Draconia Offline vol. 1

34.1. Emperor's Nature - Part 1

"Your Majesty?" Taranah pulls my sleeve, scared. He doesn't have to be a telepath to read the atmosphere around me. Neither does Dubois who steps back instinctively and gasps for breath.

"Be my guest and watch our magic training. Just be careful what the EU wishes for," I hiss. "Mandatory training will only make us stronger. Limitations, if made too discriminatory, will only incite the civil war, not prevent it. We're millions, you can't lock us all up."

I turn my back to give him a full show of my magnificent wings. Then I nod at Taranah and want to continue our training as if nothing happened. But something did happen, I feel it inside me. It doesn't want to be ignored anymore—my Celestial warlike nature. And it's terrifying and exciting at the same time.

Dubois has to try hard to make it look like he's not running away but I don't even bother to watch him leave. When his telepathic imprint, which I've already memorised, fades away, I finally calm down. Taranah is staring at me with genuine respect and feeling proud of what I did.

I also feel quite proud but when I realise that I've basically threatened the EU delegate, I don't feel that good about it anymore. What will Dubois report to his superiors? What if it negatively influences our reputation? But at the same time, I can't help thinking that maybe... just maybe... the EU should be afraid of us.

"Let's continue our training," I say, trying to sound normal again even though I can't shake off that feeling of acting as the real Celestial Emperor.

"Of course, Your Majesty," Taranah nods furiously and I can tell that the idea of not listening to me wouldn't even cross his mind at this point.

How much did our mentality transform? Did we go all the way? And how is it possible in the first place? The game lore was fictitious, right? Although, admittedly, the players did choose their race according to a detailed psychological profile which was unheard of in videogames before. So many questions and no answers. Should I just go with it like the rest of Draconians?

While Taranah keeps practicing his level 2 flame spell, I decide to occupy my mind and try out some level 4 spells. It seems that basic control of elements doesn't require transfiguration symbols but I feel it in my Celestial bones that higher level magic will.

I close my eyes, recalling some simple symbols. I wasn't called the biggest Draconia nerd for nothing, I still remember them even though such low-tier magic was hardly ever used in dungeons and raids. My hard work levelling without the system assist is paying off in ways I wouldn't even dream of.

"Oh, Your Majesty, it's so beautiful!" Taranah's praise makes me open my eyes again.

It turns out my effort did materialise a transfiguration symbol I was focusing on—there's a sign hanging in the air in front of me like a hologram. I stretch my hands and try touching it. My fingers go straight through it but I can feel slight vibration which means that the symbol is there, made out of pure condensed mana.

"What kind of spell are you trying?" Taranah asks curiously.

"A shield," I say, a bit disappointed that he doesn't recognise it. I'll have to make him memorise everything by heart. It would be shameful if the head of our magic research didn't know. Someone else more knowledgeable could come to claim his post.

I freeze for a moment and the symbol disintegrates. Make him memorise? Shameful? It must be my Celestial nature speaking again. I try to shake that feeling but when I look at Taranah, I can't help but see him as my subject, not a gaming friend. That scares me.

"That's it for today, I need rest," I say quickly and hastily walk out of the fitness suite, leaving confused Taranah behind me.

"Are you okay, Your Majesty?" Miruel asks me, concerned because she can see I'm bewildered.