Funeral Cake Factory

Chapter 7: Patolli

February 10, 1914 I.C. – Neuchwanstein Lodge, Aldebaran [11:29AM]

"So I've heard from Gavril that you are to become his tutor… is that right, Herr Laine?"

Marcus nodded silently in agreement. What felt like a simple question from a finely dressed lady was in reality some sort of interrogation procedure that he had never experienced in his lifetime. The woman doing the 'questioning' was none other than Gavril's cousin, Anois Dupont. Everything should've been normal up that point. It was all but a simple conversation until Anois withdrew a pair of scissors from her undergarment and quickly pointed it at Marcus' throat.

The old man instinctively dodged back in defense. He understood immediately that he had to cooperate with the woman whose short stature played no significance to the threat presented at him. Having been cornered at the end of hall leading to the rooftop, Marcus scanned his surroundings for any possible escape routes. He remained calm, however. At the back of his mind was a growing interest to the inhabitants of the lodge. It's been years since I set foot outside, anyway.

"You see, my cousin has been spending quite some time with you, and I find it unsettling." Anois continued to raise her voice, all the while still pointing the sharpened blades at the old man. Marcus smirked. He had apparently overlooked the fact that people rarely recognize a pair of scissors as a practical and portable weapon. Nobody will find it weird even if he carried it in his bag, either.

"Are you saying that you don't trust me, Fraulein Dupont? Answer me." Marcus finally said. He of course wanted an immediate reaction, for such a question was often a clincher for most of the individuals that visited him at the tower, and it was obviously a trick. To say that one completely trusts him would be pure idiocy and naïveté, whereas saying 'no' would mean that one didn't need his services, thereby making any contract with him effectively null and void.

"I apologize, Herr Laine. But I will not answer your question. After all, I am the one you should be answering." Anois replied, which didn't surprise Marcus by any means. He found it amusing that even under such circumstances, certain people like the woman currently aiming a scissor at him was able to remain 'calm'. The old man realized that his methods of assaulting people's minds by indirect means were still far from perfect. What remained now was to find a way to dissuade his attacker from harassing him any further.

Before either of the two could make another move, the familiar voice of a certain man came from the end of the hallway, effectively interrupting the events that may occur between Marcus and the woman. It may have been fate, a stroke of luck, or maybe just plain stupidity on Anois' part. The trap wasn't properly set up to begin with. Ambushing someone requires a lot of careful planning and severe anticipation of the target's possible actions… which she admittedly lacked.

"Whatever are both of you doing here, anyway? Also, we're getting late on our schedule, Professor."

Marcus immediately shoved Anois' hand aside and calmly walked towards his student at the other end of the hall. After a few steps, he condescendingly glimpsed back at the woman who was shivering due to her failure. The scissors that Anois held fell soundlessly as it hit the carpeted floor, much to the old man's delight.

"I hope this had been a valuable lesson for both us, Fraulein Dupont. Oh, and I hope that we do get along." Marcus said as he reached halfway across the hall. "Now, if you'll excuse us, your cousin and I have a lot of discussion to do regarding this 'identity crisis' of his."

"GAVRIL! HOW COULD YOU IMMEDIATELY TRUST SOMEONE LIKE HIM?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Anois shouted at the top of her lungs. The old man's smirk disappeared in an instant, but he controlled himself in order not sink at the woman's level.

Upon hearing this, Gavril immediately rushed towards Anois' location, gripped her hands, and pushed her at the end of the hallway. Anois struggled with all her might, but she eventually gave in to her cousin's forcefulness. Her mind was already going blank. She felt her cheeks being grabbed and her mouth forcefully opened, until she realized that Gavril was trying to kiss her, of all things. This wasn't how the man usually solved problems, but Anois' body didn't refuse. In all honesty, she liked it.

"You're horrible." Anois said, with tears flowing from her eyes.

Marcus continued to observe his student's actions. Though there was nothing outstanding about the young man's personality as a whole, Marcus still couldn't discern why he immediately became engrossed in teaching someone like Gavril Rochester. Sure, the young man was a bit indecisive and pragmatic, but in most cases, he could be the only sane man in an insane situation. He can be the only reliable person available in a time of great need. Marcus realized this, but somehow, he found something lacking… like there was something holding the young man from being his true self. This gave Marcus all the more reason to find out what he can do to make sure that his new student will reap the full benefits of his tutelage.

But there was something in the way. His student was madly in love with the same woman who, without a second thought, drew a pair of scissors and had the hubris to point it at him. Distractions such as these were enough to break even the brightest of scholars. What more if a neophyte like Gavril is to indulge in such tasteless and pointless matters?

A minute or so had passed and the hallway began to fell silent once more. Gone are the sounds of struggling that echoed as Gavril and Anois decided to settle things in their own surreal way. Marcus silently watched the resolution of the conflict, checking each individual's motivations and reasons. It was clear that Anois ambushed and attacked him out jealousy. But for Gavril to go this far just to stop the woman from being a troublesome character was another thing that escaped the old man's perception. He wanted to learn more, and his wish was granted in front of his very eyes. He didn't even need to lift a single finger to get the results he wanted.

"What did he mean by 'identity crisis,' Gavril?" Anois finally asked, recovering from her torrid experience with her cousin. "Is there something going on around here that I should be wary about? Explain this to me."

Gavril turned his head towards Marcus, as if asking permission before revealing any details. Marcus simply nodded, and watched the event unfold by itself. His hobby was human observation, after all.

Gavril cleared his throat. It might have been a hard decision for him, or perhaps he didn't really want to tell Anois at all. He stilled his breathing, trying to find the right time to reveal his plans. A gentle feminine voice stopped him from quivering. "It's ok. Take it easy." the voice said, while two warm hands crawled towards his cheeks. It wasn't forceful, like the one he did earlier. Ironically, Anois was gentler than he was in terms of expressing her love. She just didn't want to see him around anyone else.

"Leif wants to change my identity." Gavril said. "I know he just wanted to help and all, but I'm still uneasy about it."

"Does that mean you're going to change everything? Should I consider 'Gavril Rochester' as a dead person?" was Anois' question, as Gavril expected. Leif already knew of his criminal record, and it immediately dawned upon him that in order to live a proper life from that point onwards, he had to 'die'. It wouldn't be long before the authorities begin to suspect his friends and investigate them. He had to be invisible. Literally getting past the radar would be a difficult task, for he had to ensure the loyalty of the people closest to him. It will be useful in the long run, though.

"Tonight, Leif will accompany me to some of his friends in the government. I will fabricate my records, if need be." Gavril said. His voice was shaky, but behind it was his soul – willing to go forward and discard his past in order to recreate himself.

Anois sighed, somewhat disappointed from the revelation. "That settles it. I'll consider you dead after midnight, then."

"I hope you're ready to see me in a wig." Gavril snickered. "I haven't worn one before, but I'll find something that will make me more handsome."

Anois wanted to vomit. "Handsome, you say? Don't try to cheer me up, Gabby. Once you complete this transformation of yours, I'll have to call you with your new name, right?"

What would I name myself, anyway? Gavril thought.

Gavril Rochester – his previous identity will forever live in infamy. No one will remember his suffering except a chosen few. History will remember him as a criminal… a fugitive with no grasp of morality. He will be nothing short of a failure of a human being whose only achievement in life was having killed people and destroyed lives.

Anois pestered her cousin for an answer. "You've come this far, and yet you haven't thought of your new name?"

"I will think it through, Anois. There's still time left, anyway." Gavril said. "Some people actually find my current name hard to pronounce, so I'll guess I'll have to make my new one easier. I'll see you after I accomplish everything tonight."