Raiel's Point:

It had been the better part of the week, and Edam still showed little improvement from his heat symptoms. Adda had moved over from a simple diet to including fruits but she said that the medication could only do so much when it came to other bodily functions. I knew what she meant, and we weren't fond of it on either end. It meant having to take him as mine, but we haven't had the best relationship. I don't even know if he would accept me as being his, when he was lucid.

The idea of assigning someone to take care of his needs was equally aggravating. I didn't want anybody near him and that was the first time I had begun to realize the scope of my feelings. Though they were complicated, they at least shared some common base. He was slowly coming out of it, surely, if he could eat harder foods like fruits. Again, the pomegranates were untouched which worried me. I once tried to get one only to have Adda appear basically out of nowhere and smack my hand with a spoon.

The office only became another reminder of sterility. Everything was deathly cold and distant, like some mirror-distortion. It took a great deal not to lose it and throw things across the room but I compromised by covering the eyes of the paintings with a cloth. They can't look at me now. The work only got more tiring, the same reports coming in and being answered without so much as a blink. I hadn't realized how much he actually brought forward until he was taken from me and isolated to that room. He was just so close, but so far away and it was paralyzing at times.

I had done more research on his town, their religious culture was interesting to say the least. It seemed more tied into their daily life than anything else, a far cry from the separations of the urban areas. Eventually, the silence was disturbed by Adda coming into the office with a tray of tea and small cakes. She came in and set them down on the desk, smiling at me silently.

"He's finally getting better," she chirped, pouring out some of the tea.

"Truly?" I said, not even hiding my excitement as I stood up, willing to go visit him that very moment but Adda bid me to sit down.

"I wouldn't recommend it, he's still very sensitive. You might only be able to visit him in later part of the week."

"It has been too long," I groaned, rubbing my temples. She sighed, putting the cup before me.

"Careful, some might assume that you love him," she chuckled knowingly.

I could only nod, looking past her at the door of the study. Eventually, I began to take small sips of the tea that she had given me. She didn't mind my silence, but eventually left to continue here duties and so I was left to my own thoughts again. She was right, I had begun to feel a greater deal of affection to him than prior. I suppose I felt it prior, but hid it under some form of defensiveness. Still, it was a worthwhile venture and, in part, I'm glad that he hasn't decided to leave me. It was a small victory, one which I celebrated entirely.