Frankenstein did not wear masks. He was not a liar. He had different facets, and showed whichever was appropriate. Sometimes that meant using his hatred at those who harmed the innocent to conceal his love for the humans, but that was born of his will to protect.

His soul was bright and honest.

As Noblesse, Raizel had to investigate the one who carried something like a blood crystal and something like a soul weapon. When those souls screamed and whispered their hatred of the one who bore them, he had expected to find someone who thought they had the right to the lives and souls of others.

But… no?

The opposite?

Raizel had retreated in utter befuddlement, utterly unable to deal with this person who claimed to belong here? In the Noblesse's manor? When no, he was not someone in need of judgment? Also that glorious soul was wearing Raizel's shirt? Raizel's shirt was one of the very few things he had, how could this person be possessed of such virtue, such a radiant will to protect, while he was surrounded by angry ghosts and stole people's shirts?

When the human found him this time, Raizel was still so off-balance that he had pried, not only about why the human wasn't giving Raizel back his shirt, but why the souls were so angry?

That just made new questions: why did someone so bright have no shirts? And no place to belong? Raizel had a place to belong, and he…

Then Gejutel and Ragar arrived, and someone not wanting to visit that Lord was the first easy to understand thing that night. The human had said he worked here, and his soul was too honest to lie, not a true lie, so Raizel had told them this. Because if Frankenstein thought the manor was a place where he belonged, where he could work, then Raizel agreed.

The human gave him his name afterwards, trying to get Raizel's name out of him, and it was his if he wanted it. He wanted an explanation more, Rai could read that easily, but there was no explanation for Frankenstein.

Perhaps he had liked it a bit, that the human was even a bit as confused as he was. That he had become something strange and therefore interesting, instead of 'a noble,' when to Frankenstein 'noble' meant 'criminals and those who harbor them.'

Frankenstein was very right to say that Raizel's manor was where he worked.

Frankenstein's work then was stopping the criminals and their abuse of the humans. And Raizel called those criminals under his roof again and again, hoping and fearing each time that they might have slipped, that he could and must execute them instead of watching them leave him behind again, him to loneliness and them to the further mutilation of their souls. He hoped and feared that Frankenstein would realize he had work to do in the manor far more important than Raizel's tea.

For ten years, Frankenstein watched them, just like he did. Watching and waiting for the information he needed to execute the criminals, and Raizel ached that this bright soul was so like him. The Lord tried to tell him that he should not be Noblesse, that a Noblesse was not necessary, but Raizel knew that could not be true, not when the humans were forced to create a Noblesse of their own, who paid in the agony of that shining soul instead of its decay.

After Raizel's question revealed that he could sense Dark Spear, Frankenstein increased his shields and Rai did not look past them again, because Frankenstein had already been judged. It wasn't that he lowered them, as time went on. Raizel knew that humans were talkative, and there was nothing wrong with that when they did not have the power to force their words into another's mind and replace that person's thoughts. Frankenstein had the power to do that, and yet he did not. Unless he chose to speak deliberately, just as if he was speaking aloud – although he never did, not until the contract was made – Frankenstein's talkativeness was like that of the other strong, bright human Raizel had met. The child Yuni, who forced Raizel to go away from where his duty was because of the strength of her will to protect him, and then gone back to protect a warrior.

Ripples of busy happiness as he made tea. Firm satisfaction when he had something in the manor just the way he liked it. Sparkling bright taps falling as quick as raindrops as ideas came to him while he researched.

Raizel felt Frankenstein, but Frankenstein never hurt him.

Impossible for Ragar not to know that they were friends when Frankenstein would grab him as soon as he saw him, the pressure of fingertips pulling him close, the sensation of being held around the shoulders when Frankenstein wanted him to stay because Frankenstein was enjoying playing with him, the push and tug against his aura when they fought, not true assaults on his mind but play-fighting.

For the humans, it had been a long time since the nobles left them, but humans were still humans. They might be changing, enhancing themselves, but Frankenstein could not in any way be called inhuman. The Lord's plan had worked, if one called 'they're perfectly capable of taking care of it themselves' a plan, and Raizel had really hoped he wouldn't be summoned to visit the Lord. He was going to be insufferable. Also now that the human matter was well in hand, or 'Frankenstein's problem' instead of the Lord's, he would be free to devote more attention to Raizel.

It wasn't quite enough to make Raizel wish that Frankenstein hadn't come, or had waited and given Raizel a few more millennia of relative peace and quiet. Even if Frankenstein's appearance meant that humans would very, very soon no longer be those in need of protection and that meant the next stage of that Lord's plan would begin.

The one that required his eternal sleep.

Raizel had hoped, that when he woke up eight hundred twenty years later and the humans were not immortal and Frankenstein was forced to hide that the Lord had decided the time was not yet, that he still needed to be awake to terrorize those who might wish to abuse humans with catching them in things the Noblesse could not punish.

But no. He was in eternal sleep, with both humans and noble children surrounded by traitors to all three species, the power they needed to survive held just out of their reach. No. The power they needed to protect their people held just out of reach.

Just as that Lord had planned.

He'd gone to Raizel, for Raizel to see his plans, almost hoping that he had lost sight of the value of lives that were not his to spend, that Raizel could send him into eternal sleep. …When sending him to eternal sleep would do nothing but accelerate those plans, with the children even younger and less wise, less able to resist the wills of their elders. Because a Lord was a Lord: he had to do what would bring the best future for the nobles, whether he wished it or not, and a plan even a Noblesse could stop so easily was not a plan worthy of a Lord's consideration.

That was what it was to have not a name, but a function. Raizel had never had a name of his own until the children called him Rai: he and his brother were both the Noblesse, the Supreme Judge of the Flower of the Nobility, and it was from the separation of their function into two functions that they began to be separate. Still Judges, but they weighed different things in their scales and found them wanting.

Humanity, from which blossomed such noble flowers as Yuni, Frankenstein, Shinwoo.

His own brother.

That Lord remembered once having a name of his own, had started as an individual so that he could learn what existence was like for the nobles and make better plans for them. Then to fulfill the purpose he was made for, he had to put aside that name, that person: those memories were now not the sum of him, but nothing but data for the true purpose for which he lived and in the end slept.

Raskreia was a Lord, he did not need to be Noblesse to see that. There was no older and wiser Lord manipulating her steps, ensuring that she did not plan against the nobles before it was time for her to put herself aside and become her duty. It was still her purpose to be Erga Kinesis di Raskreia as well as Lord, and do what suited Erga Kinesis di Raskreia.

An unbound Lord was a threat to the nobles fit to drive his brother even madder with terror.

Raizel was growing increasingly concerned with what would happen when his soul was finally snuffed out, and the new Noblesse born from the last embers of his lost soul woke up to see the chaos the Previous Lord unleashed because in this danger he saw priceless opportunity and the Lords must find the path to the best future for the nobles.

Perhaps that Noblesse might be somewhat relieved that Raskreia had the option of rejecting plans that were too inelegant.

Perhaps they might decide that his brother had the right of it, and Raizel was a failed experiment, a defective product of the greatest weapon of the nobles. What use was a sword that did not wish to kill?

Frankenstein did not wish to kill either, and oh how he shone, the first time Raizel saw him. Oh how he sang when their souls were joined and he no longer confined himself to brushing against Raizel's skin, the friendly greetings of the old humans, how they liked to keep everyone aware of how they were doing so they didn't worry (or knew to worry, because humans often needed worrying about).

Humans were still humans, even if their minds were also much like a bird's: that was what he had thought, seeing Takeo perch on the couch pleased that Raizel and Seira were calm-and-pleased, Tao, Regis and Frankenstein were enjoying-stalking-prey. But of course that wasn't enough, not when Rael's feathers were ruffled – Rael had never grown out of keeping his parent appraised of his emotions so his parent could take care of him, had he? – and Takeo had to learn how to preen Rael until Rael had enough attention that he could settle down, because that was what humans did. Even modified humans that had bird put in, maybe to make them more biddable? It wasn't going to work when there was human in there.

There were often birds in Raizel's window. Right now Shinwoo was displaying his pretty feathers and singing, 'Look at me! Look at me!' and Seira was very pleased because she wanted people to watch over and Shinwoo's soul was lovely and shone with the will to protect. He was very nice to watch, Rai liked watching him too.

Unlike Shinwoo, Rael needed constant preening and praise. That was good for Takeo because he enjoyed fussing over people who needed help, but it would have been unhealthy for Seira to do that. Otherwise she might have tried to make children already, for her clan, and become so tired she fell into eternal sleep. Raizel had been concerned she was only putting off trying until Regis was safely adult, but now that the household's children were also hers to look after he did not see a need to worry. By the time M-21 and the others were grown up, Seira would be as old as her parent was when Seira was made.

Right now, the two of them are playing together. That's the safest way for Shinwoo to learn, because all their power comes from their souls, and their souls know each other and won't hurt each other.

The children… they weren't supposed to control their powers with their wills. Of course the Union wouldn't give power to the wills and souls they sought to destroy. M-21 and the other children except Regis can hurt people by accident, even the people they love. Just like any other human except Frankenstein. Even poor Franken still has to worry that Dark Spear will hurt them if he isn't careful. Franken seems determined to pet them all enough to make up for it.

It was a bit overwhelming when they Bonded. Frankenstein is a very loving person, and for a long time he could not love anyone without putting them in danger. He might not need food or water anymore but Frankenstein was still human enough to have needs the way nobles did not.

The drama called it the honeymoon period: it was normal for a human to rejoice when they found someone who would accept them and their soul, so Raizel didn't mind how Frankenstein's soul dreamily clung to his right after the contract was made, although he could have done without the kneeling. But for it to continue even after Frankenstein's soul had absorbed that the contract was real, that he was no longer alone with those who hated him? Raizel could not enjoy the deluge of Frankenstein's pent-up need to be affectionate. Not when it was a need, and Frankenstein should not have been so deprived in the first place. It upset Raizel. It was only when the pressure eased, when he stopped being drowned in adoring gratitude (when he had not made the contract for Frankenstein's gratitude, but for Frankenstein) that Raizel stopped feeling like a piece of unappetizing carrion found by a starving animal.

Not something they would want to eat, something that might make them sicken and die, but they would have to choke it down regardless because they needed.

But Raizel let Frankenstein kneel and call him Master, because it seemed to be what would content him, and eventually Frankenstein ceased to be so desperate, his soul grew sleek and sated and somehow even more glorious in its contentment than its desperate, heroic striving to protect humanity even as he died inside.

Frankenstein did not react to touch the way most humans did, so that human desire to be held and to hold others precious showed in how he took children in to care for them, to hold them safe, and how his soul was always checking up on everyone near even though he now had more than just Raizel who accepted his love.

The excited flaring and fluttering of Shinwoo's soul was a still-bright contrast. Shinwoo fought bullies and cowards, so while he did not quite show off, he knew that showing strength would end a fight earlier. He also wished to impress Seira.

It reminded Raizel somewhat of Frankenstein and Ragar's play-fighting, not at first but after Frankenstein had Bonded and relaxed enough to make a little less pretense of viciousness. Yet it was far more energetic, because this wasn't friendship that pleased Raizel all the more for how it was rusty on Frankenstein's side and unpracticed on Ragar's – it was simply Frankenstein's nature to help children learn, even among his enemies.

Shinwoo's aura flared, brightness fit to match the grin on his face. But it wasn't a threat display, not something meant to drive away but lure towards. 'Look how amazing I think you are! Look at me and think I'm amazing too!'

Seira had already given Shinwoo the power of a contract, and still he strove to win her, because the power was simply a means to protect more important things. Like Seira.

A very responsible child, Seira was focused on the practice. Shinwoo was one of hers to look after now, and he would be safer once he had trained, so. Training him was very important clan leader practice, and being a responsible clan leader Seira would spend a lot of time with him. It was her duty to care for him, she wasn't doing it for gratitude and he certainly didn't need to think it was amazing or special.

The way giving Frankenstein a place was not amazing or special at all. Even the traitors to humanity wanted to give Frankenstein a place, to the point Frankenstein should have been sick of it. Many humans wished to give him a place, have him stay with them, but he could not let them because of the criminals.

It was almost vexing that Frankenstein thought Raizel had done anything for him. No, it was vexing, no almost about it. Frankenstein was often vexing. He had spent a long time getting very good at shaking people up.

But Frankenstein was too unselfish to ever do anything just for the purpose of making himself happy, so that was something Rai could do for him, let Frankenstein spoil him by making dinners and gardens and give Frankenstein an order to take a break from his research when Frankenstein was contemplating doing something drastic to himself because he needed more power. Raizel was very glad he'd forbidden Frankenstein from terrifying people before he twisted himself into a nonhuman form, after seeing how ridiculous the Union elders were. People might not respect Frankenstein if he ended up like Roctis' Bonded.

It would have bothered Frankenstein to be inelegant, made him think that he was going along with the idea that humans were weak by even transforming into a non-human form for strength, but he would have done it to protect people. It would still have never stopped bothering him, and when Frankenstein was bothered Rai was bothered, so he did have the right to intervene and seal Frankenstein's research on his honor. That way, he knew that Frankenstein wouldn't do anything he didn't think was important enough to explain it to a disappointed Raizel later.

Frankenstein wouldn't have let himself found a school if it wasn't for someone. Knowing that Ye Ran existed, that Frankenstein was in a place where he smiled so much and met people like Shinwoo, and it was because of Raizel… Frankenstein didn't spoil him because he wanted Raizel to be grateful, but Raizel did want to spoil him back.

Watching his students play with each other, learning the skills that would let them be safe but not being hurt or afraid… Yes, Raizel thought he had succeeded in spoiling Frankenstein for the day, although he still needed to drink the tea and enjoy the ramen and get more of the little pictures for his cellphone.

Enjoying the modern world kept him very busy, but it was certainly worth it for Frankenstein's sake.

"What are the terms of your contract?" the chairman asked while they were taking a break.

Shinwoo knew this one from civics! A contract was when two or more parties entered into obligations to each other. That meant for this to be a contract, there should be something he needed to do for Seira, and something she needed to do for him. "Seira was worried I wasn't getting enough sleep, so I promised to try to sleep more at night so she didn't have to worry." She was getting worried that he might get so tired he decided to sleep until the end of time and she never got to see him again. He was pretty sure it didn't work that way for humans, but some people online talked like that around exam season, so tired and worried about what was happening in the morning that they never wanted to wake up. "I couldn't sleep because I was worried about everybody, so Seira promised to help me get stronger and protect everyone."

Seira nodded in agreement, and he could feel how pleased she was with his priorities. How right and proper they were to her, he was, instead of violent or wasting his life on martial arts.

He'd had friends who accepted him for years, but now he could feel that someone thought he was doing the right thing. It wasn't enough for someone to 'like him just the way he was' when Shinwoo wasn't satisfied with only the way he was. He wanted to do better, get stronger, do something about his grades and how he was always late and letting down Mr. Park. And Seira was certain that he could do better, that he would, and that would make it so much easier to put his whole heart into trying.

The chairman was smiling at them dotingly, before he realized it and covered his mouth with a hand, pulling himself together and taking on a more authoritative expression.

"What about you two?" Shinwoo asked Rai and the chairman, at least partially because he wanted to see the chairman look that happy again. Maybe both of them. He'd heard that people in love were supposed to want to set up other people? And he totally got that, because he was just so happy, and this was the kind of happiness he wanted for his friends.

"I wished to stay by Master's side, and make him happy. I wanted him to keep me by his side."

Rai sighed. "To force Frankenstein to stay if his duty to humanity called him from my side… that would go against who he is." Rai couldn't agree to that, not to hurting the Chairman like that. "Everything that is mine to give, is Frankenstein's." Everything that wasn't part of Rai's duty as the Noblesse?

Shinwoo and Seira looked at each other. "Everything?" Shinwoo asked, a little worried. Because that sounded nice and all, but he was a Ye Ran student. That kind of absolute… either it wasn't really true, and Rai would feel bad about that, or it was and the chairman would feel bad about it.

Rai nodded, a little color on his cheeks. "I would give my soul for the sake of Frankenstein's dream, but a world where humans are no longer victims cannot be achieved through a noble's effort."

Yeah: if humans needed a noble to die to save them, when Shinwoo didn't want Rai to die, that would mean humans weren't strong enough yet. Strong enough to stop Rai from doing that, ideally.

Wait: why was Seira blushing? "How we enter eternal sleep is far more important than the length of time we spend awake," she told him.

That made Shinwoo's eyes widen, because he knew about 'death before dishonor' and everything, but that was humans not wanting to die and deciding that the other thing was even more important.

Seira didn't want to die, but that was because she had a clan to restore and Regis to look after and classes she was taking. If she got cut in half by someone from the Union, she wouldn't be able to spend any more time with anyone (like Shinwoo, and the thought made his cheeks heat up all over again). No, no, eternal sleep would be just too inconvenient and bothersome to everyone else. Dying right now would be rude. Inelegant, even.

Shinwoo grabbed her protectively. She patted him on the cheek to let him know that she was aware he wanted her to stay awake and that was important to her.

"Frankenstein can use my power as he likes, but he refuses even though I would like to enter eternal sleep being of use to him." Rai didn't even bother to sigh: he seemed happy instead.

That the Chairman wasn't going to drain Rai like a battery? Nah, he could tell Rai really wouldn't mind that, because Rai. That the Chairman cared more about principles than power, or that he wasn't tempted by power because of… common sense, really. A human needing to use up all the Noblesse's power to get anything done wouldn't impress anyone about humanity.

He obviously wasn't going to do it. The way Rai obviously wasn't going to kill the Chairman with mind control. Both of them knew that, they weren't dumb.

Not that Shinwoo really thought of his contract as Seira holding a knife to his throat either, even though she could kill him whenever she wanted. It still seemed different that Rai could kill the Chairman, and the Chairman could kill him. But there wasn't any 'get him before he gets me,' it wasn't like a duel in the Wild West where the quickest draw lived. Or 'what if he gets worried I'm going to kill him and decides to kill me first, should I kill him before that happens?' They were both inside the other's guard, inside the other's soul, and liked it that way. Well, maybe not the other one being so vulnerable to them, they didn't like other people being in danger, but Rai said he wasn't in any danger of Frankenstein killing him and it was an old annoyance, like how it always took too long to get the shower the right temperature.

…and the Chairman wouldn't mind Rai eating all his soul if it meant that Rai would be okay. He was like that too.

That was like two people holding knives to each other's throats and being not just totally comfortable with it, but kind of miffed that the other person wasn't cutting them open. Too sure the other wouldn't do it to even bothering to try to talk the other one into it anymore.

That was a good thing, Shinwoo was here because he didn't want anyone dying for anyone, but it was kind of over the top. Poor Rai, he did end up in ridiculous situations a lot.

"Humans are descended from countless generations of lifeforms that survived long enough to create children – and to raise those children, and pass on wisdom, later on. Nobles… haven't had enough generations for the difference between those who live longer and those who want more children and those with no interest in reproducing to have a significant effect on the population. Therefore, no survival and reproductive instincts. What wisdom did they have to pass on," the chairman said, and then frowned at himself. "It's one thing to argue against the idea that nobles are an upper class, superior to humanity. When there's no social structure putting nobles on the top right now, it's wrong to spread the idea that another race is inferior. I need to watch what I say. Except to enemies, of course."

Seira agreed that, "Because Sir Gejutel did not enter eternal sleep, Sir Rousare did not have a complete soul weapon. He blames himself for Sir Rousare's forced eternal sleep, even though my parent had a complete soul weapon and it made no difference when there were innocent lives at stake."

Shinwoo made a face. "Wait, so… you're saying that Rael's dad might have really thought that the best thing he could do for his kids was," not die, technically, but as good as. They didn't have a dad to look after them and encourage them, either way. Didn't have a mom, either.

He wondered for a moment if he could change the terms of their contract to Seira not dying, except they were going to be fighting so she couldn't promise that. He couldn't promise that either. If Seira did die, he didn't want her to feel guilty.

"Both of you have a strong will to protect," Rai said. "Shinwoo… what was important to you?"

To him and just him? Because Seira would have helped him get stronger even without the contract. Shinwoo looked to the side because it was about Seira, but then he glanced at her and she didn't seem to mind, so… "Seira's always putting everything else before how she feels. That's just as bad for her as not sleeping is for me, right?" It wasn't that Seira wasn't good at doing what she wanted – telling him the truth was one thing he was really grateful for.

Then there was the contract. "I want Seira to get angry when someone deserves it," instead of shoving it in a box to do something about whatever made her angry. It would be nice if Seira didn't have to worry about losing control, because he was there. He wanted his friends to be able to rely on him.

The Chairman looked surprised, but pleased. He gave Shinwoo an approving smile, and Shinwoo looked down at his feet sheepishly. "Feels kind of wrong to want someone to feel different, you know?"

"Not if you want her to value her own emotions, instead of feeling the way you want her to feel," the Chairman said. "I also have difficulty controlling my emotions: if I hadn't suppressed them for so long, I would have an easier time. I was hoping there was some way to train Miss Seira to still fight effectively when consumed by anger, but I wasn't sure if that was something I should interfere with."

"You both wished to be near each other," Seira said, brow narrowed slightly. "Both of you received the other's soul, but… that was not what you wanted. You wanted the other to grant their own wishes, not ignore them for the sake of yours."

What was the name of that story… "Gift of the Magi!" Shinwoo remembered. Having to write an essay on it last year helped. A guy sold his family watch to buy really nice ornaments for his wife's hair, and she cut her hair off and sold it to buy a chain for his watch. Shinwoo had thought it was totally worth it for the guy, because the woman's hair would grow back so she'd still get to wear the combs. Then again, the instant it grew back she'd probably sell it again to get back the watch.

He felt like that was missing the point of the story, though, which was probably 'don't sacrifice what's most important to you for someone else, it's not going to make them happy.' Because if something mattered to you, and they loved you, then it mattered to them.

Rai didn't know the story, but all of Shinwoo's friends were used to filling him in on stuff when he got that look now.

"Our contract… Is why I was able to return to Frankenstein's side," Rai said finally.

The Chairman's lips moved. He looked way too emotional to speak, so Shinwoo shut up to give him a minute. The light glinted off his eyes a little strangely, and Shinwoo looked away because the Chairman was still a private person, even if Shinwoo was in on a lot of the secrets now.

"Truly?" the Chairman managed to say after long enough Shinwoo was starting to feel a little restless, like he should do something.

Raizel nodded at Shinwoo. "Human souls gained the power to control noble energy. You have power over the soul of the Noblesse, and you use it for my sake. I ate the ramyeon because you were In distress, but I could not bring myself to burn it," Raizel… confessed?

Rai burning ramyeon sounded like a thing that would happen (you weren't supposed to wait extra time when you were cooking it any more than when you were eating it, but… Rai), but, "Eating it and then burning it?" Oh, right, Shinwoo realized. He should probably shut up when he had no idea what was going and this was some kind of thing.

"…The charm?" the chairman guessed, and Rai nodded. "But you seemed fine."

"It is your nature to take care of others. It is the nature of your soul as well." Rai touched his chest. "I could not tell you then how I woke to find you because I did not know. It was your soul," he told Frankenstein. "Our contract bound my wounds. Just like the ramyeon."

"…I am glad, but you seem unhappy, Master."

"Humans shape their souls, but… you must not change who you are for me." Rai looked away. "I am questioning your decisions."

"I think that's part of your job," Frankenstein pointed out, with an arch look that made the statement half a joke. "I want it to be my nature to care for others. If my contract can keep you alive, let me be by your side… That is why I made it."

Rai stopped making so much of an effort to be dignified and reserved and went back to his normal level of elegance, which meant he was really relieved.

The chairman stepped closer, hovering anxiously. "But Master… Was the ramyeon not to your taste? I worked so hard to make it for you… I hope the main ingredient was to your liking?"

Seira looked mildly scandalized and Rai sighed, really wishing he was surprised.

Seira shook her head. "Sir Raizel does not dislike your soul." Then she blushed, and raised a hand to touch her cheek a moment later, frowning in puzzlement. Then she sighed, and gave Rai an apologetic look for her presumption in speaking for him.

Rai shook his head: no apology necessary. Then he paused, hesitating. Trying to find words, knowing Rai. He looked angry – no, pissed off for a second, then pulled back from whatever it was, giving up.

"If it's not my soul, is it the concept of eating souls at all?"

Rai nodded, relieved.

"I am not harmed," Frankenstein promised him. "I was thinking of using the ability I got from our contract to burn my soul for power myself, if it came to it."

Seeing Rai's concern, Frankenstein smiled. "But I won't, now I have no margin for error. The charms mean you don't have to fear me burning my soul for power and breaking something."

A small nod from Rai, and his right hand shifted to cover the charm bracelet, as if he wanted to keep Frankenstein from taking it back and using it.

The chairman gazed at him dotingly.

Rai was like Yuna, Shinwoo thought, nodding. Really sweet, doing her best to do nice things for people even though stuff was hard for them and they were afraid of messing up and you just wanted to protect them and make sure no one took advantage of them. The chairman liked looking after people, and he didn't have a whole school back then, just Rai, so it was good that Rai needed a lot of looking after. Shinwoo wanted to help the Chairman look after Rai, after all the times they rescued him and the others. He was really glad Seira was here to help out, too.

He still didn't know what to tell everybody about Rai and the Chairman. There was no way they were making a contract with anyone else. He'd invited Rai and Regis to the meet-up with the girls from the other school, but even though Regis was more than ninety-nine percent of the way to being an adult he couldn't seem to make up his mind if he was like seventeen, and only one year away from being an adult or like ten and wasn't even thinking about that stuff yet. He guessed that for nobles the years were kind of arbitrary? Not that he was going to say that to Seira, when she'd decided that two hundred and seventeen was totally an adult.

…was giving the exact year for nobles kind of like a human kid saying they were nine and a half instead of just nine?

Not thinking that in Seira's direction, no way.

He wasn't even going to try to figure out how old Rai was in human years. Not that he was going to try to set Rai up with anybody. Rai wasn't going to start dating when he was probably dying. As for if he was dating the Chairman…

Well, Shinwoo could say one thing: they absolutely weren't dating. Dating was trying to get to know someone. Those two really knew each other. Shinwoo was dating Seira, though, and he would be for awhile, he was sure. There was a lot to get to know. The contract, though… that was its own thing. He and Seira would always be important to each other because of it, no matter what else happened. That was something he knew absolutely.

It's been awhile and I keep getting déjà vu re what I might or might not have covered in fic or notes… The fatigue has been acting up. I think the chapter is okay, but please point out anything jarring or any continuity errors… I'm sorry about not doing physical description and such, that's pretty counterintuitive for my brain to do and I decided I'd rather post the chapter than try to cudgel the brain into producing unshiny wordcount.

First time doing Rai pov in the fic, I hope it's ok. From a human perspective, Rai's got tons of hours in the day to just sit and drink tea, but compared to his previous life he probably is frantically busy/'there are not enough days in the year.'

Rai can't tell Frankenstein about his brother and how someone wanted him to eat the human souls in the blood crystal (or that eating souls was a thing and his brother tried to wipe out the human race…) and it's because it's too hard for him, like telling Frankenstein about Muzaka.

It's stated that Rai's soul was too damaged to heal even before the Muzaka thing went down. If so, then why did Rai wake up? One theory is that someone patched him up and arranged for the coffin to end up near Frankenstein, but another possibility is that it was the contract – Rai's soul can't heal itself anymore. There's a point where Rai is very convinced that he's going to die right then, and you'd think he'd know his own soul and powers. I doubt an ordinary human soul would have enough power to keep a noble on life support, and Frankenstein might only have that capability because of how he's adjusted to survive and host Dark Spear.

I like the theory that Frankenstein's soul was using its ability to control noble souls/shape noble energy to shape Rai's soul into a form that was less broken, and when Rai was brought closer to Frankenstein it was able to draw on the bond for more soul to do more. Rai woke up in the same city as Frankenstein because it was being in the same city that made it possible for him to wake.

Humans are biological lifeforms that are able to generate a soul/quantum presence due to that 'I am.' There's no DNA for souls, so they can end up in all kinds of weird shapes/configurations. There has been a gradual development of more effective configurations, but that was because there's some communication between them even without nobles. A lot of the souls of Union victims are way too warped and damaged to sustain life after the destruction of the original personality, but humans are our brains, not our souls, so we can still live even if our souls are seriously wrecked.

Most modern human souls are set up either to get attention or reach out and press against others' souls regardless of personality because of the limited ability to communicate with each other – not having soul contact leads to more anxiety, etc, so a lot of souls have been 'trained' into configurations that work better for obtaining contact. When psychic contact is easier to obtain, then you'd see more things like introverts growing shielding so they can get only the contact they want, etc.