Chapter 747: Becoming A Limb

Rhea still seemed a bit flabbergasted by something, but she answered. “Oh, um. We can’t really say, it’s classified, but basically we have been hopping from warzone to warzone.”

Willow then chimed in, closing the distance between us. “Our team focuses on scorched earth warfare. We destroy ground the enemy has taken so they cannot use it. Earlier today, we destroyed the Drakoshi’s major offensive arms. Tons of battle gear and munitions! It set their offensive back days! That gives us even more time to dig in and set up our defences. Isn’t that amazing?”

“Koeda! The fuck are you doing! Classified means classified!” Rhea whisper-yelled at Willow before looking around worried.

Willow then turned to Rhea like she had just said the stupidest thing ever. “But, it’s Apollo. We can tell Apollo. Besides, he is a Sentinel now, he outranks us.”

Rhea then looked like she had been smacked by something invisible leaving a surprised look on her face as she turned back to me. “Oh yeah. What the fuck? How has that happened Apollo? The last time we met you were still a fallen Archon… And how do you have a Praetorian as your guard?”

I then let out an exaggerated breath and put my hand on my forehead. “Oh, where to begin? It’s a long story so I’ll give you the rundown. After we last saw each other, I went to Euc 1 for queen Elaine’s party. While there, I ran into Valerica, cured her condition, went to the party, met your dad and Talia. Got into a fight that nearly killed me with another Praetorian. Nerissa found me interesting and followed me back. Then I got sick and went home. Came back. Valerica adopted me, your mum divorced your dad. I went to college, got enrolled in the elite program. One of my teachers summoned a Psionic being, Nerissa went to report. Blackmailed King Dickon in my place, as I just found out, for my sentinel position she came back. kept on doing college for a bit till a few days ago when we got the emergency call and now here we are. Questions?”

Rhea began to fumble for her words. “Y-You cured Grandma? Wait Did you say my parents got divorced? When the fuck was this? And- How did you manage to get a Praetorian to blackmail the civil King? And did you say Grandma adopted you? What the fuck?”

Willow on the other hand smiled up at me and rubbed my bicep. “Sounds like you had quite the packed ticket since we last saw each other huh? I am not surprised, you are such an interesting person after all.”

I smiled hearing that. It was a nice compliment. “Oh, thanks Willow.” I replied wholeheartedly before turning back to Rhea. “Oh, speaking of Valerica. Cockburn!” I yelled at the top of my voice and as I did so, the centurion came running over.

“Sentinel? How can I be of service?”

“Yeah, hi. I need some parchment and something to write with.”

The man then gave me a salute and ran off at full speed. “Just a second.” I turned to Rhea and squinted my nose playfully at her.

A few seconds later, Cockburn ran back out of the facilities holding a folding table in one hand and a piece of sturdy paper in the other with a pen in his mouth.

“Wow, the extra mile with the table. Thank you very much.” I said honestly, and the man looked at me with something akin to reverence before saluting once more and running away.

“Is being a sentinel that big a deal? Jeez.” I muttered under my breath before I began to scribble.

“Apollo what are you doing?” Rhea asked as she watched, but I didn’t need to respond as she watched what I was drawing, her eyes became wider and wider before shoving Willow’s face away.

“Apollo what the fuck! How do you have that and why does it look… Different?” She suddenly went silent as she began to look over the paper in front of her.

“Well when I went back home, there wasn’t much to do there. So I asked Valerica to give me the Hyllus family technique so I could attempt to improve on it. And I did. Getting rid of the lingering effect after using it for decades the way your grandma did. Valerica says the new one is amazing, so I thought I would share it with the rest of the family. As I think it’s mean for her to hoard it all to herself and Kathrine.”

…

…

…

After a few moments of silence as Rhea read what was in front of her with an intensity that reminded me of Valerica. ’As Kathrine only gets that look in the bedroom.’ She spoke up.

“Apollo this… Grandma really gave you the… But she barely trusted me with… Apollo, thank you.” She then leaped forward and gave me a hug which I responded in kind.

“Of course. We are family, I take great care of my family. Now as for your other questions. Yes, Kathrine and Milo got divorced a few months ago now. He moved out east and Nathanos went with him. We haven’t heard from either of them since. And I have no idea what Nerissa said to Dickon, she wouldn’t tell me that, but that makes me think it had something to do with Hailey and her Fathers relationship and Nerissa took advantage? I don’t know yet. I will try and get more out of her.”

Rhea then looked like she got slapped by something again. “Whoa whoa whoa.” “Hailey. As in Princess Hailey Athena?”

I nodded.

Rhea then pointed at me, in bewilderment. “You are dating that ice queen my mother fawns over? And my mother is ok with that?”

It was Willow who interjected at this point. “Of course Kathrine would be fine with it. She was such a kind woman. And besides. Apollo is… Wait, did you get taller?” She got side-tracked and began to measure herself up against me.

Rhea looked at her friend who had been acting weird since Apollo arrived before looking at the anomaly of a man before her, who had gotten taller. ’By at least six inches…’ However, her brain could brain after a long day.

She then proceeded to reach for the family technique before sliding it into her battle armour and speaking Politely. “Apollo. While it is great you are here. And hopefully will be later to continue this discussion. The toll of the last four days has caught up with me and I am on the verge of passing out. Do you mind if I go and sleep?”

“Oh no, not at all. You get your rest. We can chat later.” I replied.

Rhea nodded her head and looked like she was about to walk off before halting. She then turned on her heel and walked towards me before reaching up on her tip toes and kissed me on the cheek.

“Thank you for saving the lives of myself and my squad. I owe you a debt I cannot repay.” She then turned to Willow. “Willow… If you aren’t coming, behave.”

Willow then proceeded to grab me tighter and giggled. “Oh don’t worry. I just want to hear more of Apollo’s stories. I’ll be following along shortly.”

Rhea gave Willow a look that I could not discern before walking away. Once she was out of earshot. Willow turned back to me and hugged me. She then proceeded to speak to me in a hushed tone “Oh Apollo I have missed you so much. Thank you for this wonderful gift you have bestowed upon me. How is Sophia? How is Keyla? How is-

“-Oh Willow. I thought I smelled you. Long time no see.” A figure covered in guts suddenly appeared next to me. At that time I also felt Sapphire enter my Mindspace.

Willow then bowed before Onyx. “Lady Onyx. It is a pleasure to be in your presence once more. I promise my distance from the family has not diminished my loyalty. In fact it has only broadened it. Seeing humanity for what it truly is now… I am disgusted to be a part of helping its regime expand.”

Onyx smirked. “I am glad to hear this Willow. When Keyla turned you so suddenly, we feared you might rebel and I would have to kill you. I am glad that is not the case.”

Willow then chuckled. “Rebel? After being shown the light where once I was blind? Never, my lady.

Not needing my cute dense translator at this point, Janine, I figured out the context of what was being spoken and went.

“Woah, Hold the front door! What the fuck?!?”

I then turned to Onyx and pulled her close before whispering. “Is she a ’family member?’ When did this happen?”

Onyx looked at me surprised, something she doesn’t often do considering she actively reads my mind all day everyday. “Did we not tell you, my everything? Keyla turned her into a cultist. Now it was ahead of schedule and Sophia almost killed her over it, but-”

“-Well no fucking surprise there. What the fuck was that short fucker thinking?” I then turned to Willow who was looking at me confused. “I mean, it worked out, but you know her power Onyx, you were there in the starlight way when she whispered it to me. If things went awry, she could have killed the entire family in a second. Oh Keyla is getting it when I see her again…”

Willow then tugged on my shirt and looked up at me saddened. “Apollo? Did I do something wrong? I am sorry if I did.”

My anger immediately vanished. Keyla’s recklessness aside, Willow was now much different from the willow of a minute ago. She had Jewel’s DNA inside her. She had a parasite inside her Mindspace. She was becoming one of Jewel’s limbs. That changed our entire relationship from friend to…

Wrapping my arm around her, I pulled her in and hugged her. “No, of course you haven’t. I am just mad at my little murder hobo for being reckless. I couldn’t be happier you are one of us now… The more people I have connections with a part of the family the better. But let’s move this conversation to somewhere more private for now. Shall we?”

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