The hivemind is conquering for me?

With Nerissa knowing, thanks to my one telepathic word to her, that Sol was involved, I told her everything that I had left out to maximus while we had a stroll. She listened carefully, not wishing to miss out on a single detail and by the end of it I could feel her smirking at me through her helmet.

”So, first an Archon of Spartari and now a Duke of this Ignis sub realm? You are picking up titles left and right Apollo. Very intriguing. I wonder what title you will stumble into next?” She said, with genuine curiosity like it was going to happen so I chimed in.

”Hopefully none. And If I do somehow get one, one without responsibilities like I currently have. As outside of my interests, I am very lazy.”

”Really?” Nerissa asked, surprised. ”I have never noticed that.” To which I replied.

”Well, have you ever seen me doing something I wasn’t interested in?” Nerissa parted her lips to reply, but after a moment all she could do was hum out in surprise and realisation, causing me to chuckle softly.

We continued to walk in silence for a moment before I asked. ”So, considering we are sort of walking towards the shipyard, I take it you are leaving right now?”

Nerissa replied in affirmation. ”Yes, acts like this are rather serious and must be reported, though it couldn’t have come at a better time.”

”What do you mean ’at a better time?’” I asked for clarification.

”Well, you have no classes now till next week, you missed the second Psionic basics yesterday and your next class is eight days from now. Meaning I am less likely to miss something intriguing” She admitted, prompting me to scoff.

”Wow, you just see me as one big novelty don’t you? Just walking around and getting into all manner of shit huh?”

I then felt Nerissa stop next to me and stare right at me as she spoke seriously. ”Apollo, we both know that isn’t the case. Don’t speak hurtfully, even if it was just a joke on your part.”

”You are right. I am sorry.” I said, raising my hands up in surrender. ”You wouldn’t give your blessing to any old novelty after all would you? Besides you said yourself you knew I was joking. Anyway, how long are you going to be gone for?” I asked.

”Three days. I’ll have to spend a day with my kin, getting my gear checked and gathering some other things, but three days is just enough time that I am less likely to miss you wandering into some manner of shit as you put it.”

I chuckled at Nerissa instantly bantering with me about what I just apologised for, but also. ”Yeah, that tracks. I am most likely just going to spend the next three days in the library filling up my lore tanks. Nothing exciting about that. Well, it is to me, but you get my point.”

Nerissa felt a knot in her stomach hearing that. Watching Apollo read was another thing she enjoyed doing. His facial expressions as he read things he found fascinating were so intriguing and to be honest, cute. It made her want to boop his snoot just thinking about it.

*Boop*

”Why did you boop my snoot?” I asked, confused. She only did that when she was excited or super intrigued. All I said was I was going to the library.

”I wanted to, so I did. Look.”

*Boop* *Boop*

...

After forgiving the transgression of snoot booping, and giving one to her through her helmet, Nerissa and I made it to her ship. We then both embraced each other with a hug, a hug in which she tried to kill me with her Nymph strength before finally letting go moments before my spine fractured.

After saying goodbye a couple more times between some playful banter, I watched as Nerissa entered her ship and after a few minutes took off. I watched until I could no longer see the ship, not very long, before turning to my own clothes.

I was still wearing the robes for the ritual with my first year robes still in Hecate’s classroom. ’I should go get those before heading to the library... But first I should go see my relative; Valerica said she was making me a cake!’

...

Ecumenopolis 1: Royal Palace

A day later Nerissa had arrived back at her ’home.’ The word felt off. She had lived here for thousands upon thousands of years and yet, in such a small amount of time, she considered her home now to be that small little house on that moon.

’I hope he hasn’t gotten into shenanigans while I am not there.’ She couldn’t help thinking as she went through the motions of powering down her craft. Her thoughts had been littered with Apollo theoreticals the whole time she was in the void of space. ’What was he doing now?’ ’Was he doing this? Or that?’ She hadn’t realised just how much her thoughts were revolving around her source of intrigue. Her friend.

The last time she held such thoughts for another entity was ironically her goddess, Apollo. Though the two relationships between the respective Apollos were wildly different. She would think about that philosophy later when she was alone.

She had not signalled ahead that she was returning, wanting to keep the ordeal quiet as she was not ’returning’ from her intrigue, she was just doing her duty as a Praetorian. So to find Queen Elaine of all people waiting for her with only her handmaidens was quite the surprise.

Nerissa strode forward casually before stopping in front of the queen and with a very slight bow, as it was not required for her, she addressed. ”Queen Elaine.”

”Praetorian Nerissa, how have you been since our last interaction?” The Queen asked, her face smiling luminously

”I have been well, the source of my intrigue has provided more enjoyment than I first anticipated. I am glad to have done what I have done as I now call Apollo my friend.

Elaine’s eyes went wide hearing that. ”Really is that so? Tell me, were you aware of his previous illegal activities of bio engineering before he acquired his dispensation?”

Nerissa knew where this was going and cut to the chase. ”Yes, I was aware. And it was not Bio engineering, it was Gene enhancement. Something I personally believe should be legal, considering metal augmentation is. And before you ask. No, I did not report him. I am above your laws. I had no reason to. Apollo is a good man, better than any human I have met.”

Elaine’s mouth hung open ever so slightly at being read. She felt a little bitter about Apollo. Her first impressions were very favourable after all, so when Hailey told her of his... black science, she felt that hit her ego slightly. Like her judge of character was off.

But with the praise from Praetorian Nerissa and the fact that his Science was actually quite tame on the illegal side after asking her contacts about it. Perhaps she was wrong to hold the bitterness? Especially considering...

”How is my stepdaughter? I am sure you have seen her at the college considering she and Apollo are now dating if I am not mistaken?” She asked curiously.

”Princess Hailey is well and happy. The two of them went on a date the other day and apparently that went very well. To once again cut the questioning short, as I am here on official Praetorian business, They kissed. No they have not engaged in a sexual relationship yet, but do not expect the princess to hold back till marriage. She has grown quite brazen since coming clean about her feelings towards Apollo. Now, I am more than willing to discuss this with you in greater detail later, but for now, I have to report to my order.”

Nerissa had changed in the short time she was gone. She didn’t like the roundabout way nobles did things. Apollo was direct, straight to the point. It had rubbed off on her slightly, evidenced by Elaine once more slack jawed as the Praetorian walked away.

...

Leaving Elaine behind and whatever schemes she was now probably brewing to make her talk more later, Nerissa walked through the royal palace with expert efficiency. through miles of twists and turns heading deeper and deeper into the mountain She eventually entered the restricted section.

The guards didn’t know this, but the Nymphs had long set up wards that made humans feel biologically incapable of even thinking about entering this section of the palace. A perfectly efficient, harmless deterrent which allowed the Nymphs complete freedom inside their home.

As she continued to walk, Nerissa took off her left gauntlet and suddenly halted even though the hallway she was in continued for another hundred or so meters. She then placed her hand out to the left even though nothing was there. But a moment later, something was. A button on a wall that was not perceivable until she pressed it.

The moment she clicked the button the hallway loop ended and the door that had manifested in front of her opened, revealing the barracks and inside the barracks, her kin. One of which noticed her after completing their task and yelling in great delight.

”Sister! You are back!”