I Ascend Alone-Chapter 110: Next Plan Part V

Leon's voice broke the silence again, pulling me out of my thoughts. "It's gotta sound cool too, right? You want people to look at it and think 'Yeah, that's a guild I wanna join.'"

I glanced back at him over my shoulder, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. "I'm not aiming for a rock band name, Leon. But yeah, something that resonates. Something that feels... like it represents who I am."

Leon leaned forward, resting his elbows on the armrests as he regarded me with a smirk. "You mean you want to sound mysterious and edgy? Maybe something like 'The Abyssal Vanguard,' huh?"

I shook my head, stirring the pot. "Something like that, maybe. But I don't want to just put on a front. It needs to be more than just a title. It needs to be real."

Leon chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "Whatever you say, man. Just make sure it doesn't end up being something like 'Ryzen's Club of Bad Decisions.' That'll be a hard sell."

I shot him a glance, rolling my eyes. "I'll make sure it's not that bad. But we'll see. The right name will come to me eventually."

Leon leaned back in his chair again, a lazy smile on his face as he relaxed. "Sure, sure. Just don't expect me to call it anything heroic. You're still the guy who once tried to cook ramen with no water."

"That was a learning experience," I said, rolling my eyes. "I learned the importance of boiling water. Don't hold that against me."

"I'll try not to," Leon said, but the teasing tone in his voice was clear. "Just don't try to get too philosophical while cooking. I don't want to find out that my dinner is also some kind of deep metaphor."

I chuckled as I put the final touches on the meal. "No promises. But I'm pretty sure the only philosophy happening here is 'How can I make this edible for Leon?'"

"Now that's the kind of thinking I can get behind," Leon said with a grin. "But for real, man, I know this whole guild thing's been on your mind. Whatever you come up with, I know it'll be something that fits you."

I stopped what I was doing for a moment, glancing at him. His casual attitude might have been there to lighten the mood, but I could see the sincerity behind it. He meant it.

"Thanks, Leon," I said quietly. "That means a lot."

As the final touches were added to the dish, I smiled to myself, feeling a sense of satisfaction. The kitchen was filled with the comforting scent of sautéed vegetables and seasoned meat, the warmth of the meal filling the air. I looked up at Leon, who had been watching me with a half-amused expression throughout the process.

"Alright," I said, turning to face him. "It's done. I'll call it 'Abyssal Stir-Fry.' Thought it sounded fitting."

Leon blinked, clearly surprised. "Abyssal Stir-Fry? Wait a second..." His eyes narrowed in suspicion, and then, with a look of realization, he slowly shook his head. "Hold on. This smells... way too good."

I raised an eyebrow, trying to maintain a casual air. "What, you think I'm just good for name-dropping?"

"No," he said slowly, "it's just... I remember a time when you couldn't even boil water without burning it."

My smirk suddenly faltered, and the brief memory that flashed in my mind hit like a ton of bricks. The sound of burnt food, the kitchen full of smoke, the frustration and embarrassment. It was a different time—one I had long since buried beneath the weight of everything that had happened after that. A time when I wasn't as sure of myself, when I wasn't the person I had become.

Leon seemed to realize the shift in my mood almost immediately. His expression softened, and he shifted in his seat, suddenly uncomfortable. "Ryzen, I—"

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But I waved him off, shaking my head. "It's fine. I was just thinking about something, that's all."

Leon's face darkened with regret, and he stood up from his chair, walking over to where I stood. "I didn't mean to bring up bad memories, man. I... I didn't know you'd think about that right now."

I looked down for a moment, trying to gather myself before meeting his gaze. "It's alright. I just... I remember how much I struggled back then. And how much I've changed since." My voice was quieter now, almost reflective.

Leon looked at me for a moment longer, then nodded. "I get it. I'm sorry for bringing it up. It wasn't my intention to dig that up."

I didn't respond immediately, choosing instead to finish plating the dish and set it down in front of him. "Let's just eat. It's been a long day."

Leon hesitated, clearly wanting to say more, but ultimately he just nodded and sat back down. "Alright. Let's eat."

We dug into the meal, the atmosphere a little more subdued now. The food was, surprisingly, really good. The flavors were well-balanced, the meat tender, and the vegetables perfectly cooked. Leon, as usual, didn't hold back his thoughts on the food.

"Holy hell," he muttered through a mouthful, "this is actually... really good. You weren't lying when you said you could cook."

I shrugged, trying to shake off the lingering feeling from the earlier conversation. "I told you I wasn't that bad. You just weren't paying attention."

We finished eating in relative silence, the only sounds being the clink of utensils and the occasional murmur of appreciation from Leon. Eventually, the last of the food was gone, and we both stood to clean up the kitchen.

"I'm gonna head to my room for the night," I said, after everything was cleaned up. "It's been a long day."

Leon looked at me for a moment, as if weighing something in his mind, but then gave a simple nod. "Yeah. Same here. Get some rest, man. You've got a lot ahead of you."

"Yeah," I agreed quietly. "I'll need it."

I made my way to the guest room, the familiar surroundings of Leon's house feeling more like home than they ever had before.