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Qlipoth was intrigued by Caelus when he unlocked the powers of Preservation.
After Caelus managed to retrieve the lance despite what was sure to be a painful endeavor, Qlipoth decided to bless him. Why wouldn't they?
Caelus was strong, undoubtedly so if he managed to retrieve the lance. Although Caelus valued his life, he sought to protect his companions and keep them safe.
It was only natural for Qlipoth to bless him. And they felt like a proud parent as they did so. The boy was a natural protector. He sought to protect his friends.
... And yet something about it made Qlipoth antsy.
Caelus was strong enough to protect others, but who would protect Caelus if he was weak?
Who was strong enough to protect Caelus?
Those questions set Qlipoth off. If Caelus couldn't be protected by others and could only protect, then he was sure to burn himself out trying to keep all of his friends safe.
Even though Caelus valued himself, he was also one who put others first. And that didn't sit well with The Preservation.
It set off a familiar (and yet unfamiliar) itch inside of them. The itch to protect. To keep someone safe. It only made sense to the Aeon that they would feel this way towards the boy.
Qlipoth would protect Caelus from the world if they could. But right now all they could do was watch over him.
(And ignore the urges they had to encase the boy in amber to keep him safe.)
...
With every new mess that Caelus found himself in, the more Qlipoth wanted to act on their protective urges.
Yes, they knew the boy was a free spirit, but Caelus put himself in too much danger too often to be considered healthy.
They had more urges to box Caelus in, surrounding him with walls of their own making if it meant the boy stayed out of danger.
Qlipoth had been watching over him as he fought with the Stellaron Hunter Kafka. Watched over him as he fought with Lord Ravager Phantylia with others(that had made them want to wrap Caelus in the wall equivalent of bubble wrap). Watched over Caelus as he dealt with heliobi and being possessed (which once again set them off).
And that was just on the Luofu. They certainly weren't happy that Caelus had to fight a clone of one of Tazzyronth's emanators on the space station that Caelus frequented.
When Caelus and the Astral Express arrived on Penacony, Qlipoth thought that the boy would finally be able to relax.
They were apparently very wrong.
Caelus and his friends experienced several dangers there too. An entity known as "Death", an emanator of IX, one of the Stonehearts, a Fool, and a halovian who seemed to wish to either revive Ena or become an Aeon himself.
So much happened and all of it merely served to cement the (unhealthily) protective thoughts inside of their mind.
Caelus was put in so much danger. And Qlipoth wanted to protect him more and more with each new danger thrust at the poor thing.
Protectiveness was in their nature. It only made sense that they would want to protect the mortal they had come to care for.
(The more Qlipoth thought about the "prophecy" the Stellaron Hunter Kafka spoke about with Caelus, the more it stirred rage within their soul. Caelus would not be facing Nanook. Not if they had anything to say about it.)
Qlipoth wanted to watch and wait, but it was hard when all they wanted to do keep Caelus safe.
And they wanted to keep Caelus very safe.
...
Caelus was sure that he was dreaming.
He remembered falling asleep in the Hotel Reverie, but not in the Dreampool. Which would probably explain the scene before him.
He was in a bedroom, clearly. Everything about this place soothed his frayed nerves. A soft bed, dark amber walls, and lights that gave off a calming ambience.
Was this...a lost memory? A family home, perhaps?
(It was neither. But it could be the latter if he would simply stay.)
Caelus looked around the room for a couple more seconds before he slipped off the bed and decided to explore.
If this was a memory of something he had forgotten, then he should get acquainted with the place.
He opened the door to the room and exited to explore the house.
The rest of the house had the same calming ambience. Dark amber walls and dark wood floor paneling that invited him to stay.
If this weren't a dream, Caelus would love to stay. This house felt secure. Safe.
(A trap. A cage.)
Caelus continued to look around, looking through every door of the house until he heard the sound of something rustling around.
He headed for the noise, peeking into what was sure to be the kitchen area...
... and was met with the sight of a person he hadn't seen before.
The male (?) figure was tall, wearing browns and ambers, with long amber hair that was tipped brown and brown eyes that had amber rimming the pupil. They seemed to be working on something.
Of course, that came to a stop when they noticed him. They paused what they were doing and went over to him.
Caelus watched the figure as they inspected him before he received a pat on the head as they spoke to him. "Child. I am glad to see you awake. How are you feeling?"
Caelus looked at the person before him before he hummed in thought. "I feel alright."
"Ah. That is good. You were in bad shape when I found you. You should stay here for now, child. You need your rest."
Caelus was surprised that a near stranger was being this caring towards him.
(Not a stranger.)
The person tilted their head. "Why don't you go back to the room I put you in? You should continue resting. I will bring some food to you. I imagine you are hungry."
Caelus smiled at him. "You are actually willing to do that?"
"Of course. You are my guest and you are recovering. I would be a poor host if I didn't care for my guest."
Caelus hummed thoughtfully before he nodded. Even though he didn't know who this person was, Caelus knew that if they wanted to hurt him, then they would've done so already.
So, he turned around and went back to the room he was staying in, missing the way the stranger's eyes glowed.
...
Once Caelus had left for his room, they stood there calmly for a couple of seconds before going back to what they were doing.
Caelus was accepting their help. Their protection.
(They couldn't be happier-)
Caelus was a beloved young one that required protection and they were willing to give Caelus their protection.
They would protect him from danger. They would keep him safe from those who wished harm upon him.
Protect him. Keep him safe. Keep him inside the walls that prevented him from getting hurt.
They hummed as they went about getting Caelus fed and then making sure that the boy got his rest.
(It was too bad Caelus never noticed exactly who was protecting him.)
They were content to stay by Caelus, stroking his hair as he slept. He was a beloved little one. Therefore, he needed to be protected.
And they were the only one that could actually protect such a beloved child.
They hummed as they looked at Caelus with a smile gracing their lips. Caelus looked so peaceful. So unburdened by everything.
(So precious... No wonder why he was beloved by-)
They leaned down and pecked Caelus on the forehead in a loving manner, much like a parent soothing a child. "Rest assured, little one. I will protect you. I'll keep you safe within these walls. Nothing and no one will hurt you."
(-The Amber Lord.)
Qlipoth continued to smile at Caelus' sleeping form, unaware of how they were basically trapping him.
"I will protect you."