After the stick left the room, I turned around to a room full of silent cultists staring at me. There were decorations everywhere as well, causing me to turn to Sophia, who I think was doing damage control through her under-link.
"Are you guys throwing a party? What's the occasion?" I asked, causing Sophia and her cultists to turn at me simultaneously, as I was the glue that fixed all issues and yelled. "Surprise!"
A banner suddenly unfurled from the ceiling that said. 'Welcome Home Apollo' I jumped in surprise, my hand on my heart. "Oh you guys! This is so thoughtful, how did you prepare so much in less than a day? Oh I love you all so much!"
A wave of pure please erupted through the collective present at those words, they had already forgotten what the mother had done and forgiven as they knew she was corrupted at the time, and that they had to anyway.
