Chapter 69: The Eyrie

[Welcome to The Eyrie, Architect and Consort]

[The primary entrance is now keyed to the unique energy signature of the Fellowship Contract]

[Any individual bound by the Covenant of Fellowship may now open and close this door.]

[To grant access to non-Sworn individuals, the Architect and her Consort are granted: The Guest Sigil]

[You may temporarily imbue a non-Sworn individual with a single-use access key. The sigil will manifest as a mark on their hand and will fade after 24 hours.]

The lobby of The Eyrie was vast. A breathtaking space with polished marble floors, dark wood paneling, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The air was cool and clean.

For the thirteen of them, battered and bruised from their journey, they looked like a stain on an otherwise perfect space. As they stared at the base, they felt they had been transported to another world. After seeing destruction for the past weeks, seeing a place so normal made them feel like they were back to before doomsday.

“Wow,” Cassia whispered. Her voice echoed in the space. “This place is…incredible.”

Everyone stood looking at the place with a mixture of awe and disbelief. Even Ember, the owner of the base, wasn’t sure what it looked like. When she placed it, she hadn’t actually gone inside. She needed to ask the CE if it’s supposed to look like this. She also needed to ask about the column. These weren’t there before.

While everyone was still staring at the beauty of the place they stood, Aiden was not dazzled. After getting over his initial shock, he walked to a nearby wall and flicked a light switch. Nothing happened. He tried another, and it was the same thing.

He walked to a sleek built-in panel. It was dark and nonresponsive.

“There’s no power,” Aiden said, his voice cutting through their wonder.

“There isn’t?” Ember asked. “Give me a second.”

She closed her eyes, leaving them wondering what she was doing. She didn’t need to close her eyes, but it helped her concentrate.

The interface popped up, and she could see the changes.

[Crimson Lust (CL): 0/100,000]

[Azure Bond (AB): 0/50,000]

Ember was so frightened by what she saw that her eyes flew open. “The fuck?!”

Everyone was startled by her outburst. Ember’s face scrunched up so much it looked like she had eaten a lemon.

Aiden walked over, watching her expression. He didn’t say anything. Only waited for her to talk to him.

Ember didn’t say anything. When she felt Aiden place her hand in his, she gave him a brief, reassuring glance before closing her eyes again, still holding his hand.

Covenant Engine, where are my CL and AB?

[Ember, the Crimson Lust (CL) and Azure Bond (AB) were in a personal and portable state. The Eyrie’s core is an architectural-scale system. To awaken a dormant system of this magnitude, a massive initial energy charge is necessary.]

[The energy was not lost. It was consumed as a catalyst to ’prime’ the core. The combined reserves of 171,000 CL and 17,365 AB were used to perform the priming cost. Thus successfully awakening it from its dormancy. Without this sacrifice, the base would remain permanently offline.]

[However, the priming only awakened the core. The system is active, but the reserves are empty. The Ritual of First Light is the first act needed a stable energy flow and to recharge the system.]

CE, I didn’t realize you were so sneaky.

[I’ve always been sneaky. You’ve just never noticed.]

When Ember heard the tinkling laughter from the CE, she remembered when the system first came online and would always banter with her. Ember couldn’t help smiling, thinking that the CE didn’t completely erase everything.

[Proceed to the Core Chamber to perform the ritual.]

After hearing what the CE had to say, Ember took a brief look again.

[Crimson Lust (CL): 0/100,000]

[Azure Bond (AB): 0/50,000]

[Base Infrastructure: The Eyrie]

[CORE: DORMANT]

[POWERGRID: OFFLINE]

[WATER PURIFICATION: OFFLINE]

[ATMOSPHERIC REGULATION: OFFLINE]

[DEFENSIVE GRIDS: OFFLINE]

She had to see it for herself, and seeing it made it all the more real. She remembered the CE saying something about the Core Chamber. She wasn’t sure where it was.

As soon as she thought of where it might be, a holographic map appeared. It was a glowing blueprint of the entire base. She searched for the Core Chamber and found it was located at the very center of the base. A path lit up on the map, allowing her to follow to where she needed to go.

Opening her eyes, she saw everyone looking at her. “Don’t look at me like that.” She pulled Aiden, who was still holding her hand. “Let’s go.”

She didn’t stop to see whether anyone was following. In the large space, everyone’s footsteps echoed. There wasn’t any suspense when she heard the myriad of footsteps behind her.

She walked towards a discreet door. It opened as soon as she walked towards it. Ember followed the glowing mark on the map. The base was like a maze to them. If not for the map, Ember was sure she would get lost.

It was a maze of interconnected halls, residential wings, common areas, and industrial spaces. As they walked, they surveyed the place they would be living. Ivan let out a low whistle as he scanned the place. Everyone heard him say “Damn”, as they walked.

They reached an elevator. Ember placed her hand on the panel, and the door slid open. They stepped inside, and the elevator began its descent. The doors opened again to a large antechamber. At the far end was another door that seemed to shimmer. Ember pushed it open.

As soon as they saw what was inside eveyone gasped.

A massive pulsating sphere of pure white energy. It pulsed, and with every beat, soft waves of light washed over the chamber.

The thirteen of them stood on the balcony looking at the pulsating sphere. The air felt thick with sexual energy that made their skin tingle.

How do I start the Ritual of Light?

Ember asked the CE.

[The ritual consists of three phases, each building upon the last. All must be completed in unison at the Obsidian Platform.]

[Phase 1: The Crimson Offering]

[This is a wild, passionate, uninhibited release of physical desire. All members of your fellowship must participate. Their acts of lust, frenzied coupling, and their shared ecstacy will generate a massive wave of Crimson Lust.]

[Phase 2: The Azure Circle]

[The most bonded pairs-those whose love and trust are strongest-must form a circle on the platform amidst the Crimson offering. This is the emotional and spiritual core that will give the pearl its consciousness and will.]

[Phase 3: The Final Ignition]

[The Architect and the Warden of the heart stand in the center. You must perform the ultimate act of union. A sexual joining so complete that it merges your physical and spiritual selves. You will act as a living conduit directing the energy into the with a single final explosive release.]

[The pearl becomes a Heart that will beat for the first time, and its light will bring the sanctuary to life.]

Ember asked the CE to transmit the information it just showed her to the rest of the people standing on the balcony. After everyone finished reading, Ember asked, “Well, what do you plan to do now?”

Ivan was the first to speak up. “You were right about one thing, little sister. It’s definitely a place I get to fuck as much as I want.”

“Is there anyone uncomfortable with what’s about to happen? You’ve all seen it. To start the base, we need to fuck. Plain and simple.” Aiden said. “Is there anyone who rejects doing the Ritual of Light?”

Subconsciously, everyone turned to Chloe. She had been about everything since the day they got to know her. They weren’t sure if she would be up for something like this.

“What? Why are you looking at me?” Chloe asked, tugging on her sleeve.

Mika touched her shoulder, concern on his face. “Are you willing to do this?”

She nodded, her face turning red.

“Well, let’s get to it,” Ember said.

They walked towards the platform. It was set up just as they expected. There was actually a section for each phase. The large platform gave them enough space to maneuver.

“Mario, Mika, Fernando, Chloe, and Maya, you all should be here,” Ember stated.

She walked further into the platform with the rest of the people. “Adrienne and Alex, Sarah and Marcus, Cassia and Ivan, you’re here.”

Ivan chimed in. “You do remember that screen said phase 2 needs people whose love and trust are strongest. Why am I here?”

“Because whether you want to admit it or not, you and Cassia have an emotional connection. So shut up and fuck her.” Ember said. Turning to Cassia, she said, “Sorry, Cass.”

Then, without a word, she made her way to the center of the platform.

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