After telling everyone my current three phase plan after the water got here. I could tell everyone was on board with no exceptions. I then dismissed the majority of them. Calling out to a few for extra instruction.

"Gabrielle, stay behind for a moment. Tamara, Willow. Stick close to the tent. And Francesca. Go with Rhapso to inspect our playground. We start as soon as we are able."

Once the tent was empty apart from Gabrielle and I she smiled as she approached me. "Apollo. That was excellent. I admire how your mind works. It is very attractive."

I chuckled at her comment before getting down to the reason I asked her to stay behind. "Gab, what was the reason for the tears? I need to make sure you are alright."

Gabrielle went on the defensive. "Oh! That, it’s nothing. I promise you I-" She then paused before sighing. "Apollo, can you put your helmet back on for a second and lean down a bit?"

I did as she asked and once I was resting against the table, Gabrielle walked up and began to caress the crest atop my helmet.

"Sorry Apollo. I really am fine now. It’s just this pentagonal crest... Although it is really small, it just reminded me of the scourge a little. It must just be an insect thing."

I gulped, but kept my composure.

"Must be. I’m just glad you are ok."

Gabrielle then walked forward and proceeded to hug me, letting out a large exhale as she did. "You are too good to me, you know? Checking on me like that. It is so sweet. But with our age difference, it should be the other way around Hehe."

Hearing that I chuckled. "Hah! What age difference? Eighteen? Nineteen years? Trust me, as we have established, I like my women more on the mature side as it is. Keep on being cute and I’ll gobble you up."

"Hehehe~" Gabrielle giggled before breaking the hug and looking up at me. "Careful what you say Apollo. If I decide to take advantage of those words, you will never get rid of me again... Or would you like that~"

The look in Gabrielle’s eyes as she said that sent shivers down my spine. Scaroused struck again so I cleared my throat. "*Ahem* Gab, can you go fetch Tamara and Willow and bring them back in with you?"

...

Nerissa rolled her eyes as Gabrielle left.

’That woman needs to tell Apollo already. It’s honestly baffling how long this has gone on...’

She supposed that in the middle of a war was probably not the best time, but still. It brought her discomfort every time the two of them were alone. Keeping the secret from her- From Apollo, was not a fun ordeal. Especially now after he confirmed her suspicions.

She just let out a silent sigh. It had to happen sooner or later....

’Right?’

...

I turned to Nerissa, about to ask her if she was ok after hearing her sigh, but a few seconds later Willow barged into the tent and yelled. "Wow! That armour looks so cool Apollo! Look at it! I bet the creature you killed to obtain it was so powerful. Can I feel it?"

Before I could reply, Willow had her hands all over me. I could see the look in her eye. The fascination of the chitin. She was probably wondering if she would get anything like this after her forced evolution.

The thought also left me a little excited, but now was not the time and I was about to speak when another set of hands began touching the armour.

Turning to Tamara, her face was showing genuine surprise and curiosity. "This is much more imposing than your last armour pattern... It looks sturdier as well." She commented, nonchalantly.

*Thwuunk*

I suddenly felt a force hit my armour, but did not budge in the slightest. Looking at Tamara, she was shaking her bloodiest fist while looking at my chest, wide eyed. "Wow, not even a dent. That is a serious upgrade right there Apollo. How did you manage to kill a creature with such a thick carapace?"

Before I could reply, Nerissa did it for me.

"Apollo identified a weakness on the creature’s neck while above it. He used a nearby stalagmite while we yoked its neck and he plunged it deep into the creature’s neck, decapitating it. It was a masterful display of tactical awareness as without him spotting that, we would have been fighting the insect for hours."

"What brought on the altercation? What was the purpose of the mission?" Tamara asked and Nerissa stepped forward.

"Tamara, I advise not to ask again into the affair of Praetorians. I know you did not mean offence, but the mission is classified. Apollo only got accepted to tag along after serious testing and screening."

Tamara immediately stood back and lowered her head. "Ah yes, Apologies, Praetorian. Forgive me."

Nerissa returned to a neutral position while I looked at her. "I suppose there was a nicer way of saying that, but yes. Classified. Sorry, I won’t betray their trust."

I then put my armour into standby mode and brushed Willow aside after she continued to fondle my arm after it was removed.

I then turned back to Tamara and asked her. "So hey, while we have a few minutes of alone time before I become Sentinel Apollo again. How are you holding up with, you know?"

Tamara’s eyes immediately went wide and I saw a look on her face I couldn’t recognise. "Shit, sorry. I thought now might be a good time, forget what-"

"-No." Tamara interjected, her eyes closed as she practised her breathing. "No, its ok. I’ve not really had much time to ponder on it until the end of the siege. I-" Her eyes began to tear up. "- I just miss him. But he doesn’t even care about me... I don’t know how I’m supposed to go on when I go back. He made it clear now... He doesn’t want me around."

Willow picked up what the context was quick and interjected. "Whoa whoa whoa! Did your boyfriend break up with you before coming here? What the fuck?" She said, turning to me in shock before walking around the table and looking at Tamara up close.

"He-He wasn’t my boyfriend... I just loved him, but he hates me..."

"What is he, dickless?" Willow asked genuinely shocked. "Shit girl, we are team pink and I have to tell you, you are a bombshell! How could he not want to be your boyfriend? If he turned you aside, that was a proper gronk move. Right Apollo?"

Tamara proceeded to look up at me from her sniffling. I had questions for Willow, like what a gronk was, but I replied.

"I liked Sigfried up until I saw how he was treating you. He is an idiot for not having you as a partner."

Gabrielle then added on. "It’s true darling, you are a very beautiful woman."

Tamara then sniffled for a few more seconds before a smile broke onto her face. She proceeded to wipe her eyes. "Thank you. Sorry for crying, it’s just that I don’t do well with sudden emotional spikes."

"Talking to an expert in that field of expertise, sister." Gabrielle added with empathy before looking at me and scratching the back of her head.

Willow then got closer and gave Tamara a side hug before adding on. "Besides, there is plenty of meat on the market when you are ready to rebound. And you are just stunning. A radiant beauty. Right, everyone? Gabrielle?"

"Yes, your features are magical, Tamara." Gabrielle declared.

"Nerissa?" Willow continued.

"You have nice eyes and an enviable jawline." Nerissa stated calmly.

"Apollo?" Willow asked and Tamara turned to face me, her red eyes still a little misty.

I smiled at her. "Yes, I said back before we were friends that you already were beautiful, but now I know the person on the inside as well as the outside much better. You are going to get through this and make someone very happy in the future, Tammy."

*Thud thud*

Tamara felt her heart beat in her ears for a moment before stammering out. "O-Oh, um thank you-everyone! Such kindness... I needed it right now. S-So, was there an actual reason to call us in here, Sentinel?"

I watched as Tamara let out a soft smile after speaking. It was good she managed to get that out. If it festered longer during the duration of the war, it could have exploded at a less fortunate moment with more serious intensity.

I then cleared my throat as I flipped the switch in my brain from friendly cheerful Apollo to serious Sentinel Apollo.

"Alright then. Yes. I have called you back because the six of us in this room will be the core part of phase three that launches after the Drakoshi attempt their next assault. I have worked with you all before and trust both you as individuals and your powers."

"Wait, Apollo. There are only five of us here? You said six?"

I nodded my head. "Yes, but I am also including the giant snake in the corner that has been invisible the entire time I’ve been here."

I then turned to the far corner of the tent and a few moments later Sithrik appeared sticking out her tongue before speaking.

"SSShame. I was hoping to stay hidden until you were alone so I could seduce you. Welcome back, my husband. I missed you dearly."