Ch 27–

 

I froze like a rabbit sensing an unexpected threat. 

 

“Of course, I got my Class from the Architect.” I forced a laugh. “That’s where Classes come from!” 

 

Jennie regarded me over her glasses. 

 

“Ok.” She said, carefully. “Then, here are some unrelated facts that you might find interesting.” 

 

I leaned casually against the counter, trying to slow down my heart. Really. REALLY casually. 

 

Be casual, Eir. Fucking chill. CHILL. LEAN NORMALLY!

 

Jennie continued, with only a single skeptical look at what I was doing to the counter,

“Throughout history, there have been instances of Primordials gifting Classes to humankind. The most prolific, by far, being the Architect. However,” 

 

She watched me closely. “There have been instances of Classes bestowed by other entities.” 

 

I felt my skin reddening, as my pulse quickened. “Oh?! I thought that was a myth.” I squeaked. 

 

“Entities such as The Void, The Endless Legion, Sycorax, and others.” Jennie nodded. 

 

“Eternity.” I muttered. 

 

“Yeah.” Jennie said, looking startled. 

 

I felt a flutter of…something… from Lorna.

 

“But here’s what’s interesting. I think these weird Classes might be in a kind of renaissance.” Jennie went on. 

 

“Why do you think that?” I asked, squirming uncomfortably. 

 

Jennie looked shifty. “Oh, some reading I have been doing.” 

 

“Reading.” I said flatly. 

 

“Ok, I overheard something Aunt Grace was working on last summer, and I heard her use a term I’ve never heard before. Night Blessed.” 

 

A chill ran down my spine. 

 

“I did some digging, naturally.” Jennie said. 

 

Of course she had. 

 

“And I sort of stumbled into all of this. It’s actually not that hard to piece together, if you compare records of Class allocation frequency, by region, as a function of time, and cross reference that with some seemingly separate, but alarmingly similar reports of necromantic and mind-control activity that have been rising steadily over the last century. From there, it all kinda just falls into place.” 

 

“Yeah.” I gawked. “Super, incredibly obvious. It’s crazy that EVERYONE isn’t talking about this.”

 

“I KNOW.” Jennie agreed. “And what's exciting is that the bearers of these Classes don't seem bound by the Architect’s famous balance.” 

 

“The thing where all Classes have to be exactly equally powerful?” I asked. I’d always been a little skeptical of that idea. Classes like Valants sure seemed pretty broken to me, and she’d gotten hers from the Architect as far as I knew. 

 

“Right!” Jennie answered. “Like. Your Class…!” 

 

She stopped herself. Lorna loomed protectively over my shoulder. 

 

“I know it's a secret.” She whispered. “But still. If you DO have an exotic Class, you should be more… discreet… about it.” 

 

“Like…?” 

 

“Like maybe don't advertise that you can fight three equal leveled opponents at once, or that your summons are roughly as powerful as full Wayfinders, on their own.” Jennie said, dryly. 

 

“Yeah. Ok.” I said. “Listen–” 

 

Lorna yanked on our bond, sending a sharp urgent halt. I had been about to tell Jennie everything, from my strange awakening, to my patron's identity. 

 

Lorna gave me a solemn look. And I nodded. 

 

“I will definitely bear that in mind.” I said. “Thanks Jennie.”

 

She nodded, hesitated, then placed her hand on my arm. She looked up at me earnestly. “We’re a team. We look out for each other.” 

 

I nodded, and returned her shoulder squeeze, along with an appreciative smile. 

 

“Soooooo you're in for teaming up with Hera?” I asked, breaking the oddly tense moment. 

 

Jennie stepped back, twisting her arms together. 

 

“Of course!” She nodded. “They're the best team in the year. We’d be crazy not to learn everything we can from them. Not to mention Hera’s a bombshell and a half. Gods.” 

 

I nodded, wide eyed. “She’s…!” 

 

“Those legggggs!” Jennie groaned. “What do you think she squats?” 

 

Me. Hopefully.

 

I squinted. “Hard to tell now, with our levels rising so fast. I'm lifting more than I ever could before, and I'm not even putting any points into body! Hera?! I dunno…!” 

 

“I know she could squat me.” Jennie muttered, cheeks burning. 

 

Ah, a kindred spirit. Thank the gods. 

 

“Agreeeeeeeeeeed.” 

 

The rest of the evening we spent getting our few things put away, and made an effort to make everything as homey as possible. It was at least clean and private, by the time we were done. 

 

Lucy, Violette, and I cuddled into our new bed together. Jennie had retired to her own room, on the opposite side of the shared space. It was the most isolated I had been, at Bayloft. 

 

It was a close fit. We had to be basically on top of each other. But that's where we wanted to be anyways. 

 

They snuggled tight against my sides, and I rested my arms comfortably around their shoulders. 

 

Lorna had vanished, again, but I felt her protective haunting all around the room. 

 

I was extra grateful for her overwatch tonight. 

 

“Just get strong enough that no one can touch us.” Violette murmured into my neck. 

 

I snorted. “Easy to say.” 

 

Lucy traced her hand over my chest and stomach in lazy loops. It was extremely relaxing, and if I hadn't been so stressed, I would've already been asleep. 

 

“You bear a heavy Fate, Eir.” Lorna’s voice echoed softly from the walls. “Beware, the price comes due.” 

 

I lost all hint of sleepiness. 

 

“What does that mean, Lorna?!” 

 

The walls were silent. 

 

I felt Lorna’s presence retreating to surround the apartment in a ghostly vigil. 

 

“What the fuck?!” I asked, sitting up, ignoring Violette's protests at being disturbed. 

 

Lucy sat up too, and held my shoulders bracingly. 

 

“I’ve always known you were special.” She said, simply.  

 

Huh? 

 

“Your bond to the Lady of the Lake is certainly what drew my initial attention.” Violette yawned hugely, and tried to roll herself in all of the covers. 

 

I booped her head. 

 

“Share.” I ordered. 

 

One purple eye popped open, mischief dancing in it, framed by her tousled pink avalanche of hair. 

 

“I might like sharing.” She grumbled. Her violet eyes danced between Lucy and me.  

 

Heat flushed over my skin, instantly, as her implication hit my body a second before my mind understood.

 

“We doooo need regular offerings.” Lucy joined in, pressing into my side. 

 

“We should probably–” I started. 

 

Then, in a wash of sweet breath, Lucy’s lips were on mine. All thoughts of an early night vanished from my mind.