Disclaimer: Noblesse is not mine! Check out the original Korean webtoon on Naver (or the English one on Egscans)
(Guess who is speaking and who he/she is speaking to)
Aftermath (Part 1)
I have come as I promised, but even if I hadn't promised there is no where else to go. Being here with you is the only comfort in this place. Even then, it is a lonely comfort. You are always silent so I feel as though I should speak, but I never have much to say.
I think about what I would say to you if I could. If I had the heart to tell you about the images that are seared into my mind. Or maybe I should ask you what you remember first. We could start from there. I imagine you opening your eyes. First you would see me. This would be unexpected, and you would look around before turning your eyes back to me. I would avoid the question that must on your thoughts.
Instead, I tell you about Dr. Crombel. This must be a surprise. After all this time, I start with him. But don't think about it too much. I try not to. He's dead. Was that a bigger surprise? It gets worse so try to stay with me. Yes, worse. The days when Dr. Crombel was our enemy seem like a safe haven now. I know you're not wondering about this, but I will tell you anyway. He was executed. For all his abilities, for all the people he manipulated, for all his powers, for all this, he failed to see that he was nothing more than a puppet as well. And when the first elder finally made his move, he fell and the world fell with him.
Perhaps this is too much to start with, but I tried to start with the easiest part. I'll give you a minute to think about it. I've had centuries. The least I can do is give you a little time. Maybe you're wondering why I'm here? Like I've told you before, there is nowhere else to go. This is where it get's harder, but I will start with some good news. Suyi lived. She was on tour when it happened. I was relieved to hear that, but I sometimes wonder if it would have been better if she had died. I know, it's a horrible thing to say. But if you had seen her after that incident, you would have wondered the same. I think it was worse for her this way. I know it was worse for me. And, in a way, I think it's worse for you than for either of us. But you'll understand what I mean soon enough.
We were at school when it happened. Yes, we both were there. Do you remember? I hope not. I wish I didn't remember these things, but I realize that even if you don't ask, you want to know. So I'll continue even though it is difficult for me to say this. I was there. So were you. We didn't know what happened. We felt the heat first. It was sudden and intense like a flash of lightening and then we saw the flames. The force picked us up off our feet and threw us into the wall. But then, the walls caved in with us and the ceiling crumbled into balls of fire as it fell from the sky.
It was too late from the beginning. I want you to know that. There was nothing we could do. Please, believe it. Believe it because I can't accept it. I know that I'm to blame. We all were. But not you. Please don't blame yourself because I need you to be strong. If you broke down the way I did, I would have nothing left to hold onto. So, please, I know this is hard. Please, just listen. Don't say anything.
It was the first elder. I warned you to cherish the days with Dr. Crombel. I told you it got worse, but I started with the easy part. The children died in the explosion. The entire school except for us. That's why the first elder did it, I think. It was an easy way to find us. The humans would die and anyone beyond a human would live. And he did find us, too. Every last one of us. This is where it gets worse.
I lean my head against your resting place. This moment is for me. I need to prepare before I tell you this. This is where it gets hard. The children, we knew, would die before us. We live so long. But the others? It's still hard to believe. I've had centuries to consider how to tell you this, but I still don't have the words.
Let's take a break for now. Maybe I should ask you to tell me a story. Your past is so much happier than mine. Although, when I finally am able to tell you, neither of us will have anything good left to our pasts. Or, maybe, just to our futures. Our pasts still have happy memories, but even the happiness of those days feels like a burden now.
Instead, I wonder if you have changed. I know I am different. I've grown much older. There are no mirrors here so I can't say how different I look, but I don't think I could handle seeing the image of someone else on my face. I'm so fragile now. You're all I have. I use to think talking to you like this just made me insane. Now I think it's the only way I can hold onto my mind. I hope you can understand, but it's almost daylight now, and I can't stay with you any longer. So, please, sleep until I leave. I couldn't bear it if you saw me like this.