The hivemind is conquering for me?

”I’m going to shove my fist so far up your ass like a puppet if you don’t stop spouting shit!” I heard as I entered the tent.

Skaja and Serena had not changed even slightly as the war went on and it baffled me how two people could talk to each other this way while being allies.

Serena was about to reply to Skaja’s crude imagination before noticing me. ”Apollo! What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be resting?”

She then approached me, but was pushed aside as Skaja ran up to me and proceeded to hug me. ”I’m so glad you are ok. You are ok? Right?”

I hugged Skaja back and replied. ”Yeah, I’m fine. Fully healed.”

”Good. Good.” She said pulling back before punching me with her full strength directly into my arm.

”Will you stop fighting to the brink of death!? Are you trying to scare everyone!?”

I rubbed the back of my head, embarrassed. I wasn’t going to be telling everyone my last injuries were meticulously inflicted after all.

Seeing my embarrassment, Skaja pulled back and spoke, ”Sorry. I guess I am still a bit pissed about you leaving the squad again.”

”Yeah, I wasn’t in my right mind doing that to be honest and you aren’t the first to say that. I was just very very angry and needed to vent with no one around.”

Skaja nodded her head. She understood his point of view, but she felt how she felt and that was also fine.

”So, my Nephew, the Warlord killer, what can we do for you?” Serena asked, giving me a caring look.

”I’m here to fight, of course. I just arrived with a bunch of Praetorians. Oh totally unrelated, Skaja, can we have a word in private for a second?”

”Me? Sure.” Skaja spoke and I was about to escort her somewhere when Serena interjected. ”No no, have this tent for ten minutes, I am in desperate need for something to eat as is. I’ll be back soon.” Serena then walked up to me and kissed me on the cheek as she passed.

”You are doing the family name proud.” She said warmly before leaving.

Skaja scoffed once she was gone and rolled her eyes. ”The audacity of that bitch. You know she is going to milk your accomplishments for everything they are worth, for her benefit because you are family?”

I shrugged my shoulders. ”I don’t mind. I don’t fight war for glory. And if my actions can help a family member, I don’t really mind.”

Skaja sighed, exasperated. ”Have you ever been told you are too pure for this empire? I guarantee no one else is thinking the way you are... Anyway, what’s up?”

”I just thought I would give our friend the goddess here a heads up that the Nymph leader, Thespius is looking for you. He wants to ask you a bunch of questions about stuff. So either go to him or avoid him, your call.” I explained.

Skaja paused for a moment after I did and looked like she was talking to someone inside herself. A hard thing to spot, but considering I actively do that all the time, I could.

”Did this Thespius tell you why he was looking for Artemis?” She asked and I nodded.

”Yeah, I think he wants to ask if she needs anything or if she has any orders for her Praetorians.”

Skaja let out a large sigh. ”Give me a second.” She said before her blue eyes turned a glowing green and her blonde hair turned Amber red.

Nerissa behind me dropped to one knee, while Rhapso simply tilted her head downwards out of respect.

Fortunately Artemis didn’t seem to notice as she looked at me with curiosity. ”You are stronger.”

”Am I?” I questioned, looking at myself.

”Not your body, but everything else. This war has pushed you as a warrior. Your close calls imparting lessons to your very soul. And there is something else I can’t quite place... You really are an interesting one, Apollo... My friend.”

I raised an eyebrow hearing that, but didn’t address it.

Artemis then turned her attention towards Rhapso and Nerissa, completely unphased by their stances and spoke. ”Nymphs. Go inform your leader my orders to you still stand. All I want is my shards, I don’t want to speak with anyone else. Skaja doesn’t need the attention. And neither do I for that matter.”

Nerissa got up to leave immediately, but Rhapso stayed still a moment, her attention lingering on me. I did as best as I could to gesture with my eyes for her to go. At which point she did.

Upon turning back to Artemis, I suddenly paused as she placed her hands on my shoulders and looked at me, silently frowning.

”?”

”I find it bizarre that I can call you friend without convulsing in disgust, Apollo. You know things you shouldn’t and are an anomaly of a man. Yet I find you tolerable. I can even touch you. I am not sure if it’s Skaja’s influence on my broken form or not that makes me feel this way.” She admitted and I shrugged.

”I don’t know enough about your divinity to understand why you dislike men so much, but perhaps the reason is because I treat Skaja like a friend first? Gender being obsolete in the matter? The same with you for that matter. I mean, I don’t even really care that you are a god. I mean it’s cool, but it’s just a label for powerful individuals. I just like Artemis. You are respectful to me, you don’t look down at me, figuratively speaking, so I don’t look down at you. We are just friends. Honestly, I hope to get to know you better if the future dictates.” I spoke my feelings on the matter.

Artemis’ mouth opened slightly, something I said had clearly surprised her. Perhaps insulted her as she suddenly materialised her spear, or herself technically.

She then extended her hand out and explained her action. ”Grab me. I want to test something.”

I looked at the spear then back at Artemis’ vessel. ”You want me to grab the soul agonising spear?”

”Yes.” Artemis spoke. ”As your friend I am requesting you take the spear.”

I took a deep breath. I still recalled that pain. It was horrible. But my friend asked and I obliged.

Without hesitation I just yoinked the spear from her grasp and expected a serious amount of pain instantly, but instead it was more like prickling. Like my soul had pins and needles. Not pleasant, but not hysterically painful.

Artemis’ mouth hung agape. ”I can’t believe it... I don’t feel the urge to kill you this time. I just feel displeasure at being touched by a man on my body and that is all. And it is not that much displeasure. Apollo, what-”

Before Artemis could ask what she wanted to ask the green eyes suddenly disappeared and Skaja’s blue eyes suddenly became apparent. She looked around, dazed for a moment before turning to me.

”Hey, is everything all good? Where did the Praetorians go... How and why are you holding my spear? Apollo, put that down before she hurts you again!”

Giving the spear a little twirl I then gestured it towards Skaja and asked? ”What? She didn’t tell you before leaving? She got over her hate of men and I’m her vessel now. Pretty neat huh?”

”What?” Skaja asked, baffled, forgetting she could still feel Artemis’ presence within her existence for a moment.

”Yeah, crazy huh? I didn’t expect it, but she said, ’Apollo! You are the bee’s knees. No host could compare. I should joyride you for a bit and see what happens. Skaja? Oh she will be fine. I doubt she even cares.’ I mean, how cruel right? It’s like you haven’t developed a bond after all that fighting. I hope we are better acquainted than you were...”

Skaja felt her heart break hearing that. Artemis had been using her family as hosts for generations, it was an honour beyond imagining. And now she was the one that forced her to leave? She felt her world ending, she wanted to crawl into a hole and D-

’-Are you serious? I am still here, foolish girl. Now get my spear out of that cocky shits hands.’ She heard from within and realised she had just fallen victim to a seriously obvious practical joke.

Reaching out her hand, she recalled the spear and it landed powerfully in her grasp.

”That wasn’t funny, Apollo. I almost had an existential crisis just now!” Skaja declared, pointing the spear at me.

I raised my hands while smirking. ”Hey, you are just too close to it. It was funny.”

’It was in good spirit. I admit I found it humorous until you failed to see it was a joke past his horrific imitation of what I supposedly said. Bee’s knees? Joyride? Come on girl.’

”Skaja, are you ok?” I asked, as she blanked out again, most likely talking to Artemis.

she lowered her spear and sighed. ”Yes, Artemis also found it funny for the most part.”

Hearing that, I clapped my hands together and explained jovially,

”See! Two versus one. Ergo, it was funny. You are just too close to it. At least my other friend in there has a good sense of humour.”