The hivemind is conquering for me?

The rest of the class was just everyone focusing on their new Meditation work, no one else in the time remained entered the Mindspace. When the class ended, Hailey announced. ”Remember everyone, If you manage to enter your Mindspace, Do not leave your barrier unless you wish to risk a violent death. Enjoy the rest of your day!”

She and I then briefly made eye contact before she hastily left the classroom. I didn’t dwell on it for long as I called out to someone else who was rushing away after being given permission to leave. ”Althea, hey!” The woman stopped in place and turned to face me, clearly not expecting to be called out to. A small smile graced her face though as she walked over, so she clearly wasn’t against talking.

”Hey Apollo, Oh, hi Janine, nice to see you again.” Janine frowned for a moment before coming to a realisation. ”Oh, I remember you, from enrolment? Yeah, hi, likewise.”

I then introduced everyone else. ” To my further left is Orchid, and next to Gabrielle is Alder and Ivy, everyone, this is Althea. She is in my dispensation and outside of the college is a doctor of great renown in the field of microbiology.”

Everyone but Orchid then greeted her, prompting Althea to tuck her hair behind her ear while blushing out of embarrassment. ”Um, hi. Apollo exaggerates. I’m not of great renown. I’m just a normal doctor.”

Ivy then chimed in. ”Still, an actual doctor? That’s already like smart smart. And now you are here? You must be-” ”-Mega brained.” Alder butted in, prompting Ivy to agree.

Althea looked away embarrassed by the compliments, it had been some time. She then pushed the topic of conversation away from herself and asked. ”So, big group. How long have you all known each other? You all seem very close.” She said, before eyeing me up and down curiously.

”Oh, not long. In fact, this is the second time Apollo and us have spoke, we thought he got expelled. we only met him at... The opening ceremony...” Ivy suddenly went very quiet and reserved as she looked directly behind Althea.

”Hey Nerissa, how was the lesson from your perspective?” I asked. Althea then turned around and instinctively took a step back as the Praetorian was standing right behind her.

”Enjoyable. I found Hailey’s dialogue to be smooth and simple to understand. Which is important as many of the first years do not have your previous experiences.” Nerissa declared prompting me to reply with.

”Mmh. That is true.”

My attention then turned back to Alder and Ivy who had stood up. ”So, do you guys have anymore classes today?” My question caused the two of them to grunt annoyed. ”Yeah, don’t remind me, because we are non combatants, we have to take normal classes to like... Ugh Algebra. Bro really hates algebra, don’t you?”

Alder nodded his head and quietly muttered ”Letters and numbers shouldn’t be together...”

”Woah, you are a dude?” Althea blurted out before her eyes went wide in shock. ”Oh, I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to-” ”-It’s fine, happens all the time. I’m just built and sound like a girl apparently? What can you do?”

”Get with a tall muscular chick? They like short effeminate men, from what I remember... Why is everyone looking at me? Oh, did I just say that out loud?” I said, out loud, prompting me to blush slightly embarrassed by my inner thoughts.

My words must have struck a chord though as Alder looked down with a calculative look in his eyes. Ivy chuckled at her brother before waving. ”Ok, everyone, we have to rush to the other side of the building. Apollo, lets hang out probably sometime, now I know you are still here, Althea, that offer extends to you, I have a feeling we are all going to be close going forward! Take care.”

After the twins left, my attention went back to Althea, who from the context of what I just asked, replied with. ”I am all done fortunately, I’m going to go to the library and read through this meditation until I am done. What about you guys?”

”Orchid is done, but I have two more classes today, but right now I am famished despite my quite hearty breakfast. Do you fancy grabbing a bite to eat?” Althea puckered her lips in thought for a moment before seemingly agreeing with herself as she nodded her head. ”Sure, why not. I could do with a snack or something.”

”Perfect! We can go to Millie’s for a snack, I am entitled to a craving because Some individuals ate all of mine last night...” I said, teasingly, making four individuals feel a twinge of guilt. I then turned to Gabrielle who was still sat next to me and asked. ”Do you want to come too?”

’YES! WITH ALL MY HEART I WANT TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOU!’ Is what she thought calmly, but what she actually said was. ”I would love to, but I need to go and rendezvous with Hailey, she and I need to have a chat. Enjoy the rest of your day.

She then gave me a quick tingly hug before walking out of the room.

I stood up shortly after. ”Right, let’s get moving then, I only have an hour before-” I suddenly felt a burning glare on the back of my neck and turned to face the perpetrator. ”Oh.”

Staring daggers at me was my little ball of sunshine that I had been partnered with yesterday. I waved at Tamara and next to her, Francesca, politely, which the blonde did wave back. I smiled seeing that and nodded towards her, before turning my attention back on my little group of friends and family. ”Lets go.”

...

Moran just sat there, a little confused. Every time he tried to speak up just then, to talk to all the beauties, he got this overwhelming sense of danger... He wanted to go with them as well to stay with Orchid, but he clearly blew his shot and just slinked out unnoticed alongside them to go to the library. There was always another day to try again...

...

”Ugh, the ugly fucker dares to look at me? I should pluck out his eyes for being so lecherous. Look at all those ugly sluts around him as well, did he get the most ugly of Sepiidans as well or what. Pathetic cuck... Can’t believe someone like a Praetorian follows him around...” Tamara said, gnashing her teeth as she watched the purple haired uggo leave the hall.

Francesca laughed softly. ”Please. You are just sore because you got cocky and got your ass handed to you two times in one day. And there is no need to be cruel to those around him because of that. All of those women are very pretty and he is...”

Francesca ceased her talking as Tamara glared daggers at her, the threat of violence imminent. It startled her for a moment, but a confident smile emerged on her lips prompting her to goad further.

”You can be as mad as you want, Tammy, but don’t kid yourself, that’s a good looking dude. And that body... *Gulp* Plus, he is strong Psionically too. Did you see how fast he entered his Mindspace? He literally gave me inspiration allowing me to enter so fast.”

Tamara rolled her eyes in disgust. ”If you like the ugly fucker so much, why don’t you marry him then? I’m heading to my room. Can’t believe you said he was attractive... The man looks like Drakoshi dung.”

As Tamara walked away, Francesca laughed while collecting her things. ”You keep telling yourself that, but you are only lying to yourself babe.”

...

Arriving outside the bakery, Althea became confused. ”Why are there armed guards outside a bakery?” I looked over, noticing the two guards were different from yesterday and sighed. ”You will see in a second.”

...

”My hands are up already. geez! I have permission to go inside from the owner herself. Did the memo not go out yet?”

The two guards that raised their weapons at me looked between one another before one asked. ”Name?”

”Apollo.” The two looked between one another once more. One lowered their weapon while the other kept it raised. ”If you are who you say you are, turn around for a moment, while we get Millie to verify.”

”Fair enough.”

I then turned around to the very confused Althea who had used me as protection against the weapons. ”The owner has a power that affects men only. I am immune for some reason. Trust me, from what the owner told me, having these guns on me now is a fair price to pay for her safety. She is very sweet after all.”

A moment later, the bell to the shop dinged followed by a murmur then. ”Forgive us, Mr Lambdason, your name is known to us, but not your face. We will pass along your features to the rest of the guards so this won’t happen again. Millie is making lunch, but said you are welcome to join her.

As we entered the bakery, an overwhelming smell of sheer mouth watering delight hit everyone present. A moment later, a head peered out from the kitchen and smiled.

”Apollo! So glad to see you! And glad that you are still unaffected by my aura! Haha. Come in, come in. Ooh, you brought more friends? Aren’t you Mr popular? Go sit down, I will just finish up here and bring you all something to eat.”