The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 970: No

After my portion of the speech, Sigismund said a few more things to the crowd before announcing Dickon had a few things to say.

Apparently the Civil king didn’t need the groupies behind him to finish off the speech and we all began making our way up to the palace proper.

Walking through the palace there were a lot of nobles. A lot. Much more than there was at Queen Elaine’s party.

From what I remembered from last time, there were different event rooms for each class of nobles.

I had to walk through each room alongside Sigismund and Jocasta, the latter had been berating me for going off script, but I was drowning it out as everyone present was looking and pointing towards us, whispering amongst themselves my name and Sigismund’s name over and over.

’Tedious.’ I couldn’t help thinking, but I didn’t linger on it for long as my thoughts went back to what happened during the speech.

That surge of power... I had felt it a few times in the last few months. When I was confronted by Rhapso and Nerissa about my reincarnation was the biggest one. Power was too loose of a word, I didn’t feel stronger when it ’activated’ But I felt... More than I was.

Of course I had a hunch at what it might be. Telepathy might have been my first power, but it wasn’t my Origin power. That was my Psychokinesis. Something, as of now, I still had no way to control.

Sometimes that great power that was stored within me would give me a random power or awakening when it randomly suited me, but I had zero control over it. I still couldn’t actively enter my hindsight power with the strange coloured lines and balls after all.

Other times it would save me from certain death, activating Psionic might my body was not capable of wielding safely in its current iteration. A handy ability sure, I would not lie, but it would be nice to actively be able to use that power. I wasn’t exactly the type of guy that fought for vanity, except with Valerica. I would much rather just finish off an opponent quick and easy and be done with it.

And then there were moments like today and that time with Nerissa and Rhapso where I just got this overwhelming sense of confidence. Like I felt truly invincible. There was nothing and no one that could oppose me. Nothing could stop me. It made me feel like a... Like a god.

I frowned in contemplation. I had promised Rhapso I was going down that path, but as things stood, I was still very much mortal.

’Though am I? I mean, My Origin has been real quiet since Sol went and nestled up inside it with half of her existence, but before that. We had spoken. It acts like my subconscious thoughts. What I really wanted. Even if it meant harming me in the process... Big baby.’

I smirked as I felt a sense of anger rise up within my body calling myself that. It was funny to tease myself and proof that my Origin was still, in fact, active and alert despite being coddled in Sol’s loving warmth.

’Still, I wish there wasn’t so much room for questions. Why can’t I just know what is going on with this power and why...’ I suddenly paused as I realised Jocasta and Sigismund were just staring at me.

"What? Is there something on my face?" I asked, wiping my face checking for detritus.

"Fascinating. Apollo, where did you go just now?" Jocasta asked, confusing me.

"I have been with you two?" I replied confused.

"Son, you have been standing there for five minutes straight, unmoving, unblinking. I’ve seen a lot of shit, but that was just creepy." Sigismund stated, prompting my eyes to go wide.

"Shit. My bad, I got to thinking about Psionics and I drowned everything out. I haven’t done that in a while, must be the stress of public speaking getting to me. Sorry if it looked like I was ignoring you, that was not my intention." I said, honestly.

Jocasta then breached my personal space again in front of a room of people, grabbing my head with her hands and spoke as though I wasn’t here.

"Truly incredible. Such focus. What I wouldn’t do to examine your brain and see just how you tick..."

"Alright Jocasta, your womanly wiles are showing. Reign it in." Sigismund said, prompting Jocasta to look at him before turning back to me and faking a cough despite having no flesh in her throat.

"*Ahem* I mean, something else that didn’t sound crazy. Anyway, we should move on. Apollo, shall we?" Jocasta then put her arm out in a ring, emphasising I should interlock with her.

"Sure, why not? So what did I miss? Were you asking me something?"

...

After going through several other event rooms and hallways, I found myself in the same room as we were in during Elaine’s party. ’This palace is massive, how did we not see any of these rooms yesterday?’ I thought to myself, but before I could go into another internal tangent, I was suddenly speared from the side and lifted into the air like I weighed a couple of grapes.

"Apollo! You were so good! I am so proud of you!" Valerica declared with ecstatic jubilation and began violently shaking me back and forth in a violent bear hug.

Most would feel embarrassed by their mother picking them up and violently shaking them in a public event, but I didn’t. Her face was so full of love and pride, I just felt happy I could bring out such joy in another person by simply speaking on tv.

I was content to just let her get it out of her system, but Serena suddenly spoke up from the side.

"Val, put him down, did you used to shake Kathrine like this when she was younger? Actually, if you did, that would explain a lot."

Valerica ceased her shaking and turned towards Serena with a hostile scowl. She then proceeded to put me down before looking at my outfit.

"Apollo, look at you, why are you so dishevelled? Let me help." She declared, like she hadn’t just done what she did.

While she did so, I noticed Serena approach, holding another figure hostage in her clutches. "Apollo. Valerica was right, you did wonderful and I will be telling you many times over the night, but first. This is my youngest daughter, Katie. I believe Katie has something she wants to tell you, don’t you dear?" She said, digging her fingers into the woman’s flesh, prompting Katie to open her mouth in pain.

Sigismund sensing Family drama, faked spotting someone and briskly walked away. Jocasta followed, though not without giving me a look that I couldn’t tell as all she had to use was her eyes.

I then turned my attention back to Katie. She looked like she had seen a ghost. Her skin was so pale. She looked like she was about to speak, but I cut her off.

"Mother, can you do me a huge favour?" I asked, turning to Valerica.

She began beaming being called mother in a public setting. "Yes?"

"Sigismund promised the strong stuff and after that speech, I could do with a nice stiff drink. Can you get me one? Please?" I asked.

Valerica narrowed her eyes at Katie. She was missing some context about why Apollo was asking her to conveniently leave the conversation, but she was so happy and proud she didn’t care at this moment.

"Of course, my darling. Though I don’t think the bar has actually opened yet. Don’t worry though, I will pull some strings, or possibly break some arms just for you~" She said before planting a big wet kiss on my cheek and sauntered away.

I watched her leave for a moment, she was a very pleasant sight to watch walk away...

I then turned back to Serena and Katie and folded my arms. "So, you two wanted to talk to me about something? I must say I am quite surprised by this sudden change of heart taking into consideration I was shooed away like the bum I am the last time I tried to speak to you, Katie."

I heard the woman audibly gulp after I said that. She turned a sickly shade for a moment before replying.

"Sentinel Lambdason, please accept my most sincere apology. I meant no disrespect to you." Katie then bowed deeply in front of me. Serena was smiling, seemingly proud of Katie for Apologising.

However...

"Katie, what exactly are you sorry for?" I asked.

Katie then jerked upright, her face the epitome of confusion. "Pardon?" She asked back, so I explained.

"Why exactly are you sorry? You said you meant no disrespect to me, but you clearly did. You called me a bum and when I was walking away, you said you felt dirty being in my presence and called me a disgusting hobo. So tell me, why are you sorry?"

Katie gave her mother a pleading look that Serena chose to ignore by keeping her eyes glued to me. Seeing the little Hyllus’s brain leaking out of her ears, I helped her out.

"Are you perhaps sorry that you said all those things to someone you thought was beneath you, but was in fact a Sentinel? Someone that outranks your position in the Political System by... A significant factor?"

Katie’s eyes opened wide like she had found her saviour. "Yes! Exactly! I never would have said such things about you if I knew your great stature, My Sentinel. So please accept my most sincere apology!"

She bowed again.

"No."

"Thank you , my Sentinel, thank you very- Wait did you say no?" Katie looked up at me like I was an alien, though her face was full of confusion, not hate.

I took a step forward, my height must have intimidated her as she stepped backwards, but was blocked by Serena.

Looking directly down at her, I shook my head. "No, I don’t accept your apology. It lacks sincerity. You aren’t sorry. You don’t feel bad that you called me those things-

"-I do, I swear I-"

"-I advise you not to speak again until I have finished, do you understand me?" I said calmly, but Katie audibly gulped and nodded her head.

"Good. Now, like I was saying. You don’t feel bad that you called me those things. You feel bad because you called me those things and then found out I was not just a fallen Archon, a noble under your own titles, but a Sentinel. You aren’t sorry. You are just trying to save your ass."

I then turned to Serena. "Serena, I know the Hyllus family is ancient and your position in the empire is that of great strength both physically and politically, but this is not acceptable. You know by now I am a simple person, at heart. I don’t like people that constantly twist their words or people who look down on others simply for being born who they are. Who uses their family name as a way to threaten others... Especially when I am part of that family now."

I then turned back to Katie. "So no, your apology is not accepted, as I do not believe you. Instead of being sorry. Be better. Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to go look for my friends..."

I then turned and left, but before I did, I turned one last time and spoke to Katie.

"Oh and don’t worry, I don’t want you dead, so I won’t tell Valerica about this. You can rest easy."