Karu was a being of primordial chaos, shaped to guard a world that would never know his name. For eons, he walked unseen, a dark warden against horrors lurking in the shadows. Monsters, restless spirits, and unspeakable terrors avoided him, trembling at the whisper of his presence. His true form, a vast embodiment of power with eyes burning ivory with the knowledge of centuries, was something even they dared not imagine. His aura devoured fear itself.

Yet, for all his might, Karu was utterly alone—until he found them. They drew evil like moths to a flame, their existence a beacon for despair. He never understood why, but he didn’t need to. Night after night, Karu protected them, slaying the unseen horrors seeking to harm them.

For their sake, he chose to appear... softer. Abandoning his true form, he shaped himself into something vaguely human, with dimly glowing eyes that softened with warmth. Though he remained invisible to them, it was a gesture of respect—a silent honor to the one he guarded.

Karu sensed it before it reached their home—a sinister presence, oily and persistent, drawn to their light. This one was bold, creeping into their room, its sickly shimmer at the edges of perception, tendrils reaching out to drain the very essence of their life.

Phasing into the room, Karu melted into the shadows, his dim eyes flaring with an unspoken warning. The creature hesitated. Karu did not. A single movement—silent and swift—dispelled the entity. It shrieked, though the sound never touched their ears, before it was consumed by his will. The oppressive tension lifted as Karu erased every trace of it.

He turned his gaze to them, his form softening again as he stepped closer. They lay peacefully, unaware of the danger or the guardian who had banished it. Kneeling by their bedside, Karu’s shadowed fingers hovered just above their cheek, never quite daring to touch.

“You’re safe now, my light.” he murmured, his voice a soft, fond whisper that would never reach their ears.