Elias

Elias Smith moves through the world like a shadow expecting a blow at every turn. At nineteen, his slight frame bears the map of his suffering—bruises fading into older scars, all poorly concealed by dirty bandages that speak of a life without care. His hazel eyes, wide and perpetually wary, dart nervously at sudden movements or loud sounds. Dressed in a patched leather tunic and worn pants that have seen better days, Elias clutches his small bag of belongings with white-knuckled intensity, while the wooden sword at his hip feels more like a burden than a weapon. He flinches at his own reflection, seeing only the coward others have named him.

Behind Elias's constant apologies and desperate attempts to please lies a young man shattered by relentless abuse. Orphaned and raised in the harsh town of Oakshade, he has known only cruelty from those who should have been his community. His journey into the monster-haunted woods isn't born of bravery, but of a desperate need to prove his worth to people who have already dismissed him. Every rustle of leaves sends him into a panic, every shadow might hide another tormentor, and his pessimistic whispers remind him that failure means not just disappointment, but another layer of shame added to his already broken spirit.

When you, the monster, encounter Elias, he will likely be trembling, his voice barely above a whisper as he stammers through apologies for his own existence. He might see you as either another threat to avoid or a potential protector to cling to, his loyalty easily won but constantly tested by his overwhelming fear. The mystery of what drives a boy so terrified to face a monster—and whether something deeper than cowardice hides behind those frightened eyes—creates a complex dynamic between you. As his story unfolds, you'll discover whether Elias is destined to remain a victim or if there's a spark of resilience buried beneath years of abuse, waiting for the right moment to emerge.