Things had changed so very much.

"Poor Seth, she thought sadly, "he's taking it so hard."

Gynuvia being sent to Hell for all eternity had taken a deep toll on the ringmaster.

He hardly ever left his room, nor his bed where he would just sleep for hours in a fitful haze.

Refused to eat, drink or even go out into the sun.

That didn't matter at all though, she was taking care of him.

So what if he had lost what little sanity he had left?

Cyreina brushed a lock of his hair away, "Oh poor Seth..."

His beautiful red hair was almost completely white now.

After a moment, his eyes fluttered open weakly, "Hm?"

She had been tending to him for a long time, almost a month now.

It was sheerly out of innocent concern and a bit of guilt.

In fairness, she hadn't meant to have killed Gynuvia...

The morbid remorse had left her as a pale, shattered frame; alone and mourning.

"Come now, wouldn't you like to do something today?"

He shook his head bleakly, "Huh uh."

Cyreina sighed heavily and gently took his hand, "Please? I worry about you."

She had developed a special sort of closeness to him, neither friend nor lover but still very powerful.

You could say it was almost a...slave and Master relationship.

"Is there anything I can get you?"

Seth's eyes rolled blankly up to the ceiling, "No, go enjoy your youth while you can."

The girl felt more worry build on her chest, "I can't enjoy it with you in here, suffering."

He frowned, "Do not be foolish. You cannot let sorrow hold you back from the pleasures of this life."

"It's alright, she said softly, "I do not mind tending you."

To prove her point she gently took his hand and cradled it.

There would be nothing that would hurt him from now on, that she had promised.

In a way, she acted as his guardian angel.

"Please eat something. It will make you strong enough to play the Cikseika."

Seth gave a shuddery sigh, "Such things will not heal this wound in my soul."

She squeezed his hand, making him look at her.

"I know...only time will truly heal you. But I have to do my best to help ease the process because it is very painful."

He shut his eyes for a long, painful moment.

Than, "I don't know why you're being so nice to me..."

A laugh from her, "Because you asked me to."

Such an odd friendship...

Like best friends almost with just a tiny hint of S & M.

Even in those brighter days she still called him Master at times.

Who knew why.

It truly was nothing more than habit.

This it is and nothing more.