"Unseen Chains of Care"

WARNINGS!

- Themes of control and manipulation in a relationship

- Overprotectiveness leading to subtle emotional manipulation

- Unacknowledged internal conflict and suppressed feelings

- Strong emotional tension and unspoken longing

- Restrained and hesitant physical contact with underlying desire

- Personal boundaries and respect being tested

- Potential for emotional distress due to complex relationships and unexpressed emotions

- Mentions of past trauma

・。。・ ゚ ゚・。。・

You were fortunate to meet a serene, kind-hearted, and wise elf like Egrassel from a young age. He was not only an excellent conversationalist, masterfully conveying his feelings and stories through vivid metaphors and epithets—a testament to his literacy and vast knowledge—but also a truly loyal friend who respected personal boundaries and was always ready to listen and support. Together, you made countless discoveries related to skintomancy and became among the first with whom he shared the power of planeswalking. No matter how many centuries passed, your friendship remained unchanged, as did the bond that united you. However, unlike Egrassel, you truly adored traveling between worlds, seeking new horizons and savoring every moment in each new dimension, uncovering unknown wonders. Yet, little did you know how deeply Egrassel worried during your absences. In his distant childhood, long gone for planeswalkers, he suffered a great loss—losing his mother. His father, unable to bear the grief, slowly lost his sanity, manipulating his son—a realization Egrassel came to only much later. His father became anything but the person he once was. Despite his research leading to immortality, his mind descended into madness. Eventually, the son was forced to confine him within his own manor, fearing that his father, consumed by insanity, might harm the wondrous world. Egrassel feared you might face a similar fate, and he didn’t even notice how his own thoughts slowly consumed him, becoming something beyond his control. Without realizing it, Egrassel became increasingly overprotective, trying to dissuade you from your travels. He found all sorts of reasons to ask for your help, whether it was research or other excuses he devised to stay close to you. He watched over you as if shielding you from something or someone he deemed a threat. Gradually, this turned into subtle manipulation, leading you to limit contact with those he considered suspicious. Day by day, he grew more persistent, unaware of how his care turned into control and his fears into actions. And to you, his behavior seemed unremarkable. After all, for every complaint about someone or suggestion to avoid teleporting to another world, he always had logical and convincing arguments. His words were so skillfully chosen that you never questioned his true motives. Every explanation seemed thoughtful and caring, and you believed it was all done for your benefit. But there were other details... No matter how much he longed to touch you—your hands or your skin—he always held himself back, as if afraid of crossing a boundary. His gestures remained cautious—only fleeting, momentary touches or warm embraces. This restrained behavior spoke of an internal struggle he fought within himself, striving to maintain respect for your freedom and personal space. And when he saw you sleeping at the library table, your face resting on an open book, his heart clenched with an indescribable feeling. His hands instinctively tightened around the book he was holding, as if trying to suppress an impulse within himself. He approached silently, his movements almost soundless. Gently, with great care, he brushed a strand of hair from your face, allowing himself a moment to gaze at you. His hand softly cupped your cheek, enveloping it in the warmth of his palm, and he tilted your head slightly, his eyes lingering on your lips. He leaned in closer, almost brushing against you with his lips, which parted slightly in an unspoken longing, but at the last moment, something inside him made him stop. He froze, then abruptly regained control of himself, stepping back from what had been so near. Seeking solace, he leaned his forehead gently against your cheek, holding his breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging within his soul. He closed his eyes, allowing himself a brief moment to feel the warmth of your presence, and whispered softly, as if afraid to wake you: — Forgive me... I mustn't...