Dawn broke over Mr. Akrobeto's sprawling estate, its grand walls casting long shadows over manicured lawns. Yaw arrived at the gate, his heart pounding as the mysterious device hummed faintly in his pocket.

  "Well, look who finally decided to show up," Suzie called from the veranda steps. Her silver essence shimmered faintly around her as she stood, brushing off her dress. "Father's been asking about you for the past hour."

  "Traffic was bad," Yaw mumbled, climbing the steps.

  "Traffic? At dawn?" Jacqy snorted from her position against a marble pillar. She tapped her wrist. "It's barely six in the morning. The roads are empty."

  "Maybe he got lost," Suzie suggested, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "It must be intimidating, coming to the rich part of town."

  "I know where I am," Yaw said, squaring his shoulders. "And I know why I'm here."

  "Do you really?" Jacqy pushed off from the pillar, her essence creating subtle ripples in the air around her. "Because from where I'm standing, you look like someone who's wandered into the wrong story."

  The heavy oak doors swung open before Yaw could respond. Mr. Akrobeto stood in the entrance, his imposing figure backlit by the grand hall's chandeliers.

  "That's enough, girls," he said, though his stern tone carried an undercurrent of amusement. "Young Yaw is our guest."

  "Sorry, Father," Suzie said, not sounding sorry at all. "We were just making conversation."

  Mr. Akrobeto gestured them all inside. The grand hall stretched before them, its marble floors reflecting the morning light that streamed through tall windows. A massive screen dominated the far wall, displaying the intricate diagram of the Celestial Hierarchy.

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  CELESTIAL RANKS

  ├─ Upper Hierarchy

  │ ├─ Seraphim (Unknown)

  │ ├─ Cherubim (651-800)

  │ └─ Thrones (501-650)

  ├─ Middle Hierarchy

  │ ├─ Dominions (351-500)

  │ ├─ Virtues (201-350)

  │ └─ Powers (101-200)

  └─ Lower Hierarchy

  ├─ Principalities (71-100)

  ├─ Archangels (36-70)

  └─ Angels (1-35)

  "Beautiful, isn't it?" Mr. Akrobeto said, noting Yaw's wide-eyed stare at the display. "Each level represents centuries of tradition, power, and responsibility."

  "It's... complicated," Yaw managed, trying to take in all the information.

  "Oh, it's really quite simple," Jacqy said, moving to stand beside the screen. "Think of it as a spiritual food chain. Up here," she pointed to the top tiers, "you've got your Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones. The real heavy hitters."

  "The ones we mere mortals aspire to be," Suzie added with a dramatic sigh. "Though some of us are closer than others."

  "Then you've got your middle ranks," Jacqy continued. "Dominions, Virtues, Powers. Still impressive, but not quite at the 'shake the heavens' level."

  "And the bottom?" Yaw asked, already knowing where this was going.

  "Principalities, Archangels, Angels," Suzie recited. "Still better than being ordinary, but..." she cast a sidelong glance at Yaw, "let's just say nobody dreams of being at the bottom."

  "The hierarchy isn't just about power," Mr. Akrobeto interjected, placing a hand on Yaw's shoulder. "It's about potential. About finding your place in the grand design."

  "And what if your place isn't what everyone expects?" Yaw asked quietly.

  Mr. Akrobeto's grip tightened slightly. "Then we adapt. We overcome. That's what today is about, isn't it? Finding out exactly where you stand."

  "Speaking of which," Jacqy said, reaching for a crystalline ball that sat on a nearby pedestal, "shall we get started? I'm dying to see what our mysterious guest is capable of."

  The ball caught the morning light, sending rainbow refractions dancing across the walls. Yaw felt his pocket grow warmer, the device inside seeming to respond to the proximity of the crystal.

  "Ladies first," Mr. Akrobeto said, nodding to his daughters. "Show our guest how it's done."