Draconia Offline vol. 1

7.2. My Viceroy is a CEO - Part 2

"Don't even say that word out loud!" Erik berates him. "Ryuu is going to be fine."

"Aefener," Liana sits next to me and speaks softly. "I know that you don't want to leave your home but they'll certainly come for you when they put one and one together. Maybe they already did and are just looking for ways how to circumvent your confidentiality contract and get your address from the developers. It won't take them long I'm afraid."

"Aren't you just too pessimistic?" Fefnir opposes. "Sure, they might take him to hospital and run a few tests but it's not like they're going to dissect him. He's an EU citizen and has his rights."

"We might lose our human rights if the EU government decides we're not technically human anymore," Liana frowns. "Human rights are a fragile thing."

"Give us a few minutes alone to think it through," Erik asks. "Can you wait in the kitchen?"

"Okay, I need to eat something anyway," Liana nods.

"God, me too," Fefnir agrees and his stomach grumbles as if in response.

"You ate just," Ingri denounces him. "Two whole meals that were meant for Aefener and Erik."

"So what, I'm a growing Dragonkin," he states proudly. "I need energy for my tail, horns and scales."

Everyone leaves my bedroom and it's finally quiet.

"So do we have a conventional discussion or your special way?" Erik winks.

"My way," I hug him firmly. "I need to feel you all the way."

"I'm flattered, just don't get lost in it, okay? We really have to think this through," he says, all serious.

I nod but I still initiate it with kissing as I found out it's the fastest method that works for me. I do get lost, just for a moment. Then I hold back and we start discussing. It's still very new to me—this two-way highway. And it turns out that also much more effective. We don't need to formulate our thoughts into sounds and our emotions add another layer of meaning.

Do you feel she can be trusted? Erik's mind is anxious. What if she's part of it somehow? I mean... AstraTech's owner playing as your ingame viceroy? What's the chance of that?

There's no cheating in Draconia, she really is the second best Celestial player, I defend her. I've known her for six years now. Do you think someone would be willing to spend so much time in the game if they wouldn't enjoy it?

Well, AstraTech doesn't do business in VR, but still...

I trust her. Even if we have known each other only ingame, I consider her my friend.

Do you trust her based on your ingame experience or did you check her telepathically?

Both.

Oh, Ryuu, it's still crazy. What's going to happen to the world?

I have no answer for that. He gently touches my wings under the skin. He doesn't feel repulsed which is a good sign? Will he love me when I become a completely different species?

"Of course I will," he answers aloud. "I love you as you are, wings or not."

I shiver with happiness. I'm so scared but with Erik by my side I feel like I can overcome anything. If I survive the transformation and Erik still finds me attractive, I can do this. Come what may. I kiss him again and our connection deepens. I bathe in his generous love and give him my love in return.

"Ehm... love birds? Are you talking about it or doing something entirely else?" Liana's irritated voice takes us back to reality. She's standing in the door and we're lucky that from her standing point it simply looks like we're cuddling. "You've been at it for half an hour and I see you're not even talking."

"He's going," Erik says quickly. "I hate to admit it but you're the best option under current circumstances. So does it mean we're going to Berlin?"

"That's right," she nods.

"I'm going too," Ingri pushes her head under Liana's forearm because my viceroy is blocking the door. "I've made Liana talk to my parents and after some negotiation they agreed."

"They did?" I'm astonished. "I thought they're super strict?"

"As every teenager, Ingri was exaggerating," Liana rolls her eyes. "They're quite reasonable."

"And they're scared shitless," Fefnir finishes. "They're glued to the news and totally against sending Ingri to hospital when they saw how overcrowded they got with the panic. Liana has better access to healthcare."

"Okay, they aren't so bad," Ingri admits. "They'd rather let me go to Germany than face unforeseen complications or be tested on like some experiment."

It's surprising to me that they let her go but on the other hand it's not like Liana is some evil corporate overlord. And if she has private doctors she can call, it would convince even Ingri's parents.

"Start packing," Liana concludes. "We don't have that much time considering your condition and we need to stop at everybody's place for their stuff."

"I'll pack for you," Erik offers because I'm too sickly. "Just tell me what you can't live without and point me in that direction."

It's really hard to decide. I've never been on an actual packing holiday or a long trip so I have no idea what I'd need.

"I'll provide all basic stuff so no need to bring things like a towel and toothbrush," Liana reassures me.

"Do you have anything other than geeky clothes?" Erik shakes his head when he opens my wardrobe.

"Nope."

"Nerd."

He packs two t-shirts, my favourite hoodie and enough underwear for a week. Liana tells him that one week isn't only optimistic, it's blatantly naïve. So he packs some more.

"And my phone and laptop, of course. And don't forget my e-reader. And my Nintendo handheld. And..."

"You're not going on beach holiday," Liana intervenes when Erik gets desperate because my backpack is full already. "You're growing wings, stupid. I doubt you'll have time or be in a mood for anything else besides that."

"I know but playing games or reading books helps me with anxiety and might help me not focus on pain that much," I murmur. "I really can't live without these four things and who knows when I'm returning."

"Possibly never," Fefnir remarks.

I look at him, horrified.

"Don't scare him more than is necessary," Liana slaps him over his back. "We just need to hide him until his case isn't that super rare anymore. When all players start visibly growing extra limbs, he'll be safe again."

Erik packs a few more items and I'm good to go. Although, go isn't the right word for it, I have to be carried. I'm too weak to even stand at this point so Erik has to carry me like a princess. If it was in a normal situation, I'd thoroughly enjoy it. To ease the pain, he puts a pillow between his hand and my back.

"Now it's handy that you're so light, skinny. You okay?" he asks me because I twitch when we come out of my apartment.

"Erik, what if I never return here?" I shiver. "I do consider it my home."

"Don't be ridiculous. Of course you're going to return. Why wouldn't you?" he smiles at me.

He's not sure, though. And he knows that I feel it from him. But he says it anyway.