Memories: Trust

Raizel had been gazing out this window for longer than he could remember. He must have memorized every tree, every leaf, every stone lying on the ground… At least the night sky would change. Raizel liked to watch the progress of the constellations across the sky.

In a few minutes, Frankenstein would be bringing him his tea. For the last five years, Frankenstein's movements could be tracked like clockwork. He was as consistent as the sun and moon, and arguably just as beautiful. Raizel looked forward to gazing upon his face every morning and night.

But minutes passed… and Frankenstein still hadn't come with his tea.

Raizel was used to silence. He didn't consider silence to be oppressive. But now it made him a little worried… At least, until the sound of a door closing caught his attention.

Raizel glanced down at the ground. His servant was wandering out into the grounds. He might have thought Frankenstein was out for an evening stroll, but he could sense something was wrong. Frankenstein wasn't walking with his usual confident strut… this was more like a drunken lurch.

That left only one explanation. Frankenstein was suffering and didn't want him to know. He'd left the house to try and get far enough away that the angry spirits in his head couldn't be heard.

Raizel couldn't stop the surge of sympathy that welled up inside him. He rarely went outside, but… he'd taken this human under his wing. He should make sure Frankenstein was all right…

In an instant, Raizel had leaped from the window, gracefully gliding down to where his servant was attempting an ungainly retreat into the misty woods. He hadn't gotten far, however. Frankenstein had stopped and was leaning against a tree.

And... he was coughing rather violently. Raizel didn't miss the black stains on his hands.

As Raizel silently approached, he reached out to communicate to his servant… but he was immediately met with a screeching, howling wall of darkness.

Frankenstein… how dare you go on living…!

Why were you the only one to survive…? WHY ONLY YOU?

I curse you, Frankenstein! I will curse your name for an eternity!

Frankenstein panted, bracing himself against the tree. Raizel could see his knees shaking. This was much worse than anything Raizel had felt from Frankenstein's mind before... He couldn't break through the noise.

"It had to be me," Frankenstein hissed weakly. "You know why… no one else could have brought you back… no one else could control you."

Suddenly, Frankenstein let out a gasp of pain and he doubled over, clutching his stomach… Drops of crimson dripped into the dirt.

The ground sizzled where Frankenstein's blood had splashed on it.

Raizel tried again to probe for his servant's thoughts, but it was as if Frankenstein's consciousness had disappeared entirely into this dark, screaming abyss.

"I won't… stop… holding you back!" Frankenstein screamed at the trees. "I won't let you hurt Raizel!"

Raizel paused in his efforts, momentarily shocked.

Frankenstein was trying to protect him? Why… why would he do that? Frankenstein already knew that he didn't need protection…

"You want… his soul… but you can't have it!" he howled. "You'll have to go through me first!"

He watched, still unsure of what to do, as Frankenstein broke away from the tree he'd been leaning on and wandered farther into the woods. Raizel quietly followed, his concern only growing.

As he walked, Raizel noticed his gait becoming even more awkward, if that was possible. It was as if Frankenstein had forgotten how to walk, or a poor puppeteer was pulling his strings.

"Haha…" Frankenstein laughed manically. "You're right… I should… just die…"

Raizel's hand shook. That wasn't Frankenstein's voice. It was as if several people had tried to speak through Frankenstein all at once. His voice was fractured and broken… like a shattered mirror hastily thrown back together.

"Everything is… my fault…" he continued, still in that horribly broken voice. "I never… should have helped them…"

More manic laughter echoed off the trees. Moonlight glinted off Frankenstein's beautiful blond hair, making him look like some ethereal forest spirit… But the effect was rather ruined by the dark energy that had begun oozing from his skin.

"If I die… will it all be over…?"

Frankenstein was shaking so much, Raizel was surprised he could stay standing.

"No more pain… no more darkness…" he rambled, blood still dripping from some unseen wound… "NO MORE VOICES IN MY HEAD!"

Finally, Frankenstein's strength seemed to give out and he dropped to his knees. But then… he raised his hand, tendrils of that dark energy swirling around his fingers.

"Raizel won't be in danger… if I'm gone," Frankenstein breathed heavily. "And I can use my life force… to force you in between worlds… forever."

He raised his hand, covered in dark energy, and placed it against his throat.

"Ah, it's too bad, really… I should've said goodbye…"

Raizel's heart nearly stopped as he realized what was happening. He thrust out his hand, summoning his power.

"Stop!" he commanded.

Frankenstein froze, his hand still at his throat.

"Raizel?" he whispered.

"Frankenstein," Raizel said, still trying to force his way into his companion's mind. "Lower your hand."

With what looked like an immense amount of effort, Frankenstein took his hand away from his neck. Once he was satisfied that Frankenstein was not about to slit his own throat, Raizel felt safe enough to circle around to where he could be seen.

Frankenstein was in worse shape than he thought… Those sapphire eyes could barely focus on his face. Sinister, black ooze was dripping from between his teeth. He was bleeding from what appeared to be multiple wounds, the most apparent one being the fresh gash on his neck. Blood was pooling at the base of his throat.

"Frankenstein…" he said softly. "I did not give you permission to die."

His companion gave him a smile as broken as his voice. Yet another trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

"You should," he said faintly. Raizel was relieved to hear his voice slowly transitioning back to normal. "It would be better that way… I don't know how long… I can keep holding this thing."

"No," Raizel said firmly. "You will keep holding on, Frankenstein. I trust you."

Frankenstein's bloody, tainted lips parted in surprise.

"Why?"

Why, indeed…

"It is what I have decided," Raizel told him, gazing calmly into his eyes. "Just as I decided to keep you five years ago… My answer has not changed."

Even in this haggard state, Frankenstein looked back at him fearlessly. No noble would ever dare be so bold… and yet this human was. Raizel found he rather liked it.

"You really... mean that?" Frankenstein whispered.

"Yes. You are my companion. I will not allow you to let go."

After a long moment, Frankenstein raised his hand to wipe the blood and ooze from his mouth.

"Then… if that is truly your will…" Frankenstein said quietly.

"It is."

Slowly but surely, Raizel sensed a feeling of calm settling over his companion. Frankenstein nodded his head in acceptance.

"Very well… Master," he said, his voice as steady as he could make it. "I will not let go."

He got unsteadily to his feet. Raizel felt another twinge of sympathy… He reached for his power, sending a small sliver of energy into Frankenstein. His wounds closed, the blood disappeared from his skin, and his clothes mended themselves.

"Thank you, Sir," Frankenstein said, bowing his head respectfully.

Raizel responded by delving into his servant's mind. And… for the first time… he could hear Frankenstein's thoughts.

I wonder what he sees in me… Why trust me like this? Well, I'll just have to work harder to not let him down. But… it would be nice… if he could speak out loud to me more often… so I could hear his voice.

"Frankenstein."

He looked up.

"Yes?"

"I have not had my evening tea."

Startled, Frankenstein swiftly bowed to him.

"Of course, Sir," he said, suddenly all business. "I'm late. Forgive me."

"There is nothing to forgive, Frankenstein."


My Comments: I wanted to give a reason as to why Rai trusts Frankenstein so much. So... there it is!

Rai and Frankenstein always had a very "Beauty and the Beast" type vibe to me (even with the romance element not being present in the manhwa). Rai is our pure, innocent Beauty that everyone loves and worships… and Frankenstein is our angry, bloodthirsty Beast that everyone hates or fears. Beauty tames the Beast. Our Beauty, Rai, doesn't see Frankenstein as a Beast. Rai sees Frankenstein as the good man he is on the inside instead of the terrifying monster everyone else sees on the outside. It's a tale as old as time, really. A classic.

Also, Rai hardly ever talking in the manhwa just felt lazy to me. I think he still could have been classy and dignified while having a little more dialogue, or at least letting us see some of his thoughts.