The Sorcerer's Winter Kiss

As Ru stepped into the conservatory, he felt a sense of tranquility wash over him. Time seemed to pause in this place. The soft, filtered light bathed the room in a dreamy glow, illuminating the flowers in a thousand shades of red. The flowers vibrated gently in the breeze, and snow crystals traced delicate patterns on the frosted glass windows with each step he took.

In the corner of the conservatory was a small pool, its surface shimmering like liquid silver. Near the pool, a cozy reading nook with leather-covered chairs, wooden shelves, and a coal stove beckoned weary visitors to rest. The shelves were lined with ancient books, porcelain dolls dressed in antique clothes, various decks of cards, and other mysterious objects.

Complete with blankets, a crackling fire, baskets of fruit, and bottles of wine, the place was almost perfect for the mentally tired Ru. But something seemed to be missing.

As he moved a little further, he found it. His eyes lit up when he saw the ginger cat curled up in a basket. "Ah, my heroic cat-man!" he shouted, his voice filled with joy.

The cat, startled by Ru's exclamation, opened its eyes and regarded him with a curious tilt of its head.

Ru knelt, his heart melting at the sight of the adorable creature. He extended a finger, offering a gentle stroke. The cat hesitated momentarily, then leaned into his touch, purring contentedly.

"Mrrrp," the cat purred, its eyes half-closed in pleasure.

With a smile, Ru picked up the cat and held it close. The warmth of the furry creature soothed his weary soul, and for a moment, all his troubles seemed to fade away.

"So you've known each other before," Heise said, joining them.

"Yes, he is my hero," Ru replied, sitting with the cat on his lap. "If it hadn't been for him, I'd be dead by now."

"Mrow," the cat purred in agreement.

"As far as I know, you saved him from hellhounds. In return, he saved you from the train," Heise said, sitting beside them.

"You're right," Ru confirmed, stroking the cat's fur. "He's a brave and loyal companion."

"I wonder if you guys will be able to be friends when you get transferred to The House," Heise said.

"How so? Is my cat friend one of the players?" Ru asked.

"Yes, he is," Heise said, and then he leaned over to the cat and asked, "Do you want to return to human form?"

"Meow," the cat responded.

"Really?" Ru said excitedly.

Ru was waiting for an answer when Heise's magical voice rang out in the area: "Make the dream come true, night."

The air around them shimmered, and the metamorphosis began before Ru could get the cat off his lap. The cat's form dissolved into light, and a young man materialized in its place, sitting directly on Ru's lap.

"Ugh!" Ru gasped, crushed under the man's weight.

The catman, now fully transformed, didn't seem to notice as he casually sat back. If not for Heise's intervention, Ru would have been squashed by his once-feline friend.

"Kaero, jump here," Heise ordered urgency in his voice.

Kaero stood up, finally releasing Ru. As Ru caught his breath and rubbed his legs, he gazed up at Kaero in astonishment.

Kaero was a redhead, freckled, and athletic, with piercing yellow eyes. But what truly set him apart were the cat ears that adorned his head, in contrast to his human features. Ru couldn't help but stare, his mind racing with questions.

"You're... a cat?" Ru stammered.

Kaero responded nonchalantly, "Yeah," his voice carrying a hint of his former feline self.

Ru was fixated on him, his gaze following Kaero's movements. "Is that... a tail?" he asked, pointing behind Kaero.

"Yeah," Kaero said with a shrug.

Ru couldn't help but study him closer. Kaero's elongated fingers ended in sharp claws, still remnants of his days as a cat.

"How can you turn a human if you're just a cat?" Ru asked, then quickly blushed because he was looking at a place he shouldn't be looking at on a naked male body.

Just then Heise wrapped Kaero in a blanket to protect him from the cold night air and Ru's eyes. Kaero seemed to enjoy the warmth, wiggling beneath the soft fabric.

"Warm and soft," Kaero muttered, snuggling into the blanket.

"You're so sweet," Ru commented with a smile.

"You salty plant," Kaero retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Ru blinked, taken aback. "Wha—"

"Oh, boys! You forgot about me," Heise interjected. "I'm not just a spectator. I'm a game master."

Ru and Kaero turned to face Heise, their expressions puzzled.

"You'll mention cards, classes, and marionettes if I'm not mistaken," Ru muttered.

"No, I didn't say that. Except to say that the jester card is now the joker," Heise replied nonchalantly.

Ru sprawled in his seat and began to speak in a cheerful tone. "It wouldn't hurt if you talked a little about the game. Frankly, even Amunet was more generous with information than you. And before we start talking, you can offer us something like milk or wine."

Heise raised an eyebrow at Ru's audacity. "I'm not a slave or maid, you know," he said, a small smile playing on his lips.

Ru stood up and glanced at the food closet, his eyes narrowing. He threw the dried meat towards Kaero, who caught it mid-air with a practiced ease. Kaero ate the meat in one go, his eyes closed in pleasure.

"You're a fast eater," Ru noted.

Kaero shrugged. "It's a skill I've developed."

Turning to Heise, Ru added in a singing tone, "What about you, sorcerer? Would you like a drink of tea, wine, or poison?"

"I'm not impressed with you and don't care if you drink Lord Zharqasti's wines," Heise replied, his tone dismissive.

Ru returned with three pieces of meat and two bottles. After presenting them, he sat on the chair with a bottle. "Cast a spell to open it."

Heise glanced sideways at Kaero, who was munching on meat next to him, then turned to Ru. "Find the corkscrew and open it yourself," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He continued telepathically, <Meanwhile, I'll put the cat to sleep.>

"I thought you were a sorcerer," Ru retorted and continued silently. <Why? Maybe I want Kaero to hear everything. >

Heise telepathically told him, <If he hears our, Misha hears our too. Do you want this?>

"Kaero, are you Misha's cat?" Ru suddenly asked, turning to the feline man.

"Yeah," Kaero replied, his voice filled with pride.

"But why?" Ru asked nervously.

"Misha helped me get revenge," Kaero replied, his yellow eyes flashing with rage.

"What? How?" Ru asked, still nervous.

"The human kicked me. Misha turned me into a human so I could kick humans back," Kaero explained, his voice filled with a chilling intensity.

Ru was out of breath. He had never heard such a dark and twisted tale. "So, you're essentially a tool of revenge," he said, his voice trembling slightly.

"The human kicked me, not Misha," Kaero shrugged, his eyes filled with contempt. "You weed!"

Meanwhile, Heise tried to cool off with his silk folding fan in the conservatory. "And now Kaero wants to get stronger to save his animal friends from humans and help Misha. That's why Kaero joined the game," he said, trying to change the subject.

"Except the dogs," Kaero said, wriggling his slightly orange-tipped nose.

Ru was speechless. The revelation was horrifying, yet strangely fascinating. He couldn't help but be drawn to this enigmatic figure, this creature of darkness and vengeance.

"I wouldn't be so sure about the dogs. Misha will likely expect you to protect them too," Heise said with a sly smile, flicking his silk fan. The fan slipped from his hand, spinning gracefully through the air. It danced, toppling a few books from the shelf and unveiling a hidden corkscrew beneath.

Heise summoned the silk fan to himself by moving his fingers gracefully. The corkscrew fell from the shelf to the floor, hanging in the air as if it had its own will. It floated towards Ru, glowing faintly in the dim light.

"Take it," Heise said, his voice dripping with authority. "And fetch me well-qualified wine."

Ru caught the corkscrew, his eyes widening in surprise. He glanced at Heise, then turned toward the row of wine bottles on the shelf. His hand hovered for a moment before settling on one, its deep crimson liquid glinting in the faint light.

As Ru worked, Heise started to sing quietly, a lullaby-like melody drifting across the conservatory. The song was lovely, with each note winding around the air like a spell.

"Hush now, child, the moon is high,

Stars are singing in the sky.

Close your eyes; the night is near.

Dreams will come, so have no fear."

Kaero had shifted into his cat form, now a small, orange-furred creature curled up in a blanket, peacefully asleep. In the eerie silence, the wine bottle slipped from Ru's hand and rolled across the snowy ground.

Ru was looking at the wine bottle, but a fire appeared before his eyes.

A city was burning in fire. And there, among the rubble of buildings and cars, he saw Vaelan.

Vaelan was seriously injured. Blood was flowing from his nose. His body was partially burned. His eyes were half open and blue. The next moment, his eyes turned a bright red. The blood flowing from his nose had receded, and his burns had partially healed. But then that red glow was gone. And the blood was back. Then the same thing happened again; his eyes turned red, and he seemed to get better. Then back to blue, and to death... then back to red, and to life...

Ru, who found himself in the loop, was literally consumed with pain. He was shaking violently. He was unable to stand on his own, so Heise helped him up.

"Even though Clockmaker didn't have a spell powerful enough to keep Vaelan alive, she did what she could," Heise explained, his voice calm but tinged with a hint of admiration. "When Vaelan was near death, she turned back his time. At first, it was five seconds, then three, then just one. By the time I found them, the interval wasn't even half a second. But it was enough for me."

The dreadful time loop that Ru found himself trapped in was shattered when Heise emerged in the phantom viewing.

During the phantom viewing, Heise was seen donning a black leather coat complete with a hood. As Heise extended his hand, Clockmaker's magical clock materialized above Vaelan, its gears spinning with her vital efforts. Heise studied the clock for a brief moment, his sharp eyes tracking its intricate movements. Then, with a deliberate exhale, he blew a cold breath into the clock, freezing its mechanisms in place.

"In the split second they came back to life, I froze Clockmaker's spell," Heise said, his tone naturel, as if such feats were routine for him.

What happened next caught even Heise off guard. Ru, overwhelmed with relief and gratitude, stumbled forward and wrapped his arms around him in a tight embrace. Heise stiffened momentarily, unused to such displays of emotion, but he didn't pull away.