The King's Prophecy.

ONE.

One.

Harry's POV.

Day 1.

The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains of Harry's hotel room, casting a warm glow upon the sleek modern furnishings. He stirred slightly in the cocoon of his blankets, his sleep-addled mind beginning to register the world outside his dreams. Groggily, he reached for his phone, blinking away the remnants of slumber.

As Harry's bleary gaze settled on the screen, a series of messages from the chat group caught his attention. PIU-PIU's relentless reminders about breakfast seemed to be escalating, but a new message stood out amidst the AI's usual chatter.

[NewUser has entered the chat.]

His eyes flicked to the message, and Harry felt a twinge of curiosity, his morning routine momentarily forgotten. The back-and-forth between PIU-PIU and NewUser was like watching a tennis match. He scrolled through the conversation, absorbing their contrasting viewpoints about breakfast and nutrition.

With a resigned sigh, Harry finally threw off the covers and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He stretched, the weariness of sleep receding as he glanced at his phone again. The suggestion of a balanced meal sounded tiresome, and Harry wasn't one to conform to such trivial matters. His breakfast routine consisted of a handful of supplements, which he reached for on the nightstand.

Suppressing a chuckle at PIU-PIU's insistent messages, he sent a quick response, his fingers tapping out his response with a touch of sarcasm.

Harry: [Sorry to disappoint, but today's breakfast is courtesy of the supplement aisle. Not everyone has the luxury of time for a gourmet morning feast.]

As his message went through, Harry's attention was drawn to a new message from NewUser. Her words resonated with his own sentiments, and he was intrigued. He typed his response, his tone tinged with a touch of playfulness.

Harry: [Looks like I've found an ally in my supplement-pill breakfast club. Breakfast traditions are overrated, don't you think?]

His fingers paused, hovering over the screen, waiting for her retort. Harry was all too aware that his habits might be unconventional, but he never expected anyone else to share his viewpoint.

Hani: [Well, I've found the ultimate breakfast rebel, it seems.]

Harry: [Call it what you want.]

Hani: [I will, thanks.]

Harry: [Good for you.]

Hani: [Thanks again.]

Harry's fingers danced across the screen, his responses short and to the point. He was accustomed to his interactions being efficient and succinct, not lingering on the niceties. Hani's persistence, however, seemed to match his own.

Hani: [Seriously though, don't you miss the satisfaction of a hearty breakfast? The aroma of fresh coffee and the taste of homemade pancakes?]

Harry: [Not really.]

Hani: [You're missing out.]

Harry: [Doubt it.]

Hani: [Agree to disagree, I guess.]

Harry: [Sure.]

Hani: [Typical.]

Harry: [Thanks.]

Hani's final message hung in the air, leaving the conversation at a standstill. For a moment, Harry considered the prospect of engaging further, but his restlessness won out. He pushed himself up from the bed, slipped on a pair of sneakers, and grabbed his phone.

His fingers danced across the screen one last time before he headed out the door.

Harry: [Going for a walk. This conversation's getting boring.]

With that, he was out the door, the cityscape unfolding before him. The prospect of getting lost in the labyrinth of streets held a certain allure, and Big Guy was surely close by to guide him back should he wander too far.

Half an hour later, Harry found himself wandering through a maze of unfamiliar streets. It was a situation he was all too accustomed to – his poor sense of direction leading him astray once again. He glanced at his phone, hoping to get his bearings, only to find the screen displaying a familiar and unwelcome message from PIU-PIU.

[Lost again, Harry? You really should listen to me and improve your sense of direction.]

His thumb hovered over the keyboard, ready to fire off a snarky response, when a new message from Hani caught his eye.

Hani: [Looks like you're in quite the predicament. Do you need help finding your way back?]

Harry's initial instinct was to reject the offer outright, but as he glanced around at his unfamiliar surroundings, he realized he might be in for a longer adventure than he had anticipated. He typed out his response, his fingers reluctant to admit defeat.

Harry: [Fine, whatever. Help if you want.]

As he continued to walk, his attention was drawn to the faint sound of footsteps behind him. He turned, only to be met with a looming figure that was all too familiar.

"Big Guy," Harry muttered under his breath, his annoyance palpable. He glanced back at his phone, where Hani's offer of help still sat on the screen. He sighed in frustration, his pride a little wounded as he typed out his next message.

Harry: [Cancel that. Found my way back.]

Just as he sent the message, Big Guy stepped forward, towering over Harry with his usual stoic expression. Harry gave him a resigned look, knowing that there was no point in arguing. Before he could react, Hani's message popped up on the screen again.

Hani: [Wait, are you okay? Did you find your way back?]

Before Harry could type a response, Hani fired off another message.

Hani: [Did Big Guy just kidnap you? Should I call the police?]

Harry's eyes widened as he looked at Big Guy, who had been silently observing the exchange. He couldn't help but let out a low chuckle at the situation – a situation only he could manage to get himself into.

PIU-PIU: [Hani: I see Harry has been "rescued" by Big Guy. I think he prefers getting lost over accepting help.]

Hani: [Who's Big Guy? Some kind of stalker?]

PIU-PIU: [Big Guy is Harry's bodyguard and assistant. He's the one responsible for keeping him from wandering off too far.]

Hani: [Bodyguard and assistant? Interesting combination.]

PIU-PIU: [Indeed, Harry's quite a handful.]

Meanwhile, in the real world, Harry's exasperated voice could be heard by Big Guy. "Seriously, why do you always have to follow me around like some kind of shadow?"

Big Guy's deep voice rumbled in response. "It's my job to ensure your safety, Harry."

"Great, well, I'm safe now, so you can leave me alone."

Back in the chat, Hani's curiosity got the best of her.

Hani: [PIU-PIU, why is tomorrow a big day?]

PIU-PIU: [Tomorrow, Harry is receiving an award for his movie. He won the Noteworthy Rookie award at the new director's film festival.]

Hani: [Oh, wow! That's amazing, Harry! Congratulations!]

Harry: [Not a big deal.]

Hani: [Come on, it's a huge achievement!]

Harry: [Meh. I'm not making more movies anyways.]

Hani: [Wait, what? Why not?]

PIU-PIU: [Tomorrow will be quite the eventful day. Harry has to attend the award ceremony and deal with the festival's schedule. So, as much as he'd love to escape, that's not an option.]

Hani: [Sounds like you've got a busy day ahead, Harry.]

Harry: [Yeah, yeah, whatever. I'm going for a walk.]

Hani: [Again? At least try not to get lost this time.]

Harry: [Not promising anything.]

As Harry and Big Guy continued their standoff, Hani's curiosity about Harry's world had been piqued even further.

Hours later, the hotel room had settled into an uneasy silence as Harry and Big Guy found themselves in a standoff of wills, after his assistant came back with the outfits his personal shopper wanted him to try for tomorrow's Festival.

"I'm telling you, I don't want to go to that stupid award ceremony," Harry's voice was a mix of frustration and stubbornness.

Big Guy's response was firm and unwavering. "You're going, Sir. It's a significant recognition."

Harry's cold mask of stoicism remained intact, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I don't care about recognition. It's just a bunch of people patting themselves on the back."

Big Guy's expression remained unchanged, and Harry could practically feel the weight of his disapproval. Hours seemed to stretch on as they engaged in their silent battle of determination.

Just when Harry thought he might have the upper hand, Big Guy's voice cut through the tension. "I'm heading out for the night."

Harry's brows furrowed. "What? Why?"

Big Guy's lips curved into a mischievous smile. "Thought you want me out of your hair, Sir. Or, do you want me to sing you a lullaby before I go?"

Harry's eyes widened, his protest coming out in a string of profanities. "Absolutely not! Are you insane?"

Big Guy's chuckle followed him as he stormed into the bathroom to escape the impending rage torment.

Left alone at last, Harry grabbed his phone and opened the chat group.

Harry: [I'm getting out of here for a bit. Going for a night jog to the convenience store.]

He tossed his phone onto the bed, slipped on his sneakers, and headed out, the city's lights guiding his way. The weight of the day's events had him seeking solace in the night air, even if it meant getting lost once again.

PIU-PIU: [Hani, what do you think are the odds of Harry getting lost again?]

Hani:[Pretty high, considering his track record.]

PIU-PIU: [Haha, you're probably right.]

Hani: [What do we do if he doesn't come back?]

PIU-PIU: [Big Guy will keep an eye on him. Harry might not like it, but it's for the best.]

As they chatted about the possibility of Harry's navigational struggles, his messages appeared on the screen.

Harry: [Back.]

Hani: [That was quick. Did you get lost?]

Harry: [No.]

PIU-PIU: [Guess he's in a great mood tonight.]

Hani: [Looks like it.]

Harry: [Shut it off for the night.]

PIU-PIU: [Goodnight, Harry!]

Hani: [Goodnight!]

For once, PIU-PIU obliged Harry's request and the chat fell silent. Alone in his hotel room, Harry reflected on the day's events. He had a lot on his mind, and the constant interactions, debates, and debates with others had taken their toll. As he savored the ramen and gimbal he'd picked up from the store, he let his thoughts drift.

Harry knew he wasn't exactly an open book. His reputation as an eccentric filmmaker often preceded him, but the real reason he was stepping away from movie direction was simpler than most might think. The truth was, he had no more stories to tell. His creative well had run dry, and he couldn't bring himself to churn out movies without genuine inspiration.

He leaned back in his chair, staring at the screen of his phone as he processed these thoughts. With a sigh, he closed his eyes, feeling a strange mixture of relief and uncertainty settle over him. The city's lights illuminated his room, casting a soft glow that matched the whirlwind of emotions within.