side story: tea
Lavi sat uncomfortably in the tea room. He’d been with the Noah only two weeks, and already they’d made him feel incredibly unwelcome. Tyki was the only Noah (who Lavi was positive was a Noah, unlike the others, who he wasn’t sure of) who hadn’t threatened his life. He seemed to be older than the rest, perhaps more reasonable as well. However, like the rest of the Noah, Tyki was so incredibly secretive, Lavi got nothing from him.
On his previous records, Lavi had always been able to charm his way into people’s hearts, able to easily obtain any information from them. He had a way of speaking to people simply and causally, that always got people talking. It was a mannerism he’d developed and refined throughout his studies as a Bookman’s apprentice. However here, that technique wasn’t giving him any sort of advantage. He’d have to discover some way to gain their trust and gain information that way. He might have to bend the rules…
Grampa Bookman would know what to do. Why did he have to leave? He could have at least said where he was going.
“Have some tea, Lavi~♥”
The redhead looked up to find someone sitting across the table from him. He looked human, but in this house, Lavi wasn’t sure anymore. He also wasn’t sure when exactly this man had made his way into the room and sat down without Lavi even noticing. The man looked rather ordinary. His features were soft. He wore a top hat and a tailed suit that looked remarkably like the Earl’s usual attire. He even sounded just like the Earl. Could it be…?
“Millennium Earl?”
A wide grin spread across the other’s face. Lavi never thought a human face could contort in such a manner. “Ohoho~♥” he chuckled lightly.
It was him, but how? The Earl was a rotund man with long ears, small glasses, and an incredibly tall top hat. The man who sat before him was seemingly human.
This Bookman was quite intelligent. The Bookman were a crafty sort of humans, nothing like the rest of the rotten humanity out there. They were apart from the rest of society, pushing themselves away from the influence of humanity, simply observers. The Earl had heard of the Bookman Clan for generations but had never once met one in person. He still wasn’t certain how they found him. Then again, they were crafty.
“There are many secrets my Noah and I possess~” the Earl admitted, taking a sip of tea. Lavi stared at the Earl intently. This was what he wanted to know. “But all in time, Bookman~♥” he added with a smile.
Foiled. Seems Lavi really would have to work for his answers. This record would be more of a challenge than he thought, and he had to rough it out alone. There was a strange emptiness which sat heavily in his heart since the old man had left. It panged and bothered him, and Lavi just hadn’t been able to shake it. Why had the old man just left him without a word? He was coming back, right?
No, he couldn’t think of things like this. He was a Bookman.
“Do you know our purpose, Lavi?” the Earl grinned.
The redhead shook his head. “Can’t say I do.” The Noah were an enigma, dotting history mysteriously for the last few millennia. They seemed to disappear as quickly as they’d arrived. They’d even managed to elude the Bookman Clan. And yet here, at only 15, the young apprentice was sitting in front of their leader, having tea with him.
“To put an end to corruption and wars,” the Earl said. “I’m sure you’ve seen many wars in your time, Bookman~♥”
To end all wars? Was that even possible? How was he planning on accomplishing such a grandiose feat, if he wasn’t simply blowing smoke and lying? If there was one thing Lavi hated, it was wars and the corrupted people involved in it. He’d seen countless wars in his previous 48 aliases and had come to hate them. Wasn’t there more to history than just wars? Without war, there would be the opportunity to observe more interesting and secretive histories. He could learn more about secret societies, secretive alliances, maybe something even he’d not thought possible.
“The Order wants to stop us~” the Earl added. “They believe they’ve been sent by God. They even call their weapons Innocence~”
Lavi knew so little about the Order. They wore black coats with silver crosses. That was about as far as he’d gotten. He knew that they were the opposition to the Noah, but he had no idea the Order was that arrogant. Lavi couldn’t stand people like that. He’d seen so many, starting wars over nothing. He hated them the most.
The Earl smirked, finishing off his tea. His work was done here. “Oh and do come to dinner tonight~.”
Lavi smiled gently. “Sure, I’d be happy to.”