"Tell me, Ye 'Meiko' Tian, why are we here?" Lee 'Faker' Sang Hyeok, the legendary LoL player asked the world-renowned support as one of the prince's male attendants helped him and Meiko wear black throbes for the upcoming camel ride. These attendants are now adjusting the agals holding the checkered black and red, then black and gold ghutrahs in their heads.

Said supp just smiled and moved his hazel brown eyes towards the twins who were busy giggling while their matching colorful abayas and shyalas of gold, blues, and greens were being adjusted by their assigned attendants. Faker even saw Triz winked and smiled at him, and had his cheeks flaming when he was caught as he followed Meiko's gaze.

"Caught staring, huh? His voice was laced with amusement.

"I wasn't—no," Faker sputtered. "I was just... uh... checking if the wind would blow her—uh, abaya."

"Smooth." The Chinese pro player chuckled, but before the South Korean pro player could recover, Fei waved at Meiko, and the TES support's face reddened in sync with T1's mid laner. "Looks like we're both doomed."

The Ongpin-Jeong twins, named Mary Deafei and Mary Deatriz, work for T1 and TES. Both are COOs, the former for TES and the latter for T1. These adventure-seeking ladies have been harping about camel-riding since they landed in Riyadh, saying they wanted to experience again that unexplained highs they felt when they rode camels as part of a cultural experience while on vacation in Egypt, fourteen years ago. Now that they're back in the land of golden sand, they wouldn't want to miss the opportunity. And because both teams won first and second, in the Esports World Cup League of Legends division, they were given a boon to tour and explore the cultural wonders of the city. And one of their itineraries is where they are right now. The King Abdulaziz Camel Racetrack.

"Can you say no to them?" The TES support asked back, attention still on the girls.

"No."

He chuckled and shook his head. "We both know our bosses don't accept no for an answer. Resisting them is like resisting the inevitable destruction of our team's nexus."

"But we won." T1's mid frowned.

"Just be glad you'll ride with Triz as the driver. Wanna swap places with me instead and be the driver?"

"Hell, no! How will I know about riding a camel when I don't even know how to ride and maneuver a horse?"

"Precisely."

The LoL legend was about to retort a response but was disrupted because they saw the girls running fast towards them, with wide beaming smiles. The excitement of what is about to come in this, what the boys consider a bold if not crazy adventure, is clear in their faces. The ethereal glow of their personalities is shining and the boys won't admit it, but they find it truly mesmerizing, if not beautiful.

"Are you ready?" Triz, the younger twin asked looking at Faker.

"I don't know. I feel like I'm about to have a stomach flu right now and..."

"Oh shush!" She waved dismissively. "You're always like that. Just enjoy the ride, will you?"

"And you?" It was the older twin, Fei, in turn, asked, whose attention was on Meiko. She raised her right hand and patted his left shoulder.

"I'm sure camels are easier to maneuver than horses, yes?" It was followed by a strained laugh.

A huge goofy grin appeared on her angelic face. "Don't worry Ye-Ye. We're in this together. So, let's go and prove we're not losers!"

"Hah! Hyeokie and I will make you eat sand on the race track."

"We'll see about that."

They started marching towards the entrance gate. As they neared both pairs one radiating pure enthusiasm while the other apprehension as if walking towards their doom, momentarily stopped. Current predicaments forgotten they shared the feeling of awe as they saw how exquisitely adorned such entrance with intricate geometric patterns in polished brass. It stands tall like a sentinel. Its massive wooden doors were carved with scenes from ancient Bedouin folklore. Their attention was only disrupted when the attendants assisting them pushed the gates open.

"Welcome to our inevitable demise!" Faker quipped as they stepped inside, the scent of jasmine wafting through the air.

"Your confidence is overwhelming," Meiko snorted.

**

Once both pairs settled awkwardly on their camels, the living legend found himself holding onto his COO for dear life. The reins felt slippery in his hands, and the camel's broad back swayed beneath him in a way that made his stomach flip. She, on the other hand, looked completely at ease, casually flicking the reins.

"Alright, Genius," Triz teased, glancing over her shoulders, the grin on her lips infectious. "You ready for the ride of your life?"

"I'm pretty sure I'm going to die," Faker muttered, his grip tightening around her waist, knuckles white. "This is... the worst decision I've ever made. And I've made a lot of bad decisions."

She laughed, adjusting the reins like she'd been doing it for years. "Relax! It's just a camel, not a horse. Camels are desert ships. We're sailing through the sands, Hyeokie."

He winced. "Stop trying to make it sound poetic. This is a terrible idea. I'm more worried about falling off and breaking every bone in my body here." The T1's mid laner raised his voice as the camel began to trot. "Or, I don't know, getting trampled?"

She looked back at him with a wink. "Don't worry, Hyeokie. If you fall, I'll catch you."

"I'm literally behind you, Mary Deatriz. That's not how gravity works," he grumbled.

"You'll be fine," she assured.

Meanwhile, on the second camel, the TES COO was laughing behind her team's supp as he awkwardly adjusted the reins in his hands, imagining as if it was an unfamiliar game controller. His brow furrowed in concentration as he stared at the camel's long neck with a mixture of fascination and fear.

"Ye-Ye, are you sure you're not secretly a camel-riding prodigy? 'Cause I see you now sporting that same old expression when you're controlling Yuumi." Fei asked, her voice full of playful sarcasm. "You've got that pro-gamer concentration face going on."

"Yeah, well, Yuumi doesn't weigh a ton and spit in your face," he took a deep breath. And I'm trying to remember here if my life insurance covers exotic animal accidents," he shot back, eyes still locked on the reins. "Who thought it was a good idea to put me in charge of a camel?"

"We lost to T1, remember? You should be flattered, instead! It's a sign of trust." Fei grinned, lightly nudging his shoulder. "Besides, driving the camel is just like support—carry us through, and I'll shout directions from behind."

"Oh good, so it's like being in bot lane, except with more sand and danger," he quipped, the sarcasm thick in his voice. "Totally my element."

Fei leaned in closer, her chin nearly resting on his shoulder as she whispered. "Don't worry, if we crash, at least we'll crash together. You can pretend you were dragged along against your will. Besides, doesn't it sound romantic? You and me, crashing together?"

Meiko's face went redder than the checkered ghutrah he was wearing. "Romantic isn't the word I'd use," he paused. "And I WAS dragged along against my will."

Back on the first camel, the first inductee to the HOL was nervously watching TES's current supp and his COO, who seemed to be having too much fun. He turned to Triz, narrowing his eyes. "Hey, Mary Deatriz, are we supposed to be doing something? You know, like...moving faster?"

Said the lady camel driver smirked, tightening her grip on the reins. "Oh, now you're eager, are you? Didn't think you'd want to speed this up."

"Let's just say the slower we go, the longer this nightmare lasts."

With a playful glint in her eyes, she snapped the reins lightly. Their camel grunted and began picking up speed, moving from a lazy sway to a trot. Faker's grip tightened instantly.

"Now this is more like it," she called over her shoulder, her hair whipping in the desert wind. "We're cruising! You're practically a natural."

"I'm holding on for dear life. That's not the same thing," he mumbled, his face reddening as she leaned back slightly into him.

"When will you realize that this is the best part of the trip," she teased. "Besides, I'm your driver—you've gotta trust me. Isn't that how this works?"

"Trust you?" he repeated. "I'm pretty sure this is how bad decisions start."

"You wound me," she laughed. "I thought we were having a moment."

"Yeah," he replied dryly, "a moment where I regret every decision that led me here."

The desert wind whipped around them as their camels picked up speed, hurtling toward the dunes. The swaying motion was gone, replaced with unpredictable jolts that made Faker feel like he was being launched into the air with every bounce. He clung tighter to Triz, but this time, her laughter wasn't helping.

"Why are we going so fast?!" Faker shouted over the wind, his voice high-pitched with panic.

Triz shot him a wild grin, her hair whipping across her face. "You said you wanted to get this nightmare over with, right? Now we're moving!"

"Not like this!" Faker yelped as the camel surged forward. "You're going to kill us!"

Triz threw her head back and laughed, a sound that somehow made Faker's heart beat faster despite his growing terror. "Come on, Hyeokkie, where's your competitive spirit? Don't you want to win?"

"Winning isn't worth dying over!"

Behind them, Meiko was having a slightly less pleasant experience. Their camel had picked up speed too, but it wasn't exactly a smooth ride.

"Okay, maybe this was a mistake," the Yuumi specialist muttered as the camel sped up.

His passenger, ever the optimist, wasn't fazed. "Come on! You're doing great! We're gaining on them!"

"Not sure if that's a good thing," he grumbled, his focus entirely on keeping the camel from veering off course. "Also, stop calling me Ye-Ye. It's weird."

She just giggled, leaning forward so her chin nearly rested on his shoulder. "But it's cute! And besides, it's better than 'slowpoke.' If you go any slower, we'll be lapped by tumbleweeds."

"I'm trying!" Meiko snapped, yanking at the reins in frustration. "Why isn't this working? It's like... like trying to control a support main in the solo queue!"

Fei's laughter only grew louder as she clung to him, her breath warm against his ear. "You're doing great! Besides, what's a little sand in the mouth? Builds character."

Meiko glared at her, though the tension in his expression couldn't fully mask the spark of excitement creeping into his eyes. "I'd prefer if we didn't eat sand."

"Oh, come on, live a little!" Fei leaned in closer, her chin nearly resting on his shoulder as she whispered in his ear. "Besides, I trust you to carry us. You always do."

Up ahead, the younger twin glanced back, grinning as she saw her older doppelganger and her team's supp catching up. "Oh look, they're gaining on us! What do you say, Hyeokkie? Should we let them win, or make them eat sand?"

Faker shook his head, half-amused, half-horrified. "I think we should aim for not crashing."

"That's quitter talk," she teased, urging their camel to go even faster. He let out a startled yelp as the camel surged forward.

"Mary Deatriz! I swear if we crash—"

"We won't crash!" she called back, laughing. "But if we do, you can tell everyone I took down the great Faker in a camel race."

"Somehow, I don't think that's the legacy I want to leave behind," Faker pouted, though the corners of his lips twitched upwards.

Meanwhile, Fei, watching the gap between them close, grinned wide. "Ye-Ye, faster! We've got them!"

Meiko's eyes narrowed in determination as he snapped the reins again, their camel accelerating just enough to pull alongside their competitor.

"Hey, Faker! You ready to lose?" he called out, his competitive streak finally kicking in.

Faker, still gripping Triz as if his life depended on it, shot him a glare. "I swear if I lose to you on a camel, I'm retiring from esports."

"Good thing you're already past your prime!" the world-renowned supp quipped, urging their camel faster.

"Look who's talking," the LoL legend sneered. "We're not losing this, Triz."

"You heard the boss!" she called to her camel, giving it a nudge. "We're winning this thing!"

The camels raced neck-and-neck, their long strides kicking up clouds of sand. Fei was giggling uncontrollably behind Meiko, her arms wrapped around his waist as the wind whipped past them.

"This is the best! Who knew camels could be so intense?" Fei shouted over the sound of the wind.

"Yeah, real intense," Meiko muttered, though there was a spark of excitement in his eyes now. He couldn't help but grin, even though he'd never admit it.

Just as they neared the finish line, something unexpected happened. Both camels, sensing the energy of the race and the tension between the riders, veered off course. Instead of continuing down the designated path, they turned toward the rolling dunes, heading straight for the open desert.

"Wait—Mary Deatriz!" Faker shouted, panic rising in his voice. "Why are we turning?!"

Triz looked down at the reins in confusion. "I didn't—oh, no!"

"Oh no? What do you mean, oh no?"

"This thing's got a mind of its own."

The camel wasn't stopping. It was speeding up, barreling straight toward the massive dunes in the distance.

"Great, we're being kidnapped by camels," Faker groaned. "This is how it ends, isn't it? Eaten by desert animals. This is not what I signed up for!"

Triz glanced back, completely unfazed by the chaos around them. "Come on, Hyeokie, where's your sense of adventure?"

"I left it back on the racetrack!" Faker's voice was high-pitched now, the panic fully setting in. He tightened his arms around her waist, his grip almost desperate. "This camel is insane!"

Triz leaned forward slightly, steering the reins with a confidence that Faker couldn't quite understand. "Relax, it's just a little off-roading. We'll be fine."

"A little off-roading?!" Faker sputtered as the camel leaped over a small dune, sending his stomach plummeting to his feet. "We're not in a Jeep! We're on a freaking camel!"

Behind them, Meiko and Fei's camel was hot on their trail, though Meiko wasn't faring much better in his attempts to steer. Fei, however, was still cackling, her hands gripping Meiko's shoulders as their camel lurched forward.

"Ye-Ye, you're good!" Fei teased, though her laughter was punctuated with shrieks as their camel dipped and swayed unpredictably. "I didn't know you had it in you!"

"I don't!" Meiko growled, his focus entirely on the unruly beast beneath them. "Why is this happening? Why do I feel like I'm in some kind of twisted survival game?"

Fei leaned in closer, her breath warm against his neck. "Because you are, Ye-Ye. But don't worry—I've got your back."

"I'm not sure that makes me feel better!" Meiko snapped as their camel veered sharply to the right, almost colliding with a dune. His heart was pounding, and his mind raced with the very real possibility of them crashing at any second.

"You've got this!" Fei urged, still giggling. Her voice, though playful, held a touch of admiration that Meiko tried to ignore.

"What kind of race are we in right now?!" Faker yelled, his grip tightening as Triz tried to regain control of their runaway camel.

"We've officially gone rogue!" Triz shouted over the wind, her voice full of a mix of excitement and alarm. "Hold on, this is about to get wild!"

The camels charged into the dunes, the gentle rocking motion of the ride now replaced with unpredictable jolts as they climbed up and down the massive mounds of sand. Faker, Meiko, and the twins were bounced around like ragdolls, the twins' laughter and the pro players yells filling the air as they clung to their camels for dear life.

"Is this... part of the experience?!" Meiko asked, his voice strained as he tried to hold on.

"I don't think so!" Faker replied, his tone a mix of fear. "But at least we're not dead yet!"

Fei, finally regaining her composure, burst into laughter once more. "This is the best camel ride ever! Ye-Ye, you're a natural!"

Meiko shot her a quick glare. "If we survive this, I'm never riding a camel again!"

"Come on, admit it—you're having fun!" she teased, leaning in closer. "Look at us! We're practically desert nomads now."

Meiko couldn't help the small smile that crept up on his face, despite the chaos around them. "Okay, maybe just a little."

Ahead of them, Triz managed to steady their camel for a brief moment, casting a glance over her shoulder at Faker, who looked like he was halfway between barfing and screaming. "Hey," she called back, her grin wide and playful, "you still alive back there?"

"Barely!" he shouted, though his tone had shifted. There was something almost... thrilling about the madness, and despite himself, Faker couldn't help but feel a rush of adrenaline coursing through him. "I'll survive as long as you don't kill us first!"

"No promises," Triz laughed, urging the camel onward as they soared over the dunes.

Suddenly, both camels veered dangerously close to each other, the massive animals nearly colliding as they raced side by side. Meiko let out a yelp as their camel jerked to the left, narrowly avoiding a crash with Faker and Triz's camel.

"Watch it, Meiko!" Faker called out, his voice strained.

"You think I'm doing this on purpose?!" Meiko shot back, his voice higher than usual. He yanked on the reins, trying to regain control, but the camel was having none of it. "I'm starting to think these camels are trying to kill us!"

Fei, still laughing, leaned forward and tapped Meiko's shoulder. "Ye-Ye, if we go down, at least we go down together."

**

Finally, after what felt like hours but was likely only minutes, the camels began to slow down, their energy spent after the wild sprint across the dunes. The four of them, now breathless and covered in sand, exchanged looks.

Faker, his hair a mess and his clothes askew, glanced at Triz with a grin. "I take it back. That was... kind of fun."

Triz beamed at him, her eyes sparkling with triumph. "Told you!"

Meiko, still catching his breath, looked over at Fei, who was positively glowing with excitement. "You enjoyed that way too much."

Fei shrugged, unbothered. "Admit it, Ye-Ye, you did too."

Meiko hesitated for a moment before a small, resigned smile tugged at his lips. "Maybe."

The four of them shared a brief moment of camaraderie before Triz, ever the competitor, leaned forward with a smirk. "So... who won?"

Faker groaned, but the laughter that followed was genuine. "I think the camels all did."

"Uh, where are we?" Meiko asked, glancing around at the endless sea of sand.

"Great question," Faker replied, scanning the horizon. "I don't see any race track—or anything recognizable for that matter."

Triz groaned, realizing the situation. "So, we are now officially off course," she admitted, scratching her head. "But it's fine! It's an adventure, right?"

Maiko squinted against the sun, a hint of worry creeping into his voice. "An adventure that could turn into a disaster if we don't get back soon. People are probably wondering where we are."

"Let's not panic just yet," Faker said, trying to keep his voice steady. "We'll figure this out. We just need to retrace our steps—"

"—but we have no idea where those steps were," Meiko interjected, the frustration creeping into his tone.

Just then, the sound of approaching vehicles broke through the stillness of the desert. Dust clouds billowed in the distance, growing larger and closer.

"Are those... cars?" Fei asked, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Yes! And they're headed right toward us!" Triz exclaimed, relief washing over her.

Moments later, a convoy of vehicles pulled up, the insignia of the King prominently displayed on the doors. A group of attendants jumped out, a mix of concern and amusement on their faces.

"Are you all alright?" one of the attendants called out. "We received word the camels suddenly veered off then you were lost."

"Lost? More like adventurous," Triz said, trying to lighten the mood even as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Faker snorted, still a bit frazzled. "Adventurous is one way to put it. We're ready to go back now."

The attendants nodded, helping them down from the camels and ushering them toward the waiting vehicles.

"Looks like we have some royal rescuers," Fei joked, trying to ease the tension. "I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've been saved by a camel ride."

As they piled into the vehicles, the attendants offered them bottles of water and snacks, the atmosphere brightening as they shared stories of their wild ride across the dunes.

"You should've seen us!" Triz said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "It was like a scene from a movie!"

"More like a scene from a horror film," Faker muttered, but even he couldn't hide the small smile on his face.

The vehicles started their journey back, the race track coming into view as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm glow over the scene.

As they arrived, they were greeted by a chorus of cheers and laughter from their friends and teammates, who had been anxiously waiting.

"Look who finally decided to join us!" Gumayusi shouted, waving.

Triz jumped out first, a triumphant grin on her face. "You wouldn't believe the adventure we just had!"

Meiko followed, rolling his eyes but unable to hide his amusement. "Let's just say we're sticking to video games from now on."

The camaraderie they'd formed during the chaotic ride carried over as they reunited with their friends, laughter and teasing echoing in the air.

"Next time," Faker said, glancing around at the sunset-lit crowd, "let's just race in the game. Way less chance of getting lost."

"Agreed," Meiko chimed in. "But I still want to try that again. Just... with a map this time."

"Deal," Faker said, a genuine smile on his face as he joined in the laughter, feeling grateful for the unexpected adventure that brought them all closer together.

As the evening wore on, the stars began to twinkle overhead, and they knew this day would be one for the books—a wild ride that turned into an unforgettable story, shared with friends who were now more like family.

Epilogue:

Months had passed since their desert adventure, but the echoes of that wild day on the dunes hadn't faded. If anything, the memory had taken root, growing in quiet moments when thoughts wandered back to windswept hair, laughter lost in the rush of sand, and the unexpected thrill of holding on to someone just a little tighter than necessary.

Hangzhou:

In Hangzhou, the streets hummed with the rhythm of early spring. The trees lining the avenue were starting to bloom, soft pink petals drifting lazily to the ground, carried by a gentle breeze. Inside a small, tucked-away café, Ye 'Meiko' Tian sat at a table near the window. The warm, familiar scent of freshly brewed tea filled the air, mixing with the faint sweetness of blossoming flowers just outside. Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a soft glow on the wooden furniture, bathing the room in a golden warmth.

Across from him sat Jeong-Ongpin Mary Deafei, her eyes bright with mischief, as always. There was something about the way the light caught in her hair, the way her fingers absentmindedly traced the rim of her teacup, that made the moment feel suspended in time.

"So, Ye-Ye, ready for our next adventure?" she asked, her lips curving into a teasing smile that he had grown both exasperated and fond of.

TES' supp looked up from his tea, a small smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Only if it doesn't involve camels," he replied, though the easy banter between them was laced with something deeper, something unspoken.

The COO laughed, the sound light and airy, blending with the soft clinking of cups around them. The café felt like their own little world, a bubble where time slowed and everything outside became irrelevant. As they talked, her foot brushed against his under the table, a subtle touch that sent an unexpected warmth creeping up his spine. He glanced at her, and for a brief moment, their eyes locked, the laughter fading just slightly, replaced by an almost tangible tension.

"You have to admit," Fei said, her voice softer now, "the camel ride wasn't all bad. We survived, didn't we?"

"Barely," Meiko shot back, but his tone was playful. Yet, even as the words left his lips, there was a part of him that couldn't forget the way her laughter had made him feel—free, unguarded, in a way he hadn't felt in a long time.

He took a sip of his tea, the warmth spreading through his chest, mirroring the quiet buzz of excitement that seemed to linger between them. Fei leaned in slightly, her fingers brushing against his as she reached for her cup, and that small touch felt like a spark, igniting something neither of them had dared to name yet.

Under the soft chatter of the café and the aroma of jasmine tea in the air, something else brewed—a connection that had started in the desert and had grown, bit by bit, with every shared smile, every teasing quip. It hung between them now, waiting, neither rushed nor forced, just quietly growing, like the first blossoms of spring outside the café window.

Gangnam:

Meanwhile, in the bustling heart of Gangnam, the world felt electric with energy. Skyscrapers glittered under the pale light of the late afternoon, and the streets below buzzed with life. Inside the sleek, modern office of T1's headquarters, the atmosphere was decidedly more relaxed. A team meeting that had started as a strategy session had somehow devolved into laughter and reminiscing, the tension of competition giving way to camaraderie.

Lee 'Faker' Sang Hyeok sat beside Jeong-Ongpin Mary Deatriz, their shoulders brushing occasionally as they leaned in to exchange quiet words and shared jokes. Around them, the rest of the team was talking, but it felt as though a small pocket of space had formed between the two of them—separate, yet connected.

T1's COO nudged him gently, her elbow brushing against his arm. "Remember when you thought we were going to die?" she teased. There was a brightness in her eyes, a playfulness that hadn't diminished since their wild race across the desert.

Faker's smirk was slow to appear, but it was there, accompanied by the faintest flush of color on his cheeks. "Let's just say I have a newfound respect for camels," he replied, trying to sound nonchalant, though there was no hiding the way his eyes softened whenever they met hers.

The room around them seemed to fade into the background, the laughter of his teammates becoming a distant hum. Triz leaned closer, the space between them shrinking even more. Her hair, still carrying a faint scent of lavender, brushed against his arm, and for a second, Faker forgot where they were. He could almost hear the desert wind again, and feel the warmth of her body pressed against his as they raced across the dunes.

"You know," she said, her voice quieter now, almost like a confession, "I wasn't worried back there. I knew we'd make it."

"Oh yeah?" Faker's eyebrow quirked. "You seemed pretty into the whole 'let's go faster' thing."

Triz laughed, a soft, melodic sound that made his chest feel lighter. "I had to keep things interesting. Besides," she added, her voice dropping just a little, "I knew you'd hold on."

Faker's heart skipped a beat. It was such a simple statement, yet it carried weight—an unspoken trust that had developed between them, forged in the adrenaline and absurdity of their shared adventure. He glanced at her, and in the brief silence that followed, something shifted. The easy teasing was still there, but beneath it, something deeper simmered, unacknowledged but undeniable.

As their eyes met, a silent understanding passed between them. The memory of the desert—the thrill, the closeness—hung in the air, thick and charged. Neither of them said anything more, but the space between them crackled with something unspoken, a quiet anticipation that neither was ready to act on, but both felt deeply.