Echoes Of The Seven

Eris had wasted no time in dropping off her bag after Bailey introduced herself. Eris was already planning on leaving the room as fast as possible. That plan was accelerated when Eris asked who the girl was that had been sleeping in the bed, and Bailey responded by saying she didn’t know. That girl had walked in the night prior, the two had… done business, and then went to sleep all without Bailey learning what her name even was. The plan to leave reached its conclusion when instead of a welcoming handshake Bailey opted for a hug.

A naked hug, with what was almost certainly dried cum still on her face and torso.

Eris had probably never walked so fast in her life, all the way back out to the central area between the dorms before sitting on a bench.

“So… care to inform us about the great mystery?”

Eris turned around to see Jaxie and Alex both approaching. Eris was quiet while they sat on the bench beside her before eventually finding her voice.

“It’s uhh… my roommate. She’s…” Eris paused. “Gah, how do I put this?”

“Would you just fuckin’ spit it out already?”

Eris turned her gaze to the floor. “Do you, umm… you know King Raymond?”

Both girls raised their eyebrows. “It’d be hard not to,” Alex said.

The redhead wrung her hands together. “Well, do you remember that whole debacle three years ago when the eldest daughter went behind his back and signed up for the Syndicate?”

Alex’s eyes went wide. Jaxie chuckled. “No fuckin’ way…”

Eris nodded. “And do you also remember all that controversy since the princess was um… you know… sleeping around?”

“Your roommate,” Alex began, “is Bailey Geriege?”

“The Sovereign Slut?” Jaxie was laughing with every word. “Queen Queef? The Pussy Princess? That’s your roommate?”

Eris was turning a deeper and deeper shade of red. “She uhh… is quite the free spirit.”

“I need all the details, right now.”

Eris and Alex were both blushing. Eventually, the Artificer managed.

“There was another person in the room. Not… doing anything, just- they were sleeping, and then that person left.”

Silence. Jaxie gave a sigh. “I love you, but you are awful at serving tea. Did you or did you not see the Princess’s crowned cooch?”

Several moments passed of awkward, anxious quiet. “... Yeah?”

“Ah, that’s my girl!” Jaxie wrapped an arm over Eris’s shoulders and pulled her in close. “You’ll be sleeping your way into the royal family tree in no time.”

Eris groaned. Alex turned away. Jaxie laughed.

“Something tells me it’ll be real easy to get a Desire gathering partner out of her. Speaking of which…” She checked her pocketwatch. “Hmm, not quite. Maybe half an hour. Anything the three of us can do to kill some time before going somewhere private?”

Alex spoke up extremely quickly. That led to the three of them leaving the dorm neighbourhood and going to the Hazard Training Room, or as it was referred to by the students, the Gym. Even though Eris wasn’t a combat class and would thus have a distant relationship with the building, she couldn’t help but admire its glory.

There were testing dummies ranging from wooden posts to three-foot-wide metal beams, to moving holoarcanic targets in an indoor arena. They were spread through four distinct sections- melee combatants, ranged combatants, spellcasters, and supporters. Each of them had a myriad of different options to help condition an aspiring warrior to the harshest of battles.

There were even injury simulations, where people could subject themselves to almost any kind of effect at varying levels. Stabbed in the gut? Caught in a flame blast? Struck by lightning? All one would need to do is stand in the chamber and press a button. If Eris wasn’t so offset by the premise of willingly getting impaled, she would have been interested to see how it was put together. She immediately felt bad for the people that volunteered to be test dummies for healing abilities. They’ve probably spilled more blood in those injury simulators than most Syndicate members do on a battlefield.

The trio weren’t allowed onto the second or third floor of the training facility, but that was for fairly obvious reasons. Floor two was only allowed for people that were level four and five, and floor three was only for levels six and up. Level increases came with significant power boosts, and judging by the near-constant sounds of explosions coming from above them, Eris could only assume that a high-level student was in the process of early-morning training. Either that or they were standing in an injury simulation chamber with the ‘lightning’ button taped down. Who knew? Maybe it was both. High levels were no joke.

After that was when Eris really started to pay attention. That was because the trio walked over to the eight-story Crafting and Development Facility. There were no small number of people already walking in and out, but thankfully there was a stand outside just like in the dorm neighbourhood. The sign on this one read “INFORMATION AND ADMITTANCE”.

“Hi, I’m Amy- Second year Leatherworker. Are you looking for general information or are you crafters looking for an open workshop?” Her face bore a friendly smile and her lightly browned hair was cut short like Eris’s. Alex shook her head.

“Not us, just her.”

Jaxie nudged Eris forward a little bit. The redhead shrugged. “Both? Information and a workshop.”

“Oh yeah, I can do that no problem! Wanna start with the rundown of the building, and then we can get you sorted with your shop?”

“Sounds good.”

“Alright! So- this is the Crafting and Development Facility, or the CDF for short. A lot of people also call it the Hub. The CDF of each Sector is kinda the beating heart of the whole thing. Every crafter has a designated workshop, and they use that to work on their progression. Most also use their workshop as their own store where they can sell the products they create and form a bit of a business at the same time. Because of that, the CDF is pretty much the primary shopping mall of each Sector. If you need anything, you can buy it here. If you can’t, you can sure as heck get it commissioned.”

“Now, you can also come here to get unknown gear and materials from the Obelisk Inspected, but most charge a very small fee. If you’ve got materials to sell, there’s always a crafter here ready to buy. Just ask around a bit, or go to the market board if it’s something real special you’re looking to get some moons for. As for the building itself-”

She turned around and looked up at the towering monstrosity of a white-brick facility.

“There are eight floors, each one operating for one of the specializations. From the ground floor up, we’ve got Artisans, Culinarians, Metalsmiths, Alchemists, Stonecutters, Leatherworkers, Woodworkers, and then the Weavers on the top. Fifty shops for each floor, except for the Artisans. They’re less common, and their shops require more space anyway ‘cause they’ve gotta fit so many more tools. There’s twenty-six shops for them.”

Amy pondered. “Let’s see… what else? There’s two elevators for everyday use, along with an industrial lift in the center for excessively large creations or shipments. There’s bay doors in the back of the building for those same things, and each of the shops has a rolling shutter that can be lowered and raised as you wish. The front counters of the shops can also be lowered into the floor to allow for those large projects or shipments to come in and out easily.”

“Now, there are free materials always available to any crafters, located underneath the CDF. It’s mostly scraps and a bunch of stuff that’s been thrown away, but there’s shipments of some basic materials with some ingredients for Culinarians and reagents for Alchemists. We all kinda just call it the Dump. It’s a first-come first-serve sorta deal. If you find it and you want it, it’s all yours.”

She bit her lip and rested her hands on her hips. “Uhh, there’s washrooms on each floor and each shop comes stocked with all the basic equipment you’ll need. Then there’s the marketboard I mentioned earlier where you can see special sale listings, then… actually I think that’s pretty much it. You three get all that?”

The trio looked at each other, shrugged, turned back to Amy and then nodded. “Sweet. Onto getting you your shop. What’s your class?”

“Artisan.”

Amy ruffled through a few papers. “Artisan, let’s see… shops number three, seven, eight, and twenty-one are open. I’ll sign you down for number three. Can I get your name?”

Eris gave it to her. Amy wrote some things down, had Eris sign a few papers, then passed her a key. Unlike her dorm room key, Eris got the feeling that this one would be useful.

The Artificer was in awe as the trio walked through the entrance, and even more so when stepping into the shop itself. Concrete floors, white brick walls, and a handful of electroarcanic light fixtures in the ceiling that lit up when Eris pressed her hand against a rune carved into the wall. The room was quite packed. There were tables, workbenches, a wood stove, cabinets, cupboards, an open forge, anvil, a loom, a tanning rack, and more. Tools were laid out neatly on the tables along with multiple sets of dishes, cutlery and utensils.

To be truthful, it was less than Eris had made to outfit the distillery back home. To what was here, she already knew that she’d be making modifications before long. Small additions, here and there- just to better suit Eris’s style. Making things here exactly like they were back at the distillery. Still, it was a feeling that made Eris’s heart flutter. This space was hers. Her tools. Her workshop. Her door that Jaxie closed and locked.

Wait, what?

Eris blinked back to reality as Jaxie grinned. “I think this is private enough. Should we test out the skill upgrade now?”

Eris’s face went as red as her hair. Alex wasn’t too far behind- she coughed and turned. “Maybe I should go…”

“Hold on just a second, Ally,” Jaxie turned to Eris. “I’ve been thinking about something else we might need to test.”

“Should I be worried?” Eris asked, worriedly. Jaxie rolled her eyes with a smile.

“Can you read off Desire’s Reap? The full skill, word for word.”

Eris paused.

“Desire’s Reap, Passive, Level Two. Engage in sexual acts with others to collect Desire. Desire is collected in the following ways; Kissing and Groping. Additional Desire is collected based on the arousal of the active participant(s). Current Desire: 0.”

Jaxie nodded along. “Active participants, as in plural?”

“Well, there’s brackets around the ‘s’...”

“So yes.” Jaxie smiled. “That’s what we need to test.”

“Err… what exactly?” Alex asked. The way Jaxie turned to face the Knight was almost predatory.

“Plural implies multiple members. I think we should see if having more people in play gives more points.”

Both Eris and Alex looked at each other with wide eyes, back at Jaxie, then gulped simultaneously. The Berserker shrugged.

“I think it’s worth a test, at least. You know, since the fate of the war against the Hollow is resting on Eris’s ability to get as strong as possible.”

“We get it.” Eris squeaked.

“Something she does by embracing the power of sex.”

“I said we get it!”

The ensuing silence was so awkward and thick that Eris felt like she could jump off the floor and start swimming. Then the real kicker happened. Alex nodded.

“Sure? We can test… if you don’t mind.”

Jaxie raised an eyebrow with a grin. “Alright then. Let’s earn some Desire.”

A minute later, Eris’s blush had deepened so much she was worried her head would explode. That was because she was sitting on Jaxie’s lap, who was in turn sitting in a chair. Alex was standing behind Jaxie, in position for her end of this ‘transaction’. Jaxie spoke with a smirk.

“So here’s the deal. You two make out over my shoulder-”

“While you two… fondle each other.” Alex said quietly.

“Any objections?” Jaxie asked. Eris just flicked eyes between Jaxie’s confidence and Alex’s… non-confidence.

“No? Alright.”

Even though Eris was expecting it, it still made her jump when Jaxie’s hands landed on her waist. They only lingered for a moment before sliding downward over the swells of her ass and cupping the skin through Eris’s pants. Jaxie also leaned forward to kiss into the base of Eris’s neck. The shorter girl shuddered in response. All she could do was hold her hands on Jaxie’s shoulders while her bottom was earnestly squeezed. After several moments, Jaxie stopped kissing Eris’s neck for a moment to give a chuckle.

“You can start anytime…”

Alex looked nervous as she tentatively bent over to lower her face to Eris’s level and brought them closer. The Knight’s brown eyes were uncertain. There was something else there, though. Was that… excitement?

Eris didn’t have time to ponder that, since Alex made connection. The redhead’s heart leapt into her throat. Alex’s lips were soft and gentle and the sensation instantly took Eris back to two days ago. Her brain was screaming.

No! You love Jaxie! You shouldn’t be with anyone else. Don’t cheat on her with your best friend. Don’t be some… some slut! You’re a good person!

But, why shouldn’t you have some fun? Jaxie’s obviously okay with it. She’s even being your wingwoman!

It doesn’t matter. You need to be faithful to your girlfriend. Even if she says she’s okay with it, it’s not right.

Screw what’s right. She’s enjoying it. You’re enjoying it. Go nuts.

Amidst the war in her head, Eris still found her hands sliding off of Jaxie’s shoulders and moving to cup titflesh through the Berserker’s tank top. The kissing on her neck grew bolder, and so did the kiss with Alex. Eris shivered. Jaxie’s chest was so soft and plush- like two perfect fleshy pillows. She couldn’t help herself from kneading away. Meanwhile, Jaxie did the exact same with her ass.

It was as awful as it was perfect. Eris didn’t want to fight off Alex’s hand that gently held the back of her head to pull her in. She definitely didn’t want to fight Jaxie’s fingers that became more energetic. In fact, Eris was distinctly reminded of two days ago, when Alex had moaned after their makeout session got a little too heated. This time, when Eris shuddered and let a little wheeze into Alex’s mouth while one of Jaxie’s hand wrapped back to the front of Eris’s hips, there was only a smidge of hesitation. Eris didn’t need to open her eyes to know that Alex was blushing. She could feel the heat coming from her face.

Regardless, Alex didn’t seem to let the hesitation stop her. She didn’t pull away when Jaxie started rubbing Eris’s pussy through her pants. She didn’t pull away when Eris instinctively sucked on Alex’s lip during the pleasure. She didn’t pull away when Jaxie started kissing up the length of Eris’s neck and over her chin.

Eris didn’t realize quite when it happened- what with the lips against hers and the gentle hand cupping her sex as well as her ass. She was distracted and Alex definitely was too. However, Eris did know when she first figured out that it happened. That was because Alex figured it out at the same time.

Both of their eyes opened in surprise when it came to their attention that theirs weren’t the only tongues and lips in play. Somehow, Jaxie managed to sneak her way upwards while the pair unconsciously went down to allow it. Now, Jaxie was smiling with a wink while peppering kisses at the edges of both girl’s mouths. Alex paused for many moments and Eris got worried.

Was this too much? It already had been, hadn’t it? Making out with Alex while Jaxie shamelessly groped her was way too far. Now having Jaxie join into that kiss as a third party would send everything tumbling over the edge.

That was, until Alex flushed with a new shade of red, closed her eyes again, then returned to her previous movements.

Eris was shivering despite the building heat. Alex was doing the same, and she wasn’t even the one with Jaxie’s hand between her legs. All Eris could do was gleefully squeeze at Jaxie’s chest, grind on her lap and fingers, and sink into the kiss. Everything tingled in just the right ways. That tingling only grew when the kiss shifted slightly.

It was really awkward for three people to make out at the same time- the angles didn’t quite work. That usually meant two sides of the triangle were more involved and the third side was left to watch. Eris felt a heat in her chest when she eventually saw that her side of the triangle was the one delegated to spectating. The lips and tongue she had been pressing into turned to cheeks. Then, her eyes opened to see that Jaxie’s head was twisted over her shoulder, facing upwards while Alex kissed down into her.

Thankfully, there was always some attention on everyone. With Jaxie and Eris’s hands providing stimulation to each other at all times, there was an unspoken agreement. Alex was never the awkward third side of the triangle. Instead, the Knight’s head was twisting back and forth a few degrees every few seconds as she traded lips between Eris and Jaxie.

Eris was panting. As much as the kissing was getting her hot and bothered, Jaxie’s right hand had long since undid the button on the front of Eris’s pants and shimmied their way inside. She wasn’t sure if Alex knew exactly how far the fondling was going, but the reactions of Eris coming apart were probably pretty clear in the kissing. All Eris needed was Jaxie’s light petting of her outer folds and the Berserker’s other hand switching between her ass and her chest- the situation itself was more than doing the rest of the work. She was already on the edge while Jaxie idly massaged her sex and made out with Alex. Jaxie knew it- there was no doubt about that. The way she was smiling into Alex’s mouth said everything.

That way, it was no surprise when Alex switched back over to kiss Eris, and that was when Jaxie rolled Eris’s nipple through her shirt while finally sliding a finger inside her folds. Obviously, that sent her right over the edge.

Eris came. Hard. Groaning and shuddering into Alex’s mouth while squeezing Jaxie’s chest like a lifeline and grinding into her hand. Alex moaned too, and the two girls desperately tried to silence each other with their lips. Jaxie fingered Eris throughout her climax and pressed loving kisses into the necks of both girls. It kept rebounding through Eris, pulled onwards simultaneously by the administrations of Jaxie and the depravity of having it happen while making out with her best friend.

It was a long while before Eris finally let her head drop until her face was pressed into Jaxie’s shoulder. She may have been the one to cum, but all three girls were panting. Jaxie’s left hand had moved to gently rub Eris’s back in a loving manner. Her right hand, though, was still in her pants.

Eris whimpered when Jaxie removed her digit. The tall girl shushed her and planted a few kisses to the top of her head before pulling her into a firm hug. “It’s okay. You did great.”

Eris tried not to make it too apparent that she was gently sobbing into Jaxie’s shoulder.