41.2. (Un)Bound - Part 2

I want to somehow turn the conversation to my finished transformation during the day but I don't get any favourable chance. We're so busy that we have just a sandwich for breakfast while already dealing with more meetings. As for lunch, Bauerova invited some members of her government to discuss how Bohemia should continue supporting us.

In order not to embarrass myself, Liana sits right next to me, our wings touching, and gives me hints which cutlery to use and when. I have no idea how one can enjoy formal lunches. I'd like to focus on my meal but, instead, the invited ministers just go on discussing work, not bothering with any actual break.

"Ryuu, finish that," Erik nudges me because I don't feel like eating everything on my plate when I can't properly enjoy it. "Luvi told me you have a medical check-up at four and I don't want to hear from Julia that you lost weight again."

I resist rolling my eyes but I eat the rest. Liana looks at me approvingly.

You don't have to be special in everything, you know? She tells me in her thoughts, half-jokingly. We Celestials should naturally have a great appetite because of our fast metabolism and calories being converted into mana. Yet, for some reason, our Emperor is an exception again and we have to constantly force you to eat properly.

I'm trying, I sigh in my mind.

In the afternoon, we call our Celestial communities all over the world. After that, Liana makes me record another official statement. She doesn't say so explicitly but I have no doubt it'll appear on the main news. I decide not to confirm that, choosing blissful ignorance.

"Medical check-up, then training," Luvi reminds us when political work is finally over.

I haven't been nervous about visiting the infirmary ever since I befriended the doctor but I get a bit nervous now. Julia is working on analysing my DNA, right? Will she have some early results? Will she find out that my transformation is over?

The infirmary has changed rooms it seems, the guards lead us just two floors under the main offices. I meet countless Draconians hard at work and minding their business until I show up. While they behave much more orderly because they apparently got important jobs within our headquarters, my appearance still causes a stir.

"Have you fully recovered, Your Majesty?"

"Oh, your right wing is still missing some feathers!"

"You protected all of us!"

I'm trying to smile at everyone while my guards make some space so that we can pass. Fortunately, my guards are evidently well-respected so nobody dares to bother me too much. Erik's influence is also helping a lot. He's menacingly frowning at anyone who comes too close and is hugging me behind my back protectively.

I'm comforting myself that they just have to get used to me, that's all. I'll be better when I finally get to know everyone in our administration personally. So far, they mainly know me from the media, no wonder they make a fuss. Whether I like it or not, I became the face of Draconia. It's creepy to think that I probably come up in every internet search with connection to the Great Evolution and new races.

"Good afternoon, Your Majesty," Julia opens the door because she must have heard the commotion coming from the corridor. "You're just twenty minutes late, that's good."

"Just?" I sigh. "Sorry for being late, Julia, we had an important online meeting with the Asian Celestial community."

"Don't be sorry, it's not like you're late on purpose," she waves her hand and shows us inside.

"Oh, neat!" Erik comments enthusiastically and looks around.

I also scan the room. The space is half infirmary, half laboratory. Everything is brand new and super modern. Julia isn't here alone, I notice her Earthborn assistant she was mentioning. So that's the guy who knows my secret and I haven't even met him until now? That's sooo weird!

"Your Majesty, my name's Noage," the Earthborn bows to me deeply and I notice the roots in his hands poke out. "Oops, sorry, that's embarrassing. But I can't help it, I'm just too excited to finally meet you."

Is he that eager to examine me? The Earthborn are genetic engineers by trade after all. Even Ingri said she couldn't help herself when I was injured and wanted to start healing me right away. Noage looks very different from my friend, though. His skin is dark blue, his eyes orange and his hair doesn't resemble hair anymore, more like countless tiny leaves. He's also very tall, even taller than Erik. If I didn't have my huge wings, I'd look tiny next to him.

"As I already assured you, Your Majesty, Noage's background has been thoroughly checked by the Viceroy herself and he has signed the strictest confidentiality contract possible," Julia says quickly.

"I'm a Draconian, I need no contract for that," Noage puffs and looks offended. "I'm honoured that her Excellency chose me among so many candidates and I promise to do my best."

It makes me ponder. Is Draconian loyalty really that unquestionable? Noage is an Earthborn so I have no authority over him, he's Twyla and Werden's subject. Still, I study his feeling and it doesn't seem probable he would betray us. Not to humans anyway.

Julia then tells me to sit on the bed and starts by examining my ribs and my right wing.

"Perfectly healed," she assures me. "Is the wing muscle still a bit sore?"

"No really," I shake my head.

"Good," she smiles, content. "Would you let Noage work his magic? We're analysing your samples but we didn't get too far, I'm afraid. Genetic research is very time-consuming. Maybe the Earthborn special power will tell us something."

"I'm training every day and I don't want to boast but I should be among the best Earthborn healers," Noage says and wants to sound humble but he's anything but that. He's too proud of his abilities. Well, at least someone is confident if I'm not.

"Okay," I allow, curious what a full Earthborn connection is like. I've experienced it with Ingri before but Noage seems to be a much higher level with actual medical knowledge.

Noage grins happily, pushes a chair next to me and asks me to roll my sleeve. Then he gently grabs my hand and attaches his rooty tentacles all over my forearm. Erik sits on the bed behind me and starts caressing my feathers to make himself busy.

As expected, Noage's connection is much more confident than Ingri's. I bet he's been training on many patients. While Ingri does it intuitively, Noage seems to be perfectly aware of what he's doing and goes after specific things with utmost precision. Earthborn doctors will be truly impressive once they gain enough experience and level up.

I'm sorry but I'll be seeing a few things in your mind whether I want to or not, I tell him telepathically. I can't help it when someone is touching me.

I know, Your Majesty, he doesn't even flinch which is admirable. Her Excellency told me everything. Please, relax and let me examine you.

I close my eyes and focus on Erik caressing my wings. If I was in a better seating position, I might have dozed off. Gosh, I'm so tired after today.

"I'm happy to inform you that your transformation is complete, Your Majesty," Noage says solemnly after several minutes of total concentration. "You're purely Celestial now."

Dammit! He's that good at reading my body?

"Oho!" Julia claps her hands happily. "That's great news!"

I chew my lip.

"Huh? Aren't you happy about it, love?" Erik kisses me on my cheek, also more than happy.

"I... I knew already," I admit and avoid his gaze. "That's why I couldn't sleep tonight. I was too restless."

"Why didn't you tell us then?" he grabs my chin so that I look at him properly. "Silly, you could have told me at least. Are you that nervous about it?"

"Because they won't let me fly anytime soon anyway and everyone would make a big deal out of it," I mumble. "Can't it stay just between us for the time being?"

But Julia is holding her phone, frantically typing something.

"Medical privacy, doc?" Erik frowns.

"What?" she finally looks up but her finger sends the message. "Oh, I'm afraid that's not in my contract. Her Excellency needs to be informed about His Majesty's health condition."

"Is that even legal?" Erik gets angry while I was half-expecting something like that. And, to be honest, I don't have the energy to get angry about it anymore. It is what it is. It'd be naïve to assume that Celestials are democratic.

"You mean legal in the EU or according to the Celestial lore?" Julia says calmly. "That's two very different things, Erik. And we're in the Draconian embassy."

"Could you stretch your wings for me, Your Majesty? Let's measure your final wingspan," Noage asks me politely and also doesn't think it's weird in any way. I'm the Emperor so my closest subjects have all the right to know everything about me.

I carefully stretch my wings while Erik quickly moves things in my immediate vicinity away. I still can't unfold them fully because of the furniture but the laser measuring tape doesn't require that, fortunately.

"Oh, 7.2 meters!" Noage is taken aback. "I guess a few centimetres might differ slightly from Celestial to Celestial, taking into account the person's height and body structure."

I sigh and fold my wings back, accidentally smashing Erik's face but he doesn't complain. My poor boyfriend is kind of used to it by now. Celestials are very clumsy on the ground and especially in small spaces.

"Why are you sad, Ryuu?" Erik kisses my feathers that smacked him just a second ago. "Your wings are beautiful and magnificent."

"Because I want to fly right now!" I whine.

Suddenly, the door bursts open and Liana barges in.

"I'VE JUST HEARD! IS IT REALLY TRUE?"

"True," Noage confirms proudly. "His Majesty's wingspan is 7.2 metres."

"Oh, measure me! Come on!" Liana presses the young Earthborn medic. "So? How much do I still need to grow them?"

"Your current wingspan is 5.7 metres, Your Excellency," Noage informs her. "You still have at least three weeks in front of you."

Three weeks!?

"Li, I can't possibly wait that long," I implore her.

"It'll pass by quickly, we're extremely busy," she waves her hand, oblivious to my turmoil. "I'm sorry, Aefener, but we really can't let you out alone. At least you'll be more motivated to train. Taranah told me you're not trying hard enough."

Okay, that actually offends me. Not trying hard enough? Just because I'm not meeting their ridiculous expectations of me? My feathers get all puffy with irritation.

"That came out wrong," Liana apologises readily, noticing my fluster. "I'm really sorry, Aefener, but we're too afraid something bad might happen to you if you go alone. Could wait for us, please? And practice the Minor Shield in the meanwhile?"

I slowly nod. But I know deep down that I'm possibly promising something I won't be able to keep.