Memories: The Lord

Raizel hadn't looked out this window in a long time. He normally looked out the window that had a view of the forest… This window looked out over his overgrown garden.

Except it wasn't so overgrown anymore.

The weeds had been pulled. The path had been swept. The trellises had been repaired. Herbs had been planted in the flower boxes in perfectly neat little rows. Exotic plants he had never seen before lined the stone path. Fragrant crimson roses were growing up the trellises, each one carefully pruned and tended by Frankenstein.

The garden was no longer an overgrown nightmare. It was a haven fit for a king.

Raizel still remembered the day he had told the Lord to stop sending servants to tend the garden for him. The young nobles the Lord had sent were obviously terrified at the thought of doing something to offend the Noblesse, so Raizel had sent them away. They had left in quite a hurry.

Frankenstein seemed to be in no hurry at all. He had been working diligently in the mornings for weeks now. And it seemed as though his perseverance had yielded results... the roses that now grew in his garden were more splendid than any he had ever laid eyes on.

There was no reason Raizel could think of as to why Frankenstein would want to tend the roses. He didn't eat them, or use them to make scented oils... He didn't harvest them or sell them... He didn't use them in his experiments, like he did with the herbs he also grew.

So why… give such care to the roses?

This morning, Frankenstein was once again outside in the garden, down on his knees with his hands in the soil as he worked on another flower box. He was wearing a simple white shirt and black trousers, his wavy blond hair carelessly tied back at the base of his neck.

Raizel could hardly see any difference in beauty between the flowers and his companion. It was hard to decide what to look at.

As if he could sense that he was being watched, Frankenstein looked up. Their eyes met.

For one irrational moment, Raizel worried Frankenstein would be angry that he was watching him. But, no, of course he wasn't. Frankenstein gave him a sly smile, a smile that clearly said he knew he was being watched.

A gentle breeze blew through the garden, scattering rose petals across the stone path. Frankenstein glanced down long enough to pluck a red petal off the ground, rubbing it between his fingers before looking back up at his Master.

Curiously, Raizel reached out with his mind to see if he could hear his companion's thoughts… Perhaps the evil spirits were quiet today. And to his surprise…

The roses… do you like them, Raizel?

Raizel was momentarily stunned. Had Frankenstein tended the roses just to please him? Was it really as simple as that?

I do. They are lovely.

Even from where he was, Raizel could see Frankenstein's smile softening. It looked like his answer had made his companion happy.

It occurred to him that Frankenstein would probably be even happier if he came out to view the roses in person. And it was tempting… to walk under the trellises laden with fragrant flowers in the company of his kind and compassionate companion.

But when was the last time he had left this place? He hardly ever left his home so he wouldn't frighten his fellow nobles, like the poor servants who had once tended his garden.

Still... Frankenstein was watching him expectantly. There were no other nobles nearby... and Frankenstein wasn't afraid. Raizel knew he didn't have to worry that Frankenstein would feel uncomfortable being near him. Years of living together had told him that much.

Raizel made up his mind. He would go outside and see the roses... but just for a few minutes. Then he'd go back inside. He took a deep breath, leaping carefully from the window and gliding gracefully down to where a stunned Frankenstein was waiting.

"Master?" he said rushing over to him, his hands still covered in dirt. "Are you all right?"

Of course. I merely wished to see the roses you tend so carefully.

"Oh… yes," Frankenstein said, hastily brushing the soil off his hands. "Shall I walk with you?"

Please.

Frankenstein extended his hand toward the path that led through the rose garden.

"After you, Master."

Won't you walk by my side?

Frankenstein blinked at him as if he'd just said something completely outlandish.

"I… yes. If that is what you wish. I'm a little bit dirty from working, though…"

I do not mind.

"All right… as long as it doesn't bother you."

Frankenstein came to stand by his side, leading him through the newly repaired gardens. He saw many other flowers and shrubs as they walked... plants he had only glimpsed from afar were now close enough to touch. Raizel trailed his fingers along a soft leaf as he walked.

"I know it's probably not much, compared to what you had here before," Frankenstein said, waving a hand at a flowering lilac bush. "But I did make a few modifications here and there... I hope you don't mind."

Not at all. This is your home, too, Frankenstein.

Frankenstein blinked, but then... a wide grin spread across his face.

"In that case, I will redouble my efforts."

There is no need to push yourself.

"It's no trouble at all," Frankenstein said happily. "Let me show you the archway... I repaired it, and the rose buds climbing it are starting to open."

Raizel allowed himself to be led deeper into labyrinth of blossoming flowers.

The longer he walked, the more surreal this day seemed to become… He hadn't done anything like this in decades. At least, not willingly. The fading sunlight danced off Frankenstein's golden hair, and the breeze smelled like the nearby sea… and the roses looked almost too perfect to be real.

This was life… the life he'd been holding himself back from. Of course, he'd done so for the sake of his fellow nobles, but perhaps… he could walk in the garden once in a while, if it was for his companion's sake.

And Frankenstein was smiling all the while. There was no fear in his heart... not a trace. The only thing to be found in his companion's heart was an immense amount of satisfaction, as if he'd just accomplished some great deed.

"Are you happy, Raizel?"

He looked over into his companion's curious sapphire eyes. Everything out here really was so lovely… Especially the way Frankenstein cared about his happiness. For someone so full of dark energies, Frankenstein had remarkably pure intentions.

Yes. I am.

Frankenstein grinned.

"Good."

Raizel suddenly found it rather difficult to look into his companion's eyes. How long should he stay out here like this? Was he allowed to be this happy?

He didn't want to go back inside like he told himself he would. He wanted the sunlight, the roses, the sea breeze in his hair... He wanted Frankenstein to keep looking at him with that big grin on his handsome face. This sudden surge of longing in his heart felt so... so...

Raizel forced himself to turn away, in the direction of the forest… only to see another figure approaching them.

Ragar Kertia was soaring toward them, and within moments, the family leader landed directly in front of them. As soon as he landed, Ragar bowed reverently to him.

"Lord Raizel," Ragar said respectfully. "It is a pleasure to see you again. Forgive me for intruding on your evening…"

Raizel nodded. He was mildly upset that his outing with Frankenstein had been interrupted, but Ragar didn't need to know that.

"Ragar," Frankenstein said, nodding. "Good to see you. Here to spar again? Could it wait until tomorrow…?"

"Not this time… The Lord is asking to see you, Frankenstein."

Raizel instantly tensed up. He'd forgotten that he'd promised to send Frankenstein to see the Lord the day they met… Or perhaps he just hadn't wanted to remember.

"Right now?" Frankenstein asked.

"Yes, if that's not too much trouble," Ragar said.

"As long as Raizel doesn't mind, I will go."

Raizel was somewhat surprised to find that he did mind.

"Ragar," Raizel found himself interrupting.

Both Frankenstein and Ragar looked at him. Raizel knew he couldn't deny the Lord this time… but he wished he could.

"Yes, Sir?"

"Please tell the Lord… Tell him…"

Raizel paused, unsure of what to say. What he really wanted to do was demand that he get his companion back without a scratch on him. Not that he thought the Lord would do anything to Frankenstein, but still… this human was his.

Thankfully, Ragar seemed to understand.

"I'm sure the Lord just wants to talk to him, Sir."

Raizel nodded. With a flick of his finger, he conjured up the suit he liked to see Frankenstein in. It was the same one he'd gifted to Frankenstein when they'd first met. Raizel liked the look of that long, shining black ribbon around Frankenstein's neck.

"You should look presentable to go see the Lord," he said quietly, reaching out to pluck a leaf out of his long, blond hair.

"Thank you, Raizel," Frankenstein replied, quickly checking his head for any more stray foliage. "I will return as soon as the Lord finishes his business with me."

"Of course," he said softly.

Both Ragar and Frankenstein bowed to him before soaring off into the sunset.

When they were gone, Raizel sadly drifted back inside through the open window. As he walked back through the silent halls to his study, he was struck by a sudden feeling of… fear.

What if… what if Frankenstein didn't come back?

What if fate was just toying with him, giving him a taste of companionship only to cruelly take it away?

He shook his head to clear these dark thoughts from his head. That wouldn't happen. He was being ridiculous, and likely worrying over nothing. Lord wouldn't take Frankenstein from him.

But…

Frankenstein… Please come back… no matter what happens.


Frankenstein almost turned around when he heard Raizel's voice in his head. He came to a sudden halt, looking back over his shoulder at Raizel's mansion.

"What's wrong?" Ragar asked, turning to look back at him.

"It's Raizel. He must be worried… I've only been gone a moment, and he's already calling for me."

"Calling for you?"

"Yes… asking me to come back," Frankenstein said softly.

Ragar was silent for a moment.

"I don't think the Lord means to punish you. From what you've told me… your 'crimes' aren't exactly crimes. You only killed the corrupted knights and their mutant creations. The other knights merely had a bit of blood taken from them."

"I experimented on some of the others, too," Frankenstein said bitterly.

"You didn't kill them, though. They all fully recovered."

Frankenstein sighed. He knew Ragar was trying to make him feel better, but… now he was worried that he might not be able to return like Raizel obviously wanted him to. And after he'd finally gotten his Master to leave the house, too... Raizel had seemed happy out in the garden, content to allow his butler to show him around for as long as he wanted...

Would today be the day this peaceful life came crashing down around him?

"So I'm supposed to believe my sins will be forgiven? Just like that?" he asked.

"Don't you think you've been punished enough already with that cursed weapon you carry? Don't you think the Lord knows that?"

"How should I know?" Frankenstein replied, frowning to himself. "I just don't want Raizel to suffer because of my absence."

"The Lord is merciful. You'll see. Besides, if he really wanted to punish you, he would have called for you a long time ago."

"Well… we'll see, I suppose…"

They continued on their way until they'd gotten to the Lord's palace. The place was massive, even bigger than Raizel's mansion. Ragar led him in the front gates and through the stone hallways until they came to a magnificent set of doors… the entrance to the Lord's hall.

Frankenstein took a deep breath and stepped into the main hall with Ragar. Gejutel was already there, standing at the foot of the Lord's throne.

Well, this was it. The Lord was the one who would ultimately pass judgment on him.

The Lord was certainly an impressive man. He was tall and lean, with a head of long, flowing golden hair. Even from where he was, Frankenstein could feel his powerful aura.

And unfortunately, he was looking fairly serious.

"Well, well… We finally meet."

Frankenstein did his best to keep his face impassive.

"How could you make me call for you? It's been ten years since you've been here, hasn't it? I thought Raizel would have sent you to me by now," the Lord remarked. "But no… he never did, did he?"

"Obviously not…" Frankenstein said awkwardly. This wasn't how he imagined the Lord to be.

"Hmm… And you never came to ask me for my blood, either. I thought for sure you would."

What?

What was he supposed to say to that?

"I value my own life, Lord. I would never be so disrespectful."

"Ha!" the Lord laughed out loud. Ragar and Gejutel twitched uncomfortably. "Now that's funny! We both know you don't believe either of those statements to be true."

"… As you say, Lord," Frankenstein said quietly.

The Lord studied him momentarily.

"Ragar, Gejutel… Please leave us," Lord said suddenly.

Gejutel flinched.

"Um, perhaps I should stay…"

"You don't trust me?" the Lord said, sounding hurt. "Put yourself in my shoes. How am I supposed to speak openly with him with both of you staring at me like that?"

"As you wish, Lord. Just… behave yourself in front of the human, hm?" Gejutel said.

Both Ragar and Gejutel showed themselves out of the hall.

"So, let's get back to business…"

"Right," Frankenstein said stiffly. "You probably want to know all about my horrible misdeeds, yes? Or what I'm planning to do to Raizel? So you can pass judgment on me?"

"Nope," the Lord said cheerfully.

"No?" Frankenstein echoed.

"You've spoken to Ragar about it, right? Well, if Ragar thought your past wasn't worth mentioning to me, then I won't pry. But I do have to acknowledge you for your power. It's impressive, I'll admit it."

Frankenstein nodded. He supposed he should be flattered, but... would he be returning to Raizel tonight? At the moment, that was all he cared to know.

"So… you were next to Raizel for ten years… watching him," the Lord said thoughtfully.

"Yes?"

"And he still stays in his mansion all day? Looking out the window, watching the world from inside?"

"Well… mostly. Although, he did come out into the garden today to see what I'd grown."

"Oh ho!" Lord said gleefully. "Well, well! You got Raizel to walk with you in the garden? You fixed up that shabby old place?"

"Yes? It just took some time, that's all... I've planted medicinal herbs out there for my experiments. And his rose garden needed tending, it was overgrown."

The Lord's smile widened.

"And he likes it?"

"Well… I think he likes it. He stayed out there for a while... perhaps he might have stayed longer if time had allowed."

"You are quite remarkable. For a human. No one's gotten Raizel to willingly leave his home for centuries… That is quite an accomplishment."

"I have a question, if I may," Frankenstein said seriously. "Why does Raizel only stay in the house? He's so powerful… surely he has nothing to fear from the outside world."

"Ah…" the Lord said, his cheerful smile fading slightly. "I see... he hasn't told you of his position, then?"

"His position? No... He seemed unwilling to talk about it, so I didn't press him," Frankenstein said. It was still a bit of a sore spot to him that his Master still wouldn't open up to him about such things... he could have asked Ragar, but that would have meant exposing his ignorance to the other nobles. "He told me that his line is the oldest of all the noble lines, and that his blood holds great power."

"That's certainly true," Lord agreed, nodding. "But not quite the whole truth. He is not just powerful... He is the mightiest of all. Even his name is a reflection of his position... Cadis Etrama di Raizel: The Fiery Rose of Judgment."

"Judgment?" Frankenstein repeated. "Who does he judge?"

Lord spread his arms wide.

"All of us. Mortals and immortals. Humans and nobles. Creatures both great and small. No one can escape his judgment, should he choose to pass it."

Frankenstein wasn't often shocked, but he found himself startled by this news. The kind young noble who had shyly been watching him in the garden this morning... was the most powerful being alive? The arbiter of all life?

"Does this mean... he judged me?"

Lord shrugged.

"He must have. And he decided that you were worthy."

That couldn't be... What could Raizel possibly have seen in him to decide that he was worthy?

"So you can see why others might avoid him, hm?" Lord continued on. "Raizel is the protector of nobles, but he also has the power to end them if they step too far out of line. Better to stay away from him than risk his judgment... Raizel is all too aware that the other beings fear him instinctively. So he stays in his home, alone... for the comfort of others."

Frankenstein felt a stab of sympathy for his host. Raizel was surely a much more compassionate person than he was... He had never much cared if people were afraid of him, as long as he could accomplish his goals. But his Master sacrificed his own comfort just so other people would be at ease...?

It wasn't right. He shouldn't have been alone all that time.

"Cowards," he mumbled. "All of you... Master shouldn't have had to ask a stranger to stay by his side. You should have been there for him."

Lord regarded his reaction curiously.

"Does this mean you'd rather leave him?"

"No. It means you're a prick."

Lord threw his head back and laughed loudly, his voice echoing through the great hall.

"Ah... You know, I should punish you for that," Lord said, stifling his laughter. "You're proud as a peacock, aren't you? But you're right. And I did try, you know... but he turned us away."

"Then you didn't try hard enough."

"That may be so... but nonetheless, I am grateful that you are next to him now. To have someone other than a noble by his side... I never would have thought of such a thing. Despite your power, you are still human…" He paused. "And yet... at the same time, you are not a human. What a strange being you are."

Frankenstein bowed his head slightly. He didn't really need to be reminded of that.

"Have you made a contract with him?" the Lord asked. "Is that why you stay?"

The mention of contracts caused a mild spike of anger in him, nearly rousing the evil spirits in his head. Contracts were what had started this whole mess with the mutants… Contracts and mutants were why he'd had to experiment on himself…

"No," he said curtly.

"Ah… you seem angry." The Lord paused again. "I see, you think contracts are some filthy, ugly act…"

The Lord shook his head.

"It's not like that. Only the mutants are like that. A true noble contract is an unbreakable bond between the noble and someone of his choosing. It's not about subjugating others."

"Then what's it about?" Frankenstein snapped.

"Originally, it was about companionship," the Lord said calmly. "The fact that power exchange is involved is just a side effect of sharing your blood. Humans and nobles did evolve side by side, after all… So nobles evolved a way to keep their favorite humans with them forever."

Frankenstein chewed that over in his mind. So that was how the contracts were supposed to be done… But they'd been corrupted, just like he'd suspected. Thus, the mutant hoards that had spent years trying to eliminate...

"So you stayed with him all this time and you hadn't even made a contract with him?" Lord wondered out loud, tapping his fingers thoughtfully. "Why is that?"

Why…?

He bit the inside of his cheek. Why was he staying? He had lingered here for nearly ten years... but leaving had hardly crossed his mind.

"Raizel said… he had nothing to fear from me."

And that had just felt so good, hadn't it? It had felt good to know how much Raizel trusted and believed in him. Raizel had even insisted that he keep on living when he'd wanted to die…

"Is that so? And… do you fear him?" Lord asked.

"No. How could I?"

How could he fear the gentle soul who had healed his wounds and guarded his mind against the evil that lay there? No... even knowing what he did now, he couldn't fear the anxious voice calling him home.

Lord observed him for a moment, his blood red eyes unreadable.

"Just ask Raizel to make the contract," he said eventually.

"I don't think it's that simple…" Frankenstein argued.

"Why not? It's no problem if you both want it."

"I'd rather not force my company on him forever like that… and I don't want him to feel obligated."

Lord shook his head.

"For someone so smart… you're a little dense, aren't you?"

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing," Lord said innocently. "Just… think about what I said."

"All right… Is there anything else, Lord?"

"No, I just wanted to meet you. I hope I didn't take up too much of your time."

Frankenstein still couldn't quite believe that this was all the Lord wanted of him… Just to meet him and ask about Raizel? That was all? He really wasn't going to face any consequences for his past?

"What's the matter? Isn't Raizel waiting for you?"

"Huh?" Frankenstein said, surprised. "How did you…?"

"I didn't. Just a lucky guess," Lord said brightly.

"Well… It was an honor to meet you, Lord. I'll show myself out, then…"

Frankenstein bowed and turned to leave. The Lord was right, Raizel was probably anxiously waiting for him to return. He would pretend he hadn't been worried, of course… Frankenstein found that rather endearing.

"Frankenstein?"

He looked over his shoulder.

"Whether you decide to ask Raizel for a contract or not… I'd like to thank you for being by his side."

"Of course, Lord. It's my pleasure."

Lord grinned at him.

"I'm sure it is."


My comments: I really liked the former lord! He was fun, I wish we got to see more of him. I'm sort of lukewarm on Lascrea. She's okay. A little too close to Rai personality-wise.

(As a side note: The forced "romance" with Lascrea and Rai was weird. They didn't really have much of a history together, even as friends. They had NO chemistry. They didn't really have any tender moments where they have an emotional connection. Why the heck does Lascrea blush when Rai tells her that his home in the human world is more important to him than his home in Lukedonia? That wasn't a compliment, Lascrea... He just said he doesn't want to be here with you.)

Also, Lord talking to Frankenstein about making a contract in the manwha was hilarious. It was way too close to a 'birds and the bees' kind of talk. "Remember to always wear a condom when forming blood contracts!"