I'm exhausted…
Is this the price of being an orphan?
I'm only twenty, and yet, here I am, standing on the edge of death.
Did I do the right thing—becoming a soldier?
"Brother!!! Brotherrr, Liuke!!!"
"Seems like I did," Liuke whispered.
His voice cracked with a weary sort of acceptance.
"Klane—what are you doing here? In a place like this?"
"I overheard people talking outside. Did they fire you?" she asked.
Her voice was tight with concern.
Liuke let out a hollow laugh.
The sharp clink of his glass echoed against the dim, cold walls of the bar.
"Yeah, Klane… that's why I'm here, drinking myself numb."
"Honestly, my entire life has been nothing but exhaustion."
"But people like you… you're the reason I became a soldier."
He looked at her, tilting his head.
"By the way, you're far too young to be sneaking into a bar. How did the bartender even let you in?"
"I snuck in," she said softly, brushing his question aside.
"But why did they fire you?"
Liuke's expression darkened.
A shadow passed over his face.
"Maybe it's because of my solar energy. Commander Elvis dismissed me… said I was in a 'Burnout State.'"
"Burnout State? What does that even mean?"
Liuke's jaw tightened.
"It means my body can't hold solar energy anymore. I'm no longer capable of being a proper solar soldier."
"If I push myself to fight or try to manipulate solar matter… I'll collapse. Permanently."
Klane's eyes widened in shock.
"So… you can't protect the other kids from those ice monsters anymore?"
"I can't speak for the others," he said with a faint, bitter smirk.
"But there's one girl I saved… and I think I did a good job."
"Otherwise, no one would even bother checking on a lonely orphan like me. Hahaha."
"I'm not that special… but I really worry about you," Klane whispered.
"What will you do now, Liuke?"
"I don't know," he replied.
The drink trembled slightly in his hand.
"I have some money saved up from all those years of service, but I never really thought about the future."
"Maybe… I'll just wait for death."
"That's rare… for someone so young to reach Burnout State."
A frail old man appeared from the shadows, holding a glass of wine.
The dim lamplight caught the streaks of grey in his hair as he stepped forward.
"What do you mean, rare?" Liuke asked, frowning at the stranger.
"Rare," the old man repeated, his voice steady.
"A young man's body doesn't usually reach Burnout. In all my years, I've never seen a case quite like yours."
"I… I don't understand," Liuke muttered, looking down.
"All I know is that I feel completely drained every time I try to use my solar energy."
"My name is Oon," the old man said.
"Hmm?"
"I think your case is special. You're a former solar soldier, retiring at only twenty?"
"Since death is drawing near, have you thought about what comes next?"
"Are you talking about my money? Or… marriage?"
"Both," Oon said sharply.
"Don't you think all of that will go to waste once you're gone?"
Liuke let out a bitter laugh and stood up.
"What does it matter to you? I'll do whatever I want with my money."
"Let's go, Klane. I'm done here."
Outside, the cold night air bit at their skin as they walked away from the bar.
"You know," Klane said quietly, "that old man was right. You're so alone…"
"You should find someone to be with in your final days."
Liuke scoffed.
"Who would want to be with me? Who could ever love someone like me?"
"It looks like I'll spend what's left of my life alone in some cheap hotel room."
"You should try talking to girls. Slowly. Build a real connection," Klane said.
Her voice was gentle but firm.
"You've spent your whole life saving children… now it's time to think about yourself."
"You deserve a little happiness for once."
Liuke's lips twitched into a faint smile.
"Hahaha… Klane, I don't even feel like I'm talking to a young girl. How do you know all this?"
"I've watched carefully," she said with a small, knowing grin.
"I've seen how my parents talk to each other. That's how I learned."
Liuke shook his head.
The weight of the long night was finally hitting him.
"Alright, Klane… it was good talking to you. I'm heading back to my room."
"I'm exhausted… more than I can ever remember. I need to sleep."
"Already? I thought you'd take me to the toy shop first?"
Liuke softened.
"Alright then, let's go get the toys first."
They walked to the shop together.
After picking out her things, Klane finally headed home, clutching her new toys.
"Bye-bye, brother!"
"Take care, Klane," Liuke replied, waving as she disappeared into the night.
Back at the hotel, Liuke trudged up the stairs.
Each step felt like he was lifting lead weights.
"Time to sleep," he muttered.
He collapsed onto the bed without even taking off his boots.
Sleep swallowed him immediately.
Deep within that slumber, a dream began to take shape.
He was wandering through a vast, endless desert.
The sun was scorching, beating down with a merciless heat.
His body felt parched—dry to the very bone.
There wasn't a single drop of water in sight.
He ran.
Desperation fueled every step, though his lungs burned.
"Is this heat… this desert… mine?"
"Then why… why am I on the edge of death here?"
He stumbled.
His movements slowed, his limbs becoming heavy and unresponsive.
His eyes slowly blinked shut as he hit the sand.
"Am I… dead?"