The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 915: ’You Remember’

I made small talk with Serena as we walked for a few minutes before I suddenly felt a change in the ship’s gravity. As I looked around, Serena must have noticed my confusion and asked. "What is wrong?"

"The ship’s gravity changed suddenly."

"Wow. Your Gyrokinesis is really potent huh? If my timing is correct, we should have just entered orbit around Euc 1."

I mouthed an ’oh’, having forgotten for a moment that we weren’t far out.

"So, Apollo. Now that you don’t have to deal with the tedium of a royal party yet, like you thought, what do you plan to do now?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I have no idea. I guess find a place to hide until I am needed?"

"I see, I see... Would you like some company in your hiding spot?" Serena asked, smirking."

I smiled back. "Sure, but we would have to go somewhere you are comfortable. I would offer to buy a hotel room or something, but I didn’t bring any money with me to a warzone."

Serena felt her cheeks burning at the implication of sharing a hotel room with Apollo, but composed herself. "Why don’t we just go to your place?"

"My place?" I asked, confused. Did I have a place here? Not to my knowledge.

"Yes, Valerica’s home. You are her son. That home was our parents as well, she has it because she is the main family. As her adopted son, you are also the main family, but I am also welcome there. I also have my own key. I would say we could go to the Hyllus building, but honestly, If I go there, I will get absorbed into work and after that campaign and the stress of two warlords, I could use a little break."

I saw no reason to refute. "That sounds perfect. We should look for the others and tell them."

Serena shook her head. "I don’t think that will be needed right now. Rhea and Willow have orders to deal with before their leave with me starts officially and I saw the two Praetorians you are friends with earlier. Apparently they are needed temporarily back at the palace for a while. I assume you have a way to get in contact with them?"

"Yeah, I have a crystal." I admitted.

"Then there is no problem, they can reach you when they need to. Shall we take a shuttle down together?"

"What do you think, Sithrik?" I called upon the danger noodle around my neck.

Serena jolted in surprise upon realising Sithrik was there, but didn’t say anything.

"I could use a place to sleep. I spent the entire time watching you sleep because I couldn’t help myself. That and I wanted to make sure that you didn’t suffocate underneath Sapphire." She admitted.

I tutted hearing that, but wasn’t upset by the sweet action. I simply turned back to Serena and smiled. "Ok then, I presume we take a shuttle down or something?"

...

From the ship to our destination, the flight was roughly ten minutes.

Arriving in the mountainous terrain, I smiled as I exited the small craft that brought us planet side. My first step outside I smiled at what I was seeing.

It was snowing.

Feeling snow hit my cheeks, I immediately removed my Thermokinesis and enjoyed the sensation.

The months spent on Lleon T1 made me miss the weather. Apart from the occasional rainstorm, and the time Rhapso broke her oaths, the season was basically the same the entire time. I wasn’t sure if that was to do with the Psionics of the planet or the loss of its Hydrostatic equilibrium, but it felt nice to feel something completely different.

"Brrrr~ I’m freezing my tits off. Come on, let’s get inside." Serena said, walking briskly to the front door of the large mansion buried within this mountainous wilderness.

I smiled. It had not been that long, maybe ten months since I was last here? But it still felt good to be here. I could still recall Kathrine telling me about the lack of guards at the mansion and the ’meat paste’ reason for it.

Entering the abode, Serena sighed in relief. "It’s good to be back here. It has been a long time."

She then turned to me and asked. "Come, lets go to the lounge"

As we made our way through the house, I looked over the decor. Hyllus’ loved their red hair. Their power symbol. It seemed as a result their decor was mostly red as well, with white Accents.

Well, Valerica did anyway.

Upon reaching the entrance of the lounge, Serena was about to open the door before we both heard a clicking noise. The sound of a gun’s hammer pulling back.

Turning to the origin of the noise, a very old man was holding a very old ornamental gun. It looked like a blunderbuss of all things.

"Hank! What are you doing with that! Put it down before you blow your arm off!" Serena yelled.

The old man narrowed his eyes for a moment before they suddenly went wide with surprise. " Is that you, little beany?"

"Beany?" I spoke up, looking at Serena amused.

"After a Castor bean. Hank always liked his flowers." Serena explained, a smile on her lips as she looked back at the elderly man.

My presence caused Hank to lower his weapon and walk up to me, very slowly before asking. "Apollo? Is that you boy?"

"Hey Hank." I said jovially. "Long time, no see."

"Hmm. I swore you were shorter the last time I saw you. I must get my spine replaced one of these days. My arch must be getting worse..." Hank said before making some mouth sounds. He then continued.

"I thought you were with little Begonia? Why are you with this one now?"

"We were on mission together. I am going to be here for a few days so it made sense we stay together. I hope we aren’t going to trouble you?" I asked.

"Oh, I see... No trouble. None at all. I will go and make up the guest room for you as soon as I can, Apollo. Serena. Your old room is still as it was. Make yourself comfortable, Oh! I just realised. There is no food in for the two of you. Shopping day is tomorrow. Oh, I know! I will go out and get you both something for dinner, what would you like?"

I felt bad. We just got here and I did not want to send a man as old as Hank out in the snow... Serena however,

"Oh! I am craving real lasagne from The Edesia. The real big one so Apollo and I can share it... Actually, better make it two lasagnes. I’ve seen the way this one eats."

"Of course, my lady. Though the line at that place is always very large. I hope you don’t mind waiting? It might be six to eight hours before I return?"

"That is fine Hank, thank you so much." Serena said and Hank turned around and began to mumble to himself.

"Pretty cold today... I should take my lamp for when I am waiting in the line."

I watched Hank shamble off for a moment and felt bad. "Is it really ok for him to leave in this weather? He is really old."

Serena opened the door to the lounge and walked inside as she replied, "Oh, Hank is fine. Trust me, he is ecstatic to do this. With Valerica not being here and at the college means he has just been performing the same tasks over and over. Trust me, I’ve known him my whole life, he is very happy that he has something to do."

Taking her word for it, I followed in behind Serena. I took a seat on a couch while she made her way to the back of the room. "Would you like a drink, Apollo? Wine perhaps?"

"Oh, I’m actually not the biggest enjoyer of wine. Perhaps something sweet? Or fruity? Or Psionic."

Serena turned to me. "Psionic? You like the strong stuff too?"

I nodded my head. "Oh yeah, I got a taste for it during the queen’s birthday party. The stuff was delicious."

Serena giggled and pointed at me. "You know, the more I learn about you, the more I like you. I’ll go look in the cellar for a barrel, make yourself comfortable, I’ll be back soon."

After Serena left the room, I also stood up, leaving shortly after. I had something nostalgic on my mind.

Making my way down the hall, I arrived at one of the living rooms in the mansion. Entering through the door, I looked to my left and smiled lovingly.

Walking through the room, I crouched as I arrived in front of a fireplace. A moment later the logs in the fire spontaneously combusted. Moments later, Sol’s face appeared in the fire.

"You remember, My kindled."

"How could I not? This was where we met. Where you revealed yourself to me, burnt me. Where you danced for me. I could never forget that."

"Is this Sol?" Sithrik asked, her little eyes piercing with unbridled curiosity at the flames before her.

"Oh right! You two haven’t met face to face yet. Sorry, yes. This is Sol. As I have told you, she is the concept of fire and heat. It is because of her, both of us have our Pyrokinesis."

Sithrik stared for a few more moments before turning her head up to me. "She feels very regal. A true queen of the flame. I am honoured to be in her presence."

Sol flickered and crackled as she let out a soft chuckle.

"I like this one, my Kindled. She is a fine concubine. Her fire burns purely."