Author's note: This is a story I already published in French here and in English on Tumblr. I do not own Noblesse! Thanks to foggywizard for the correction!

Frankenstein struggled in the emptiness, blindly, cold sweat dripping down his face. Dark Spear roared, the scream of a thousand devils, shouting curses and threats. But he wasn't afraid. The only thing that terrified him was the gaping solitude that dug ever deeper into his heart. Never, even in his worst nightmares had he felt so awful, so torn.

My Master. My Lord and only protector...I've lost him.

Memories crossed his thoughts, bright points of joy that disappeared, swallowed by his own darkness. Raizel's eyes, quiet and serene. The half-smile that sometimes crossed his lips. The kindness, the selflessness so extraordinary he'd never found it anywhere else, be it among humans or nobles...

He saved my life. He saved my life when all I wanted was death, just as I deserved. And to have hurt him, him.

Frankenstein wanted to shout, to roar, but his throat burned. He could not escape this nightmare.

I want to wake up. Just wake up and leave, to find him...if he's not already dead...

Raizel could not have died. He smothers the thought. No. It couldn't be. Raizel would not have abandoned him. Not when his only wish was to stay at his side.

If he's dead, I want to die too. Kill myself to end this suffering.

This gave Dark Spear pause, before she began again, sniggering in a way that gave Frankenstein chills. A groan escaped his lips, his whole body tensing between the sheets at that familiar pain.

Really, we thought you'd never ask. You're more stubborn than the others, Frankenstein, but your emotions are your weak spot. We will end your suffering, if that's what you want...

The crushing pain intensified. His malefic weapon was devouring him alive...but could he really call "life" a life without the person dearest to him? He stopped fighting, letting Dark Spear slowly posses him with a sigh of resignation. He'd known from the moment he'd taken her on, he'd been fated to be consumed by her, but he'd never thought it would be from heartbreaking loss.

I'm sorry, Master. I can't, anymore...I can't live without you.

He felt his soul get progressively more numb, going farther from reality. He readied himself to sink into the abyss, but two strong arms brutally caught him.

"Frankenstein, wake up!"

"Huh?"

His own voice seemed so low, and the one who'd questioned him so distant. But the strong grip of hands on his arms was very real. It was dangerous. Dark Spear's aura could hurt the person holding him and he could not ignore it.

"Wake up. You can't end this way..."

The voice seemed different now. And familiar. Master? He thought with hope. The hope shattered as fast as it had come when he received no answer through their mental bond. He moved, trying to free himself from the unknown and unwelcome intruder, who was risking injury by approaching him while he was under Dark Spear's possession.

Nevertheless, both the weapon and the pain it brought subsided, bit by bit. These hands, these arms tethered him to reality and he fought by instinct, hanging on to life. Frankenstein decided to slowly open his eyes, and met another pair, red, and worried. The same eyes as his Master, he thought, a poignant sadness squeezing his heart. A strange wetness he'd not felt in years began to blur his view, and he turned his head away in shame. Whomever was here, it was offensive and unusual for him to be seen so vulnerable.

Once calmed, he recovered slightly in the bed and looked around him. He recognised his saviour immediately with a mixture of relief and horror, and shut his eyes for a few moments, to recover from the blow to his pride.

Ragar Kertia stood a bit away from the bed, his head lowered respectfully. Frankenstein was grateful that he avoided looking directly at him in such a state, but that didn't make it much less humiliating.

After a period of time, the clan leader asked in a quiet voice, without reproach or mockery, "What happened? Was it voluntary?"

"I..." A deep pain in his skull interrupted him, and he fell panting to his pillow.

"It's fine. Don't answer. It was a useless question."

"Why...are you...here?"

Ragar raised an eyebrow and quietly explained, "Gejutel and I came to check on you, by order of the Lord. That is, to say, Gejutel followed the order, and I came of my own initiative. I assumed you would still prefer my presence to his in such a situation, so I sent him back to Landegre Manor."

"Wise decision. He probably would have driven me crazy. Ah, but what am I saying? I'm already crazy, ha, ha...ha, ha, ha..."

Frankenstein was shaken by a silent laughter, growing in force until it almost reached full-blown hysteria. Ragar looked on silently, compassion and powerlessness glittering in his red eyes as he saw the human tense in pain again. Frankenstein stayed quiet, his eyes screwed shut, breath coming out hoarse and hasty.

"Why does this also hurt?"

The human's quavering voice hurt to hear. The noble shuddered and cautiously approached the bed, taking in the details of his pale face. Traces of moisture still lingered on his thin cheeks, but the combative glow that normally brightened Frankenstein's eyes was still there. Ragar removed the bottom of his cowl from his mouth in a slow gesture, something he seldom did, and spoke slowly. "It is normal for you to suffer, at the moment."

"Oh please, don't give me this stereotype about humans being more emotional than nobles..."

"It's not what you are, it's your personality."

Frankenstein shot him a disbelieving look. "I'm willing to believe my personality explains a lot about my behaviour, but to assert that even this is bound to it..."

"You feel and exude emotions with an outstanding intensity, I was able to observe during our training sessions. You use them to defend you, to reach your goals. However, during a situation like this, where you've experienced sadness and loss, this capacity can become a...a..."

"...a weakness. Don't be afraid to say the word." He laughed. "Dark Spear told me the same thing, it's fine..."

"I did not want..."

"No, it's ok." He interrupted." Forgive me. I'm not myself these days...won't be for a long time, probably.

Hearing excuses from Frankenstein's mouth was destabilising, and beyond that, that last bit was disturbing. Ragar took an even graver air.

"I know things are difficult right now, but you have to keep believing in him. He won't have left forever, I'm certain, and he will need you when he returns. You can't let go now, Frankestein, it's not what he would want. Or what your family would want."

"I don't have a family anymore."

"You've still got your friends with you."

"Ragar," Frankenstein said curtly, "what exactly do you imagine? Do you thing I just came to Lukedonia, one morning, for pure pleasure, for the fun of the trip?"

Frankenstein didn't give him time to answer. "You know nothing about it. Humans are cruel. I'd done nothing, they didn't even know me, but still they were hostile, and they drove me into exile. I have no friends..."

"What about me? Who am I to you?"

The question caught him off guard. He was speechless, analysing what Ragar had said, what it could mean. After a few moments, he answered, uncertain, "You are...an acquaintance? My sparring partner?"

"Then," Ragar said, tilting his head to the side, "you believe that I am here, in this room, only as a sparring partner?"

Frankenstein's mouth hung half-opened, wanting to answer but no words coming to his tongue. He hated feeling so uncertain, so hesitating, especially in front of someone else. But it was Ragar, so somehow it wasn't as awkward. The noble had never judged, nor criticised him as so many others had previously done. He'd even defended him in the face of Urokai's accusations, intervened in his favour with other nobles, Frankenstein remembered. No, Ragar would not have done all that as a mere sparring partner.

Frankenstein then gave the most sincere answer his disturbed spirit could supply at the moment. "I don't believe so, no. I think that...you appreciate my company more than the others."

"Well, that's a start."

A brief smile graced the Kertia clan leader's face, and Frankenstein found himself returning it. It seemed that many things had a new clarity, and his despair wasn't as deep as it had been. Ragar's worries eased, seeing the human's shoulders relax. How was he going to tell him the news he had though?

He thought about it, mentally preparing himself for misunderstanding, perhaps even disapproval, of the human, and began.

"I have something to tell you. The Lord wishes to enter eternal sleep in a few decades. And, as is tradition, the clan leaders will have to accompany him."

Frankenstein's blue eyes flashed successively with confusion, with understanding, with revulsion, and finally with resignation. He shook a his head to clear the shock, and calmly said, "Well, I suppose nobles have a different way of seeing life than humans. I respect your decision, although I don't understand what motivates you."

"It is simple, nevertheless. Weren't you ready to die with your master?"

"Listen to me. I don't want to leave this world without being sure that my friend is safe and taken care of, you understand?"

Frankenstein clenched his teeth and nodded, emotions too heavy and suffocating for him to speak. Ragar slowly patted his arm and got up.

"I'm going to make you some tea."

There was nothing else to say, so he agreed silently. Ragar new very well that he'd never say "thanks", but the gratitude which shone in his eyes was sufficient. The noble went to prepare a cup of tea, watching leaves and spices infusing slowly in the teapot. Once the liquid had reached an orange coloured tint, he poured it into a china cup, gazing perplexed at the decanter of sugar. Frankenstein usually added six spoonfuls into his master's tea. Thus he did the same thing and brought the steaming drink to his friend, noticing how his fingers trembled slightly while taking the cup.

Frankenstein took a sip and grimaced, worrying him. Had he made a mistake in preparing it?

"Ragar...how many spoonfuls of sugar did you stir in, exactly?"

"Six, as Raizel-nim likes his..."

A laugh, hearty and sincere this time, escaped the human and he drunk another mouthful.

"Ha ha, of course. It's perfect like that."

Ragar smiled, his mind at peace. Frankenstein swallowed the rest of the tea and set the cup on the bedside table, suddenly pensive, gazing out the window.

"I am going to leave Lukedonia."

"I expected it."

"I don't want to worry you, or make you doubt your companions, but...I have the impression that certain clan leaders are responsible for the disappearance of my master."

"I also knew that."

The late-afternoon sun leaked through the open window, highlighting Ragar Kertia's pale face. "I wish you safe journey, my friend." He says with a light nod. "I hope to see you again, one day."

Frankenstein agreed, meeting the noble's gaze with his own. "I hope so too."

The clan leader smiled again, replacing his mask and leaving the room, his footsteps resounding for a long while on the wooden parquet. Frankenstein felt a slight shiver of nostalgia. He got up from his bed, for the first time in two days, two atrocious days and nights where he'd believed he'd die of suffering. He went to the window, the breeze tousling his fair hair, softly caressing his exhausted face.

The silhouette of his only friend moved away on the dirt road. He saw him turn around one last time and wave his hand. He answered with the same sign and a weak smile.

And later, Frankenstein remained completely alone in the empty manor house, in the place where his master should have been.

This time, he was done with the waiting and the sorrow. It was about time for him to leave in search of Raizel.

To be continued...