This is my first time posting a fanfiction, so feedback would be appreciated. I hope you enjoy! Thanks.
Frankenstein approached the front door, knowing that Tao would have seen them returning. As expected, the door was thrown open before they reached it.
"Boss, welcome-" Tao's greeting died on his lips as he looked past Frankenstein, to his master. Frankenstein sighed. He had hoped that the children would not notice, but even ordinary humans would have difficulty ignoring Master's aura. Tao was silent as he stepped aside to let them in.
The house smelled like dinner; they must have just eaten when Tao's sensors alerted him to their return. Frankenstein, setting aside the faint concern that they might not have been eating well, nodded his thanks to Seira. She nodded back, sitting on the sofa beside Regis. Once Tao had spotted them, he must have notified the rest of the household; everyone had gathered in the living room, anxiously waiting for news.
Frankenstein himself didn't know what had driven his master to return so urgently, not even allowing Frankenstein to make him a new seal, but Master must have had his reasons.
"Rael." The boy flinched, knowing what Frankenstein was about to confirm. "Your brother, Lazark, entered his eternal sleep defending Lukedonia. He fought traitors and modified werewolves alone, killing one werewolf. He will be remembered with honour." Rael bowed his head, his hands clenched as he struggled to maintain his composure. More emotional than most nobles, it was a clearly a challenge for him. Karias patted Rael's back, silently supportive.
"Were there any other losses?" Karias asked, looking to Frankenstein.
"There were heavy losses amongst the Central Order. Ludis and Kei were seriously injured, and all of the clan leaders, including Gejutel, were wounded." Regis, Rael, Seira, and even Karias, paled slightly.
"The Lord?" Karias' voice was sharp. Frankenstein almost sighed. No wonder the other clan leaders had trouble with him. Who else would unintentionally insult the Lord by assuming clan leaders - even traitorous ones - could harm her?
"Unharmed." Frankenstein didn't mention how close to defeat she had been. The Lord needed the confidence of her people more than ever, in the face of such an attack. "Regis, you are now the leader of the Landgere Clan."
"My leader -" The boy forgot himself in his concern. A good heart, but Frankenstein was sometimes tempted to tape his mouth shut.
"Requested that the Lord allow you to take the position of Clan Leader." Frankenstein assured Regis, trying not to sigh. He had just told them that Gejutel was injured, but alive.
"I thought there were only three traitor clan leaders left. How many werewolves were part of the attack?" Tao questioned after moment.
"Four." Frankenstein replied, feeling Dark Spear stir at his anger. "Without Muzaka's guidance, they have become no more than mad dogs."
Frankenstein. Master's voice sounded in his head, warning him.
Frankenstein took a breath, forcing his anger aside. "I killed Gradeus. Master executed Ragus Tradio and Edian Claudia, as well as two of the werewolves."
"What happened to the other werewolf?" Tao had no problem tracking the total number of enemies eliminated.
"Master sent him back to Maduk with a warning." Rael twitched at that, but made no comment. The others looked as confused as Frankenstein felt. Frankenstein still couldn't understand his Master's decision; it wasn't like Master to allow someone who had invaded Lukedonia to live.
Frankenstein.
Master?
Tao has human ways of searching for information.
Tao is an information specialist. Frankenstein confirmed, glancing back at Master.
I need him to search for large numbers of deaths.
Master!
Ragus should not have known of that artifact's location, or how to use it.
...You believe that there is another artifact. Frankenstein replied, his master's urgency now making sense.
I believe that there is at least another fragment being used. The more blood the fragment absorbs, the more power the user gains. They must be stopped as soon as possible.
Do you know what these artifacts are? Frankenstein asked. Silence was his only response. Frankenstein withdrew his mind from the weight of his master's, knowing how careful his master had to be while their minds were linked. The children were looking between him and his master, understanding that they were communicating, even if they had never mentioned it.
"Tao." The young man startled at being singled out. "We need you to find out about any large scale deaths occurring now: wars, famines, diseases, natural disasters. Anything which could be hiding large scale slaughter." Tao looked a little ill at the thought. There were people dying all the time around the world; searching for all instances of it would not be pleasant.
"Sure, Boss." Tao's response was more subdued than usual, but still firm. Frankenstein felt his master brush past him, now that they knew what needed to be done.
"Master?" Frankenstein asked. Was Master willing to rest without him commenting? That would be good, but had the fight tired him out that much despite the Lord's sacrifice?
I cannot rest yet, Frankenstein. I will be in the containment room.
"Master! Please, don't! I never intended for that room to be... It was only ever meant to contain me..." In his distress, Frankenstein spoke out loud. Raizel halted, throwing a sad smile over his shoulder.
I know, Frankenstein, but it would be difficult for the children if I remain as I am.
"Yes, but.." Hard to argue the truth. Frankenstein clenched his fists, wishing there was something he could say to change Master's mind, however Master simply inclined his head to the children before leaving the room. Unexpectedly, it was Takio who broke the silence after he left.
"He is going to the containment room? Why?"
"You must have noticed that Master's power is not currently sealed. We were in too much of a rush to get back here for me to make new seals for him."
"We aren't afraid of him." M-21 sounded almost hostile. That boy needed to learn how to relax, Frankenstein thought with a sigh.
"That's not it.." Frankenstein hesitated, then tried again. "That's not quite it. Master's power touches upon everything around him unless it is sealed. The seals protect him by preventing his power from simply leaking out constantly... You noticed that Master did not speak?" The children nodded, but Frankenstein knew silence was hardly unusual for his master. "If he were to speak now... If he were to say that he wanted ramyeon, you guys would probably end up only wanting to eat ramyeon, refusing to eat anything else, even to the point of starvation. For the rest of your lives."
The possibility of only ever eating ramyeon again - of only ever wanting to eat ramyeon again - silenced the room completely.
"He can do that?" Tao asked.
"Even when his power is sealed, Master needs to display extreme caution not to do that. It is the main reason he speaks so rarely."
"...I was not aware." Seira eventually commented.
"You have felt the weight of his words." Frankenstein said. "Master does not speak because he wishes to allow people to live by their own will. He does not touch people because he fears harming them. Master's actions are guided, in all ways, by his desire to cherish others. He is honour given flesh." Reverence had seeped into Frankenstein's words by the end, but who could blame him? Master was perfection.
"I've seen him pat you." M-21 said. Frankenstein sighed. M-21's words weren't precisely a challenge.
"Master does me the honour of trusting my strength." The minute the words came out of his mouth, Frankenstein wanted to take them back. The kids were going to -
"I will strive to also be acknowledged by the Noblesse." Karias said instantly. Of course he did. Which meant that -
"To be worthy of the Noblesse's respect is an excellent goal." Rael added. There was no way Regis was going to stay quiet in the face of -
"This means that the only one of us whose strength is recognized by him," Regis was gearing himself up for more training, obviously, "is Frankenstein."
"We must improve ourselves." Even Seira? Frankenstein sighed again, even as a smile began to form. This was no doubt going to mean more work for him, but... Instead of focusing on how his master could use his power, the children had instead seen the challenge of being acknowledged. If only the previous Clan Leaders had reacted like that, he thought.
"RK-5 has to improve!" Tao's enthusiasm was back, and there was a determined gleam in his eye which did not bode well for the other children. Well, masks were one thing, but Frankenstein might have to interfere if Tao started pulling out capes for everyone. There were standards anyone representing Master should have to follow, even for fashion, and capes were definitely out. Besides, they were a nightmare in a fight; they got caught on everything.