The hivemind is conquering for me?

Sigfried strolled over and smiled. ”Hi. I suppose we are to be paired together for whatever awaits us? A pleasure to meet you, Orchid.” He smiled kindly. ”Ok?” Orchid responded before looking away, catching Sigfried completely off guard.

”Should we take a moment to get to know one another better? Before Valerica announces what we are doing?” He asked, listening to the next pairing. ”No.” Orchid said, folding her arms, her patience growing thin, fast.

”Very well. Stoic silence it is.” Sigfried said cheerfully and stood beside Orchid without fuss.

...

Valerica seemed to want to split everyone up so they were with someone they didn’t know. Out of the three girls left to pair with, two went with the other two guys while I, being one of the only two people left, understood who my partner was going to be...

”Are you shitting me! This is so unfair!” Tamara screamed at Valerica upon realising it was us that would be paired together. ”Deal with it, you big baby. Be grateful you are here and not in the medical ward, crazy bitch.” Valerica stated, verbally smacking Tamara into stunned silence.

’Crazy? CRAZY! I will show you crazy, whore! Just you wait!’ Tamara thought internally, before putting her hand up towards the man who was being annoying by existing next to her. ”Let’s get one thing straight. Touch me, heck, even breathe on me and you die. You got that Apollo? Dumb ass name anyway, who came up with that shit?”

*BANG!*

A plated foot was where Tamara’s head just was and looking towards its owner, Nerissa stood there, breathing heavily. Tamara had a massive cut on her head as she looked up from the ground, stunned by what just happened, what happened next though...

”You dare disgrace your founder’s name! I can punish you with high treason for such a transgression!” Nerissa’s tone was ball shrivelling. It wasn’t anger, it was cold blooded malice.

I felt my instincts screaming at me to run. Nerissa was seriously pissed off. A side of her I had never seen. It made sense though. If I worshiped a god, my Jewel not counting, I would probably feel pretty pissed off at someone saying their name was dumb.

...

Sigfried wanted to rush over and help Tammy, but he got chills when reading the intent of the Praetorian. He wouldn’t be killed, but anyone that touched her would be sentenced with high treason... He couldn’t allow this, he had plans. Goals. He had tried to keep Tammy reigned in, her mouth had always been to her detriment.

...

Orchid was smiling. The Psionic entity was finally proving useful. It was about time in her mind. It saved her the trouble of possible expulsion if she attacked. Apollo’s name was not dumb... It was the hive’s way of keeping a part of the planet they found him on alive after all. It was a reminder of how lucky they were.

...

Lena was looking around disinterested. She was hungry. She was going to go and find some cookies after this. Perhaps even invite her bestie to come with her? Then he might buy the cookies and she can buy even more later!

...

Placing my hand on Nerissa’s shoulder, the onlookers looked shocked, but I ignored them and spoke softly. ”Nerissa? Are you ok? Maybe she didn’t know? I mean look at her? She isn’t being aggressive now is she?”

Nerissa said nothing, just continued to look down at the blasphemer. She had mellowed out a bit in the last hundred thousand years or so with the humans naturally not understanding just the magnitude of strength their founders once had, she had long forwent defending the other gods reputations. But to sully her goddesses name? Her friend’s name? That left her feeling like judgement was due.

I looked down at Tamara, her eyes transfixed in horror towards Nerissa. She clearly knew she fucked up somehow, but the confusion in her eyes was palpable. She might have been rude to me, but I will give her the context.

”Tamara, I share a name with one of the founders. The Praetorians descend from the line of the founders. You have basically just said that our founders are dumb in front of a descendant of said founder.”

Clarity broke through the fear and Tamara’s jaw began shaking as she attempted to speak. It took a few goes, but she eventually got out as she looked up at Nerissa. ”I-I’m sorry Praetorian. Truly. I-I didn’t mean to offend. I didn’t know. Please forgive me.”

Nerissa looked down at the woman. Her pink eyes... Finally, It had been so long since she was able to bear witness to that sight. Nerissa wasn’t sure of the woman’s origins, but something in Tamara’s past allowed Nerissa to put the fear of god, her god, within her.

Nerissa’s malice restrained itself. She then spoke in a cold neutral tone. ”On your feet.” Tamara did just that and then Nerissa continued. ”I’ve been watching you today. You are strong, but your head is twisted. You will respect your teacher and your fellow students and cease your disruptive behaviour this instance.”

Tamara bowed her head and spoke submissively. ”Yes, Praetorian.” Nerissa then ignored the woman and turned her body slightly to me. She raised her hand and placed it on my shoulder before nodding softly.

I could tell what she was silently relaying to me with the contact. Apologising for making a scene, her outburst, her thanks towards me for calming her down and a few others. I then removed my hand from her shoulders and patted her gauntlet a couple of times in silence before she walked away.

”Sorry, Valerica, you may now resume with the repeat test.” Nerissa said, walking back to her observing position, making people realise that she had basically blended into the background all this time despite being so close...

”No need to Apologise, you don’t see me complaining do you? Haha! Though way to spoil the surprise!” Valerica cheerfully declared before continuing. ”Right. so. All of you had a spar with me today. You know the rule, the first one on their back loses. However this time it’s between you and your partner and Psionics are allowed. We will be going one at a time to make sure no deaths or grievous injuries occur as that would be a shame with classes starting tomorrow for you first years. You two, up first.”

...

The first two spars we watched were very close. Valerica had clearly not picked each person randomly. Also offensive Psionics being used and that was basically unlimited entertainment for me.

It was an unknown fact, but I really loved Psionics...

The Fight between Lena and Francesca was less so. Francesca had used the wrong element, air, against Lena’s fire whips. I think her plan was to blow them out, but she must have forgotten that it was Lena’s Psionics keeping the whips ’flamey’, not the surroundings. However, Francesca still put up a good fight and was a very agile combatant dodging and weaving between whipcracks with graceful elegance. It was one unfortunate timing that caught her on her side, cutting her skin open and cauterising it at the same time that sent her onto her back.

”Whoa! No way, I won? Sweet!” Lena said and skipped away to the side with a jovial expression while Francesca was carried to the side to receive treatment. Valerica wasted no time and then called Sigfried and Orchid.

’I wonder if Orchid is going to go easy on him?’ I couldn’t help wondering. And by easy I meant not ripping the head from his shoulders.

...

Sigfried took a neutral stance, like he did with the teacher earlier. She was just too strong for him is all, his Psionics could beat anyone else. It was basically cheating in combat after all.

He watched as his opponent got into position. She was taller than him by a few inches, but that wouldn’t be a problem. ’Oh? Copying my neutral stance? Someone is cocky. Lets see what you got?’

Valerica then declared the fight and the two just continued to stand there not moving. This continued for over ten minutes. Even with the japes from the side, the two refused to move, even Valerica was getting a little bored. This wasn’t what she had planned. She just wanted Orchid to put a beatdown on the guy that looked down on Physical Psionics. She hadn’t signed up for the staring contest championships...

...

Meanwhile Sigfried was sweating heavily. Concentrating for this long was taking its toll. His fights were usually over within seconds after all. He hadn’t built the Psionic stamina for this... ’Why isn’t she moving? Why isn’t she even thinking about moving?... I need a break. Just a second. She won’t know.’

The moment his attention had shifted, the moment his power ended, he felt a blow against his chest and he was sent hurdling back onto the ground behind him. He looked up in shock as the woman who just kicked him, walked towards him neutrally. He felt his heart race as she towered over him, it only picked up further as she leant down to speak in a low voice.

”I have fought those with foresight greater than yours before. Using it and being blind to what is happening around you will be your end. I guarantee it.”