Some interesting information

Jack spent the rest of the walk in utter silence, pointedly holding up his end of the bargain with Karai. However, he couldn't stop dwelling on her possible... relationship with Lily.

"So," Karai said coolly, "if you don't mind me asking, why are you at this pond?"

"Well, Lily offered to take me somewhere, and I came here first. To be honest, I think she wanted to set me up with Freya."

"Sounds like her," Karai muttered.

"So," Jack continued, now just looking at her face, "you know her?"

"Of course. We are both Ladies of the Granger."

"...meaning?"

"Oh. You aren't aware of the political dynamics are you?"

Jack rolled his eyes. "Oh, of course, the human male who just arrived here knows everything about this place! Trust me, I'm an expert on the politics of a world ruled by monster women!"

Karai sighed. "The Ladies of the Granger are below the Duchesses in terms of influence and power."

"The Duchesses?"

"The mothers of the Ladies. The only pure-blood monsters in the Granger, true children of Tiamat and Typhon." Karai said, eyes closed like she'd just settled an argument before it began. Then, a few moments later, they snapped back open, like Karai had stepped into a whole different kind of mess.

"Typhon?" Jack deadpanned. "Typhon, to my knowledge, was the monster in Greek Mythology who beat up Zeus then got killed by Zeus."

"Ah, is that what you humans say about him?" Karai said, smiling nervously. Compared to her previously composed demeanor, this was a drastic change. "I can assure you, nothing could be further from the truth."

"And the truth is?" Jack said, smirking confidently. Karai paused, then sighed, rubbing the back of her head.

"Oh boy... how do I put this... you know how there aren't any male monsters here? I'll put it like this: we exiled them because Tiamat and Typhon got a divorce." Karai said.

"Wait, hold up, isn't Tiamat the night sky above us?" Jack said, very, very curious now as to the rest of this story. "Would that make Typhon the day or something?"

Karai blinked in surprise. "Oh! How very astute of you. Yes, Typhon could be regarded as the day. As for why my grandparents got a divorce-"

"Wait, they're your grandparents?" Jack interrupted, befuddled.

"Yes, I did say the Duchesses are true daughters of Typhon and Tiamat. And the Duchess Kuzunoha is my mother, the only pure-blood kitsune in the Granger." Karai's cool demeanor had reappeared and she was back in control of herself, not that Jack minded.

"Wait, what about Lily? Is she a granddaughter of Typhon and Tiamat?" Jack said, now remembering how she'd mentioned being a Lady.

"Yes. Her mother is Naamah, only pure blood succubus in the Granger." Karai said, though Jack couldn't help but detect an ounce of awkwardness in her voice when she said Naamah.

"Uh huh... so, why'd Typhon and Tiamat have a divorce?"

"Oh, I'm not really sure. My mother and her sisters would know, but they are very private about the matter. Oh, there's Jared!"

Karai's cool demeanor was way too enthusiastic when she said that, and her gaze shifted to someone Jack was rather surprised to see.

He'd know that scraggly brown hair anywhere.

And from the look in his eyes, Jared recognized him as well.