The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 973: 'As His Mother'

I was in my own little world for a couple of moments watching the scenery when I suddenly felt a presence next to me. Looking to my left, my eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, Argyra, hello again.” I said, recognising the pink gem clad armour.

“Hi Apollo, what are you doing here by your lonesome?” She asked, getting closer to my head as I was still lying down on the balcony.

“Nothing much, speaking in public stresses me out and then people keep coming over to talk to me and blah blah blah. I needed a break.” I said honestly.

“Oh, I see… Then would you like me to leave you in peace?” She asked, leaning backwards against the railing. Her helmeted face was now looking directly down at me so I smiled up at her.

“No, you can stay. I enjoy Praetorian company a lot. Speaking of, have you seen Ness and Rhapso?” I asked.

“Ness… Ness… I don’t know any Ness… Oh! Do you mean Nessy-bear?” Argyra asked with a playful tone. “They are still in the archives of our order looking for something. They seem very invested in finding it.”

“Oh, alright. No problem.” I said and looked back to the landscape for a few moments. Or I tried to, but Argyra was staring directly at me in silence. Her gaze felt more penetrating than Nerissa and Rhapso’s, so I had to ask.

“Is there something I can do for you, Argyra?”

Argyra gasped. “Apollo~ If I hadn’t experienced what it was like already, I would have assumed you were reading my mind. How perceptive of you. Yes, I was wondering if you would do us a small favour?”

Sitting up, I turned to Argyra. “Sure thing, what’s up?”

“It’s nothing big, just do you remember that song you made up on Lleon T1? Would you teach us? It’s been a while since we have heard something new about our ‘founders.’

I shrugged my shoulders. “Sure, I don’t mind, but I feel like I should tell you the song is actually about Bacchus, I just mentioned Aphrodite in it. Also, did you say ‘us’?”

Argyra suddenly looked around. “Whoops, I forgot to tell them. Sisters, unveil yourselves.”

The moment she said that, the once empty balcony became populated with six other Praetorians, startling me slightly. I had not heard them nor felt their presence.

‘Damn technology, you’re scary.’

One of the other Praetorian’s then spoke up. “Sentinel, we don’t mind who the song is actually about, if Aphrodite is mentioned in the song, we would very much like to learn it. We would be very grateful to you.”

Another then spoke. “Plus, we want to hear your accent when pronouncing the old language. Argyra says you sound fluent, but I do not believe her.”

I suddenly switched to said language at a dime. “And how is this, daughter of Aphrodite? I hope my accent is not too difficult to understand?”

The Praetorian in question suddenly rubbed the back of her helmet and looked away. “It’s… Adequate.” She replied back in modern Spartari, causing me to chuckle.

“Very well then, should I just begin singing?” I asked.

Argyra put her finger up for a moment and clicked some gems around her body before a small pulse expanded from where she stood. Without me needing to ask, she explained. “Only Thespius has permission to do full dampening in the palace, but this will do, you might still be heard from outside, but you will be no louder than the rest of the chatting inside, so let those lungs of yours roar.”

I was just going to start singing anyway, but that was a good call from Argyra, I didn’t want to draw even more attention to myself than I already had.

Ready to begin I drew in a long breath,

“Tu Dios o pes o Vakhos…”

…

Elaine needed answers as Apollo was communicating with the Praetorians inside. Not needing to slink around in her own home, she walked ahead.

“Apollo? Praetorians? What is going on here? I heard singing?”

I turned to Elaine, surprised to see her. “Oh, hey Elaine. How are you doing? I’m just teaching the Praetorian’s a song since they cornered me and bullied me into it.”

“Apollo, you are terrible! What if her grace believes you when you say that?” Argyra replied and the other Praetorians began to giggle at the banter.

Elaine raised an eyebrow at the familiarity. She knew Apollo was close to Nerissa and Rhapso, but these seven as well?

“A song you say? You know, I do speak a little of the old tongue myself, I would love to hear the song, unless it’s a secret of some sort? Hence the sound being suppressed behind whatever technology you are using?”

I shook my head. “No, no secret at all.” I then turned to the Praetorians. “Ladies, care to give it a go with me? The queen is demanding a show, as her servants are we not inclined to give her one?”

I then gave Elaine a playful wink to show I was only being playful with my choice of words since we were friends now.

Elaine then played her role in the joke. “Yes, your queen would enjoy watching a live performance, if you please?” She then took a seat on a nearby bench.

I then turned to the Praetorians. “Ok then, Argyra and I will sing the first part and then you six come in on the repeat calls. Does that work?”

Everyone nodded their heads.

“Very good then.”

I said and took in another deep breath and this time Argyra and I sang in harmony.

“Tu Dios o pes o Vakhos”

…

Valerica arrived at the rest room and frowned at who she saw outside of it. Still, she remained cordial and approached.

“Hailey.” Valerica said, prompting Hailey to turn around, she then continued. “You look nice this evening. How long did it take to apply all that makeup?”

Hailey remained neutral. “Valerica… Thank you for coming to my home today. It was such a nice gesture for my boyfriend to bring the elderly members of his family.”

Valerica chuckled. “Alright, enough formality, is he in there?”

Hailey shrugged her shoulders. “Unsure, we have just gotten here. Gabrielle just barged in there, but we are waiting outside.” She then gestured to Adia who bowed slightly at the guardian looking at her.

“Adia, right? Nice to see you again.” Valerica declared. It had been a long time, but she recognised the woman.

“Yes, guardian. Nice to see you once again also.” Adia replied respectfully.

Valerica nodded at the respect before turning to the door of the men’s room, Gabrielle walked out alone.

“I checked the room, stalls included. Other than some annoyed men, there was no Apollo. That bartender lied to me. I’m going to break his fucking legs.” Gabrielle declared, but before she could do anything, she was suddenly engulfed in a hug and lifted into the air.

“Put me down!” She yelled at Valerica, who then did and apologised.

“Sorry, Gabrielle. My emotions got the better of me. I just… After everything you did for Apollo, saving his life at the cost of your own well being. As his mother, you have no idea what it means to me having him back from the war safe and sound. So again, as his mother, thank you so very much, I can never begin to repay you for the act you have done for me.”

…

Gabrielle’s face began violently twitching as she began to suppress the rage that wanted to explode all over the usurper in front of her.

However, as much as she hated the idea, for her plan to work, she needed to coexist with the wench as Apollo’s happiness was all that mattered to her in this universe. Nothing else came close.

“It’s… Fine. I was just… Doing my duty. He would have done the same thing for me.”

“Gabrielle? Are you alright? Your eye is going crazy.” Valerica asked, concerned.

“I’m fine!” She snapped. “*Ahem* I mean, I have only just gotten out of the medical ward. I’m not 100% yet. I will live. It’s just an involuntary tick due to the stress my body is under.”

“I see. Well if your place of work is not up to snuff with your recovery, though I very much doubt that, you have my entire family’s wealth to back your medical bills, it’s the least we can do for saving my son.”

Gabrielle closed her eyes and breathed out heavily. “Thank you for your kindness, Valerica. I…” Gabrielle paused as she opened her eyes. Behind Valerica coming down the hallway was Hugo. She had not exactly left Olympus through the right channels and she didn’t want a lecture.

“Let’s split up and look for my, for Apollo. I’ll go this way! Meet up in twenty!” She said and began running away in the opposite direction.

Valerica turned to Hailey. “That was odd, but I agree… Hmm, Now that I think about it, where is my sister?” Valerica’s eyes narrowed. ‘What is that slut up to? If she is with my boy alone I swear I will…’

Valerica began to walk off, leaving Hailey and Adia alone. “Should we begin searching, Hailey?” Adia asked.

Hailey shook her head. “No, if the other night taught me anything, Apollo will be somewhere really obvious and searching for him is a waste of time, lets just go back to the event room and wait for his-

“HAILEY!!!! KIYAAAAHHHH!” A loud voice suddenly screamed from the end of the hallway, not caring about anyone looking at her loud obnoxious outburst.

Hailey looked to the floor and sighed. She did not want to see this person. Not now, not ever really, but especially not dressed like this.

Before she could even try to get away, the woman ran up towards her, Hailey dodged the tackle and watched the woman fall onto the floor, but swiftly recovered. She let out a long drawn out breath and spoke the name.

“Milanna”

Once again for those that might not have seen last time, the song is: Bacchus teaches me to dance. Very fun song