My name is Arclight.
I am a street cat.
The place I once called home was the Land of Solidity, Lithara, in a small village known as Small Stone Village.
I was born as a very cute kitten. At least, that is what everyone said. My family adored me. The villagers adored me. Even wandering angels adored me.
Yes, angels.
When I was a kitten, not only humans were drawn to me. Celestial beings with soft wings and bright smiles would visit the village, and somehow, they always found me. They played with me, scratched behind my ears, and brought me delicious food.
I was the prettiest cat ever born. At least, that is what my father always said.
My father's name was Tom.
My mother's name was Tea.
My father was born on the streets, wild and proud.
My mother was born into a prestigious family of pure-blooded house cats.
When my mother first met my father, she fell in love immediately. She ran away with him, knowing her family would never accept a street cat as her partner.
They chose love.
And from that love, I was born.
I was their only surviving child. I once had two brothers, but they died shortly after birth. My mother cried for days. My father stayed strong for her. And when she finally held me in her paws, she smiled again.
I became their world.
And they became mine.
Since birth, I was different. I remembered everything clearly. The warmth of my mother's fur. The sound of my father's voice. The smell of the river. Even the way sunlight touched the cave walls in the evening.
My father said my fur shone like blinding light. So he named me Arclight.
Cats are said to have nine lives. But each life is short.
Too short.
We lived by catching fish from the river and ponds. The villagers gave me food because they liked my face. I had friends who shared what they had. Life was simple. I was brave. I was arrogant. I believed nothing could take my happiness away.
Then my father died.
He passed quietly one night.
I cried loudly at first, but my mother placed her paw on my head and said, "Strong cats do not cry."
So I stopped crying in front of her.
But when I was alone, I cried until my chest hurt.
After father died, mother grew quiet. She became thinner, weaker. But she never told me she was ill. She hid it carefully.
Maybe she was afraid I would worry.
Maybe she feared I would break.
Maybe she didn't want me to lose hope.
While I played with villagers and angels, she endured pain alone.
I was happy.
She was suffering.
I did not notice.
Until one morning, I returned to our small but luxurious cave and found her not breathing.
The world beneath my paws felt like it collapsed.
In the corner of the cave stood a small mirror my father once bought. Beside it was a letter, written carefully with my mother's own paws.
I realized then how ungrateful I had been.
Father struggled.
Mother was breaking.
And I was only playing, using my beauty to gain affection.
I opened the letter with trembling paws.
---
To my dear little cat,
If you are reading this, it means I am no longer in this world. So please, do not cry. I cannot wipe your tears anymore, and I cannot rest peacefully if you suffer.
You were my light, my pride, and my life. Tom and I raised you to be brave. We were happiest when we saw you playing with children and angels. I loved your laughter the most.
Every day felt joyful, even when I knew I was dying. I only wished to stay a little longer, to feed you, to walk with you, to roll around together in the grass.
So my little kitty, live well.
Do not follow me too soon. We will wait for you. Live for one hundred years. Break the myth of a cat's short life.
Your sinful but loving mother,
Tea
---
My vision blurred, but I forced myself to continue reading. Cats see well in the dark. We evolved to survive. Mother once told me that proudly.
I stayed there for hours, reading the letter again and again.
The line she emphasized most was clear.
Do not cry.
I promised I would not.
But before I could fulfill that promise, the dam inside me broke.
I cried.
The cave echoed with my sobs. Not loud, but deep.
Afterward, I buried her beside father.
"Here lie the best father and mother, Tom and Tea."
Then I left Lithara.
I left Small Stone Village.
I left my home.
I decided to become a truly brave cat.
I heard that in the Land of Nature, beasts could cultivate and become spiritual beasts protectors, symbols of courage.
So I traveled to the Elven Kingdom of Virelyndor.
When I arrived, a little girl saw me.
"Look! A beautiful cat!"
"You're right! I've never seen such a pretty cat!"
She ran toward me and picked me up.
"My name is Celia Puregreen. What's your name, pretty cat?"
"Mawh maw maw."
Arclight.
"What a beautiful name. It suits you perfectly."
"Mawh."
Put me down, little angel.
"If you call me little, I'll get mad," she pouted. "I may look like a child, but I am not. I only act like one."
She was adorable.
"Why did you come to our land, Arclight?"
"Maw maw mawww."
To become brave and help others.
She smiled brightly.
"If you become my pet, I'll help you become a spiritual beast."
"Maww."
I accept.
Without hesitation, I accepted.
She cared for me deeply. Through her, I met her parents. I even met the current Goddess of Nature, Cedar Puregreen.
I met her fiancé as well. He did not look strong, yet the goddess adored him deeply. Celia loved him too for reasons I did not understand.
It felt dangerous.
But for a while, I was happy.
I almost forgot my pain.
Then tragedy came.
Raka Frozenlight died.
Cedar changed. She became more aggressive, more unstable. Her obsession shifted toward Celia.
Celia's heart broke when she lost her brother-in-law, but she endured it quietly. She cried in secret.
I told her, "Strong girls do not cry."
She smiled and hugged me tighter.
Then demons attacked.
The kingdom suffered heavy losses. Happiness faded day by day.
The true hell began when the God of Recognition descended and ascended as a Supreme God. He killed the gods and left their seats empty.
The world fell into chaos.
I eventually became a spiritual beast.
But Celia gave her life to protect me.
This time, I did not cry.
I wore the mask of a brave cat.
As years passed, I protected villages, fought monsters, and witnessed endless tragedy. People began calling me the Heavenly Tiger.
One day, the Demonic God attacked to harvest emotions and grow stronger.
I fought.
And fought.
And fought.
I do not know how long it lasted. I only remember feeling tired. So very tired.
Then a portal opened.
A blurry man stepped out.
"Dear cat," he said gently, "I came for you today."
"You may call me the One Who Grants Wishes."
"Mawww."
Why now?
"It is not that I did not want to come earlier," he said calmly. "I simply do not like interfering with fate too much. People become most honest when they are about to die. Their true wish surfaces then."
He chuckled softly.
"So, dear cat, what is your wish?"
"Maw maw mawh."
I want to protect those who love me. I want to fulfill their wishes. I want everyone to be happy.
I paused.
"Maw…"
I want to go back to the past.
Warmth touched my forehead.
"Your wish will be granted."
Those were the last words I heard.
My consciousness faded.
I lost all sense of belonging.
Then—
"Maw maw. Wake up, Arclight. It's morning."
I opened my eyes to darkness and heard my father's voice.
"Father!!"
"Don't cry, my baby. Did you have a nightmare?"
"Mawww! You died! Mother died! I died!"
Bonk!
Pain struck my head.
I blinked.
I looked around.
The cave.
The mirror.
The morning light.
I was back.
Back in the past.
My wish had been granted.