The Lord opened the door and stared at the man before him. It was early evening, the sun just over the lip of the window's top edge. The curtains had long since stilled, the windy season had come and gone, as had many years.
He was excited to see the man before him, for some reason it always relieved his boredom. When the clan leaders locked themselves away or claimed to have 'important business that you just assigned' he either fell into a depression that lasted a couple of years, that or he visited the Noblesse. Although he had to admit, he was forced to be much less, what was the word, ah, dramatic.
He grinned widely and barely reigned in his voice from sounding exuberant.
"Cadis Etrama Di Raizel... How are you?"
The Noblesse turned from the window, standing tall, and his eyes met the Lord's evenly. All his years only the Noblesse's gaze caused him to straighten his own back. It was something he would not mind if it never changed. He had ruled over the end of one generation of Nobles and now the budding young generation before him. They were growing, yet it was peculiar how they did not change. The ones of barely fifty years of age stayed juxtaposed against the land. How they never changed...
The Noblesse nodded his head, the barest inclination and the Lord smiled.
"It is peculiar seeing you now, here, in the prison of your manor. You are welcome to the castle. Welcome to live with me." He extended his hand up an inch, palm facing the Noblesse wrist framed by the fluffy white gown he had donned in his haste to leave the castle. He always looked forward seeing Cadis Etrama Di Raizel, his stoic figure stark against blinding white.
The Lord knew that Cadis Etrama Di Raizel would understand that his offer was genuine and would benefit them both. He would love to have the Noblesse close by to lighten up his days and be a reluctant target for when he was bored, but more so he wanted a true friend.
"I refused."
The Lord quirked a smile. "I remember." He ran his fingers over the intricate engravings on the doorknob, it was iron decorated with gold and silver. The valleys in the metal spun round themselves forming a rose nearly caged by thorns. How fitting. "You always reply the same way, yet the invitation is always there, Cadis Etrama Di Raizel."
He nodded, and that was enough for the Lord.
The Lord hummed around the silence, watched the bank of light around his feet and the light pooling around the Noblesse. They were separated, a thick bar of black snaked across the floor undeterred by their brightness; it was the Styx.
"Gentilise."
The Lord smiled at the use of his name. It was enough to know that Cadis Etrama Di Raizel knew he had somewhere to go, knew he wasn't completely alone. Their jobs were so similar. The weight of two species, two worlds rested upon their shoulders, and with their responsibility there was power, and isolation. Yet, he had his clan leaders, forever loyal however quirky they were. His grin saddened as he looked at the Noblesse. So powerful, the world was in his hands, lives at his fingertips. The Lord traced the outline of the doorknob, the thorns were surprisingly sharp.
"You should get out more, Cadis Etrama Di Raizel. The world is an infinitely large place. This island, Lukedonia should not be a cage to you. You should, you can, explore this globe, just as the humans are expanding, just as they, the ones we watch over are moving forward, shouldn't you, shouldn't we?" He released his grip on the Noblesse's door. "One leads by example."
The Noble stood still, his closed eyes the only sign he had heard the ruler's words. The Lord glanced about the room waiting an answer, he always gave one no matter how miniscule or silent. The bookcase was the same as always, near empty. A book or two was leaned delicately against the clay bookends, gifts from the Lord on one of his many trips to check on the humans. The books, he remembered where gifts too. Gentilise wanted to know what the room would look like with the shelves filled. Would the room be any less empty? Would it be more?
"I will."
He stared at the Noblesse, startled by that soft voice. He will. The smallest smile shone on Gentilise's face.
"I could take you. There, the villages, the communities the humans make. They grow every day. Their strifes, the joys and sorrows they display, it amazes me. You would like the humans Cadis Etrama Di Raizel. You have seen them such a small handful of times. You would like how they want to live."
The Noblesse smiled, that smallest lift of his lips, the lighting of his eyes, crimson, the same as his own. The Lord mirrored the emotion and he continued, "They change quickly. The last Lord saw them before now, they did not have houses the tools they use to climb farther. I wonder what we shall see of them. You know," He smirked drawing one long stride into the room, "they find me rather handsome." He gave a full blown grin, expecting silence to reply. His proud grin fell away to sincerity when he heard two words.
"How long?"
"Whenever."
Cadis Etrama Di Raizel moved from the window. His white shirt similar to the material the Lord wore, it flowed down his arms before tucking in around his wrist, then cascading back out. The pants he wore were the formal wear black and commonly worn beneath their clan robes. The Lord grinned, he remembered the time he managed a glimpse into Cadis Etrama Di Raizel's wardrobe, the exact copy of the outfit over and over, hung and folded perfectly.
"The humans." He murmured standing before him. His posture perfect, hands tucked at his sides, relaxed. Red eyes were searching.
Ah, he meant that. The Lord sighed hoping to hide it with a smile. So he isn't going to leave now. "I don't know. Hahaha! The clan leaders think I know, but I'm lying. Or maybe they do know and they'd rather let me lie so as not to get an ulcer. Can we get ulcers?" He mused for a second. "If they heard me now they'd call me insane. Hahaha." Gentilise leaned against the table beside the now closed door and grinned. His voice slowed. "Even I don't know how long they will last, how long we'll need to, or will, protect them."
The Lord stretched against the table barely maintaing the poise that was required of him. He felt that it needed dusting and chuckled. The most powerful noble of them all living in filth. "Haha, you need to clean Cadis Etrama Di Raizel. It is impolite to receive your ruler when your quarters are so dirty." However, he didn't mind, it brought the grand Noblesse down to earth.
How human he seemed; he hid his energy so completely. If it were not for his regal presence that no amount of filth or discretion could hide and the beautiful looks natural to the nobles, he could be someone normal. Gentilise vaguely considered the clan leaders' faces if he ever mentioned he favored a human. He laughed into the silence around them.
"..." Curiosity. The Noblesse could always convey whatever he was thinking even through silence. The Lord never enjoyed reading minds, it betrayed trust, and he was glad it was never needed or even considered around the other man.
"An errant fancy." He straightened up and peered through the window that again had captured Cadis Etrama Di Raizel's attention. "It is getting late, isn't it?" He said ruefully. He didn't bother hiding his distaste for the lowering sun.
The other nodded quietly appraising the ruler.
"They will throw another fit if I stay. Work in Lukedonia is always better done beneath the moon." He closed his eyes smiling brightly at the ceiling, he knew spiderless cobwebs adorned the grey plane. He spoke slowly making the words tremble nervously, they always did every time he said them. "It is lonely, Cadis Etrama Di Raizel... I have lived such a long life, the beginnings of it have already blurred and yellowed away. It is as if I only have a formal life, everyone's respect is a chain, every responsibility a link extending the bond." He whipped his head towards the other man voice steadying. "Will you hate me, Cadis Etrama Di Raizel? Do you hate me? For I take pleasure in the fact you are a more lonely being than I."
He clenched his eyes shut not knowing why he even asked. Was the answer worth his breath?
"No, my Lord."
My Lord.
It was the exact answer he was looking for, and it broke his heart.
"Hahaha." He smiled. Was his natural smile forced any longer, or was it the opposite? A fake smile felt so right. "Thank you, dear Cadis Etrama Di Raizel, thank you for being our Noblesse."
He thanked him for choosing to abandon his freedom. He thanked him for staying. He thanked him for understanding his own loneliness.
He said what he wished he would not have to thank him for it in the future.
"My Lord." The Noblesse bowed and he knew that the meeting was over. He wouldn't see the man for several more decades, perhaps centuries. The others feared him, no one understood why he looked forward to seeing the Noblesse, the one who is tasked with killing them all if they lose their way. The others liked their Lord, even with his idiosyncrasies.
He questioned why he could not simply visit sooner, but knew. Even he, who was closest to the other could not stand descending into the dark room.
The responsibilities of the Lord was shadowy.
The life of the Noblesse was black.
A/N
You might know of it, and probably have heard of it however:
Note: The Styx is a river from greek mythology that exists in the underworld. It is one of the five rivers in the underworld, the river of hatred, it borders the edges of the underworld and the world of the mortals. It is ferried across by Charon for the price of one drachma, (a greek currency that was placed under the dead's tongues and sometimes on the eyes). On the far side of it was Cerberus the three headed dog that guarded the entrance to the underworld.
Yay for overly complicated allusions!
Edit: I just finished reading chapter 239 when we get to see Frankenstein in all his pre-Rai glory. It strikes me that this arc is going to be about Raizel's past. So, just imagine that this fic is a huge AU. Cause I honestly have the plot for this fic mapped out, so um, humor me please?
And yes I gave the Lord a name that will probably be revealed in this arc, when it is revealed I'll come back to edit it, so don't curse me yet!