63.1. A Breather Before the Storm - Part 1

"Let's try again," Ingri nudges the Dragonkin she successfully caught and brought back. "Hint: Start with your name."

"M-my name is Haldis," the Dragonkin speaks up with an uncertain voice.

"I'm not that scary, am I?" I whisper to Gotrid because the Dragonkin is visibly shaking.

"Cute as ever," my partner assures me. "It seems the problem lies elsewhere."

"Go on, continue," Ingri nudges Haldis again. "As you can see, Erik and Gotrid are His Majesty's official Consorts so you don't have to be anxious about it in front of them of all people."

Haldis studies me for a long moment and takes a deep breath. I can recognise anxiety when I see it so I smile at Haldis encouragingly.

"My pronouns are they/them," Haldis blurts out, tensely awaiting my response.

Oh, I see. So that's part of the reason why Haldis is so nervous and why I was momentarily confused by their looks and the way their mind feels like—neutral. Being androgynous myself, I try to never assume anyone's gender. But it gets twice as tricky in case of new races, especially the Dragonkin whole females are rare in occurrence and lack breasts because they aren't mammals.

Come to think of it, I have yet to properly meet a Dragonkin female. The Dragonkin were a popular race choice among male players but not as much among female players. Predicting this, the developers incorporated the fact into the lore, stating that Dragonkin females make only one fourth of their population. I have to ask Fefnir how all that works in their society.

"Nice to meet you, Haldis," I wink at them. "How did you get to know our Ingri?"

"We were playing Draconia together," they say slowly, still not believing that I didn't even flinch when they told me their pronouns. "Ingri helped me get away from my family that...," they stop and their voice breaks.

"That's okay, Haldis," Ingri comforts them. "Take it slowly and don't worry, His Majesty is very kind."

"I heard you moved away, Ingri," I say quickly to distract Ingri's friend from an imminent mental breakdown that was pretty close just now. They aren't ready to talk about it yet which I respect but Haldis assumed they have to tell me because I'm the Emperor. "Is Haldis your flat-mate then?"

"They are," she nods.

"Will you be okay?" I'm concerned. "You're quite famous yourself for being my social media manager. A lot of people recognise you."

"Not so easy, I'm an Earthborn," she grins. "I can change my appearance for the convenience's sake. Besides, we found an apartment in a block of flats with only Draconians as residents. It's not far from here and locals got used to seeing many Draconians in the streets. I'll be fine."

"Were you assigned a job already, Haldis?" I ask. "I hope to give everyone a job they will enjoy but I'm afraid it won't be so easy in the beginning."

"Actually," Haldis steps nervously, "I don't mean to boast but I pride myself to be an artisan."

"Really?" I'm pleasantly surprised.

"Just say it, you're sooo freaking good at it," Ingri nudges them again. "You should see the armour Haldis made even long before transforming. And now that they have the Dragonkin's fire breath, fire resistance and strength..."

"It was just for LARP," Haldis cries, embarrassed that Ingri flatters them so much.

"If you created something with your Dragonkin powers already, I'd love to see it," I smile warmly, genuinely enthusiastic about it. "Don't be shy if it's just a prototype, everything we will create in the first years will be."

"I'm not shy... I...," Haldis stops, trying to find the right words and panicking again.

"I'm not a Clawfang so I don't bite," I try to make a joke.

"I... have... s-social anxiety," Haldis reveals with difficulties. "And I'm on the autistic spectrum," they add, embarrassed. "I often don't understand what's expected of me in social situations and how to behave in front of someone like... like the Celestial Emperor."

"Just use the official title and bow whenever the Emperor enters the room," Ingri summarises for them. "I'm sure His Majesty will be benevolent towards minor blunders."

I try not to stare at Haldis because I know it makes them even more nervous but I really like their unique mind. They're a bit similar to me which is refreshing. I'm a bit sad that everything about me seems to unnerve Haldis—my angelic appearance, my title, my protective subjects—but I hope I can get to know them better in future.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your introductions but we have work to do," Liana speaks up from her table, reminding us that there's been an emergency.

"Y-Your Majesty," Haldis bows politely before they're forced to leave.

Haldis has no part in our inner government, I bet Ingri just got an exception for a few minutes to introduce them as her friend so that I'm not confused if I see them together or when she talks about them. But I'm definitely looking forward to Haldis's crafting so I have a good excuse to summon them.

"Long story short, there's been another attack," Liana announces dryly.

"Where?" I sigh out.

"Korea," she says. "I'm not freaking out only because there were several Dragonkin nearby and they killed the monsters before they could hurt anyone."

"Ah," I collapse into my chair, relieved that there were no casualties. "We have to speed up the process of establishing battle units."

"Exactly. Bennett called a few minutes ago, urging us to do so," she nods. "Let's get to it then."

We start the debate and Liana is inclined to make military service pretty much compulsory for Draconians. But I strongly disagree.

"Nobody should be forced to risk their lives," I shake my head. "This isn't the twenty-first century, we should know better than that."

"What do you suggest them?" Liana purses her lips.

"Recruit Draconians who want to do it professionally and let them train for it," I say.

"What if we don't get enough recruits?" Gotrid worries.

"Not all Draconians are fit for combat," I remind everyone. "Would you send my maids to fight a heligorr head-on? Would you send Haldis?"

"Okay, I get your point," Liana agrees in the end. "How will we go about it then?"

"I'll write a plea to all Draconians," I say. "And we'll see how many sign up willingly."

"Oh, I can vividly see that job description," Gotrid can't help chuckling. "Protect humans, earn eternal glory and loot. P.S. The EU is paying you. Who wouldn't sign up?"

I roll my eyes theatrically and get to writing. I'm very careful with my wording but I don't hide anything. Draconians need to know what they're signing up for. I also make it very clear that there will be other jobs available soon because I don't want anyone feeling forced to do it just to earn money. They might have been enthusiastic about battling monster in the game but this is real. They'll be risking their lives.

I post the plea and for an hour, I'm afraid Liana was right and we won't get enough volunteers. Then first applications start coming and soon they're not only coming, they're flooding from all over the globe.

"We can do it," I whisper, moved. "Draconians are eager to fight."

"For money, for loot, for glory or for humans?" Erik is tiny bit sceptical.

"All of it together?" I guess and call Bennett.

We spend the evening discussing where to strategically establish Draconian hubs, similarly to firefighter's stations. They have to be at places from which Draconians can get quickly anywhere in the vicinity, not only Celestials with their flying advantage. Also, it would be ideal if such units consisted of all races because our powers work best when combined.

It's half past nine when we finish for the day, that much for my work-life balance. How naïve are those who think that being the Celestial Emperor must mean living surrounded by luxury and being doted on by servants. Only the part about luxury is possibly true, otherwise there's only never-ending workload and being anxiously protected.

"I think I just want to sleep," I land on our new spacious bed when we get home.

Home. I like how that word sounds. Unlike the previous place, our new apartment finally feels comfortable enough to be called that. But it's mainly my partners that make it homey for me. Erik and Gotrid being here with me are the reason this is home.

"Not even cuddling?" Gotrid quickly gets to me and buries his nose into the feathers that are growing along my spine and are extra soft.

"Oh, y-you...!" I twitch because his tongue finds my sensitive spot—an erogenous spot of every Celestial.

"If Ryuu wants to sleep, let him," Erik frowns at his rival. "And let's change for pyjamas or the maids will be angry with us for wrinkling our clothes again."

Erik has it quite easy, even with a three-piece suit he's done quickly. We take much longer, Celestials robes are multi-layered and tied in a complicated manner. As for pyjamas, Erik uses it as a figure of speech mostly. While I do own some night robes, we usually sleep naked under my wings. And now Gotrid's wings as well.

"Nope, not working," Erik clicks his tongue when Gotrid presses me to his chest. "I can't lie on Ryuu's wings, you moron."

"Lie under them then," he smirks.

"Boys," I warn them wearily. "I'm tired and not in mood for your bickering right now."

"Let's take turns," Gotrid suggests quickly, scared of being sent to sleep on the sofa. "We can't force our Emperor to lie squeezed between us all the time so let's agree we stay like this for today and tomorrow it's your turn, Erik."

"Pff," Erik retorts a little but slips under my wings, pulling them over his body like a blanket.

I tickle him with my feathers and send him my love to assure him that I'm not preferring Gotrid. Then I connect all three of us and we fall asleep, mingled in my mind.