Present Day:
Frankenstein wasn't in the habit of sleeping in his laboratory. He was arguably the most powerful human alive, so doing something like this made him seem weak.
But he wasn't the Noblesse, either. He couldn't heal himself the way Raizel did. No… the wounds simply filled with his dark power, sealing them off until he regenerated his flesh, blood, and bone. Too many wounds really would end up killing him.
And a mere two weeks ago, he'd been completely impaled on a halberd. That wasn't exactly doing him any favors.
Unfortunately, his wounds were just making the dark spear's evil whispers even louder in his head. Frankenstein grit his teeth, doing his best to block them out. He knew all their tricks by now… He was all too familiar with their hunger, their greed, their cruelty… but his wounds were weakening his resistance.
Just when he thought he couldn't stand it anymore, a powerful, soothing presence flared to life in his mind. The calming energy seeped into his consciousness, chasing away the darkness, bringing peace in its wake.
Frankenstein smiled to himself. Master always knew, didn't he?
Frankenstein. Are you all right?
The scientist sent his gratitude and reassurances back through their mental link. Rai gave his mind another gentle touch before retreating.
He put his head back down on the laboratory bench for a moment, breathing deeply. His Master was always a reassuring and comforting presence in his mind.
"Boss?"
Frankenstein jerked his head off his keyboard.
He turned around to see Tao, Takio, and M-21 standing behind him. They were all looking fairly serious.
"Are you okay?" M-21 asked. "You're bleeding again…"
Frankenstein looked down at himself. It was really too bad that he had a tendency to wear white shirts most days… That just made it all the more obvious when he was losing blood.
"Ah… could one of you bring me some bandages? It looks like that halberd wound hasn't completely closed yet…" Frankenstein murmured.
"Sure…"
Frankenstein shrugged off his jacket and pulled off his bloody shirt. Tao was approaching him with bandages. He reached out to take them, but Tao refused to hand them over.
"Here, let us do it."
Frankenstein scowled.
"I'm not an invalid yet. I can apply my own bandages."
Tao made a face back at him.
"That's not the point. You're always taking care of us. So let me help you for just a second…"
Frankenstein sighed. He got what they were saying, but the only person who had ever taken care of him was his Master. Besides, these three shouldn't be the ones having to take care of him…
"Fine. Go ahead."
He lifted his arms to allow Tao to apply some medicine and bandages to the gaping gash in his abdomen.
"Frankenstein… we wanted to ask you something," Tao said quietly as he tightened up the bandages.
"Of course you did."
He had a feeling what was coming, and sure enough…
"Can you… make us stronger?"
He heaved an exasperated sigh… but he couldn't be angry. Not with his kids.
"What's your excuse this time?"
"We're still lacking in strength. We know we'd eventually get stronger over time, but our enemies aren't just going to sit around and wait for us to get stronger."
"You're being greedy," Frankenstein warned them. "If you take on too much power this quickly you'll just hurt yourself. You're strong enough already."
"Frankenstein… we know we're only this strong because you made us this way. And we're very grateful…"
"If you're grateful, then stop," Frankenstein said sharply. "If you respect all the work I've done on your bodies, then please… just wait to get stronger naturally."
"We can't!" Tao argued. "M-21 has his awakened werewolf form, but Takio and I need more power to keep up with him. Otherwise, we'll just be holding our team back."
"That's not true," Frankenstein admonished him. "You will get stronger, I promise… You don't want to die trying to get more power."
"We don't care about that," Takio said firmly.
"Don't be ridiculous," Frankenstein said crossly. "Take my word for it… Power is a stupid thing to die for."
"Then… what about dying to protect the people you care about?"
Frankenstein pinched his eyes shut. So that was it, then? He had no choice?
"Admirable… but also stupid," he said in a low voice. "That just passes on the pain to the people you leave behind."
"But…"
"NO!"
Frankenstein was surprised to find himself on his feet. He hadn't realized he'd cared so much…
The trio all look surprised, and they took a step back from him.
"Sorry… We didn't mean to upset you…"
Frankenstein took a deep breath to calm himself. He wished his Master were still in his head, feeding him that soothing, relaxing energy.
"No, I'm sorry. I lost my composure."
"It's just… we really want this, Boss," Takio said carefully, obviously afraid of triggering Frankenstein's anger. "And you're the only one we can ask."
"If we can't get stronger, then can you make us… well, like you?"
Frankenstein shook his head.
"That's impossible. Even if I hadn't burned all my notes from back then, I know it took years of agonizing experiments to make me into what I am today. I wouldn't put you through that, even if I could."
"Then… can you make us a weapon like yours?"
Frankenstein froze. His first instinct was to scream and shout at them… They had no idea what they were asking for! They didn't know the death and misery that went into making the dark spear… They didn't know that it would literally suck the life out of you, tormenting you for the rest of your sad, horrific life…
They didn't know that the only reason he was still alive today was because his Master had saved him.
"No… I can't do that, either," he replied, doing his best to keep his voice even.
"Why not?"
Frankenstein felt his face twitch. Why wouldn't they just give up…?
Suddenly, it occurred to him that there might actually be a way to give them what they wanted… He'd recently absorbed some powerful souls of Union Elders. It was possible he could separate them out and give one each to Tao and Takio.
They would likely get some of his power… just enough to satisfy them. And they hopefully wouldn't suffer the same amount of horrible side effects that he did.
That was a gamble of long odds, though. Did he really want to leave their fate up to chance?
"You're thinking that there is a way… aren't you?" Tao said shrewdly.
Tao really was sharp. Frankenstein normally appreciated that about him, but right now it was just irritating.
What could he say to dissuade them from this suicidal notion of theirs? They'd never leave him alone if he couldn't persuade them to stop this nonsense.
The answer came so suddenly he was surprised he hadn't thought of it earlier: He'd make them see him for the monster he really was. Then they wouldn't want any part of being like him.
And if his children hated him for it… then fine. At least they'd still be alive.
"Let me ask you all a few things," he said slowly, turning to face them. "If you can answer all my questions, then… I'll do what I can for you."
They all nodded eagerly.
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course we do… We wouldn't be asking for your help otherwise."
"And… how old do you think I am?"
"What's that got to do with anything?" Tao asked, confused.
"Just answer the question," Frankenstein sighed.
"Um… you've got to be at least a thousand years old, right? If you met Sir Raizel all those centuries ago…"
"That's right. I'm over a thousand years old… one thousand and seventeen years old, if I'm remembering correctly. Not that the exact number matters. The years all blur together after a while."
"But what does that have to do with you helping us?"
"Do any of you know when the Union was founded?" Frankenstein said, talking over him.
"I think that was around a thousand years ago too, right?" Tao said, rubbing his chin.
"Yes. Something like that."
"What are you getting at?" Takio asked curiously. "You want us to call you Grandpa or something? Because you're so old?"
"You can call me Grandpa… as long as you're not interested in living to see tomorrow," Frankenstein said sarcastically.
"So… is that the last question, then?"
He shook his head. He had to convince his kids to not ask him for more… He was sure they wouldn't once they knew the truth.
"I still have one more question: How do you think I've been able to care for you all so effortlessly? How did I know your body modifications so well… when it was the Union who made you, not me?"
Everyone frowned at him.
Finally, Tao seemed to piece it all together. His lips parted slightly in surprise.
"Oh."
"Yes," Frankenstein agreed. "That about sums it up."
"You… used to be part of the Union," Tao murmured. "All those centuries ago. They've been using your work ever since. That's it, isn't it?"
He nodded.
"Yes. Everything about you guys… It all started from me. If it weren't for me, you'd all still be normal humans. All your pain, all your suffering… The lives that were stolen from you… All that likely wouldn't have happened to you without my involvement."
He clenched his fists.
"You understand now, correct? You really don't want to ask someone like me for more help, all right? So just… drop it."
Silence for a moment. And then…
"That's bullshit."
Frankenstein jerked his head up.
"And why is that?" he said sharply. "Did you not understand what I just said?"
"I understood it," Tao snapped back. "But I'm pretty sure all the research you conducted at the Union… you did it to yourself, didn't you? That's why you're so powerful now. Not to mention, you were living alone in this house before we got here. Why have this lab if you were the only one here? It was to experiment on yourself, right?"
Tao clenched his own fists.
"You're not… cruel enough to do the things that were done to us. We've all been experimented on by you, and you've always been so careful. If you're trying to scare us, I'm not buying it."
"Me neither," Takio and M-21 echoed.
Frankenstein sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"You're all ridiculous," he mumbled.
"We're your kids."
He looked up. All three of them were grinning at him.
"I always thought you were joking around with us when you said that, but… You were serious, huh?" Takio mused out loud. "Someone else may have done the original experimentation, but they used your work. So that makes us… your kids."
"And you fixed us," M-21 added. "When we came to you, we were broken… all messed up inside… and you fixed us. You made us stronger, better… You made us healthy and happy."
"So you can see why this bothers me, hm? You want me to harm my kids."
My precious creations. My children. I finally get the chance to make things right with a few of you, and you want me to give you something that could kill you? I won't harm you like that. I won't…
"Help us… not harm us," Takio corrected him. "I understand why you don't want to hurt us, especially now…"
He paused, swallowing.
"Well… I get how you feel. But you want to protect the life you have here with all of us, right? We want that, too. We want to keep everyone in this house safe, and our enemies are only getting stronger."
Tao and Takio bowed their heads respectfully.
"Please… help us. Make us like you. We don't care how much it hurts. We know that you'll keep us safe. You have since the day you took us in."
Frankenstein looked into their earnest, eager faces.
"I hate all of you," he grumbled.
"So you'll do it?!" Tao said excitedly.
"We need to ask Master first," Frankenstein sighed. "And he's not going to like this."
"We'll wait here," Takio said, grinning widely. Frankenstein couldn't help but thinking that Takio wouldn't have that smile on his face when he found out what was in store for him.
Tugging his coat back on, he left the trio in the lab and made his way up to the balcony where he could sense Raizel's presence.
He was always reminded of Master's mansion back in Lukedonia out here on the balcony… Master always liked looking out that window. He probably liked it a little too much, but things were different now.
Now… he'd given his Master a new life. A happy life with friends and family and the love Raizel never had. His own pain was nothing to him if it meant protecting this life his Master wanted so badly.
"Master…"
Raizel turned around so that Frankenstein found himself face to face with the same crimson eyes he'd met hundreds of years ago. Tonight, those blood red eyes were soft and understanding. Raizel knew he was in pain… No one understood him better than his Master.
Frankenstein. Are you well?
"As well as I can be," Frankenstein said. "The wounds will heal soon, hopefully… But thank you for helping me earlier."
Of course. I feel your suffering as if it were my own.
"I know, Master… I wish I could keep it from you, but…"
No. I don't wish for you to do that.
"You are too kind," Frankenstein said quietly.
Raizel simply smiled.
"Master… the kids asked me for help," he said quietly. "They want me to experiment on them again."
Are you here to ask permission? I don't think you've always asked for my permission…
"Heh… maybe I'm hoping you'll deny them. They won't listen to me."
Frankenstein didn't miss the amusement in Raizel's eyes.
That sounds familiar.
"Yes… well…" Frankenstein laughed softly. "I had my reasons, Master. As you know."
Yes, you did. I imagine they have their reasons as well.
"When they said they'd rather die than lose someone they love…" Frankenstein said, bowing his head. "I knew I had no choice… And there was only one way to give them what they wanted."
What way?
"They wanted part of the dark spear's power."
Raizel's beautiful eyes widened in surprise.
You should have refused. You know what that power has done to you, Frankenstein…
"I tried, Master… I tried to make them see me for what I am. But they begged me…"
You are a generous and selfless person, Frankenstein. But this is too much. This could kill them.
Frankenstein felt his fingers twitching. He had no good reason for agreeing to their requests. He only knew that he couldn't deny his children something they truly wanted with all their hearts.
Is that how you truly feel?
He looked up. Of course, Raizel had felt what he was feeling. With their minds connected like this, there was nothing he could hide from his Master.
"Yes… I will help them gain the power to guard and protect their loved ones. They chose this of their own will. How I feel doesn't matter."
Frankenstein felt a surge of sorrow from his Master… Likely because Raizel knew he couldn't protect them all. This is what had to happen… but that didn't mean he liked it.
Very well. Do as you will.
Rai listened to the sounds of his companion retreating with a heavy heart.
He knew Frankenstein would never want him to feel so despondent. Frankenstein had built this home and the school he attended in the hopes that he would one day return… and live a happy life. Everything and everyone Rai had around him now was thanks to the sacrifices his bonded companion had made.
Frankenstein had done this to make him happy. And here he was, feeling the exact opposite. It was nothing less than an insult to his companion.
But he couldn't help it. Rai found it impossible to be truly happy while Frankenstein still suffered so.
Frankenstein might have thought he knew why Rai felt such sorrow… And he did, at least partially. It was true that Rai worried about the safety of his family… And his own fading health wasn't helping boost his confidence in his ability to protect them.
But Rai also felt a deep, aching sadness for his companion. Frankenstein was always sacrificing himself for everyone around him. Since the dark spear fed on negative emotions, he restrained himself from feeling anything that the dark spear could use to overpower him, though he struggled with anger the most.
And so… Frankenstein had come to think that his own emotions didn't matter. Whatever pain he felt was inferior, unworthy of attention. After all, he'd suffered for nearly a thousand years thanks to the evil spirits in his head. What was a little more pain to him, when he was pushed to the edge almost every day?
Rai wished more than anything that his companion could go just a single day without the constant agony in his mind. But Frankenstein would never want him to use up his power for something like that.
Frankenstein knew firsthand that extensive use of his power would shorten his life. That was the last thing his loyal companion would want. So Frankenstein endured his suffering without asking for a single thing in return.
But everyone had their limit, even Frankenstein.
Rai couldn't allow his companion to reach that limit again… It had been painful enough to see it once. Rai wouldn't let his companion go like that.
Rai smiled at the starry sky.
Frankenstein had once said that he couldn't let go, too… that he couldn't stop holding on. Well, if Frankenstein wouldn't stop holding on, then neither would he.
My Comments: I wanted to make Rai and Frankenstein's relationship a little more reciprocal than it appears in the manhwa. For the majority of Noblesse, Frankenstein lavishes tons of care and attention on his Master, and Rai mostly just sits there soaking it up like a spoiled prince (except when someone is about to die, of course). But seriously, think about everything Frankenstein has done for Rai. Frankenstein gives Rai a home, builds a school for Rai to attend, sees to his every need, takes care of the kids, tries to fight all Rai's battles for him… Does Rai ever say 'thank you' to Frankenstein? Even once? Come on, Rai, you're supposed to be super classy... where are your manners?
Yeah… Frankenstein seems to be the most important person in Rai's life, so it would have been nice to see Rai return some of the care and attention that Frankenstein gives to him. We never see Rai and Frankenstein do anything together aside from drink tea, talk, and fight bad guys. Rai mentions wanting to see more of the modern world, so maybe Rai and Frankenstein could have gone on some social outings together, maybe to a park or garden or something Rai would have liked. But… nope. We can't expand on Rai's personality, that's just ridiculous!
(This is all just my opinion! I still liked the story, I just thought it could be better in places!)
