After Malachi and Aisha were thrown out by Aubrey, she and Sei were left alone in the apartment and fell into an awkward silence.
However, that was quickly dispersed when the young girl started sniffing the air like a blood hound.
"You guys made breakfast? Is there any left?"
Still covering her chest, Sei nodded with her trademark motherly smile.
"There is. Do you-"
"Yes!"
Aubrey quickly interlocked her arms with her future sister-in-law and made her way towards the kitchen.
In a flash, the young girl had piled her plate high with delicious looking food and prepared to dig in, only to stop herself at the last moment.
"Aubrey? Aren't you going to eat?" Sei asked. "Your brother and I made it together and I must say that it's pretty incredible!"
It was a miracle that nothing was burnt since they weren't exactly focused on cooking the entire time.
A helpless smile formed on Aubrey's lips as she slowly began prodding her food with her fork.
"I think… maybe I should go on a diet."
Sei looked at Aubrey's youthful and charming figure and suppressed the urge to laugh out loud.
"Sweet girl, why would you think that?"
The young girl's face showed traces of embarrassment as she recalled last nights events in great detail.
"Well Aisha has a really nice body you know…? I guess I just want to… measure up a bit I guess."
Sei's face showed traces of understanding as she also recalled Malachi's body that was much more impressive than her own.
She could understand Aubrey feeling slightly inferior, but at the end of the day, her worries were completely unfounded.
"I think that maybe the curse of those of us who are in relationships with these special beings. We cannot help but compare ourselves to them and see exactly how far behind we are."
Unconsciously, Aubrey lowered her head as she thought of the massive societal and physical difference between herself and Aisha.
"But I've learned that the best way to overcome that doubt, is to recognize the fact that no matter how different we may seem from them, they can still find beauty and attraction even in us ordinary people."
This was a lesson that Sei had learned intensely after last night's events.
Malachi had filled her with so much of his love and essence that she would never have doubts over his attraction to her ever again.
In her entire life, not once had she ever been loved so completely like that.
Sei gently took Aubrey's hand and gave her signature motherly smile.
"You are a very beautiful girl, and I'm sure that Aisha sees that as well. There is no reason for you to think of yourself as lesser when compared to anyone, much less the one you're supposed to be in a relationship with."
Before Aubrey knew it, a small tear had fallen from her eye.
Laughing in embarrassment, she quickly wiped her face and tried to compose herself. "I-I'm sorry! It's just been a minute since I've heard something like that."
Before this moment, Aubrey had yet to realize just how much she missed her mother.
Or maybe she always knew and she had simply been keeping such thoughts buried.
But the honest and caring words of Sei had dredged up old memories and left her feeling a bit overwhelmed.
While she did not see her brother's girlfriend as a replacement for her mother, the reality was that she had been missing an older woman in her life whom she could look up to.
Sei quickly took the young girl in her arms and gave her a reassuring hug.
"You should talk to Aisha about how you're feeling. I'm sure she can wipe away your fears better than I could."
"I will. Thank you, Sei."
After embracing each other for another few moments Sei picked up Aubrey's fork and placed it back into her hands.
"Now, why don't you eat as much as you like while you tell me how things progressed so fast with you and Aisha."
"Ah… it's kind of a long story."
"Fufufu~ Don't worry, I have time."
-
At the immortal moon training center, Nina, Opal, Bianca, and Luna were all standing around with their eyes glued to the back of one particular member.
"Doesn't he seem a bit different today?"
"It's strange… he suddenly feels a lot more manly."
"I thought I wanted him before but now I absolutely have to have him!"
The object of the girls' attention was naturally Malachi.
Currently, he and Rowan were engaged in a deep conversation that held all of their focus.
"I can't quite explain it, he just feels more mature all of a sudden…" Bianca said with a burning hunger in her eyes.
The look she was giving the young man was so intense, the other three women around her believed that she was planning to force herself on him.
While Malachi did not seem different on the surface, the women around him had noticed some small but glaring changes.
Just as Bianca had pointed out earlier, there was an aura of maturity that now surrounded Malachi that wasn't present before.
It was as if he had suddenly become a man overnight.
Luna was almost certain that she knew what happened and as a result, she was feeling slightly jealous.
She made a small mental note to call Sei personally and get all of the details about last night from her.
Suddenly, all of the shadows within the room began to vibrate before rushing towards Malachi.
They traveled up the length of his body before congealing on his outstretched hands.
Dark shadowy claws coated his fingertips and both Malachi and Rowan had satisfied smiles on their faces.
"I gotta say Mal, this is really impressive." Rowan admitted. "This opens up a whole new avenue of capabilities for you in the future. "
In response, Malachi merely showed a small smile as he carefully analyzed his new ability.
"Takes quite a bit of concentration though, so I don't know how much I'll get to use it in the future. Can't be out here putting myself and others at risk just because I wanna look cool."
Malachi lowered his hands and the shadows dispersed almost immediately.
Letting out an exhausted sigh, Malachi looked up to see Rowan staring at him intently.
He had also noticed how his supposed grandson had matured overnight and just like Luna, he had come to the same conclusion.
"This brat. Lost your virginity, huh?"
"Excuse me?"
"You can't hide it from me kid. The only way for someone as loud and energetic as you to become this mature and thoughtful is if they've had their pickle tickled."
Malachi stared hard at Rowan as if he couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth.
"You're crazy."
"And you're suddenly tolerable."