Under the moonlight casted over the city of lights, Jack sat on the balcony of his room, drinking a cup of tea as he stared at the sprawling city below.

“Tanji,” Ada said, opening the sliding door of the terrace. “I'm going to bed. How much longer are you going to be out here?”

“Not too much longer Hun,” Jack said, sipping his tea as he relaxed.

“Ok. Love you.”

“Love you too,” Jack replied, smiling gently at the woman who slid the gilded door and went inside.

Jack closed his eyes, opening them up again with company at his side.

Lilith and Sahaqiel, the pair sitting across from Jack.

“So. Let's continue our conversation from before Lilith,” Jack said, his eyes fixed to the fallen soul that had been ignoring him.

“I told you before. I've done nothing.”

“Yet.”

“Yet.”

Jack and Sahaqiel said, both focused on the woman whose bloodlust they could feel.

“I have no intention of hurting my child.”

Jack blinked.

“I'm sorry, your child?”

“You and I are one. Your arm. Your legs. Your ribs, lungs, and organs. All mine. Taken from me to save your life,” Lilith replied, her red eyes glaring at Jack. “You and I are one.”

“Three. Really,” Sahaqiel said. “Four if you included Ruby, but her circumstances are different than ours.”

“And only possible because of me.”

“Please, don't over sell yourself darling, it's not that great of a look, I did most of the heavy lifting for that.”

“On accident because you don't know what you're doing.”

“Ladies!” Jack snapped, cutting the two specters off. “I need you both to focus here.”

Jack took a breath, taking a moment before he'd ask the two a gnawing question hovering in the back of his mind since he learned Celeste was his.

Tell me… does my… special Constitution mean anything for Celeste?

The twin specters shared a look.

“Yes,” Sahaqiel said, a sinking feeling dropping in Jack's stomach. “Selfia is already aware from the testing she's done. Celeste’s genome is…well, has the potential to become a full angel over time. Much like you were, she's a nephilim, she doesn't have mana yet. But it's only a matter of time.”

Jack furrowed his brow, his mind processing the angel’s word slowly.

Is… there anything special I should know about?

“Unlike today's humans, Celeste will eventually begin to feel mana. Notice it in the air with her body growing to naturally attract it like yours does.”

So… she'll be able to inherently use mana?

“Without a system? Yes.”

Jack closed his eyes, leaning back in his chair as he savored the cool air of the night.

Suddenly, a grapple hook latched onto the guard rail of his balcony, the metal hook interrupting Jack's thoughts.

The hell?

Jack peaked over the edge, eyebrow raised at the blonde-haired woman scaling the rope.

“A little help?!” Selfia called out from several floors down, the woman in disguise. “Pull me up!”

“You know there's a door right?!” Jack yelled back, the queen of the empire flicking Jack off.

“Help me up!”

Jack grabbed hold of the rope, pulling the string, tugging Selfia along in the process who was climbing up at a rappelling up at a rapid pace.

Finally, Selfia climbed up and over the guard rail, standing on the terrance.

“Jeez! I forgot how hard it is to climb this building,” Selfia said, flicking her fake hair to the side as she took a moment to catch her breath with her blue eyes devoid of her red contacts.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Selfia was dressed in a blonde wig, pink Hello Kitlin hoodie with comfortable black gym pants on and scuffed up sneakers to match. All in all, a far cry from the noblewoman she portrayed herself as.

“Well hello Selfia, long time no chat,” Jack said, hands on his hips. “To what do I owe the pleasure your highness?”

“Hold that thought,” Selfia said, holding a finger up before climbing back over the edge of the balcony.

“What? Where are you going?!”

“Follllllow mEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” Selfia let out before leaping off the twelth floor balcony.

“YOU KNOW THERE'S A DOOR RIGHT?!” Jack yelled over the edge before shaking his head.

Jack turned his head towards his bedroom, wondering if he should say something to Ada.

He opened the door and peeked inside, eyeing the woman who was sound asleep underneath the blankets of his king sized bed.

Keep an eye on her for me Sara?

“Sure.”

Comfortable that Ada was fine, Jack walked out back to the balcony where he glanced over the edge, Selfia at the floor level waving at Jack.

Great…

Jack shook his head before taking the leap, activating float to break his fall.

“Fancy skill,.” Selfia said, standing in the courtyard.

“What's this about?” Jack said, approaching the woman who held out clothes for Jack.

“Less talking, more stripping.”

“Can you at least buy me dinner first?”

“You already had dinner, now shut up get naked!”

Jack rolled his eyes, changing into the leather jacket, trousers, and baggy shirt.

“Oh, put this on,” Selfia said, handing Jack a black-haired wig. “Weird how your hair is white. Would be funny if we were brother and sister don't you think? Be like one of those pornos!”

Jack turned his head slowly. “That's disgusting.”

“Yeah yeah, come on out on the damn wig and let's go,” Selfia replied.

“Where we going?”

“Surprise surprise surprise Jackie, you'll see when we get there,” Selfia said with Jack sighing.

Jack did as told, putting on the wig before following Selfia into a nearby hallway.

****

Exiting out of a secret tunnel, Jack and Selfia entered into a small wooden room.

“Cough! Wh-where the hell is this?” Jack let out, smacking away cobwebs and dust as he scanned the room filled with old barrels.

“Come on.” Selfia said, opening a door.

Jack followed along, his ears picking up music and chatter as he ascended up a flight of stairs and into a dimly lit room with rows of bottles and classical jazz playing.

“This…” Jack began.

“Is a bar!” Selfia exclaimed.

“Hey Selts!” A blonde man called out, the bartender calling Selfia's cover name with the clientale at the bar turning and saying the same thing.

“Whose the man meat?” A brunette woman in Selfian blue uniform asked. A sergeant from the chevons on her collar.

“My boooyfriend,” Selfia giggled, causing two men to groan at the table and the soldier to swear and oggle Jack.

“So this is the elusive J?” The bartender said, eyeing Jack up and down.

“Yup, that's me,” Jack said, flashing a smile as the group of people at the bar waved at him.

“I'm Kale,” The bartender said before pointing at the others at the bar. “That's Ray, Happy, and CC.”

“Hey, nice to meet you guys.” Jack said, taking a seat besides Selfia.

“Vodka on the rocks, orange and extra lime please,” Selfia asked. “Oh, and, green tea for my bubby here.”

Jack put on a fake smile, allowing Selfia to hug and brush up against him.

“Gross,” The soldier name CC grumbled.

“Don't be jealous! You'll find a man!” Selfia laughed as Kale made her drink.

“Mhghdja,” CC replied incoherently.

“Not much of a drinker?” The bartender asked, placing a cup of tea in front of Jack.

“Not really. What kind of bar serves tea?” Jack said, staring at the bartender’s hand.

“A good one.” Kale replied, the young man missing his pinky and ring finger. “Curious about the hand?”

“A bit.”

“War injury,” The man shrugged.

“Lots of that going round.” The old man named Happy grumbled. “I tell yea right now-”

“Oh here we go,” Ray rolled his eyes.

“-no! Don't here we go me, I'm telling ya dis hol damn war is hogwash! Just a way to line the bureaucrat’s pocket!”

“My God, shut up.”

“No you Ray! Without the Solomon expeditions the industrial military complex needs something to sink their money in. This war is it. I wouldn't put it past that Selfia bit h to have he brother be a scapegoat-”

“Can we not today Happy? Please?” CC cut in, placing her head on the bar.

The old man named Happy paused, eyeing the woman before looking away.

“Tsk, yeah, yeah. Sorry C,” Happy grumbled, downing a shot of alcohol and settling down.

“What's that all about “ Jack whispered, asking Selfia.

“Today's the day she lost her sister, battle of Frelia.”

“Oh…lovely,” Jack said, not realizing today was the anniversary of that battle. “So… what are we doing here?”

Selfia stared at Jack, eyeing him, her eyes almost as if searching him for something.

“Night on the town, can't I take my boooyfriend out?” Selfia said with an innocent grin.

“Hm,” Jack smiled before sipping his tea.

“Kale, can I get this to go?” Selfia asked. “Put it on my tab.”

“Sure thing Selti.”

Selfia got up, taking a moment to stop by CC. “If you're still having trouble with the dating, I can hook you up.”

“Really? You?” The soldier scoffed. “No offense Selti but I doubt it.”

“Really? He's an awakened officerrrrrrrrrrr,” Selfia teased, causing the soldier's ears to wiggle at the mention of officer.

“Oh?” CC said, her brow raised.

“Yup! He's handsome, well groomed, likes whiskey, got a nice combat scar under his eye and! He was in a kindorsoldt unit just like you!”

Wait a minute.

Jack looked up from his tea.

“Oh? Oh? Oh you've been holding out on me all this time?!” CC exclaimed.

“Hehe. Are you interested?”

“Yes! Yes! I'm tired of being single! Give me a high paying man!”

“Then it's a date!” Selfia giggled before signaling Jack. “Honey! Let's go.”

“Uh, right,” Jack said, following Selfia out of the bar and into the night.

“Aaaaah. Fresh air,” Selfia said, Jack and the Queen one of themany sidewalks of the city.

“Really? Python. You're setting her up with Python?”

“Why not? They both like whiskey, both are soldiers, and he's been stressed nonstop-”

“Gee I wonder why,” Jack muttered as Selfia made vulgar gestures with her hands.

“Anyway, him having someone to dolt on him would help ease his mental fatigue. Plus! I like playing matchmaker!” Selfia said before grabbing Jack's hand. “Now come along O' husband of mine, we've got a long chat ahead of us.”

“About?” Jack asked, brow raised.

Selfia smiled.

“The future of the world of course.”