Journey of The Wild King

Upon entering the kitchen, Leo cast a quick glance around, searching for something that would either spark his appetite or inspire him to make a meal worth the effort.

He grabbed one of the magazines resting on the shelf—his favorite cooking magazine, featuring a cover photo of Eliana Morris, the award-winning chef renowned for her culinary artistry. Flipping through the pages slowly, his eyes skimmed over various recipes until one, in particular, caught his attention:

"Grilled Shrimp with Garlic-Lemon Sauce and Roasted Zucchini."

He raised an eyebrow as he read the ingredients.

"Well, Eliana, let's see if I can get anywhere near your level this time," he muttered under his breath before setting the magazine aside and getting to work.

Opening the fridge, he pulled out a bag of fresh shrimp and carefully cleaned them before marinating them in a mixture of fresh lemon juice, crushed garlic, and a drizzle of olive oil. Leaving the shrimp to absorb the flavors, he moved on to preparing the rice.

The sound of boiling water blended with the rhythmic chopping of zucchini as he sliced them into thin, evenly sized rounds on the cutting board. Setting them aside, he fired up the grill and placed the shrimp on it. Within moments, the kitchen filled with a rich aroma—a perfect mix of sizzling garlic, citrus zest, and smoky heat.

At that moment, Rianel appeared at the kitchen entrance, his damp hair still tousled from a shower, wearing a loose-fitting shirt that seemed slightly oversized. He stopped for a second, took a deep breath, then lifted his head in surprise.

"What the hell is that smell? It's like I just walked into a five-star restaurant!"

Leo chuckled without looking up from the pan.

"Just a simple recipe from Chef Eliana Morris—nothing worthy of all that amazement."

"Simple?! If this is what 'simple' smells like, I seriously need to rethink everything I've ever eaten."

Rianel stepped forward and sat on one of the nearby stools, propping his elbow on the table while watching Leo carefully plate the grilled shrimp, arranging the golden zucchini slices on top.

"You look like a pro," Rianel commented, watching the precision with which Leo arranged the dish.

"Well, let's just say I've spent way too much time watching cooking shows."

"If this were a competition kitchen, I'd bet money on you. Now, can I stop staring and start eating?"

Leo smirked as he slid the plate toward him.

"Here you go—your dinner, sir."

Rianel grabbed his fork but didn't dig in right away. He stared at the plate for a moment as if analyzing every detail before finally taking a small bite of the shrimp.

He paused. Seconds ticked by as if his brain was processing the flavors in slow motion.

Then, suddenly, he set his fork down and stared at Leo with an unreadable expression.

"Leo… what the hell is this?"

Leo raised an eyebrow warily.

"Why? Does it taste bad?"

"Bad?!" Rianel gasped as if he had just heard an outrageous accusation.

"This is way better than I expected! This isn't just food—this is art! The lemon, the garlic, that smoky touch in the zucchini… Man, are you sure you're not secretly running a restaurant?"

Leo laughed, amused by his friend's reaction.

"I'm glad you like it, but don't exaggerate."

"Leo, I swear, if I hadn't watched you make this with my own eyes, I'd have thought you ordered it from a five-star restaurant!" Rianel said seriously before taking another bite, savoring the perfectly balanced flavors.

Leo shook his head and took a bite of his own food.

"You know… maybe I should consider a career change."

"If you don't, you'll be the greatest wasted talent in history."

Rianel paused for a moment, then looked at Leo with a suddenly dramatic expression.

"So, when's our wedding? I need this food in my life forever."

Leo nearly choked on his laughter.

"Forget it! I'm not cooking for you for free for the rest of my life!"

Rianel chuckled before continuing to eat with evident enthusiasm. The kitchen felt warm and comforting, not just because of the food but also because of the familiarity creeping into their conversation. Somehow, this simple moment was enough to make the space feel more alive, more welcoming.

After finishing their dinner, Leo gathered the dishes and placed them in the sink before starting to wash them. Meanwhile, Rianel sprawled out on the couch, rummaging through his bag as if searching for something specific.

Moments of silence passed, broken only by the sound of running water and clinking plates. Eventually, Leo finished cleaning up and headed toward the bathroom.

"Don't mess with anything while I'm gone," he teased before shutting the door behind him.

Rianel simply responded with a smirk, not bothering to lift his head.

A short while later, Leo emerged, his hair still damp, droplets of water trickling down the ends. A towel hung loosely around his neck. He glanced toward the couch, where Rianel was now sitting, engrossed in examining something in his hands.

"I set up a room for you. It's right across from mine, so if you feel like sleeping…" He trailed off as his gaze landed on the game Rianel was holding, but he made no comment.

Finally, Rianel looked up, his eyes glinting with childlike excitement.

"Sleeping? Seriously?" he scoffed before holding up the game for Leo to see. "By the way, I thought you might want to see Wild King's Journey."

His words were like bait cast into the water—and Leo, like an eager fish, took it without hesitation.

He spun around so fast it was as if something inside him had flipped. He stared at Rianel, as though making sure he had heard correctly.

"Did you just say… Wild King's Journey?"

Rianel, clearly enjoying his reaction, leaned back on the couch, casually inspecting the game as if it were nothing special.

"Oh, yeah. The original version, not just an updated release. I had to fight a damn war to get my hands on this. Literally. That little bastard almost made me sign a contract in blood."

"No, no, no…" Leo cut him off, stepping forward quickly, his eyes widening with childlike wonder. "You're kidding. This thing is rare—how the hell did you get it?"

Rianel shrugged with feigned indifference. "I have my sources."

Leo dropped to the floor in front of him, staring at the game like it was a long-lost treasure. Then, all of a sudden, he lifted his head with exaggerated seriousness.

"Let me play."

"Hmmm, I don't know…" Rianel mused, tapping a finger against his chin. "Weren't you just about to go to sleep? I think I'll keep it to myself."

"Cut the crap, Rianel," Leo said, half pleading. "We haven't played this together in years. The last time was back in high school—remember? We used to ditch class just to go to the café and play."

Rianel chuckled lightly, trying to hide how much he enjoyed reminiscing.

"Yeah, and I remember how you completely fell apart against the third boss. You were awful."

"That's not true!" Leo objected immediately. "I just wasn't used to the controls back then!"

Rianel gave him a knowing look, eyes brimming with mockery.

"Well then, prove to me that you've improved."

Leo shot to his feet as if preparing for battle, only to quickly return to his usual stance, putting on a mock-serious expression.

"What's the price?"

"Grab us some drinks, and I'll set everything up."

Leo didn't wait to hear the rest—he was already sprinting toward the kitchen, shouting over his shoulder.

"On it, sir!"

Rianel shook his head, laughing, then got to work setting up the console. He inserted the game into its slot, and as the title screen appeared, a soft glow filled the room, carrying with it the scent of old memories.

By the time Leo returned with the drinks, they were both settled on the couch, controllers in hand. No words were needed—they exchanged an eager glance, and that was enough.

They pressed the start button simultaneously, and just like that, the night melted away into the past—two friends, lost in a game, battling virtual foes and sharing real laughter.

When Leo finally glanced at the clock, he realized it was past 2 AM.

But he didn't care.

Some nights were worth staying up for.

Rianel leaned back against the couch, letting out a heavy sigh. One hand rested over his eyes as if he were trying to fight off the exhaustion creeping up on him.

Leo, sitting on the floor in front of the screen, was too absorbed to notice. His eyes were locked onto the final battle, fingers moving swiftly over the controller.

"Alright, this is it!" he said excitedly, leaning forward. "We made it to the final boss, man. No turning back now!"

Rianel didn't respond.

Leo furrowed his brows, stealing a quick glance at him—only to find him sprawled on the couch, head tilted slightly to the side, his eyes barely open.

"Wait... don't tell me you fell asleep already?" he asked, staring at him in disbelief.

Rianel weakly lifted a hand, a feeble attempt at reassurance, but he was clearly struggling to keep his eyes open.

"Sorry, man... I don't think I can keep going."

Leo frowned, tossing his controller aside as he moved closer. "What do you mean? We've played this game together from the very start! There's only this one last fight left!"

A faint smile crossed Rianel's lips, barely there, before he let out another weary sigh. His eyes glistened slightly, and a single tear slipped down his cheek. His voice cracked as he murmured:

"Please, Leo... defeat him. I know you're stronger now... so I... I... ahh."

Leo stared at him for a moment, a strange feeling stirring in his chest. The way Rianel said that—it didn't sound like a joke. It felt like he was talking about something much deeper than just a game.

"Stop talking like you're on your deathbed," Leo said, his tone more serious now. "It's just a game, Rianel, no need for the dramatic movie lines."

But Rianel didn't reply.

His eyes slowly shut...

And then he started snoring.

Leo stared at him for a few seconds before his expression completely crumbled.

"You've got to be kidding me..." he muttered in frustration, grabbing a pillow from the couch and chucking it at his head. "For a second there, I almost felt guilty, you idiot!"

The only response was deeper snoring.

With a sigh, Leo sat back down in front of the screen, stretching his legs out as he slowly picked up the controller again.

"Guess I'll have to finish this alone, then," he mumbled, but his voice lacked the excitement from moments ago.

He tried to focus on the game, but his own eyelids were growing heavy. Exhaustion was catching up to him too, especially after a long day of studying and work.

Lowering the controller slightly, he glanced at the clock. "Damn… I've got a ton of work tomorrow. Gotta wake up early, too."

He stretched out a little on the couch, draping an arm over his eyes.

"Just one minute of rest..." he muttered.

And slowly, sleep took him, too.

----

The dream slowly began to take shape. At first, everything was blurry, but the image gradually became clearer.

In front of him, in an unfamiliar place, stood a young woman. Her long white hair flowed gently in the air. Her eyes were red, yet there was something in her gaze—something filled with sorrow and mystery.

She held a small child in her arms. The boy looked just like Leo when he was younger. A strange feeling stirred in Leo's heart, as if he knew this woman, yet his mind failed to grasp who she was.

In a low voice, he asked, "Who are you?"

The woman remained silent, staring at him without uttering a single word.

"Why do you look so sad? Are you afraid?" he asked again, but there was no response. Her lips moved as if trying to speak, but no sound came out.

Leo tried to step closer, but his body felt unbearably heavy. Everything around him began to fade, as if the dream itself was slipping away.

Just as the woman vanished, a faint whisper echoed in his mind, like a distant call:

"You are not alone..."

The words were unclear, but the voice carried deep sorrow and pain.

"No, don't go!" he whispered, reaching out for her, but his hands grasped nothing.

Everything faded further until the woman disappeared completely, leaving Leo alone in the void, an aching emptiness settling in his heart.

"Who are you?"

His final words hung in the silence.

But no one answered.