In the previous chapter. . .

With a grumble of incoherent words, she threw herself onto the bed.

"Now to actually solve this."

Now we continue.

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"Argh!" She screamed in frustration as she crumbled and threw another sheet of paper.

Looking at the current state of her room, you could say that it looked like the aftermath of a battle, a war zone even. Balls of paper scattered over the floor, many of them ripped to shreds by the princess' continuous disappointment in her riddle solving skills.

"Maybe I should ask Frankie for help..." She thought out loud, playing with her hair to calm down.

Yet asking for help was like saying "I'm doing something behind your back and wandered if you could help me, but don't tell Raizel, who, by the way, is you blood pact master, okay?" and taking the biggest leap of faith knowing full well you'll fail miserably.

Slumping on her bed, she allowed her eyes to close for the first time in fifteen hours and for the sleep to consume her, entering dream land as she released soft and steady breaths, one thought lingering,

'Should I leave...?'

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"I have brought tea, Master." Frankenstein greeted, placing a cup of fresh made tea on the wooden table.

Raizel didn't acknowledge him, only aimlessly staring at the sky through his window.

"Frankenstein..." The Noble called.

"Yes?"

"Is Annalise... mad at me?"

With surprise written all over his face, the scientists countered back with a question of his own.

"Why would you think that, Master?"

"She hasn't...come out of her room...in a while..." He trailed off.

Smiling, the human let out an amused huff at his Master's answer.

"I am completely sure that isn't the case. There must be a reason why Lady Annalise hasn't come out to talk to you, Master."

'That's right.' The blonde thought. 'Lady Annalise wouldn't be making Master worried if there wasn't a much bigger matter on her mind.'

"Thank you, Frankenstein." Raizel sighed in contempt as he drank the warm liquid brought by his servant.

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Annalise's dream

All around her, only shadows of the past.

Whispers in the distance echoed through her ears, making her mind fuzzy and her vision blurry.

"Failure."

"Monster."

"Die."

They spat, her hands covering the sides of her head as tears threatened to fall, yet she held them back.

"You are nothing but a curse."

"Why do you still breathe?"

"You're not worthy to be a princess."

He knees failed her, her back arched over, hands digging in the ground bellow, her hair spread out, just like a cloak of darkness.

"Annalise." A voice called, making her raging breath calm down.

Her amber pools raised from her bleeding fingers, locking eyes with a familiar pair of crimson molds.

The figure in front of her glowed in the darkness, brightening her face and chasing away the spiteful shadows.

"Tears do not suit your eyes." His thumb whipped away the pearly beads of salty water from her face, a kind look in his ruby red eyes. "Smile for me."

And smile she did.

Memories of the past months came rushing to her and, with a hand clutched over her chest, she made up her mind.

To her, the solitary Noble was the most precious person in her life - the only one who truly understood, listened and helped her.

To Annalise, Raizel was her dearest friend.

(A/N: lol Did I just ruin your ship or not?)

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Opening her honey colored eyes, Annalise raised herself from her bed, glancing around at her paper-filled room.

With a small smile, she left the comfort of her room and skipped down the hallway, headed directly for Raizel.

"Rai." She called, stepping inside the familiar room.

Frankenstein looked up to her with a rather surprised face, but bowed nonetheless just as the said Noblesse glanced back at her, happy to see her before his eyes.

"Frankie, could you let us alone for a few moments?" The scientist was a bit surprised of her request, slowly nodded and reluctantly left the room.

Sitting on one of the couches, Annalise let out a sigh, attracting the raven hair's attention.

"Anna-" The Noblesse breathed out, trying to understand the presence of such sad aura around her.

"Raizel." She cut him off, smiling. "I wish to leave." She spoke, a stray tear sliding down her cheek.

He was shocked, to say the least. No - he didn't want her to go, he didn't want her to leave him.

"Why?" He demanded, fully turned to face her.

"I..." She found it hard to explain, the wish of finding out, of knowledge, for knowledge was power.

"Why do you wish to leave me?" Raizel asked, his voice slightly raised as so many emotions swirled in his eyes.

Smiling sadly at her friend, Annalise intertwined her fingers in her lap as she began explaining.

"A few days ago, I remembered a story in particular told by my father years ago - an ancient priest that could answer any question given for it to be clear. At that time I thought it was a mere bedtime story, but now, after all I have witnessed, it doesn't seem so surreal anymore." Twiddling with her fingers, her eyes teared up a bit. "I wish to know why I have these powers, Raizel!"

His eyes softened after that. She was still the same broken girl he met five months ago, the girl who seeks the answers of her existence.

"You..." he hesitated, not truly sure if he should say it, "...may leave."

Looking up, her hopeful eyes met his sorrowful ones and, cracking a smile, she sprung from her seat on the couch, trapping Raizel in a bone crushing hug, making both of them almost fall to the ground.

Smiling, a few tears of happiness and sadness fell from her amber orbs as he hugged her back.

"I'll return! I promise!"

The next day, she bid goodbye to a weeping Lord, a few sad clan leaders and a really fed up Raskreia all the while Frankenstein instructed her to be careful.

"See you, Raizel!" She weaved, walking away.

"See you, Anna." He sadly replied, watching his dear friend go.

To be continued. . .

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Guess who is about to drop dead because of all of the assignments that are pilled over for next week?

Me! ✋

*fuck my life*

Also, I'm terribly sorry for the late update, guys. It's just that these past few days I didn't have any inspiration to write on this one, although I did post a sample for my TG fanfic.

Check it out if you want.

See you, my diamonds!