17.2. A Telepathic Interrogation - Part 2

"So... what will you do with them?" Erik asks when we get back to the study and he forces me to eat a sandwich.

"Since Aefener confirmed they really don't know anything, I can hand them to the authorities," she sighs tiredly. I bet she didn't sleep much again.

"And if the EU government sent them after all?" he's sceptical. "We'd be returning them."

"Are you suggesting I should kill them or what?" Liana frowns. "Contrary to what normal people might naively think, the rich aren't with mafia, Erik. And this is my mansion, not a detention centre. I don't want them here, it's my home."

"But why did they want Aefener? It makes no sense with other high-levels being already transformed and nobody knows about his telepathy," Fefnir ponders.

They keep discussing the topic further but I can't keep my eyes open any longer. I quickly finish eating my sandwich and put my head on Erik's lap. My headache worsened again and if I want to prevent another migraine, I have to rest a bit.

The discussion develops into a heated debate. But even though my friends are very loud and their emotions flutter, their minds are soothing me. It seems that when I really get to like someone, their emotions stop hurting me, whatever their tone is.

I close my eyes and enjoy that Erik is gently petting my wings. I'm almost falling asleep when Ingri suddenly exclaims.

"The Clawfang alpha is online!"

"Emi?!" I sit up so quickly that my head spins.

"Her Vortex account is active," Ingri says. "She's just posted something."

She displays Emi's Vortex fanpage on the big screen for all of us to see. There are rather blurry pictures of something that looks like hospital and even blurrier short video featuring people in white who appear to be chasing the cameraperson.

"T-they did it... those fucking bastards really did it," the cameraperson appears briefly, panting and running. It's a woman transformed into a vulpix Clawfang. It has to be Emi, I'd recognise that avatar anywhere. "They killed my cousin... they tried amputating her wings and she..."

I hold my breath. The video ends immediately after that when the security shows up and Emi has to fight them to get away.

"L-Li... Emi's cousin...," my voice cracks.

"Quil," Liana clenches her fists and several books from the bookcase fall down as her telekinesis activates.

"Quil was a Celestial vanguard captain," I whisper to Erik and lean on him because the sadness overtakes me and the shock coming from Liana is overwhelming.

"It seems Emi was in hospital the whole time," Fefnir says grimly. "And evidently against her will. As was Quil which means their family forced them to go."

"B-but... who would try amputating wings without knowing what it'll do?" Ingri is terrified.

"Quite a lot of doctors I'm afraid," Julia shivers. "Some of my colleagues are contemplating whether the transformation can be reversed or at least somewhat suppressed. I can well imagine such practices in non-EU countries."

"According to the lore, the mana circuit flows through our spine to our wings. In the game, losing our wings during battle meant instant death," I explain to Erik and shiver just imagining it.

"I guess they thought it's just a made-up thing," Julia shakes her head. "Well, now it's proven."

After that hell breaks out. We're flooded by countless messages and calls from the players connected to our server and Fefnir who is monitoring reactions of the public doesn't stop frowning.

"It's not confirmed, of course, but our people are panicking nonetheless," Fefnir summarises. "Nobody believes hospitals anymore and Draconian patients are running away."

"No wonder—the first death of one of our own and not because of the transformation itself," Liana is angry, way angrier and sadder than I am. She was quite close with Quil.

"If we weren't so vulnerable right now, I can well imagine riots and protests," Fefnir says.

"It's one hospital of questionable reputation outside the EU," Julia tries to persuade us. "Normal doctors want to help."

"Do they?" Ingri snaps. "Because it doesn't seem to be the case. My friends who went there are writing me that they aren't being treated nicely. They'd leave but some of them don't have a choice because their families rejected them."

"Li, we have to do something," I say. "Imagine people with relatives like my Grandma who have nowhere to go once they leave hospital after their transformation. Draconians will most probably lose their jobs and won't be able to pay the rent."

"I've already been thinking about it," Liana nods. "But even with my wealth, I can't take care of every transformed player in the EU and not everyone will have the funds to reach my district anyway. We have to establish asylums all over the world to protect our people."

"Like my Queen and King offered," Ingri understands right away.

"Offered what?" I blink.

"When you were resting after the intrusion, they called us and mentioned that lots of the Earthborn are begging them to come to their farm," Ingri explains. "They are determined to take in as many people as possible."

"And I will do so as well," Liana seconds. "But we still need everyone's cooperation. Aefener, can you make another video and beg our people who have a good family situation to take in those less fortunate for the time being?"

"Sure," I sit up straight. Quil's death devastated me for a few minutes but I need to be strong to prevent others from being harmed. Erik grins at me encouragingly because he feels my newly found determination.

This time I don't need a long preparation or a meticulous script. I just say what I feel is right and for the first time I insist that Erik appears next to me. Quil's death could spring a wave of hate towards humans which is something we can't let happen. Just can't.

"Hmm, you're starting to think differently," Erik tells me when we upload the video.

"In what way?" I'm confused.

"In terms of us and them," he worries. "You don't include me but you've been addressing people as humans in your mind for quite some time now."

"I... I have? Have you noticed other changes?"

"Hard to say in your special case, my telepathic nerd," he caresses my feathers. "What about others? Do you feel something different about your friends?"

"I'd love to know that as well," Dr Stein speaks up. "Psychologists are constantly arguing how the transformation will affect your mentality."

"Hmmm... Liana's, Fefnir's and Ingri's minds are very soothing to me," I try to analyse it. "Julia's and Mrs Hana's... neutral as I'm used to them. As for other people in the mansion... not much pleasant I'm afraid. They make me feel... uneasy."

"Like that time you threw up in the bathroom?" Erik recalls.

"What time?" Liana tilts her head.

"Oh, right," I realise I didn't take it seriously back then. "A few moments before I had an urge to cut my black hair, I walked by some bodyguards in the hall and their minds made me nauseous. They felt... too human. I was almost repulsed by them."

"Interesting," Julia remarks and is disappointed that she can't note it down into her laptop. "It seems as if Ryuuto doesn't feel comfortable around humans anymore unless he gets used to us."

"Draconian minds do feel different," I confirm. "I'm not able to tell to what extent yet but our mentality is definitely changing."

"And Erik's mind?" Julia is curious. "He's human after all."

"Erik is special," I frown at her. "When I like someone or feel love...," I stop myself.

"You what?" Julia's eyes flash.

I'm saved by my phone ringing. I look at the screen and it's an unknown number. I hesitate for a second but then I pick up.

"Aefener, is that you?" a female voice blurts.

"Y-yes? Who's calling?" I ask carefully. The voice sounds familiar but the call's quality is poor and the caller is panting.

"Thank God, it's you," she's relieved. "Aefener, it's me—Emi."

"E-Emi!" I exclaim and put the call aloud for everyone to hear.

"I got your number from Gin... I.... oh, Aefener... Quil really is...," Emi is crying. "Our family forced us to go to hospital and then... my mother is a doctor there and she persuaded them to try..."

"Emi, where are you?" I have to interrupt her. As someone with personal experience, I can tell when the other person is having a panic attack.

"I... I'm not sure... I ran and ran... my whole body is hurting and I think I must have run several kilometres... my new muscles are amazing. I'm hiding in the woods behind the city and... I... I don't know what to do... where to go... my family is very religious and they would..."

"Emi, it's Liana," Liana grabs my phone with telekinesis and this time manages just fine to control her new power. "I can help you but you need to calm down and tell me where you are."

"S-somewhere outside Almaty," Emi says and tries to breathe deeply.

"Kazakhstan," Liana bites her lip. "That complicates things."

"Li, we have to save her," I touch her arm and accidentally pour my anxiety into her.

"I know, I'm thinking," she shakes me off so that she can think clearly. "I do have some contacts there but I need to find someone I can trust. How is your phone's battery, Emi?"

"F-forty-seven p-percent," she hiccups nervously.

"Shit," Liana swears. "Emi, I'll send someone to rescue you but it'll take some time and you need to save your phone's battery. Turn on the power saving mode and don't use it unless we call you, okay?"

"O-okay."

"Emi, we'll definitely rescue you," I promise. "Stay hidden and don't get close to humans. Your face is all over the media."

"Humans," she spits between sobs. "I... I hate them!"

And with those ominous words she hangs up.