The draft said this was supposed to go in chapter 14: Relapse...but I don't know why. Wasn't really needed, especially since we know Franken only said goodbye to Gejutel before leaving Lukedonia.


Goodbyes

"So you're leaving?"

"Yes." He turned around, his eyes intensely trained on the great doors.

"—without so much as a goodbye?!" The old bugger sounded hurt. Frankenstein's eyes slowly fell shut. Good for him.

"No."

He kept walking.

"Without so much as an apology?" The old bugger said, a little less urgently.

For what?! For that time he nearly attacked him on his throne.

"No."

He walked faster.

"Without so much as an insult?!" He'd had to raise his voice for his incredulity to reach Frankenstein now.

Frankenstein tottered to a stop. He turned around. "Your throne is an ugly, uninspired slab of rock, with no sense of interior decor and," he added in, just for good measure, "I hate the floating diamonds."

The Lord sat back and gasped, hand covering his mouth. Frankenstein narrowed his eyes, scowling.

"You take that back."

"No."

"I'm the Lord of the nobles!"

"Yes."

"You'll never give up a chance to insult me, would you?"

Frankenstein smiled.

"Alright then," the Lord said, hand moving to prop up his head. He watched Frankenstein half-glower at him. "I hope it goes well for you. I hope that everything goes well for you."

"Go well for me?" Frankenstein only frowned. "So little faith."

"No. I place all my faith in you, Frankenstein."

Frankenstein frowned harder. He couldn't let the old bugger know how he was taken aback by that.

"You'll see Raizel again. I'm sure."

Frankenstein nodded once. "Is that all?"

"So impatient! Can't you let me reminisce just a little? It won't cut into your brooding time, I promise." The Lord straightened, crossed his legs over and leant on the other side of his throne.

"I understand that's all," Frankenstein snapped, but he didn't move to leave.

"You should tell Gejutel."

"I did."

"You told Gejutel before you told me?! I'm hurt."

Frankenstein turned again.

"Wait. Ragar. You should tell Ragar."

Frankenstein sighed, corner of his eye catching the Lord's. "Ragar would be hurt," the Lord stated.

"Ragar is a big boy. I'm sure he can deal with it."

"Then why tell Gejutel?"

Frankenstein took a few step back, facing the Lord again. "I wasn't intending on making this trip. Gejutel was supposed to alert you."

The Lord's face fell. Aw. Tough luck. But Frankenstein sighed, lifting his brows for a short moment. "Yet, here I am."

"You've shut the shrine?" the Lord asked lightly.

"Of course."

"Hmm."

Frankenstein didn't have anything to say. He wondered why he came here.

"How long will you look for him?"

He lifted his head, not a line in his face moving. "Until he is found."

"Hm."

With that, Frankenstein shot him something of a funny smile.

"Frankenstein…" The Lord's voice softened. "Don't feel guilty. This isn't your fault." The Lord smiled, warm and genuine. "Nothing was."

That stopped him in his tracks. He didn't say a thing.

"Cadis Etrama di Raizel will return."

The Lord had always been like that. Lofty, yet gentle. But always sincere. When it was him that said it like that, he believed it. The Lord had always trusted in Raizel. They had that in common.

"Goodbye," he said.

"Farewell, Frankenstein."


The Lord's throne really does have these giant floating diamond thingys at either side.