25.2. What Remains Human - Part 2

"Ehm..."

A cough takes us both to reality. Fefnir is standing in the door with an amused expression. I turn red because I realise Erik has managed to seat me on the table and his hand is under my robe, between my wings. And for a Celestial that's pretty much as if he was reaching into my trousers.

"We have work to do, boys," he says matter-of-factly, not at all bashful about the position he found us in.

"R-right," I push Erik away and straighten my crooked robe.

Erik grins at me and leaves the briefing room. Fefnir plugs in his laptop, I switch on the 3D projector and we start calling the Dragonkin ruler Deminas in Russia. He picks up almost immediately, expecting us.

"My liege," Fefnir greets him and I feel deep respect coming from him. It's not an entirely human emotion because it goes way beyond casual respect to one's superior.

"Fefnir, Aefener," Deminas nods.

His transformation progressed again. Fefnir's did too, of course, but it's harder to notice when I see him every day. Deminas's horns are almost twenty centimetres long now and his head is starting to look really dragon-like.

I glance at Fefnir to compare them. He's only a few days behind the Dragonkin Patriarch. And damn, he's big when I really pay attention to our differences. Fefnir's hands are three times my size, he must be struggling typing on keyboards. He could break my fragile bones with a single move. I look tiny sitting next to him.

"How are things in Russia?" Fefnir asks, oblivious to my inner monologue.

"I'm leaving my hideout in a few days," Deminas informs us. "I offered my place as a temporal refuge to a few people from my guild but it's just a family cottage. I can't possibly accommodate more Dragonkin here. The neighbours are starting to get suspicious."

"Should we ask Liana to transport you here?" Fefnir suggests.

"That's not wise," Deminas shakes his head. "We shouldn't concentrate all rulers at one place. Firstly, we would potentially be easy targets. Secondly, we have our people all over the world and most of them can't reach the EU. Moreover, those with supportive families have no reason to."

"Where will you go?" I ask.

"I was offered a better suited place by a guy from another guild," he says. "Funny, ingame we were rivals, now we're more than happy to cooperate. He even calls me his Patriarch even though we used to be exemplary frenemies before."

"We don't have the luxury to quarrel among ourselves about nonsense," Fefnir shrugs. "We have to unite no matter what. Our personal differences aside."

"Exactly, my Viceroy," Deminas agrees and looks back at me. "Do you know what they are saying about Celestials in Russia, Aefener? Religious people, I mean."

"Ehm... no?" I say and don't like the vibe I'm getting from him. "It's Ingri and Fefnir who are analysing public opinions."

"That you're real angels and apocalypse is upon us," he says darkly. "It sounds ridiculous, I know, but lots of people are starting to incline towards it. You doing miraculous magic isn't helping."

"That video five days ago was an accident, I didn't know I was being filmed," I explain quickly. "It won't happen again, I promise."

"Be careful, Aefener," he grunts. "You Celestials are the only race with a religious reference whether you like it or not. We Dragonkin might look like humanoid dragons which is intimidating but that's pure fantasy. Your race, on the other hand, even if looking most human, won't have it that easy when persuading common people that you aren't what they take you for."

Deminas then starts to discuss with Fefnir their developing Dragonkin abilities, training methods and possibilities for creating a friendly reputation with humans. I'm trying to pay attention, yet I find myself pondering.

Erik was happy that I transformed into a Celestial who indeed are the closest to humans in outer appearance. What he still doesn't realise is that if one was comparing mentalities of new races, we would come out as the most alien ones.

The Dragonkin are phlegmatic and a friendly bunch when you get under their thick skin; Clawfangs seem too wild but they generally like people and are very extroverted; the Earthborn kind of live in a world of their own and wouldn't hurt a fly. It's actually my race I'm concerned about.

It was evident in the morning in the cafeteria. They were totally detached from the other three races and were feeling... a bit above them I guess? What if our darker racial urges wake up as well? How do I handle a race of magic-wielding winged people hungry for conquest?

"Are you listening, Aefener?" Fefnir pokes me. I can tell he's carefully controlling his strength when he's around others.

"S-sorry, what was the last sentence?" I apologise.

"Training the Dragonkin and Clawfangs as our own security force," Deminas repeats. "I know that Liana has a private company guarding all of you at the moment but we shouldn't depend on humans if we don't have to."

"I think it's a great idea," Fefnir agrees. "You can't have Clawfangs doing paperwork, they'd go crazy. They're too hyperactive to sit in one place for too long. As for my race... we might not be as restless but we do love using our muscles. Vice versa, the Earthborn and Celestials are too frail to become bodyguards. Your magic is amazing but it requires time to prepare."

"Sounds reasonable," I nod. "Divide jobs among ourselves should be easy enough considering how different and mutually balanced we are."

We finish in half an hour and then return to Liana's office. I'm surprised that Erik isn't there. I could have noticed that I don't feel him near but I was too absorbed in dealing with the Dragonkin Patriarch. Still, I feel he's still somewhere in the building so I relax. I have to stop being so dependent on him all the time and I can start right now with that.

"Okay, let's go training," Liana gets up energetically. "It's too early to call our friends in the US and Brazil anyway."

"Can we actually go outside?" I ask.

"Nope," she shakes her head. "I allowed Emi her morning jogs if she takes my security and behaves but I don't want anyone recording our training again. We'll use the gym on the fifth floor."

"What doesn't this building have?" I wonder.

"A pool," Liana shrugs, not catching that I was being ironic.

She acts confidently but I notice she freezes for a second before getting into the elevator. I hesitate for a few seconds, contemplating if it would be inappropriate if I caught her hand. But there're only our bodyguards inside as Fefnir and Emi stayed behind and I bet they're sworn to secrecy. I clutch her palm and she looks at me with gratefulness.

Do you want to try my telepathic communication? I tell her softly, not wanting to startle her. We've never actually had a proper dialogue without spoken words before.

She sends me a mix of jumbled emotions and sentences so I have to spend a few seconds trying to show her how to do it.

It is better? she asks after several attempts. She got the hang of it very quickly.

Much better. Gosh, claustrophobia is the worst, right?

You tell me about it, I've never had a phobia before. It's as if my very Celestial nature is struggling against being confined in a metal box.

The same as when Ingri couldn't stand flying.

How did the meeting with Deminas go? she asks.

He proposed that we should employ the Dragonkin and Clawfangs as our new security in near future. What do you think?

That's actually a great idea. It's been barely a day since Draconians arrived and I've already received several complains from human employees. Our people are restless.

I want to ask what her thoughts on Celestial behaviour are but the elevator stops at that moment and we can finally get off. I let go of her hand. We can't be publicly seen like that even if everyone knows my sexual orientation.

"Oh, wow!" I'm nicely surprised when we get to the gym.

"They adjusted it to our needs," Liana smiles and lets me inspect the room.

It's evident that it used to be a fitness suite full of equipment but everything has been removed so we got quite a spacious area. There's nothing easily inflammable here and one side of the room is even covered in flame-proof material. The only things left behind are several weights, no doubt for training our telekinesis.

"Good morning," Julia enters the room just a minute after us. "Please, don't mind me. I'm here to document everything and tend to your injuries should there be any. Don't let there be any, please."

"Thanks, Julia, it's actually reassuring to have you with us," Liana appreciates her presence as she must have arranged for it.

"Always ready," Dr Stein proudly shows us her medical suitcase. "Still, don't burn yourself again, okay? Even if you do heal faster."

"Oh, I totally forgot about your burnt hand, Aefener," Liana slaps her forehead. "And... also about those bruises I caused you during my transformation."

"That healed ages ago, don't worry," I wave my hand. "And it wasn't that horrible to begin with. Only... it seems we Celestials aren't good at enduring pain."