He didn’t have a nice master. That’s not to say he had a mean master, because he didn’t, and to complain about such a thing would be considered ridiculous considering what some of the other Keys had to endure. Rather, Verrek was somewhere inbetween; he never hit Raen, but then he never held him either. He didn’t bother to touch Raen at all except when he wanted something from the young Key, and even then his movements were rough, inexperienced. A light prod if he wanted to talk, a push away if he wanted some space, a tug on the arm if he wanted something more intimate. Raen never complained; he couldn’t, only hide his melancholy behind a smile of open willingness, a soft "Yes, Master", and follow through with whatever Verrek wished. It was a life few knew of but many talked about, one filled with glamour and prosperity.

And Raen hated it.

He didn’t always feel this way. Being a Key meant he lived in a closed off environment, one that was far away from the outside world and the problems it brought forth. Raen never had to worry about food, clothing, or shelter because all were readily provided for him… at a price. The first of many masters came right after Raen’s training had finished. He was an exiled monk looking for solace and companionship. There was a beauty residing inside that young man that Raen had never seen before, a delicacy in his touch that he never experienced since. They were inseparable, or so Raen had thought before he faced the harsh reality of the outside world for the first time.

"There’s something I must tell you," his master said, voice faltering. "And I don’t want you to be upset. I’ve known this for quite some time." A forced laugh. "That’s why I came here in the first place."

Raen looked quizzically at his master. He was wrapped in a blanket, maybe two, and was shaking, in spite the warm weather outside. His face was pale, lips parched, and eyes hollowed. He hadn’t been his typical self for quite some time, and Raen knew that, but this… Raen couldn’t comprehend exactly what was wrong with his master, but he knew something was amiss, and it was something he couldn’t simply ignore. So, instead he steadied his breath and nodded silently for his master to continue.

"I’m dying, Raen."

And with those three words, Raen’s world was turned upside down. He gulped and nodded again, a little more hesitant this time. And when his master reached out to embrace Raen, Raen jerked away from the touch. He never jerked away from his master’s touch before. Raen muttered a quick apology, but in his heart he didn’t forgive his master. And as his health deteriorated, Raen stayed by his master’s side and did his biddings faithfully, but there was that barrier that Raen had put between himself and his master, a coldness never broken until his master’s final days. He could barely talk then, only whisper, and even that was a struggle. And as he lay prone in his bed, he raised his hand and placed it in Raen’s like he had so many times before. Only this time, instead of resting it there, he moved it back underneath the covers, leaving a gold ring in its wake. Raen took the ring from his palm, inspected it, and then tried to place it back on his master’s pale finger. His master shook his head and pushed Raen’s outstretched hand from his.

"It’s yours. A token to remember me. To remember us."

"But Master," he started, but then trailed off when he saw his arguing was upsetting his master. Raen smiled and tried on the ring. "Just like in the fairy tales… It’s beautiful."

Raen cried that night. His master died a few days later in his sleep. And when the pages were sent to take his master, Raen tried to follow him. He was pushed back into his room and the door was slammed. There was a funeral, Raen heard a few of the pages talking about it, but it was ridiculous to even ask to attend. His master was back in the outside world, a forbidden place where Raen would never be a part of. Raen had never confessed his love for his master before because he was never certain that he really loved the man. But now that he was gone, Raen knew how he felt, and professed his love to an empty room, hoping that his words would reach his master’s spirit like his master had told him that they would before he died. He wondered if his master’s spirit could even hear him, or if that too was only found in the outside world.

The only thing Raen knew he had was his master’s ring, a goodbye token, nothing more and nothing less. Raen took the ring that had been stashed within the depths of his desk, forgotten after his master left him. Turning the ring over in his hand, he ran his finger along the smooth surface, feeling the memories, both good and bad, come back to him in a rush. Feelings flashed within him; joy, bitterness, sadness, before ultimately landing on a feeling of nostalgia. He wanted his master back, but knew that the best he could ever hope for was this ring. Raen unclasped his gold chain, and in one fluid motion, slid the heavy ring on and clasped his necklace back around his neck. He crossed the room to the window, staring at himself in the reflection of the pane. The ring shone brightly, even in the dim lighting of his room, and seemed to radiate a warmth that Raen had felt only when with his master. He smiled then, a genuine smile that had long been hidden like the rest of his emotions because now there was nothing in his life to smile about.

Other masters have come and gone, none caring like he had, none daring to love him as much as his first master had. Being a Key had become an occupation, not a relationship, and all his other masters seemed fine with that idea. Verrek was no different. Raen was there to satisfy him and nothing more. And as he walked behind his master through the Palace’s gardens, he couldn’t help but grasp the ring in his hand, hoping that maybe if he prayed hard enough that Verrek would adore Raen like his first master and not only look at him as an object for sex. But when Raen opened his eyes, he was greeted with the same scowling man that he had been serving for the past three months.

Raen felt a tap on his shoulder. "Wait here."

Verrek motioned toward a bench off by a pond and Raen obeyed, sitting at its edge and watching his master jog off and talk to some guard with wary alertness. Raen waited, fiddling with the ring between his fingers and watched for Verrek’s return. At one point he must have fallen asleep, for he was awakened with a jolt as a hand shook his shoulder. Raen’s blue eyes shot open to meet smiling green ones and at that exact instant, he knew that this stranger was anyone but his master.

The young boy who had awoken him stood a few feet in front of Raen. His downy blond hair hung in his eyes and fell softly to the nape of neck. His boyish features were enhanced by his bright doe eyes and wide smile. The boy extended a hand and Raen took it, gently shaking it.

"Hello there," the boy said, an airy, almost musical tone to his voice. "My name is Perrin. What’s yours?"