“Are you okay sir?”

Standing aboard the observation deck of the Fuck You Roland, Jack was approached by Jessica, the latter holding an intellipad close to her chest. “Lady Ada is calling.”

Jack's eyes shifted from the MECHFrames launching from the hanger of his air carrier to join the battle to his reflection on the transposcreen.

“I'm fine, leave the intellipad.”

“Will you need anything else sir?”

“No… that will be all lieutenant.”

On his order Jessica set the tablet on a table left, allowing Jack to be alone as the bulkhead doors sealed behind her.

Well, as alone as a man with three personalities inside him could be.

“Lilith… was there anything I could have done differently?” Jack asked as he hovered near the table, his hand reaching out to touch the tablet only to stop just shy of its black casing.

“He was dead the moment he put on the armor,” Lilith said, standing beside Jack as Sahaqiel hugged him and tried to provide comfort.

“This damn war!” Jack hissed through gritted teeth. “THOSE FUCKING BASTARDS!”

Jack balled his fists and screamed, his rage filled cry vibrating against the soundproof room before he took a moment and managed to collect himself.

Despite Lilith's tampering with his emotions, it did little to dissuade the guilt and anger. On one hand, boiling rage slithered beneath his skin like lava while on the other hand… he didn't care. The two aspects of himself colliding against one another as indifference fought against difference, ultimately ending with Jack sighing and sliding against the wall to sit on the floor.

“Every step we take… the King is ahead…” Jack muttered, turning his eye over to the black chest plate peeking from the cloth it had been buried beneath. “What if I just turned and ran? Took Ada, took Celeste and just-”

“You know that’s not an option,” Sahaqiel cut Jack off, standing before him with her hands on her hips. “Micheal won’t stop searching for you.”

“I know…” Jack smirked, head cocked to the side as he stared at the metal floor, “Perhaps what sucks is that Hoffman wasn't a bad man… just misled…”

“And there was nothing you could have done. Hoffman made his choice, Jack,” Sahaqiel said, sitting beside Jack, “All you've gotta do is keep moving forward. No matter what. Keep doing what you need to to ensure your future. You'll get through this, I promise.”

“Once the Black King is dead, you'll finally be safe.”

“Micheal,” Sahaqiel said suddenly.

“What?”

“His name is Michael.”

“And how is that important right now?” Lilith scoffed.

“He's no king. Micheal is… I prefer if we called him by his name. It helps me come to turns with him being alive.”

“Tch, whatever,” Lilith replied before fading away.

Ignoring the pair, Jack sat there against the wall, his eyes staring at the ceiling as he collected his thoughts.

After a few moments, Jack stood up, reaching over to the intellipad that he turned on and was greeted by an incoming call message.

“Hey honey,” Jack said, smiling at Ada who was lying in bed propped up with a bowl of crackers balancing on her stomach of which appeared to have mustard smeared on them.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

“Hey, how are you? I saw you on the TV. Are you okay?”

Jack furrowed his brow, “TV?”

“Yeah, all of the news networks are covering the battle,” Ada said whilst munching on her crackers.

“What are they saying?”

“That the fighting is intense, that the city had an airship crash into it and that you were challenged to a duel,” Ada explained, her porcelain face marred with heartfelt concern. “Are you safe?”

“Everything's fine honey, the battle here is nearly over. Roland's army is retreating to their capital so once that's dealt with, I'll be home,” Jack assured with a smile.

“Okay… you better hurry. I want to introduce your sister to Ito when he's born,” Ada said as she rubbed her swollen stomach. “Dr. Alencia says it'll be soon.”

“I can't wait,” Jack said before hs expression turned grim, “I'll ask Selfia to increase your guards, maybe have Kam-”

“Nonono, don't worry Tanjii, everything's taken care of,” Ada assured as she spun the camera on her tablet around to face Leona and Kamila nearby entertaining Celeste with several action figures. “Everyone's here keeping me company.”

“”Hi Jack,”” The room collectively said, waving at Jack's image as Celeste perked up and began running towards the camera.

“Daddy!”

“Celeste! Celeste! Be careful! Auntie Ada is delicate,” Leona said, catching the short-haired little girl attempting to jump onto Ada’s bed.

“Hi dad!” Celeste shouted, waving enthusiastically at Jack who felt a warmth ignite in his cold chest.

“Hey Princess, you behaving?”

“Yup!” Suddenly Celeste ran off, returning a moment later with a piece of paper that had a massive red A stamped on it. “I got a A!”

“Wow! That's really good princess!” Jack exclaimed, putting on his brightest smile despite so desperately wanting to be there with his family. “Since you've been such a good girl, I've got a surprise for you when I get home.”

“Ice cream?!” Celeste shouted, her golden eyes widening with excitement as she began to hop up and down.

“Maybe,” Jack teased, “But only if you're a good girl. Only good girls get rewards.”

“Celeste honey, I need to talk with your dad for a moment,” Leona said, coaxing the girl away with Ada handing the officer the intellipad.

“Okaaay…” Celeste groaned, putting on a sad puppy-like look before Kamila offered to give her a cookie.

The little girl spun, all memory of Jack gone as she ran off with Kamila in search of treats.

“What's up?” Jack asked, his jovial expression evaporating the moment his daughter was gone.

“I know you've got a lot on your plate, but it's about Celeste-”

Suddenly Jack stopped breathing, an unconscious move as his subconscious mind prepared him for bad news, “What about her?”

“She's… exhibiting,” Leona said slowly with Jack narrowing his eyes.

“Exhibiting?”

“Mana.”

Jack dry swallowed, “I… see.”

“She doesn't have a system as far as we can tell, but Alencia has noticed anomalies in her blood cultures and being around her she emits mana.”

Jack wet his lips with his tongue, his hands clasped together in front of his face as he processed the news.

“Is she… is she in any danger?”

“No, we're monitoring her closely,” Leona said with an assuring expression, “But she does seem to be maturing faster than the other kids in her class. She's reading at a first grade level at four years old. She's articulating her words extremely well and is already solving second grade mathematics. Madam Hightower did an IQ test and Celeste scored a hundred and forty. The principal is still doing some tests but she'd like to put her in extra courses.”

“So… Celeste is a genius?” A sense of pride blossoming inside Jack.

“She's gifted, Madam Hightower won't pull her from her regular courses on account of establishing some normality and having kids she can play with,” Leona explained, “So she's just suggesting additional schooling.”

Jack rubbed his chin, “I don't reckon Celeste will be happy.”

“Of course not,” Leona let out a laugh, “So?”

“So what?”

“Should Celeste attend extra classes?”

Jack blinked repeatedly, his brow furrowing, “Why are you asking me?”

“Because you're her father… duh? You should be the one making the decision.”

“Ah… right, I know, just… a lot on my mind,” Jack sighed, “I want whatever is best for her. If you think she needs extra classes, then yeah. Have her take them.”

“Okay then,” Leona said, her eyes looking over Jack who stared back at her with a facade. “Everything will be fine.”

“Thank you Leona,” Jack said, “For everything.”

“Please, I only want what's best for her.”

“I know,” Jack said as the intellipad was handed back to Ada who's warm smile lifted Jack's mood.

The pair spent an hour talking with the world around Jack fading away as he made plans for the future.

Occasionally, his eyes would shift to the black chest plate, the piece of armor just outside of his field of vision that beckoned to him.