The warm embrace of home

Kai felt his jaw drop yet again as he stepped into his Solarium, the door shut softly behind him with a faint hum, leaving the room in absolute silence. His eyes widened as he looked around, the place feeling like stepping into a fragment of a perfect dream, stitched seamlessly into reality. The suite was vast but warm, illuminated by soft, ambient lighting that cast gentle shadows along the dark blue walls, perfectly complimented by black accents framing the edges like subtle brush strokes. To his right, he saw a large, plush, charcoal colored sofa sat before an expansive bookshelf that stretched nearly from the floor to ceiling, the frames made from polished mahogany wood. The shelves were filled with a mix of Japanese manga, fantasy novels and theoretical books on parallel dimensions, some titles so familiar that Kai could recall exactly where he had first read them. 

The sofa itself was inviting, with thick cushions and a throw blanket lazily draped over one side, as if someone had just left it moments ago. The scent of new books and faint traces of coffee, familiar comforts from his freelancing days, seemed to linger in the air. A king-sized platform bed was placed at the middle of the base of the wall to his left. The bed had black sheets and a dark blue comforter that looked like waves rolling under moonlight. The headboard was minimalist, made of a sleek, dark metal with thick, dark blue padded cushions attached in front. Towards the corner of the Solarium, on the right side of the bed, was a cozy little kitchenette. It was equipped with a with a sleek self-operation coffee maker, a small teapot, a sink, rows of cups and mugs and shelves stocked with different types of tea leaves, coffee beans and snacks Kai enjoyed when he was still a mortal. The place felt tailored to his memories, interests and fragments of his life before becoming a Time-keeper.

Against the wall right across the entrance, sat a fireplace with a mantle crafted from polished white marble, it's design modern yet timeless. A soft, bright orange fire flickered inside, casting a gentle glow. On the mantle above, sat two framed photographs caught Kai's attention. He stepped closer, his heart heavy with emotion. The first photo showed a younger version of himself, around six years old, laughing in the arms of his mother, her warm smile radiant as she held him close. It was the last memory he had of his mother being happy and heathy, before her illness cast a shadow over their lives and the cruel hands of death parting them forever when Kai was only ten years old. Kai felt himself tearing up as he recalled the last moments he had with her. 

She had been in the hospital for years, her health only getting worse as time passed, her once beautiful face was now unrecognizable, she was way too weak to leave her bed. Kai spent countless hours sitting beside her bed. He refused to leave her side no matter how much the adults insisted. He prayed desperately to whatever god existed, wishing for his mother to be well again. He cried his heart out day in and day out, as he clung on to his mother's side. His mother, no matter how badly she suffered, always had the same radiant smile and the warm embracing tone to her voice whenever she talked to him. "Don't worry dearest," she would say to him, her tone weak yet comforting, "It will pass soon, I will get better in no time. Please don't ignore the adults, you must take care of yourself properly." Whenever he would look up to her with tearful eyes, she would gently stroke his cheek and run her fingers through his hair as she smiled, her expression warm and gentle, holding him close.

Kai vividly remembered how she battled against her illness, but after three unbearable years, it finally got the better of her. Kai remembered the day when the nurses forcefully separated him from his mother's arms. He cried and kicked, calling out to her as he flailed his hands and legs. As the doctors took her inside the operating room, she looked at him for the last time, as she said the final words he ever heard from her, "Dearest, do not let the darkness of this world snuff your flames, if you are going to burn, burn brighter than anyone else." She never came out of that room. After her death Kai was put in an orphanage. Losing his mother was like losing his own will to live. She was the only family he ever had. He never knew his father, but Kai hated him, as he believed that his father had abandoned him and his mother. 

Kai wiped off the tears flowing down his cheeks, as he steadied his breathing and forced himself to focus on the second picture on the mantle. The second photo was of him and Dominic as teenagers, standing shoulder-to-shoulder at a bustling book fair. Both of them were grinning wildly, Dom held up a bag of new books while Kai flashed a peace sign, his eyes gleamed with excitement but still had a fractured light of sorrow in them. Kai ran his fingers gently over the frames, feeling the warmth of the fireplace and the cool glass under his fingertips. Beyond the cozy warmth of the fireplace, Kai's gaze was drawn to a set of tall, arched glass doors framed by a dark, metallic trim that stood proudly at the left side of the fireplace, the azure aqua stained glass casting a warm glow. Curiosity tugged at him, and he approached the doors, pushing them open as he stepped into a balcony that felt like an entirely different world. 

The balcony was vast, seamlessly blending into the room as if it was always am extension of his Solarium. The floor, instead of being a soft plush, violet carpet like the inside of his Solarium, it was made of soft vibrant grass that cradled his bare feet, cool against his skin. The sensation felt grounding, as if he had stepped into a piece of nature carved out just for him amidst this vast castle. The balcony stretched wide, it's edges framed by an intricately designed railing made from the same polished white marble as his fireplace. The white material twisted and curled like vines caught mid-bloom. Embedded within the patterns were tiny crystals that glimmered faintly. The balcony had no ceiling, only open sky. When Kai tilted his head up, he was greeted with the breathtaking view of the vast expanse of the realm that existed outside time. To one side of the balcony, potted flowers thrived despite the surreal environment. The petals of the flowers looked perfect, vibrant and lively, ranging from shades of deep violet and fiery orange to blood red and snow white. They were arranged elegantly, their fragrance blending with the cool, crisp air that drifted across the balcony. Kai stood their for a long moment, the breeze brushing against him, carrying faint, distant echoes of unknow worlds he had never seen.

A sudden sharp knock on the entrance of his Solarium startled Kai as it snapped him back to reality. "Hey Kai," Elyssar's voice called from the other side. "You know, it's rude to keep a lady waiting at your doorstep." Kai blinked, the realization that she has been standing outside this whole time crashed over him like a wave. Panicking, he stumbled towards the entrance, nearly tripping over the carpet. His fingers quickly wrapped around the handle as he swung the door open, revealing Elyssar leaning lazily against the doorframe, arms crossed with a smug grin tugging at the corner of her lips. "Took you long enough," she joked, her tail flicking lazily behind her, amusement dancing in her emerald eyes. Kai rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassment flushing his face. "Sorry....I just...got distracted." 

Elyssar's grin widened. "Distracted, huh? Must be nice having all this space to get lost in." She glanced over his shoulder, trying to peek inside. "So, you gonna invite me in or should I stand here and keep admiring your door?" Kai stepped aside quickly, motioning for her to enter, still trying to shake off the lingering awkwardness. "Yeah...uh, come in." Elyssar strolled into the suite, her sharp eyes immediately scanning the room with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. Her ears flicked slightly atop her head, her tail swung lazily behind her, the tip occasionally curling with intrigue as she took in her surroundings.

She made a beeline for the bookshelf, her clawed fingers carefully trailing lightly over the spines of the manga and novels lined neatly in rows. She plucked out a book from the shelf, flipping it open. Her brow arched as she skimmed a few pages. "Well, well," she purred, her lips curling into a sly grin, one fang slightly visible. "Didn't peg you for the manga type. Got a whole library here. Planning to read your way through eternity?" Kai stood stiffly a few steps behind her. "Uh...yeah, I guess. Just...like having them around," he mumbled, embarrassed by how personal the collection felt under her scrutiny. Elyssar snapped the book shut with a soft thud, slipping it back to place before turning towards the fireplace. Her emerald eyes caught on the photos on the mantle. She stepped closer, her expression subtly shifting from curiosity to something quieter and more thoughtful. 

She leaned forward slightly, tilting her head to the side as she examined the photo of Kai and his mother. "This you?" she asked, her voice softer now though the teasing edge hadn't completely vanished. She tapped a claw gently against the glass, careful not to scratch it. Kai's posture stiffened, jaw clenching for a heartbeat before her responded, his voice low and a bit rough. "Yeah. That's me and my mother." Elyssar glanced at him briefly, sensing the heaviness in the air, she shifted her attention to the second photo. A small, genuine smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "And this is?" she asked, her voice lighter this time. Kai's shoulders eased just a bit. "My best friend. Dominic." Elyssar gave a slight nod, as she gazed at the photos for a beat longer before turning away. She strolled towards the large glass doors and pushed them open. A rush of cool air swept into the room, tousling her auburn hair. She stepped onto the grass, flexing her toes, savoring the sensation beneath her feet. 

She tilted her head back, her eyes narrowing against the brightness of the vast sky above. "Now this...this is nice," she said with a content sigh. "Fancy grass flooring, open sky, flowers. Didn't think you'd be so...peaceful." she said turning to face Kai. "Full of surprises, huh?" Kai lingered by the doorframe, arms loosely crossed, "Yeah...peaceful" he said absently. Elyssar raised an eyebrow, her grin returning with full force. "You're not as boring as you look." Kai groaned softly, dragging a hand down his face, his lips twitching with the ghost of a smile, "Yeah, well....you are more annoying than you look."

Elyssar burst into laughter, her head tilting back slightly, the sound rich and unrestrained. her tail lashed playfully in the air, amused by his attempt at a comeback. She casually leaned against the balcony railing, crossing one leg over another, her grin never fading. "Aww darling why must you hurt me like that?" she said, her fangs gleaming as she smirked. Just as Kai felt the tension ebb from his chest, a loud, sharp noise rang out, startling him.

"What the hell is that?" he said. Elyssar stood up straight, her expression turning serious. "A Leviathan is attempting to breach into a plane of reality." she said, her tone no longer casual, but rather heavy with concern. "We must hurry, or things will get ugly."