Chapter One
"I would personally like to congratulate everyone in this class on their graduation from Ye Ran High School, and wish you the best of luck as you continue into the life of college students, and productive adults. May the years you spent here, making friends and learning invaluable skills stay with you in your memories. Although a young person's time in high school is short, it is often the most memorable time of their life. I hope the same was true for all of you.
"When I call your name, please come to the front. Thank you." Frankenstein said, stepping away from the podium. He then began calling everyone's name, starting with the valedictorian, who made a very eloquent speech, then bowed, and walked off the stage. Ironically, although Shinwoo had made drastic improvement, he was only salutatorian. When Shinwoo got to the front, he smiled and started his speech. He was told not to make it any longer than three minutes.
"I was told by the faculty that I wasn't allowed to say 'never settle for second best.'" At this, the class laughed. "No, but seriously, I never thought I'd be up here in this position. I was told that I was salutatorian two weeks ago, but I was so surprised that I couldn't figure out what I wanted to say… I guess I kept thinking they'd figure out that it had to be a mistake, and apologize for their error…" The class laughed again.
"I've learned a few things from high school. High school, while a fun time, can also be difficult. But if you have a few good friends, you might be able to make it with your wits about you. I've also learned that there's no problem so big that it can't be solved with pizza and video games… Okay. That's a lie. Thank you for putting up with my speech." This time, even Shinwoo laughed.
"Thank you, Han Shinwoo… Now, in alphabetical order, please come up and accept your diploma." Frankenstein said. Shinwoo had actually given a pretty good speech. Frankenstein continued to call students up, and finally, the graduation ceremony was over. Now, all Shinwoo had to be concerned about was the college entrance exam.
"Hey, guys… Do you know what you plan to do after high school is over?" Shinwoo asked. His friends looked at him.
"Well…"Suyi said. "I think I'm probably going to continue on with modeling. I won't stay young forever."
"You could, you know. All of you could. My regenerative abilities can be passed on to an extent. Biological Manipulation… I can use it to give other people powers as well."
"I don't know, Shinwoo… That's… Nice of you, but… Living forever? It seems like a bit of a double edged sword." Suyi said. She would think about it, though.
"Well… It's up to you. I would never force this on anyone." Shinwoo said, shrugging. Yuna thought for a moment. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do. But she knew that she wanted to be with Linus.
"Wait… Shinwoo… Linus… Er, M-21… Is a Werewolf, right?" Yuna asked. Shinwoo shook his head.
"No. He's a modified human. He had a Werewolf implanted in him, giving him Werewolf abilities."
"Aren't you kind of splitting hairs, there, Shinwoo?" Ikhan asked. Shinwoo shook his head.
"No. Because true Werewolves are able to tell that Linus isn't technically one of them. Although to a human, he would be indistinguishable, to Nobles, and to Werewolves, and certain modified humans, the difference is obvious.
"The change is becoming more and more complete by the day, though. So, within months, maybe years at most, Linus might become enough like a True Werewolf that even Muzaka wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Why do you ask, Yuna?"
"Werewolves live forever, right? They're immortal, like Rai and Seira…"
"We are not immortal, Seo Yuna." Seira said quietly. "Nobles will not die of old age. But true immortality is a myth propagated by Humans who do not understand Nobles. The two main aspects of immortality are the inability to die of old age…"
"Which you have…! You're 220 years old… And Regis's old man is… What? Over 2,000 years old?"
"Please do not interrupt me. Thank you." Seira said quietly, not revealing her annoyance.
"The inability to die of old age, and the ability to recover from almost any injury. Werewolves are as close as is possible to having true immortality. Their high level of regeneration makes it almost impossible to kill them with normal damage. Nobles, while we have a certain level of regeneration, it does not avail us if we take grievous enough wounds, and it is limited by the amount of life force we possess.
"Take, for instance, Rael's elder brother. He relatively recently did battle with a traitorous Clan Leader, and several Werewolves.
"He fought valiantly, and would likely have won, if only due to the element of speed and surprise. In fact, in terms of speed, I think he would even have given Shinwoo a run for his money. However, the traitor Clan Leader used a dirty trick to rob him of his strength, and he did not have enough life force to maintain his stability…" Seira said, seeming resentful at the moment.
"And his brother was mortally wounded, and went into his Eternal Rest. Rael is the Clan Leader, now, which is why he is so rarely in Korea anymore."
"I… I see… So… Nobles can die?" Yuna asked. Seira and Regis both nodded.
"Yes. Our regenerative ability isn't even close to that of the Werewolves. Even many Modified humans have greater regeneration abilities than Nobles."
"So, Rael's brother was really killed? No wonder he was always so grumpy!" Ikhan said, as if this were clearly the reason.
"No… Rael has always been like that." Regis said, frowning.
"Anyway, what're you gonna do, now that you've graduated, Regis? Seira?"
"You humans can go to college. We have to take up our roles as Clan Leaders. We have enjoyed our time with you, but our filial obligation is paramount." Regis answered. Seira nodded. Shinwoo was a bit sad about this. There really was no chance that Seira could just stay.
He wanted to take her on a trip around the world. Show her everything that the world had to offer. He was sure that she was the one he would want to marry. He was busy crafting the ring at the moment. It had to be perfect, just like her. Shinwoo cringed at this. It was so corny. But true.
"Your what?" Yuna asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Our duty to our families. We wish we could stay. But I am still very young for a Clan Leader, and I have yet even to fully reach my coming of age ceremony. We may see each other again someday. But I doubt you will look the same as you do now." Regis said bluntly. The children looked at them sadly.
"We'll miss you. It's been great getting to know you. Shinwoo… Are you going to go with Seira to Luke… Lukado… Lukadi…"
"Lukedonia? Maybe." Shinwoo said, thinking privately that he wouldn't like the quiet lifestyle that the home of the Nobles offered.
"Maybe he's planning to go to college? He was the salutatorian." Ikhan said cheerfully. Shinwoo sighed.
"I don't think so. I'm sort of planning on opening a martial arts school. I was kind of hoping Seira would stick around in Korea. But… I guess I'll have to reevaluate my plans."
"Seira… Have you spoken to Raskreia about staying in Korea?"
Not yet. I admit I have been procrastinating. I do not want her to be disappointed in me. She and the Noblesse are probably planning on returning to Lukedonia.
"I understand that. They're very important people in Noble affairs."
Yes. But… I am not sure how the Lord feels about her duty. You were not wrong when you said that Nobles hold a very different place in society today. Our role is more passive. There is little need for us to intervene, unless a drastic event happens.
"That's true. Well, we can talk to her together. I'm sure she'll understand your feelings, especially if you explain them calmly and rationally. I'll be right there with you, I promise."
Soon, then. Seira said telepathically.
"I'm still thinking about what I plan to do." Shinwoo said. What about you, Ikhan?"
"Something to do with computers. What about you, Yuna. You've been awfully quiet."
"Well… I'm not sure what I want to do. I want do something that will let me help people. Maybe a doctor or a nurse."
"You'd be a good as a doctor or as a nurse." Shinwoo smiled. He could see Yuna working in a hospital, sitting with people by their beds and comforting them. She'd be a perfect medical practitioner. Doctor, nurse, tech, or whatever. She could be great in that field. Shinwoo could help Yuna. He had all the medical knowledge that she could ever need and more to succeed as any kind of medical practitioner, having learned all that he could from Frankenstein, and from the Union files that he took from his father.
"What kind of job would you want if you could have a human job, Seira?" Shinwoo asked. Seira looked at him.
"I think I would want to be an artist."
"Seira… What kind of art do you do?"
"I am a little familiar with the cello, viola, and the piano, and I have become somewhat facile as a painter. Would you like to see my paintings?" Seira asked, blushing slightly. The group all nodded vigorously, walking with her to Frankenstein's home, and going immediately up to her room, not even stopping to eat like they usually did. When they got in her room, they looked around.
The entire wall was covered with canvasses of beautiful paintings.
"This is my favorite…" Seira whispered, calling down a painting with her telekinesis. It was a picture of the seven friends, all smiling together. Even Shinwoo was amazed. He never suspected that she had this kind of talent. The painting was jumping out of the page, like they could walk right back into it.
"Seira… This is amazing. Why didn't you tell us you had this kind of talent?" Ikhan asked.
"It didn't seem relevant." Seira said modestly. Yuna moved closer to her, grabbing her hands.
"Of course it's relevant! You have an incredible talent! What else have you been hiding from us?"
"I like to write, mostly poetry and musical pieces. I've performed a few of them, but I never thought they were good enough to perform in public."
"How will you know if they're good enough if you never try?"
"I read some of my poetry at a nightclub once. I think I was moderately successful, though I didn't use my mind reading to confirm it." Seira said, blushing with what she could have sworn was pride. She never knew that her friends would be this interested in her hobbies.
Shinwoo was looking around. There were dozens of paintings. There was one of Frankenstein and Raizel. There was one of Raizel and Raskreia, with a background of incredible light, and streams of blood. There was one of the original RK-3.
There were numerous pictures of Shinwoo in combat. There were lots of paintings of the children, some including Rael. There was one particularly elegant painting of Raizel and Raskreia kissing, although as soon as she realized Shinwoo was looking at it, she grabbed it and hid it.
"No need to hide that painting, Seira. It's beautiful."
"It was the Noblesse's and the Lord's first kiss. I thought it should be immortalized. But I'm not sure that I want them knowing that I painted them doing that."
"Why not? It loo…"
"Indeed… Why not, Seira J. Loyard?" Raskreia asked, having heard hers and Raizel's name as she walked by to her room, and having her curiosity piqued.
"I… Lord!" Seira said, bowing politely to Raskreia.
"No need to stand on tradition right now. Answer my question."
"I-I've repainted the picture eight times. It's never good enough. It doesn't capture yours and the Noblesse's elegance and power."
"I want to see it." Raskreia said flatly. Seira walked to the closet, and took the painting out, handing it to Raskreia. It was a huge canvas. It must have taken Seira weeks to paint it just once with the amount of detail that went into it.
It was set in the park where they did in fact have their first kiss.
"This picture is amazing. You seem to have done several of Raizel and I, Seira…"
"Yes, Lord. Does that displease you?" She asked, looking at the floor. Raskreia actually smiled.
"It pleases me. I am happy that you find us interesting enough to paint. You have really covered the entire room with your work, have you not?"
"Yes, Lord. It helps me relieve stress. Shinwoo… You play Violin, correct?" Seira asked. Shinwoo nodded.
"I do… A little bit." Shinwoo said, causing a violin and a bow to appear in his hands. It was a gorgeous black violin that must have been made out of biomass. Seira smiled, and took her viola, and began rosining the bow, and tuning the strings.
After a few minutes, they began playing, seeming to have known what the other was thinking. They looked at each other, and began playing Country Roads. When they finished, the whole group clapped, impressed that Shinwoo was so talented with the violin.
"Shinwoo… Seira… Would you two do Raizel and I the honor of playing at our wedding?" Raskreia asked. Shinwoo gasped.
"Me? I'm not that good at the violin…" He said, turning deep red. Raskreia shook her head.
"Don't lie. I've heard violinists amongst the Nobles who are better than any human violinist. They've had hundreds of years to perfect their skill. You're just as good."
"Really? Come on." Shinwoo said, dismissing this idea. Raskreia laughed quietly.
"No, I am serious. I'm certain that Raizel would want you children involved in the wedding. I only wish my father were here to see me get married." Raskreia said sadly.
"I would be happy to play. And you, Seira?"
"It would be my honor, Lord." Seira replied, bowing deferentially to the Lord.