard her coming./

"What do you think you are doing?" Jack froze at those icy words. He slowly looked up, closing the book. Wuya crossed her arms, her glare hot and pointed. "Go. To. Your. Room." He quickly slid the book back and walked off with his head down. Jack knew he was in deep trouble.

The old witch grit her teeth. This childling was becoming more of a hassle than a help. She needed to teach him a lesson, but what would instill terror into him as the life slowly drained from him? Wuya looked at her books, pulling down a dusty tome. She flipped through, stopping on a page. A smile came to her face. The perfect monster.