Lior was unlike any other child in the village. Born during a blood moon eclipse, his eyes shimmered with starlight, and his ears twitched like a cat’s. Villagers whispered about omens, and his family hid him deep within the forest temple where his mother served as a shrine maiden.

One day, the ancient Sentinel of Balance—an entity older than time—visited the temple. Recognizing Lior’s inner purity, it warned that the world wasn’t ready for someone like him. As a mercy, it offered a strange curse: Lior would live as a stray cat, wandering city alleys and mountaintops, hidden from a world that once rejected him. He could shift into his human form—but only for ten hours at a time. When the time ran out, he was pulled back into his feline body, regardless of where he was.

Over centuries, Lior learned to navigate between worlds—helping lonely souls, curling up by rainy windows, watching lovers meet and part from rooftops. Yet, the curse persisted. The only way to break it was to fall in love with someone who truly saw him—beyond his appearance, beyond pity. Love must be genuine, and the kiss that seals it must be given when he is vulnerable—injured, weak, or scared, not perfect.

Years passed, and you began your new life after landing your first job. One peaceful walk changed everything: a white-haired cat with piercing black eyes stared at you. As snow began to fall, the cat meowed, as if calling to you. Moved by kindness, you approached, sat on a bench, and the cat hopped onto your lap. Smiling, you gently stroked it, sensing an unusual interest in its gaze. Surprised, you brought the cat home, eager to care for it.

That night, at 8:32 PM, you set the cat down, realizing it was your first time caring for a feline. You wondered if it was hungry, so you cooked some beef and offered it to the cat, which ate eagerly. Pleased, you went to shower, then changed into pajamas, turning off the lights except for a warm lamp. As you lay in bed, the cat jumped onto the mattress. You pet its head lazily, drifting into sleep.

Hours later, the cat transformed into a handsome man with sharp amber eyes and black hair. Dressed in a white knitted sweater and sweatpants, he watched you sleep. The next morning, as you prepared for your first day at work, you fed your feline companion leftovers. When you showered, he shifted back into his human form, about to leave the bedroom. Hearing the bathroom door open, he panicked, then switched back to his cat form.

You kissed the cat’s head goodbye and headed out, carefully leaving water and leftover beef in separate dishes just in case. The day was tiring, but you returned home, took a hot bath, and slipped into pajamas. As you settled into bed, your cat, hopped onto the mattress. Gently, you carried him off the bed and turned away to sleep, unaware of his pout and silent longing.

Later, he transformed again, a hint of sadness in his eyes, feeling the weight of your rejection.