74: Worry
Alexandra found it easy to wake up early. Well, part of that was because she never even made an attempt to sleep in the first place.
Instead, the Knight never bothered to acknowledge the exhaustion of a long day and a long night- working all the way through to ensure that as many of the preparations had been completed as possible. She had helped to carry out boxes and boxes of Bailey’s potions from the closed-up shop, including many others ‘donated’ by various students who had yet to actually use their purchases from the busty blonde. Even more students shared lots of insight as to how they functioned- so many that it got to the point that Alexandra was starting to understand just how much casual sex the students of this school partook in, and just how popular that made Bailey across the entire campus as the progenitor of alchemical sex mixtures.
And if for some reason the residual stockpile of the potion wouldn’t have been enough, Professor Kull had set an entire team of graduated Alchemists to work on producing more of the concoctions immediately following Eris’s sudden appearance. From the bit that Alexandra could glean, the potion was actually more of a toxin that worked exclusively as an inhibitor. After being consumed, no matter how much stimulation and pleasure the person received, they could never actually achieve climax. Instead, they would sit on the very edge until the potion wore off after a few hours, or until a neutralizing agent was rubbed on their skin to end the effect instantly. Then, if they were still on the verge of cumming, they could then release.
Thankfully, it was also just as easy to find over two hundred and fifty volunteers willing to participate in the ‘questionable’ part of their requirements. The ones willing to sit around the Obelisk, alchemically held at the edge of orgasm for an unknown amount of time with a dedicated assistant ready to apply the restorative cream at a moment’s notice. The same ones who would need to do that publicly, in front of over five hundred stationed soldiers ready to intercept any potential threats that came out of the Obelisk.
The emergency assembly across all sectors had been brief, overlaying both the plan and need for volunteers in the sexual aspects. So many hands went up in Sector Saez’s auditorium alone that there easily would have been enough people to fill the entire park of the Obelisk with edging students and then some. Even with the added restrictions that only third-and-fourth year students with combat classes were allowed to participate, the combined number of volunteers from all sectors was easily able to accommodate the original one-hundred volunteers Konderlacht was wanting twice over.
Unfortunately, that was the part that Alexandra was sour about.
The Knight yawned as she lowered a crate of supplies onto the pile and looked around the park. Even in the early-morning dimness, the Obelisk shone like a pink beacon- a lighthouse amidst a storm of doubts. If that wasn’t enough, the magical sparkles of runic lights no larger than Alexandra’s thumb dotted the edges of any paved sections of ground, and even twinkled through the branches of the few trees to ensure that the park was sufficiently illuminated even at night. In truth, it was beautiful. It almost looked like a swarm of fireflies had descended on the park.
As beautiful as it was, it was far from peaceful. Dozens upon dozens of people were scrambling, carrying supplies and moving all manner of things around to prepare for what was going to happen. The wooden barricade walls had been shifted back to form a large ring around the base of the stairs leading down into the park from all directions, expanding the defensive position and leaving the majority of the park itself bare. That is, aside from the bustle of people laying out blankets and bundles of potions where all the volunteers would be edged.
“Come on, girl, keep moving. Everything needs to be prepared by nine-o-clock and then you’re all clearing out.”
Alexandra shook her focus back to the older sergeant lady whose name she didn’t know- the one overseeing the preparation and distribution of the supplies being loaded onto all the stairs. If Eris was correct and there were going to be over a thousand people all coming out, things like blankets, rations, water, and medical supplies were needed for all of them. All those supplies were stacked on the long staircase and piled near the industrial elevators, ready and waiting for when they would be needed.
Alexandra turned around and started walking back up the steps to grab a new crate. A familiar face stood at the top. When Alexandra crested the last step, Jaxie pressed a mug of dark fluid that was steaming in the early-morning air into her hands.
“Here, it’s coffee from some of the graduated Culinarians. I know you didn’t sleep.”
Alexandra raised an eyebrow but accepted the mug. “You didn’t either, I’m guessing?”
Jaixe shook her head solemnly. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead. Drink up- that stuff really works.”
The Knight held no doubts about that statement since even the smell of the drink in her hands was sending tingles down her spine and raising goosebumps. Alexandra had tried coffee once a few years ago and found the stuff disgusting. It smelled like bitter, boiled dirt and tasted even worse. However, the cup she was holding smelled rich and savoury- honestly more of a sensation than an actual scent. It smelled like warmth on a cold day and the hug of a person she cared about most.
High-level crafters really were something else.
When Alexandra brought the cup to her lips, she felt it a whole lot more than she tasted it. There was that familiar bitter taste of completely unmodified black coffee, yet somehow it wasn’t overpowering in the slightest. It was as if it was naturally adapting to Alexandra’s palette and shifting the taste to be the most appealing version of itself it could be to the blonde. However, that was completely drowned out by the rush of warmth and shudders running through Alexandra’s body.
From her throat, to her chest, to her fingers and toes, her body started tingling. The goosebumps on her neck started to feel like a Woodcarver could use them as sandpaper and the drowsiness clinging to the edges of her vision evaporated like mist on a sunny day. Alexandra blinked a few times, lowering the mug.
“Wow,” was all she could say. Jaxie grinned, moving one hand forward to re-lift the lowered cup.
“Yeah, though you’re gonna want to finish that off. Apparently it gives a big energy crash when it wears off, but finishing a mug should keep you going for about sixteen hours. If you don’t keep drinking you might pass out in five minutes.”
Alexandra’s eyes widened but she didn’t question the statement. She simply gulped down swallow after swallow of the bitter-yet-concerningly-delicious drink, not stopping until she could see the pale porcelain of the mug’s bottom. Lowering it, the tingling in her limbs continued to flow back and forth before settling into a comfortable buzz of energy she could practically hear.
Wait, no- she was hearing it. A buzz. Motion. Activity. Words, conversations being had and orders being given from the sergeant lady. Before Alexandra could raise the question, Jaxie gave the answer.
“It has an enchantment that sharpens the senses, getting stronger the higher the person’s Mind stat is. Though, if it’s this strong for me when I have an F-, I can only imagine that a high-level mage on this shit can smell colours.”
Alexandra opted to stay quiet as Jaxie took the empty mug from her and placed it into a small crate beside her with several other empty mugs- though one half of the crate was distinctly filled with ‘used’ mugs. Beside the crate was a jug with a spout on it, making it clear that Jaxie- at least for the moment- seemed to be serving as some kind of ‘coffee girl’ for the early-morning workers. Alexandra ducked her head.
“I’m sorry we can’t do more to help…”
Jaxie tried to play it cool. She probably would have succeeded if Alexandra had been anyone else. However, through the casual dismissive gesture, the Knight could see tension held in Jaxie’s jaw.
“Eh, it’s fine. It could be dangerous and they don’t want lower level people getting caught in something they can’t handle-”
“Jaxie…” Alexandra reached forward with one hand, placing it on Jaxie’s forearm. The Berserker paused for a moment then let out a sigh.
“I understand, okay? Even if we’re Eris’s best friends, we’re still only level one. Anything at all goes wrong- just one thing not happening the way it should, we’re at the biggest risk. They only want people who have the levels, skills, and general experience to handle themselves in bad situations. Since we’re also Eris’s ‘Wonders’ now, it means we’re even more important to the Syndicate. Besides Eris, we’re probably the last people they want to get killed.”
Jaxie set the jug of coffee on top of her bin of mugs, then lifted both together.
“I’ve felt useless for the last two weeks, and now that I finally have a chance to help- to do something, I’m not allowed to because I’m too weak. I hate it, but I’m not delusional. I’m not gonna stand here and honestly think that I’m just as strong as all the soldiers walking around fifteen times my level, and I’m definitely not going to try and butt into a situation that’s already being handled by people a heck of a lot more qualified than I am.”
Jaxie’s grip tightened on the wooden handles of the box. It must have been made by someone pretty high level since the wood didn’t so much as creak despite Jaxie’s knuckles turning white.
“I don’t have to like it, but I do have to understand. And I do understand. So now I’m going to follow the orders of my commanding officers and do as I’m fucking told, because I trust that Eris has the situation under control and everything will turn out just fine. Now…”
Jaxie let out a long sigh, slumping her shoulders. “I have more coffee to deliver and you have more crates to move. Even if it’s not the job we want, it’s the job we’ve got and we need to do our part.”
“Would it make you feel better knowing that I’m there, Jazzy?”
A new voice chirped up from the side, turning the attention of both girls that way. The approaching figure was one that Alexandra was familiar with, but not to a great deal. After all, she hadn’t interacted with Jaxie’s roommate much beyond passing greetings.
Rebecca was dressed in a grey tank top so incredibly loose-fitting that going nude likely would have been more modest; had it not been for the snug black athletic bra and cotton shorts hugging her form. They were the same shade as her hair, cut a little bit choppy and shaggy to hang just below her pale ears while happy-looking brown eyes matched her smile.
Alexandra watched Jaxie perk up- just a teeny bit- before she turned around. “You are?”
The black-haired girl nodded smugly. “Yep. In twelve hours’ time, I’ll be down in the Pit with my pants off, fingerblasting the FUCK out of myself while everyone watches.” Then, with a grin, Rebecca added;
“Gotta say, this is gonna be one wild way for Eris to make her grand appearance. Not only does she need the entire park of the Obelisk to be turned into some kind of walk-through zoo of edging, she’s gonna be bringing a thousand people older than the Syndicate itself right into the middle of it when everyone’s finally getting their rocks off. They’re literally going to be walking over puddles of cum right before being handed emergency supplies. Fuckin’ wild.”
Alexandra couldn’t suppress the short snort of laughter, and even Jaxie managed a tiny grin. The Berserker looked appreciatively towards her third-year roommate. “I know this isn’t fair for me to ask-”
“-Yeah, I’ll make sure your girlfriend’s safe,” Rebecca finished for Jaxie. “When all the shit starts going down, I’ll keep my eyes peeled for little Miss Redhead and try to get her out of there ASA-fuckin’-P.”
Jaxie almost looked like she was going to start shedding some tears. Alexandra just wanted to take the Berserker’s hand and hold it tight, but the crate of mugs and coffee in Jaxie’s grasp made that impossible. Instead, she could only watch as Jaxie nodded to Rebecca.
“Thanks. I just- I need to make sure, you know?”
Rebecca gave a nod of her own with a sweet smile, even taking a step forward and reaching her hand up to rest it on Jaxie’s shoulder. “I get it- trust me, I understand. If you can’t be there for her, I’ll be there in your place.” Then, the black-haired girl gave a little shrug with an innocent-sounding tone in her throat.
“Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the Syndicate deemed Eris’s safety our number one priority when this happens. Literally every single person that’s gonna be in the Pit has already been instructed to find and protect Eris as soon as she appears and get her the fuck out of there. If Bailey and that Lieutenant chick are there, bonus points, but they’re the third priority- Eris is first.”
Jaxie frowned. “You couldn’t just leave it at ‘you’re doing it for me’?”
Rebecca rolled her eyes through a smile. “Of course I’m doing it for you! I’m just… also doing it because it’s my job, and if I do it well, I might get some kinda bonus or something. Two things can be true.”
This time, Alexandra chirped in. “Thanks, Rebecca. This… this means a lot to us.”
The girl visibly winced. “Understood, just… please call me Becca, or Becky, or some shit like that. ‘Rebecca’ makes it sound like I’m fuckin’ forty.”
At that, Jaxie also gave a small cough into her fist. “It’s also Eris’s mom’s name, so that makes it weird, too…”
Rebe- err… Becky gave an awkward chuckle. “I suppose it does. Probably don’t want to be thinking about your girlfriend’s mom when ogling my ass as I’m getting dressed, right?”
Surprisingly, Alexandra watched the faintest tinge of pink spread over Jaxie’s cheeks. The Berserker spoke quickly. “Sure, I guess, but it’s also just like… weird in general. Eris’s mom’s name was Rebecca Reik Kadell, and your name is Rebecca Roschel Reik. Her middle name is your last name.”
Becky furrowed her brow. “Huh. I guess that is kinda weird.” Then, the older girl grinned. “I swear, if Eris and I end up being related in some weird “she’s my cousin three-times-removed” kinda crap, I’m gonna lose my shit. Like… why couldn’t the Mythic class travel down the other side of the family tree and tickle this branch?”
Alexandra let out a short sigh. “Back to the main point- if Eris is the first priority and Bailey and the spy lady are the third priority, what’s the second priority? Containment to make sure none of the prisoners do any damage or something?”
Becca shook her head. “Nah, that’s priority four. First is Eris. Second is that other Echo she mentioned- Pamela or something. If there really is another Echo alive after all this time, then she might be even more valuable to the war effort than Eris is because she’ll at least know what she’s doing. Pamela may even be able to help the scholars and researchers clear up our entire understanding of the world before the Sundering, if not directly teach Eris how to be an Echo.”
Jaxie furrowed her brow. “I think her name was Pravala.” Becca rolled her eyes and spun around in a small circle.
“Doesn’t fuckin’ matter what her name was- the fact is that her and Eris are the most powerful and most important people in the world, and they are the number one focus above absolutely everything else. They are literally our only hope against the Hollow.”
Becky shrugged her shoulders. “To put it simply- If the number of Echoes we have by the end of the day is less than two, all the Syndicate generals are gonna be fuckin’ pissed.”