King of the Wilderness

He was no longer just a skilled outsider in spear technique; he was also a conqueror of the skies above this land!

That evening, in a warm cabin, Aliya and Emily prepared the most sumptuous celebratory dinner for him.

The fire in the fireplace burned brightly, and the long dining table was adorned with a beautiful tablecloth and candles exuding the scent of pine wood.

The table was laden with roasted venison steaks, pan-seared salmon, and a berry pie hand-baked by Emily. Aliya also specially opened a bottle of cherished French champagne, with golden bubbles joyfully rising in the crystal glasses.

"To the most handsome captain in the whole world!" Aliya stood up, raised her glass high, her eyes filled with unending admiration and love. She even playfully made a curtsy to him.

"To our hero and our guardian angel." Emily also raised her glass with a smile, her gaze as gentle as water, full of pride.

Lin Yu’an smiled and clinked glasses with them, the crisp sound of glass clinking echoing in the warm cabin.

To him, the recognition and love of family were far more satisfying than any external praise or legend.

Aliya put down her glass and flipped Lin Yu’an’s new pilot license over and over, asking, "Dear, can you really take us anywhere anytime with a plane now?"

"Of course, my darling Aliya, theoretically, yes, we can go anywhere." Lin Yu’an cut a piece of tender venison and placed it on her plate.

Emily smiled nearby, not interrupting Aliya’s excitement.

She picked up the champagne, about to refill Lin Yu’an’s glass, but at the mention of "take us anywhere," her hand paused slightly in the air, the golden liquid swaying at the bottle’s mouth.

This brief pause was fleeting, barely noticeable.

She nonchalantly continued to fill the glass, then in a cautious probing tone, softly asked:

"Dear, Hank told us... The examiner in Anchorage also invited you to join the Air Force, is that right? My God, just how outstanding must you be for two colonels to be vying to recommend you!"

Her words were full of admiration, but deep within the eyes fixed on Lin Yu’an lay an unhideable tension.

Aliya’s excitement also froze for half a second, having just been immersed in the illusion of flying freely, Emily’s question piercing the beautiful bubble like a needle.

Her smile became somewhat forced as she too looked towards Lin Yu’an. The two women exchanged a glance full of too much unspoken understanding and concern.

They knew more than anyone what the term F-22 Raptor meant to a man like Lin Yu’an, who had adventure ingrained in his bones.

It was not just a job; it was an extreme temptation representing speed, power, and the ultimate dream of conquering the skies.

Once accepted, it also meant prolonged separation, unforeseeable danger, and surrendering one’s life entirely to a massive war machine.

Their home, their future children, would all be swept into a torrent they could not control.

Lin Yu’an saw their cautious worry and tension and felt a warmth in his heart, the warmth of being completely trusted and cared for.

He set down his knife and fork, and gently held their hands placed on the table in his own, conveying reassurance.

——————

(2022 joining the United States, 49 joining the national army, truly a choice between two wondrous talents.)

(Fortunately, today’s reads still remain at 998, no further drop.)