Standing there, both Nolan and Lyris were breathing heavy.
Lyris's legs were starting to give. Nolan caught her by the arm, steadying her, but she was already going down. She collapsed forward onto the stone floor with a hard thud her chest flat against the cold ground. Her arms stretched out in front of her trying to support her but had no strength. All while her knees stayed tucked under her, her hips still raised, her ass up in the air behind her. His cum was still streaking her back.
Nolan took a seat behind her, leaning back on his palms as he looked at her.
'Holy hell. What was that?'
His eyes drifted down to her heart-shaped ass, and he sat there enjoying the view as clarity slowly ran back through his mind.
Before he could truly think about what had just happened, the ceiling echoed with bright light — the same way it had the first time Vespa had shown up. And from it, her angelic robotic form was easy to tell.
"Congratulations, Sovereign. You have —"
Her voice stopped.
"Oh, dear. My Sovereigns." Vespa's head tilted downward, taking in the scene below her with the same flat expression she gave everything. "It seems I have arrived at quite the inopportune moment. My condolences."
She bowed.
Nolan and Lyris looked up at her with matching deadpan stares, their expressions confused.
"What —"
Lyris screamed as the realization hit. She immediately covered herself with her hands, twisting away, curling her body inward to shield herself from Vespa's line of sight. Nolan scrambled to cover himself below the waist, hands going exactly where they needed to go and nowhere near enough for the job.
"Oh — Vespa — don't look —"
"It is okay, Sovereign. I have already seen your body." Vespa held up a thumb with her deadpan expression unchanged. "They are mighty impressive indeed."
"That doesn't make it better!" Nolan said.
He grabbed their scattered clothes, tossing Lyris hers first and covering her up before pulling on his own.
"I understand that I have shown up at an unfortunate time," Vespa continued, as though nothing had happened. "But Sovereigns, it seems you have followed my advice beautifully. Nolan's Sigil has been upgraded to Tier Two."
"I'm sorry upgrade to what?" Nolan stares at Vespa while Lyris eyes go wide.
"But how? Lyris said. "All we did was have…
"Sex? Yes, that is all you did," Vespa interjected. "But do note that Nolan's Sigil is rather special — making the act a vital part of its function."
"Wait! Are you saying my power is to have amazing sex?"
He looked at Lyris like he'd just solved world peace.
Lyris elbowed him in the stomach.
"Oof."
She gave him a side-eye sharp enough to cut glass, then turned back to Vespa.
"No, Sovereign Nolan. That is incorrect." Vespa's expression did not change. "Your Sigil is all about creating bonds."
Nolan looked on, puzzled.
"How your Sigil works is that those who you have great trust with, or have been intimate with, are able to create tethers between one another. At the base level, you will create a tether with any person you have met. It does not matter what your opinion of them is, this is standard."
'Oh so that's why I felt a connection to everybody on the island when I touched the core. It's because I've met all those people on the island making them tether to me.' Nolan nods in understanding.
"Then why is my tether so strong with Lyris?" he asked. "I was even able to see it."
"That would be because you have been so trusting of Lyris, and if I may say quite intimate."
Both Lyris and Nolan blushed at her words.
"You have created a stronger bond, reaching Tier Two. And with your final act of intimacy here, you have reached Tier Three where you have fully unlocked the capabilities of your Sigil."
"Sweet. So what can I do?"
"You are able to store up the power of those you hold a Tier Three bond with or above. In your case, you are able to use Lyris's Sigil in the form of a battery." Vespa paused. "If you were to look inside your soulscape, you will see a golden thread-ball connected to the tether between you and Lyris. This golden thread is creating a planet of sorts in your soulscape, spiraling around your core. As it spins, it winds tighter, taking on the properties of Lyris's Sigil. After a certain amount of time, you are able to pull on this ball of thread and use it however you see fit."
"Wait." Nolan held up a hand. "So you're telling me that anybody I have a Tier Three bond with I can use their Sigil?"
"That is correct, Sovereign Nolan."
Nolan and Lyris looked at each other.
"That seems OP," Lyris finished for him.
"If I may say, Sovereigns, it is quite strong. But preparation is key with such power." Vespa folded her hands. "And there are a few other benefits you have already discovered. One being —"
"The Summoning Arch," Lyris muttered.
"That is correct, Summoner Lyris. The Summoning Arch is connected to each of your Sigils. When you summon from the arch, what emerges will be based on your Sigil's nature. And since Nolan's Sigil is centered on creating bonds with those he trusts or is intimate with, he can summon practically anything."
"So that's why I summoned a beaver."
"Yes. That is why you summoned a beaver, Sovereign Nolan. With your Sigil being able to connect with anything, you are able to summon from plants, animals, to humanoids." Vespa paused. "But do note, they are limited to your individual power. And as such, you are at the Ember tier — the lowest of the Veil. You are unable to summon things like dragons, or —"
She paused again.
"— six-foot-five big-titty ghost girls."
"..."
"..."
Both Lyris and Nolan stared up at her. Vespa had an artificial smile plastered on her face as she looked down at them. It was the kind of smile that had been assembled from spare parts.
"Did you like my joke, Sovereigns?"
You could hear a pin drop in the chamber.
Nolan and Lyris slowly turned to each other.
"Is this woman real?"
"I have no idea," Lyris whispered.
"Did she just say six-foot-five big-titty ghost women?"
"Like I would be up for that."
"Of course you would, you pervert."
"Hey there's nothing wrong with that."
"Yes. Yes there is. You have me now."
Nolan didn't know what to say to that.
"Sovereigns." Vespa's assembled smile had shifted into something closer to worry. "Did you like my joke?"
"Yes — yes, Vespa. That was a great joke," Nolan interjected quickly.
"Good. I am glad you liked my joke." Her expression reset to neutral. "I will be gone now."
"Wait —"
Vespa's wings burst from her back. She lifted off the ground, hovering.
"Before you leave —" Lyris called out, scrambling to her feet. "How do we get home?"
Vespa tilted her head.
"Combine your cores, Sovereigns. And the path will open up to you with your combined strength." She raised her hand. "Good day."
She waved once, turned, and flew upward into the light of the ceiling until she was gone.
The chamber was quiet again.
"Combine our cores," Nolan muttered.
He looked at Lyris.
"Also what the hell was that?"