The hivemind is conquering for me?

Circe opened her eyes groggily as she slowly regained consciousness. She felt like her mind had been pummelled. As she pushed herself off the ground, she tried to recall what happened.

She recalled the chanting and then feeling a powerful presence which hastily knocked her out.

As she was nursing her raging headache, she felt a gush of hot breath hit the top of her head. Looking up her eyes went wide as she witnessed a giant blue beast staring down at her.

Circe was about to gather up strength for an attack before realising the description matched something. ”Sapphire?” She asked with a frown.

”Moo.”

Circe took that as a yes and then watched as the giant ’cat’ walked away towards.

”What is that!”

Her cry caught the attention of the other seven presences that were also awake, unfortunately one of those seven was the gigantic creature that was now looking down at her, its gaze rattling her Mindspace barrier, almost knocking her unconscious once more.

A moment later she felt a hand on her back and the unbearable presence retreated allowing for clarity to return to her. Turning to the owner of the hand, it belonged to someone she naturally recognised.

”Headteacher? What’s happening?”

Maximus helped the young prodigy up off the ground and acted as her support for a moment before replying. ”Short answer. Hecate is a young ambitious fool who has put you all at risk by playing with forces she doesn’t understand. The praetorian over there is determining if Hecate needs to be executed or not because of her sheer stupidity, but considering Nerissa’s nature, I doubt it will go that far, especially with Apollo translating the creature’s words.”

Circe looked over towards Hecate. The woman’s eyes were wide with unapologetic delight as she continuously took things down on her data pad. ”Lady Hecate doesn’t look like a woman who has a sword to her neck.”

Maximus nodded. ”Yes, well. She has been so engrossed in writing down everything she has heard, I don’t think it has even registered that she is in trouble.”

Feeling that everything was now safe, especially since the headmaster was here, Circe decided to adress the gigantic abomination in the room. ”So, what’s up with that thing? Why is it so...”

Maximus chuckled, there were not many words to describe the catalyst of the creature before them. ”Circe, this is Xy’oi’la’py’re. A Duke from a Psionic plane sub realm known as Ignis.”

Hearing its name butchered, the creature turned its eyes towards the headmaster and Circe before returning to exchanging a melodical frequency with Apollo. After it did so and Circe was able to breathe again, Maximus continued.

”Apparently, your little classmate, Freddie, has a plan of sorts in his Mindspace? Well that plan was a trap. In its actual state, it can bind a Psionic being into our reality for a time, it can’t leave the circle, but you can kill the thing if you choose and collect Psionic energy and other goodies from its body. But because your little group was not chanting correctly, it was not going to work. Basically if the Duke here had not come through and something more... Malicious and lesser came through, you would all have been attacked instantly while being locked inside your respective positions around the circle.”

Circe felt a chill go down her spine at the premise. She then turned her attention back to Apollo, whose melodical frequency was matching that of the creatures. He had warned them that it was foolhardy, but blinded by her trust in Hecate and her months of prep, led to hubris. Making it so she dismissed the idea that something could go wrong.

”Hmm?” Circe suddenly heard from her side and looked as Maximus was looking around confused.

”Headteacher? Are you ok?” She asked, prompting the man to affirm without looking at her. ”Yes, Yes. I can’t find my bear. It was just here.” He said before continuing to look around. Circe also looked around before her eyes went wide and relayed. ”Um, headteacher, I found your bear.” Maximus turned to Circe and noticed she was pointing upwards. He followed the direction of the pointing and his eyes widened.

”Perpekto! Get down from there!”

...

Pointing to the thing on its shoulder with his chest hand. Xy’oi’la’py’re turned to me and asked. ”What is this thing?”

”That is a bear cub. That human’s pet.” I said pointing to Maximus. ”It is very precious to him so don’t harm it.” As I said that, a big dollop of Lava fell off the Duke’s head and onto Perpekto, I felt my heart lurch before the little cub just shook it off like water and jumped off the shoulder into the Duke’s clawed hand.

Xy’oi’la’py’re looked at the creature in its claw for a few moments before returning its attention to me. ”What do I do with this pet creature?”

”Use a non spiky part of one of your hands and very gently brush it across the cubs back. In us, it makes us feel good. It’s relaxing.” I instructed and the duke did as instructed. A couple of strokes later, it turned back to me. ”Now what?”

”Thats it. No trick.” I said, and the duke grumbled. ”I don’t understand the point?” As the duke said this, Perpekto got up off the claw and then jumped from the clawed hand towards me. I wasn’t expecting this but I more than had to reflexes to catch the pygmy long bear.

As I did so I couldn’t help asking rhetorically. ”How did you even get up there?” In response I received a single mlem on the cheek before it then jumped out of my hands and began walking back towards Maximus.

”Apollo! Stop dilly dallying! What’s it saying! You said we were in a time crunch here!” Hecate suddenly chimed in from the side. She had a point. I had asked it so many questions already and we had barely scratched the surface. ”You are right, sorry.” I said towards Hecate before turning back to the Duke.

”Sorry, you were talking about the sub realm?” I asked, prompting Xy’oi’la’py’re to continue.

”Oh yes. The sub realm isn’t really a ’distance’ away. When I said I was wandering far from it in my previous state, I meant it more as I had become unable to access it any longer. In truth a Psionic entity manifested within Ignis has its mark forever branded into their existence they can slip in and out as they choose. As for your other question. No, ignis isn’t the ’home’ of Fire Psionics. Think of it as more of a... Coalescence of Pyrokinetic might, drawn together and made coherent. I am sure there is a better way to describe that, but your tangible bodies are difficult to explain sensations to now that I am in one.”

After translating all of that to Hecate, I was ready to ask more questions, but The Duke cut me off. ”Kindled of Sol, my time is running out. The catalyst is too weak to sustain me and I am going to soon revert to what I once was and I do not wish to return to that cursed state. Might I request you grant me a mercy?”

The tone suddenly shifted and I felt myself concerned for my Pyrokinetic brethren. ”What do you need from me?”

”Due to her bonded state to you Apollo, Sol cannot absorb me into her without your consent. I have been begging her to allow me to return to the concept, but she needs your permission. I beg this of you Apollo, for I cannot bear the thought of being that husk of what I am once more. And considering you mortals enjoy rewards, If Sol absorbs my power, in return I will brand you with my title as Duke. This will not empower you, so you have no risk of overloading with Psionics. But, one day, as I know you shall triumph to great strengths, and are able to traverse the Psionic plane with ease of mind. You can visit Ignis and see its splendour for yourself. I ask once more. Grant me, Duke Xy’oi’la’py’re of Ignis, this honour and mercy. Kindled of Sol. Apollo.”

I mulled it over for a moment before asking an important question. ”Sol won’t change at all right? Like the two of you aren’t becoming one, correct?”

The Duke then clarified. ”No. I couldn’t attempt to become one with Sol even if I wanted to. She is the start of all of us. Allow me to clarify. As I am, or will be. I cannot as you of the tangible would say, die by normal means. Meaning that if I get destroyed in my Pyrefiend form, I will just gather together over a period of existence and continue on. With Sol absorbing me, I lose who I was and return to all heat and flame. The concept. I ask you once more, grant me this mercy. As the alternative is torture, Kindled of Sol.”

Collecting all the information in my head, weighing all my judgements together, I then looked up at the duke once more and declared.

”Xy’oi’la’py’re, I...”