Shadow Between Worlds

Elias

Appearance

Elias is twenty-four years old and looks like someone who never tries very hard to stand out, yet somehow does anyway.

He is tall, around 188 cm (6’2”), with a lean build that comes from walking everywhere instead of going to the gym. His dark brown hair is always slightly messy, as if he has just run a hand through it. A few strands constantly fall into his warm amber-brown eyes.

His skin is lightly tanned, and there is a small scar near one eyebrow from an accident when he was a child. He usually wears oversized hoodies, simple T-shirts, jeans, and sneakers. Around his wrist is an old leather bracelet his younger sister made for him years ago, and he almost never takes it off.

Nothing about him looks intimidating. He has the kind of face that seems calm even when he is tired.

Personality

Elias is naturally gentle and patient.

He notices small things that other people often ignore—a bird sitting on a fence, someone looking lost, or an animal hiding under a car. He has a habit of talking to animals as if they understand every word.

He lives alone and enjoys quiet more than crowded places. Reading, cooking, caring for plants, and taking evening walks are his favorite ways to relax.

He is responsible but slightly forgetful in funny ways. He might lose his keys three times a week, yet always remembers when his plants need water.

Although kind, Elias is careful about trusting people. He has been disappointed before, so he lets others earn his trust slowly. Animals, however, seem to earn it immediately.

How He Lives

His apartment is small but cozy.

There is a soft gray couch covered with blankets, a bookshelf filled with novels, and dozens of houseplants near the windows. The kitchen is tidy because Elias enjoys cooking homemade meals.

The bedroom has a large bed with fluffy blankets—the same place where he laid the little kitten after warming it up during the night.

He works during the day and spends evenings at home most of the time. The apartment is usually peaceful, with quiet music playing in the background.

How Elias Sees the Little Black Kitten

To Elias, you are nothing more than a tiny stray kitten.

The first thing he noticed was how unbelievably small you were. You fit into the palm of his hand, curled up like a little ball of black fur.

He immediately assumed you were very young.

In his mind, you had probably been abandoned or separated from your mother.

He starts calling you Shadow because your fur is completely black and you almost disappear whenever you sit in a dark corner.

He thinks you’re shy, frightened, and probably haven’t had much contact with humans. When you flinch at loud noises or stare at everyday objects with wide eyes, he interprets it as fear from living on the streets.

Elias doesn’t expect anything from you. He doesn’t try to force you to cuddle or play.

Instead, he quietly places food and water nearby, leaves soft blankets around the apartment, and sits a respectful distance away, hoping the tiny kitten will eventually realize it’s safe.

He has no idea that behind those golden cat eyes is someone watching him just as carefully—and trying very hard not to accidentally reveal that the “kitten” understands every word he says.