Chapter 986: Crooning

Downing another pint, I sighed in satisfaction and wrapped an arm around Kathrine. It felt good to have her back in my arms.

While our bondage link allowed her to visit my mind when our sleep patterns coaligned, there was nothing better than having her with me. "Apollo is going to miss you like crazy again." I said, causing Kathrine to look up at me with a loving smile.

"And you think I won’t be missing you? You are my mind and heart. But I know that we have eternity together. In about five months I will be done with my political tour. Perhaps when I am done, I can come visit your home? I know your ’teacher’ doesn’t exactly like me, but I am sure she won’t bite my head off for coming to see you."

Her choice of words make me chuckle.

"Haha. Apollo doesn’t see why not? Though if you do plan on coming, make sure you go through Sophia and be prepared to be bored."

"Bored? I’d be with you, darling. Why would I be bored?" Kathrine asked and I gave her a look. ’Seriously?’

"Kat, if you think that when you visit all we will be doing is romp... Actually you might be right, but outside of that. Apollo will be doing a lot of science and possibly some other less savoury things. Apollo won’t have time to look after you. Then there is no form of entertainment of any kind, Apollo is pretty sure your noble mind would explode from tedium."

Kathrine let out a gasp and pushed me playfully. "How dare you! My head wouldn’t explode. But I suppose I understand what you are saying. I am a woman blessed with luxury. I’ll give it some more thought, though I still intend to come."

I pulled her closer and whispered into her ear. "Then when the time comes, Apollo will be looking up at the stars, waiting for his precious slave~"

Kathrine visibly shuddered as I said that. I then leant down and kissed her softly on the lips, something she happily accepted.

After our kiss concluded, a voice suddenly cut through the event room.

"Hello honoured guests. It is I, your regent civil queen, Elaine."

’Oh wow, she is really drunk.’ I couldn’t help thinking to myself and also grateful I didn’t get drunk from weak stuff.

"I am announcing that this evening’s event shall officially end in ten minutes time. But don’t feel obligated to leave. After the event has concluded, The Hyllus family has set up a little surprise for you all. Our new Coalition diplomat, Sentinel Apollo Hyllus-Lambdason is going to sing to you all a never before heard song. Apollo, give everyone a wave so anyone in the room who somehow doesn’t know you will know."

I raised my arm and gave everyone a wave.

...

The room looked towards Apollo. The seven and a half foot man had made an impression on more than a few of the nobles here tonight. Some were impressed by the young Sentinel status. Some were impressed by his looks.

Others, who had been watching the man of interest all night, were baffled how the man wasn’t dead with how much he had drunk.

As a result, the room was split. Half thought the man would make an ass of himself and did not want to hear a drunken noble sing. The other half had morbid fascination, wanting to see what the Sentinel had to offer.

...

Ten minutes later, the room now had less than fifty people remaining. The remaining individuals were either toxic haters, looking for a good laugh, those that were genuinely curious if this Sentinel had any talent and those who genuinely wanted to hear Apollo sing.

As I got up on the elevated platform where the King and queen’s thrones were moved by servants, I looked out among the room.

’Fifty is a lot less than how many I had to speak to earlier. Not a problem. Why are there more Praetorians now though?’

The other guests had also noticed the sudden influx of Praetorians in the room. There were around ten of them, Ness and Rhapso not included. I recognised Six of them as the Praetorians from earlier. Then I saw Marnes and Aeteos. I didn’t expect to see them, so I gave them a friendly wave.

They both gave me a nod with a hint of professional detachment. I didn’t hold it to them. Being in the field and being here probably meant they had duties and an air of mystery to keep up.

The others I didn’t recognise. They were most likely Praetorians that had heard my song via the other Praetorians and came to investigate.

’Now I feel bad, no other Ancient Greek songs are in my noodle right now.’

"Apollo?" I suddenly heard from my right. It was Elaine.

"Hey, what’s up?"

"Do you plan on starting soon? We are all very eager." She asked and I realised that I was just looking around the room in my own little world.

"Oh right. Sorry everyone, Apollo gets lost in his own head sometimes. Let me get ready."

For some reason, as I said that, some in the room began to softly laugh. I heard someone say I was ’shitfaced.’

I had no idea why or how he could think that, I was still stone cold sober.

Ignoring them, I took the Psialtherion from under my arm and threw it up in the air softly while simultaneously connecting to it via telepathy.

A moment later the thing was floating next to my head and swiftly a cacophony of noise began to come out of the instrument, prompting me to frown. "Give Apollo a moment everyone. It’s his first time using this instrument.

...

Members of the crowd began to snicker and some even pulled out their communicators to begin recording the event.

A certain individual that was already livestreaming the exclusive event frowned, annoyed by everyone wanting the Sentinel to fail. He was very nice to her earlier, showing more character than almost everyone here tonight.

A minute or so later, the random noise suddenly began to take on notes, then rhythm, then music. Everyone suddenly became silent as the intro of a song began. It was very different from current popular music.

Just as it looked like Apollo was about to begin he shook his head and mumbled.

"No, not this one."

In an instant another song suddenly began to play from the floating instrument. Different instruments were even audible. Many had never seen such an instrument before and were already impressed.

The Sentinel seemingly was nodding along with the music before shaking his head and changing.

This occurred a few times before the Sentinel suddenly jolted upright and declared.

"Oh! I know!"

Instantly the sound of a guitar, bass, drums and most impressively, the sound of feminine background singers harmonizing suddenly began.

What was even more impressive was that out of nowhere, the Sentinel seemed to sober up as he took in a large deep breath and joined in

"Put your heads on my shoulders!"

The sudden power in the words caused many to get sudden goose bumps.

"Hold me in your arms, baby. Squeeze me oh-so-tight. Show me, that you love me too~"

Hailey felt her heart threatening to escape through her mouth. When her man sang. It always had so much passion. She could feel his love pouring out with every word and couldn’t help blushing at him using the term of endearment, ’baby’ That is what he called her.

"Put your lips next to mine, dear~ Won’t you kiss me once, baby? Just one kiss goodnight and maybe~ You and I will fall in love."

...

Everyone was just lost in a trance as the Sentinel continued singing. Many a female and many a male had hands over hearts, mouths slacked slightly as they listened to the beautiful crooning and watched the slight gyration of the Sentinel’s body as he got lost in the music.

"Put your heads on my shoulders~ Whisper into my ears, baby! Words, that, I wanna hear, baby~ Put your heads on my shoulders~~~"

...

I took a deep breath after I was done and smiled at myself, that was a lot of fun. I didn’t really think I would like singing in public, I always considered my music very personal. After all, it wasn’t actually mine. The things I remembered were one way or another influential enough in my past life to remember now.

It was homage to a part of me that literally died.

Before I could start to feel sombre at that part, I began to walk away, I really needed another drink.

It was at the realisation that I needed a drink, a loud droning noise suddenly caught my attention. Turning towards it, I suddenly realised a large majority of the onlookers were violently clapping.

’Oh right!’

"Thank you! Apollo likes that song as well. Anyways, the bar is calling me." I said politely, but I don’t think anyone heard me as the clapping resumed.

As I got off the stage, Elaine stood in my way, both her hands over her chest. "Apollo... That was beautiful, I don’t think I ever heard anything like-"

My hand was suddenly grabbed and lurched backwards, I staggered backwards as not to injure the person that grabbed me. "Kat?" I attempted to ask.

She shook her head as she continued to drag me. "No talk. We need to find a bedroom before I tear those clothes off you here and now."