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Xipe didn't notice Caelus until he was on Penacony.
Xipe had heard of the Stellaron vessel, but due to everything that was happening on Penacony at the moment, they couldn't spare enough time to go and see the Stellaron vessel.
So, while Caelus was on Penacony, Xipe decided to take note of who Caelus was and what he was like. Because who knew when they'd have the opportunity to do so again?
They weren't disappointed by what they saw.
Caelus was a kind soul, always willing to help others. And that made Xipe's heart melt.
Sure, Caelus was an attractive young man, but Xipe was more focused on his actions than his looks. And Xipe liked that Caelus was kind.
Of course, that kindness clearly made his heart vulnerable. Xipe had watched with a breaking heart as Caelus mourned the "death" of someone he had barely known for a day and yet already considered a friend. All due to an entity known as "Death".
Poor Caelus... Experiencing something so cruel in what was meant to be a sweet dream... And then having to bear witness to it again... It made Xipe's heart ache for Caelus. He didn't deserve to experience something so devastating that tore him apart...
So, Xipe decided to go to Caelus in an incorporeal form and soothe him with words that they murmured to the wind. They soothed him when the tears fell from his eyes even though The Harmony knew that Caelus couldn't see them and know who was attempting to mend his heart.
That didn't matter to Xipe, who focused their efforts on soothing his heart and soul. Caelus needed someone to comfort him and that someone was going to have to be Xipe.
After all, everyone else kept tossing the problems of Penacony at Caelus now that he had experienced one of its problems.
The fact that he and his friends had to do that rubbed Xipe the wrong way. Caelus hadn't asked to experience what he had experienced and his heart wasn't fully healed! Couldn't they give him a break? Couldn't they just not send Caelus to take care of whatever was going on and give him some time to mentally recover from what had happened to him?
So, Xipe watched as Caelus went to go tackle the problems of Penacony with no enthusiasm. They didn't like the fact that Caelus had to do anything in his current state.
They wanted to lock him away from the rest of the world-
Xipe was caught off guard by that thought. It was unlike them and more like Ena... Though that was probably because Xipe had absorbed Ena, coming into existence through that absorption.
Therefore, the thoughts of "Order" shouldn't have been surprising. In fact, it made sense.
If the world was not going to treat Caelus as though he was more than a tool, then why did the world deserve him?
The second part of that thought made Xipe shiver and yet it made sense to them.
(After all, who in that golden dream deserved such a bright light?)
...
Xipe watched Caelus every step of the way as he solved the problems that were occurring on Penacony.
They still didn't like that Caelus had to deal with those problems. After all, why should he? Was it because of the fact that he was a trailblazer? Was it because of the fact that Caelus was vulnerable and therefore the easiest choice to send on these kinds of missions and expect agreement from him?
That last internal question was not one Xipe liked and yet it was highly plausible. That was even more upsetting to The Harmony.
Still, they didn't need to take any violent action. Not that they could lest they risk going against the path that they chose to follow from the very start of their Aeonhood.
So, Xipe just watched Caelus deal with the problems that seemed to just pop up like weeds.
One of the Ten Stonehearts (an Avgin, Xipe knew in the back of their mind) decided to fight Caelus and his friends. Xipe had to restrain themself when they saw the Stoneheart knock Caelus away as though he was nothing more than a fly. And then they had to restrain themself again when they watched an Emanator of Nihility show herself and create something that would surely have been fatal in real life!
After this was all over, Xipe was not going to let Caelus interact with such dangers ever again. And they knew exactly how to do that.
Xipe continued to watch over Caelus as he experienced the other side of the golden dream, which was not golden but that didn't matter since he could finally breathe. That was a good thing. Caelus needed a break after what had happened.
That relief was almost immediately cut short when Caelus had to go and face danger again. But this time, Xipe wasn't going to let him go into such dangers without some form of power boost.
So, Xipe blessed Caelus with the power of their path to let him have some form of power to fall back on.
Xipe watched as Caelus used that power to take down the Halovian that decided it was a good idea to use power to create his own philosophy. Xipe wasn't sure how to feel about that in particular, but they did know that he was a threat to Caelus. So, Xipe decided not to support him in favor of Caelus
Xipe watched as Caelus fought the Halovian twice with the mechanical body the Halovian had taking on two separate forms. Xipe made sure to protect Caelus and his comrades in their own way while they dealt with the problem. And was grateful that they won in the end.
After that, Xipe finally thought Caelus would get a break. But they were proven wrong when a Masked Fool decided to play tricks and gave The Harmony whiplash due to what they saw. It was at that moment that Xipe remembered that they had dealt with Aha before. After all, Aha had done... something that made it possible for Xipe to absorb Ena and ascend. And the two were still friendly with each other albeit with Aha's pranks from time to time.
Xipe had to breathe after seeing everything that happened. But it solidified the decision they had made regarding Caelus.
No more would people bat around their light and treat him like a tool.
It was time for them to take action.
(And The Harmony had quite the plan for the one they called "their light"...)
...
Caelus finally had a moment to breathe in his hotel room. He had needed the break, so his friends had accepted when he said that he was going to go get some actual rest.
Everything that had happened had been in a dream and yet Caelus was so mentally exhausted from what had happened in the Dreamscape.
So, Caelus was now laying on a couch and staring at the ceiling. Occasionally, he let out a huff of air as he just stared at the ceiling and tried to contemplate what was going on with his life.
(Perhaps it was because of those musings that Caelus didn't notice the danger immediately...)
Caelus then felt something. It was like a presence. One that held a power that he now carried-
Caelus tried to sit up, alarmed, but the presence reached out with their hands and made him lay back down, shushing him as they did so. As though whoever was with him was attempting to soothe him.
"Shh... Shh... You're okay... Just relax..."
Although Caelus wanted to fight back, the words made his body involuntarily relax. And because of his relaxed state, he saw the one who was with him.
Three faces, white hair, eyes that looked like a kaleidoscope, skin that was dotted with stars and a galactic purple in color, and the outfit that Caelus had seen worn by...
...The Harmony.
Xipe was beside him, stroking his hair as they attempted to soothe him. But Caelus was too confused. Too antsy to fully relax. Because what was The Harmony doing here? Why were they here?
Caelus tried to speak, tried to ask questions, but-
"Just relax... You don't have to do anything... I'll give you a sweet dream... You won't have to do anything but relax and let yourself dream..."
Caelus wanted to protest, but the glowing halo of light around Xipe's head started to pulse. When Caelus started to grow drowsy, he realized what was happening with the pulses of light that came from the halo of light around Xipe's head. What they were doing to him...
Xipe was hypnotizing him...!
Caelus tried to fight back against the hypnosis. He didn't ask for this...!
But Xipe was an Aeon. Caelus was only human.
Caelus fell unconscious in a matter of seconds...
...
Caelus didn't know how he felt about being in this dream of Xipe's making.
On one hand, he hadn't asked to be put in this dream. Caelus had attempted to get out of it several times only to have Xipe corral him and soothe him, making him lose all the fight in his body. On the other hand, however, Caelus couldn't deny that this dream was a relaxing one. He didn't have to fight for his life. He didn't have to worry about a confrontation with Nanook. Caelus was free to do as he pleased in this dream.
(So long as he didn't escape...)
When Caelus had told Xipe about the prophecy Kafka had told him, Caelus hadn't expected The Harmony to get worried beyond reason. In other words, Xipe had practically freaked out after hearing that Kafka had told Caelus that he was meant to fight Nanook.
Caelus also hadn't been expecting Xipe to take him into their arms and immediately swear that they were never going to let Caelus face Nanook. Not if they could help it.
So, Caelus was at an impasse.
He wanted to leave this dream because there was no doubt that his friends were definitely worried about him, but how was he supposed to leave when Xipe wouldn't even let him leave?
Caelus sat on the shore of the beach in the dream, looking out towards the horizon. Caelus knew that he was probably sulking more often than not now that he had given up hope of fighting against Xipe to leave the dream. He still hadn't accepted the fact that he wasn't going to be leaving anytime soon.
"Sulking again, my light?"
Caelus didn't have to look up to see Xipe approaching him. He knew their movements and voice clearly by now.
Caelus was stubborn and didn't look up even when Xipe settled beside him on the sand. He tried not to flinch as their hand carded through his hair. Xipe would notice.
Everything was quiet until Caelus heard Xipe sigh. "You still don't trust me... And you still want to escape this dream... I suppose I should have expected this though... You are stubborn to a fault after all... I just wish that you would accept being in this dream..."
Caelus huffed. "I didn't ask for you to put me in this dream. I didn't ask for you to help me."
"When have you asked anyone for help, my light?"
Caelus, wisely, shut his mouth upon hearing that question. Because while he loathed to admit it, Xipe was right. Caelus only supported others or accepted help when he was backed into a corner. But while he understood what Xipe was saying, Caelus still didn't like being kept in this dream.
And Xipe could clearly sense that because they sighed again. "My light, I'm trying to keep you safe by keeping you in this dream... I just don't want the light you carry in your heart to be blotted out by others."
Caelus looked down at the sand that rippled with the dream. He understood, but he didn't like it... And Xipe didn't comment on it, simply continuing to card their hand through his hair. As though they were trying to soothe away his distrust and anxiety.
And even though Caelus was adamant about leaving, he couldn't deny that the presence of The Harmony was starting to bring him some comfort. He didn't say it out loud, but Caelus figured that Xipe could sense the shift in his emotional state.
Caelus didn't even react when Xipe kissed his forehead and murmured words of comfort to him. He tried to ignore the feelings this gentle comfort gave him.
Caelus had to find a way out of this dream...
...because he had a feeling he was going to crack soon.