21.2. Relocation - Part 2

"Good morning, crew. My name's Clara and I'm your pilot," a woman in her thirties greets us enthusiastically. She has short blue hair and is wearing a pilot overall.

"Please fasten your seatbelts and we'll be off," she smiles at us, not a hint of repulsion in her mind. "The flight will take forty-six minutes and I've taken this route many times before so no worries."

Her positive energy is contagious and we feel a bit better about the ordeal. A slight problem arises with fasting our seatbelts, though. It's obvious our new bodies just don't fit the chairs. Fefnir struggles to even sit properly with his bulky tail. And me and Liana whine that it's squeezing our wings.

The helicopter takes off. I remember the feeling when I was lucky to get a ride with Erik but this time I don't enjoy it. It's loud, shaky... not elegant at all. I get goosebumps under my feathers. I want to be able to fly so much! And now!

However, while Liana and I are only uncomfortable but we still generally love flying, Ingri is much worse. Her skin is already light green but I notice she turns even greener... and not because of her transformation. And then she pukes all of a sudden.

"Dammit," she swears. "The Earthborn and flying... what a horrible combination."

"Ugh!" Fefnir comments because she almost threw up on his shoes.

We should be safely in the air by now because the helicopter isn't shaking anymore so I unfasten my seatbelt and pass her my water bottle. She gratefully takes it and gulps, desperately trying to clean her throat.

Ingri, do you want me to sit next to you and hold your hand? I can try make you feel better, I touch her and ask telepathically because several bodyguards are riding with us.

P-please, I feel really nauseous, she answers.

Erik gets the gist of our unspoken communication right away and switches the seat with me. I grab her hand, hoping it doesn't look weird in front of the guards. But I think it doesn't, they must think Ingri is just nervous and needs someone to support her.

"Ryuu, the seatbelt," Erik fastens me again.

"Ouch, do I have to? It squeezes my wings," I protest.

"It's only forty-six minutes, deal with it, please," he says.

I focus my attention on Ingri instead. I connect to her as best as I can under these circumstances so that the bodyguards aren't suspicious. I've never connected to her before, not deeply at least, but her mind is open to me. Her vertigo hits me, she's feeling really sick. It's as if her very Earthborn nature is fighting against being so high above the ground.

I try to calm her mind and her stomach as well. It's no easy task because I can't exactly influence her body functions but everything comes from the brain anyway so I try to soothe that. In the end, I'm half successful. Ingri is still feeling sick but not like puking anymore.

If you want to talk to me telepathically, just focus on what you wish me to hear, I tell her because I feel she wants to communicate with me but her thoughts are too chaotic.

D-do you hear me? she asks hesitantly. I know that you do it with Erik all the time but it's just so strange.

Yes, I hear you. Do you feel better now? I can feel your Earthborn nature is struggling.

Struggling is a weak word, she laughs in her head. More like totally freaking out. The Earthborn are the exact opposite of Celestials when it comes to flying and magic.

I keep holding her hand the whole journey. She lets me explore her mind so I can compare it to Erik's. And I have to admit that Ingri really doesn't think like a human anymore—the contrast is obvious. It's not that she doesn't have common wishes and desires anymore; she just thinks about them differently and her perception of the world is influenced by new advanced senses.

Even with me soothing her, Ingri can't help puking again when the helicopter lands with a shake. I hastily unfasten the uncomfortable seatbelt and pass her my water bottle again.

"Ugh, what happened here?" Clara the pilot sighs when she stops the helicopter completely and comes to check on us. "We didn't hit any turbulence."

"Sorry, the Earthborn and flying seem to be a terrible combination," Ingri says apologetically.

"I'll send someone to clean it. Don't worry, Clara," Liana waves her hand, quickly unfastens her seatbelt as well and spends a few moments stretching her wings to the sides.

We finally get off but that doesn't make Ingri any calmer. She starts shivering when she realises how high we are. Me and Liana, on the contrary, become ecstatic. The wind is blowing into our feathers and it's blissful.

"No wind magic here," Erik warns me just in case because he notices I'm stretching my wings and my eyes look dreamy.

"Follow me," Liana points towards the door. Ingri runs off to it while I don't feel like going inside at all so Erik has to pull me by my hand.

There are several elevators so we divide into fours. I expect to ride with Liana but my bodyguards board the cabin instead. Am I really in danger even here? Liana takes Ingri and also two bodyguards and Fefnir goes with Emi and Julia.

"Oh," I realise I'm starting to feel claustrophobic the moment the door closes.

The cabin is quite spacious but I still feel suffocated. My wings aren't that big yet but they're slowly starting to take their space. Ingame, Celestials didn't feel comfortable in rooms where we couldn't spread our wings fully. This will soon become an issue in the real world as well. Fortunately, we get off quite quickly.

I've never been in these hyper-modern buildings before so I'm looking at everything around. Four local employees are waiting for us, evidently nervous. I can feel how strange it is for them to see their boss all changed. But she's still wearing a brand suit and has the same authoritative conduct they're used to so they relax a bit.

"Aefener, this is Thomas, he's the building manager," Liana introduces the first person to me, a young-looking man with a beard. "Tomas is taking care of everything that has to do with local facilities and maintenance."

"Nice to meet you," I try to smile at him and I'm pleasantly surprised that he tries to smile back. I feel warm understanding from him; does he have a transformed person in the family?

"Diana is the head of security," Liana continues with a tall lean woman with black shoulder-length hair. "She'll be taking care of our safety."

I greet her as well and also don't feel any bad intentions from her.

"Martin is the new IT manager," Liana continues.

"The previous one transferred," Martin says and is the only one confidently offering his hand.

I hesitantly shake it. The touch lasts only two seconds but it's enough for me to discover that Martin has been waiting for promotion for three years so he was actually glad that the guy before him quit. I also find out that one of his friends is the Dragonkin now.

"And last but not least, Anna," Liana ends with a lady in her fifties in a perfectly tailored suit. "Anna is the deputy administrator."

"Miss Richter, we're honoured to have you here," Anna shakes her boss's hand.

"I'm sorry that it has been so sudden and pushy," Liana smiles apologetically even though her tone doesn't give a hint of regret. "I'm really glad that you four stayed. I need people I can trust more than ever before."

"Let's accommodate you first," Thomas takes the initiative. "Your apartment is ready, Miss Richter, and as you requested we had also prepared the best guest rooms for your esteemed companions. For others, we have room-sharing. Also we're ready to broadcast whenever you need. Please, follow me."

Me and Erik get an apartment right next to Liana's because she insists on having me close. Ingri gets one on the same floor as well since Liana is responsible for her. Emi takes the last one and Fefnir has to go down one floor. Liana deemed him to be the only person who doesn't need supervision.

"Oh, neat," Erik is pleasantly surprised by our apartment. It's huge, sunny and luxurious. We have our own bathroom, living room and bedroom with a proper double-bed.

"Take a shower or whatever and let's meet in an hour in the main conference room," Liana says. "The bodyguards will show you the way, don't worry. I'm going to take care of the broadcast."

"Okay," we nod in unison and close the door behind us. We're finally alone.

"Is it soundproof?" Erik is curious.

I look at the door and the structure of the walls. They look pretty much the same as in my old apartment.

"No doubt," I confirm. "The door definitely is and so must be the rest."

"Neat," Erik repeats enthusiastically. "The view is amazing, too."

"It really is," I smile, use that he's absent-mindedly staring from the window and hug him from behind. I stretch my wings and envelope him.

"One can get used to that," he purrs happily in my warm feathers.

"Then get used to that, my wings will only get bigger," I tease him.

We keep cuddling for a while until we decide what it would be a good idea to change clothes and take a shower. The bathroom doesn't disappoint either. It's four times larger than the one in my home and has a shower and a bath tub. I'd go for a bath but we don't have that much time right now.

"Together?" I wink at him.

"Definitely," he grins back.

Over the last couple days, I got used to my new hygiene requirements. Shower in the way that my wings won't get soaked and use a wet washcloth to clean my feathers only if needed and exactly where needed.

We do our best to restrain ourselves but our innocent shower eventually transforms into cuddling. I'd like to examine to which extend my telepathy influences Erik in situations like these but at the same time I'm not able to focus when he's making me feel so good.

"Shit, we'll be late," Erik panics when he spots the time. I've never been in a bathroom with a clock before but this apartment has everything above standard.

We quickly dry ourselves and take clean clothes out of hand luggage. I feel a bit inadequate suddenly when I realise that the employees in the building and even Liana are dressed so smartly while I have only hoodies, t-shirts and normal pants. Liana did send someone for the rest of my things and even for Erik's but that doesn't change the fact that I don't own anything decent.

"How come you look so elegant?" I envy Erik because he changes into nice dark blue trousers and a shirt.

"Because I actually spend some money on clothes unlike someone here who wears only gaming clothes out of which most of them come from promotional events," he laughs.

"Do I look too inappropriate?" I worry because I put on casual grey slim pants and an oversized hoodie.

"You look cute in everything but if it bothers you, we can buy you something new," Erik says. "Actually, Liana might insist on that very soon. You know... to make you look presentable."

I sigh. I've never worn a suit and I think it wouldn't look good on me anyway—not the right figure for that kind of thing. Erik would look amazing, though. He already does.

"Don't worry about it now, let's go."

The bodyguards lead us back to the elevator and we go down three floors. We reach offices that are partly open space, partly private rooms. And one big conference room that's our destination.

"You're late," Liana berates us when we finally arrive.

We apologise and sit on empty chairs. Emi is sitting in front of us, winking at me and cleaning dirt from under her claws. Fefnir is sitting a bit stiff and has a serious expression while Ingri still looks uncomfortable. Julia is whispering something to Hana.

"So," Liana coughs. "I hope you like your rooms because it doesn't seem like we'll be coming home any time soon. Even though protecting Aefener is our priority now, we're all public figures so I assigned bodyguards to each of you."

Emi breathes in, wanting to say something, but Liana stops her.

"Yes, I know that you don't want them, Emi," Liana is understanding. "But you're a race ruler. Until you can be protected by your people, you need my security. There are too many threats to us out there."

"And we're safe here?" Emi is doubtful.

"For the time being," Liana nods. "This building and premises are my territory, the EU can't just barge in. Of course, our goal is to be acknowledged as an embassy."

Liana sure doesn't lose any time. I was glad to take a shower and she's already thinking so much ahead. Why would she want to answer to me? She's so much better in every aspect. Except for magic, maybe.

"And how do we accomplish that?" Fefnir frowns.

"Lots and lots of negotiations with the United Nations, the EU and the Czech government," she says. "But I believe it's doable."

A knock on the door, Liana invites them in.

"Miss Richter, sorry to bother you but she insists," Anna the administrator pleads her boss. "There's a limit to how much I can stall her."

"Stall who?" I ask because I feel poor Anna is really anxious.

"Bauerova," Liana sighs.

For a moment we don't understand what she means.

"W-wait a minute," Erik gasps for breath. "Do you mean to tell us that you've been ignoring the Czech Prime Minister?"

"Not ignoring her, just postponing a bit," Liana rolls her eyes. "Damn, she's as persistent as ever."

"What, you know her personally or something?" Fefnir narrows his eyes.

"We're not friends but yes, I do. We've attended university together," Liana explains. "We're more like rivals, really."

"Well, I guess it's only understandable she wants to talks to us now that we relocated into her country," Emi shrugs.

"I know, it's just that I wanted to have this briefing with you guys first," Liana sets things straight. "Before we face her, we must be clear on how we want to proceed."

"Miss, what should I tell her? She's getting angry," Anna is nervously stepping in one spot.

"Arrange an official meeting with her tomorrow morning," Liana decides. "She can bring whoever."

"She... insists on meeting today," Anna gulps because it's her who has to convey it.

"Well, that's her problem," Liana waves her hand.

"O-okay," Anna nods and leaves. Damn, can Liana really dismiss the Prime Minister like that?