Records of Rebirth

Chapter 189 - Rooms Of Insanity

During her imprisonment, she had nothing much to do so she would analyse the nestling's behaviours sometimes. 

Artemis was someone who was notoriously self-centred.

It wasn't out of the ordinary for him to promise everything as long as he got his wishes. And she didn't want to see half of her team's future food supply swindled away from them, just so Artemis could get the best room all to himself when there were several others he could use.

And so Arsinoe rushed to interrupt their argument before the mischievous snakes got their way.

[Why don't you use the underground cells like Morgana?] she suggested. [They are spacious enough for anything.]

Anything to screw with her nemesis's claim was a good enough plan.

Artemis was about to complain, but when he saw it was Arsinoe he broke into a savage grin.

[I see you can't wait to become my poison tester. But you don't need to assist me so soon – I already know how to choose the best spot.]

Arsinoe grimaced. [Ugh! You wish!!]

She already regretted coming over.

But Artemis continued to explain. [That room has the most space, my plants need plenty of room to grow.]

However the two swindlers didn't care. [It has the most light crystals, which is perfect to keep our shiny stones illuminated. Nobody cares about your dull plants.]

Apollo who had been silent all this time, chose to chime in as well. [Can you not use the cells? I kind of need them to keep my creatures.]

[You plan to go through with it?] Artemis gave him a curious stare, and Apollo nodded.

But the mischievous snakes grimaced and exchanged funny looks. [Why would you want those ugly bugs?]

Another sighed. [I honestly don't understand the appeal.]

Arsinoe wasn't sure what they meant so she asked the team members who followed her.

[He's been collecting those gross bottom feeders.] One replied.

[He says he wants to raise them.] Another added.

Arsinoe immediately turned up her nose. [Really? That's just gross.]

All of the nestlings present now stared at Apollo like he'd grown an extra head.

Hearing all the criticism, Apollo tried to defend himself. [They are really gentle creatures. They don't attack me, or anyone ever, you'll see. I can show you if you don't believe me.]

Hearing this made Arsinoe panic.

[You brought one here? They are dangerous!] she yelled and Apollo shrank away.

She still remembered how quickly she'd seen a group of the creatures reduce an entire carcass to bones in seconds. How could he do something so stupid?

[Shh…don't be so loud.] Apollo hushed her. [None of the captains know yet.]

[That's much worse!] Arsinoe exclaimed. [Get rid of them!]

[Are you forgetting I'm also a captain?] Artemis frowned at Apollo who quivered, but he didn't seem too concerned about the issue, and he focused instead on arguing for the larger room with the mischievous snakes.

Arsinoe couldn't believe how irresponsible he acted, and was beyond exasperated as she watched them all argue.

The mischievous snakes were simply too greedy for wealth, enough to challenge a captain to further their own interests. Artemis was obsessed with poison and he was only mad that they were not allowing him to do what he wanted.

And as for Apollo, it seemed he just wanted to show off his new pets.

In conclusion - they were all insane!

As if there weren't enough strange eggs, they just had to add bottom feeders too?

What was next? Fire breathing monsters.

What was the cave coming to?

How did everything turn out like this in such a short while? 

And what were Typhon and Ophelia doing about this? Weren't they concerned?

She looked back and saw them both basking on the platform, too involved with their shimmering leader to do anything about anything else.

They were doing nothing.

It seemed everyone had all lost their minds!

[Enough!] Arsinoe snapped. [Stop talking, all of you! Stop arguing over stupid things.]

If it was up to her, she would throw them all into cells to reflect on their stupidity. Because it seemed the ones in charge weren't interested in doing so.

[Artemis you're a captain, you need to act like one.] She scolded him with an angry glare. [I'm sure you can find another space for your dumb plants – they were there first.]

Artemis was speechless, while the mischievous snakes nodded in unison. [Finally, a voice of reason.]

[Here here.]

[Shut up! You both have too much useless clutter!] she snapped at them in tow.

That made them fall silent. 

But Arsinoe wasn't done. [Apollo, you can't keep those things without permission, they aren't pets. And if you do, they need to serve the cave in some way, like Hestia helps to spar with us.] 

Apollo looked thoughtful. [Well…no, they can't spar, but they do other...useful things.]

Arsinoe grimaced. Yeah, right.

[Like what?] She challenged him.

[Well...it's hard to explain.] Apollo timidly replied. [I-It won't make sense until I show you.] 

Artemis and the mischievous snakes exchanged looks, seemingly curious to know what he saw in the creatures.

Arsinoe didn't believe him. 

It was clear the creatures were useless and he was just making up excuses. 

And thus the tour of the underground rooms began, with all the snakes trying to convince her their rooms served the best purpose.

First she visited the large space that the mischievous snakes occupied, which was essentially an area piled high with everything they found useful enough to keep.

There were colourful shiny stones and golden rocks of all kinds, illuminated by the many light crystals thrown in between them.

Interesting shiny objects she could see herself in as she passed, and even oddly shaped plants or furs they collected because they found them interesting.

Also there were food shares the two snakes had extorted from others, including high amounts of the new wine coloured fruit that all of the nestlings seemed eager to eat.

And of course, they refused to let her have any.

In conclusion, Arsinoe saw it as a mesh of all of their ill-gotten 'wealth' and she didn't see the appeal in keeping such useless trinkets.

What was 'wealth' when there were tough battles to be won in the pit?

But the mischievous snakes didn't see it like that, as they took pride in everything they had gathered so far. And they were not troubled by her disdain, insisting on showing all the visiting nestlings around.

[What a waste of space.] Artemis grumbled. [I could use this space for better things.]

That was true. 

Arsinoe thought their greed and obsession was truly macabre. Why they chose to keep acquiring things was something she couldn't understand.