"Ahhhhh… just fuck my life."
A young man sat under a tree, watching the sun slip below the horizon. Its red light spread across the forest like spilled blood.
"Why can't I die a normal death?" he muttered. "Is there no one who can kill me instantly,without pain, without regret?"
He sipped tea from his wooden cup.
"Ahhhh… guess there's no one like that."
Sigh.
Kal took another sip.
"I'm going to die tomorrow," he said quietly. "Can't I live freely just once? Can't someone give me free food, clothes, and take care of me? Is that really too much to ask?"
He leaned back against the tree.
"I even had dreams," Kal continued. "Dreams of writing books or poems. Becoming famous across all kingdoms. Maybe girls would scream my name, pulling their hair. Maybe the king himself would invite me to the royal district, far above the commoners' land. Maybe the princess would marry me… and one day, I'd become king."
He smiled.
Then,splat.
A bird pooped right on his forehead.
"Fuck you...!"
His scream shook the forest, sending birds flying in every direction.
Kal wiped his forehead and sighed.
"It only happens in dreams," he said. "When a man fails too many times, the only happiness he gets is the one he creates in his head. But the world is never that kind."
He shook his head.
"Me and my delusions. The only thing I'm good at is dreaming,even when I'm awake."
Kal slowly started walking.
"Should I commit a crime?" he wondered. "Then, when they ask for my last wish, I could just ask for a quick, painless death."
He stopped near a massive tree with a thick trunk, its bark covered in countless lines.
Kal stared at it, as if waiting for a death sentence.
He thought about laughing like a madman, just to amuse himself...
But suddenly, he heard a noise from above.
"What's that?"
He looked up.
An Aethar carriage flew across the sky toward the kingdom.
"Probably a merchant," Kal muttered. "Here for business. Who cares anyway?"
He sighed again.
"I should sleep well tonight. For me, there's no day after tomorrow."
Then he heard a familiar sound.
The voice of a bird.
Kal's heart skipped. Sweat formed on his forehead.
The bird flew down and burst into paper inside Kal's palm.
"Report to the base. Right now."
"So," Kal whispered, "death has finally knocked on my door."
The sun fully disappeared beyond the horizon.
Night fell,but soon, it was replaced by a warm glow.
Kal stood inside a room, facing a man in a long green coat. Medals covered the man's chest. He was writing at a black desk that stood between them.
Beside the desk, another man sat calmly, drinking coffee from a white cup.
"Kal reporting, sir," Kal said, his eyes fixed on the coffee cup.
"I know," the superior snapped, slamming his hand on the desk. "No need to shout."
Kal flinched and took a step back, sweating.
"I want you to meet Klein," the superior said, pointing.
Klein stood up.
"Nice to meet you, sir. I am Klein, transporter for the Pentagon," he said, extending his hand.
What the hell? Kal thought. I didn't ask you anything.
He murmured under his breath, "Just shut up. I hate overly talkative bastards."
Still, he shook Klein's hand.
"Rejoice," the superior said, lighting a cigar. "A piece of shit like you has been selected to guard the Pentagon. There is no greater honor."
Honor? Kal thought bitterly. That's just another word for a slave,used as a pawn by knights.
The paper was stamped with a seal.
Kal clenched his fists until blood leaked from his palms.
"Understood," he said calmly.
"Good," the superior replied. "Pack your belongings. You leave tonight."
He walked out.
Kal packed his things into a leather pouch.
"So this is goodbye," he said to himself. "Oh wait… there's no one left to say goodbye to."
He smiled faintly.
"That's good. No one will mourn me."
Outside, the carriage door stood open. Klein welcomed him politely.
Kal tossed his pouch inside and sat comfortably on the leather seat.
Klein sat in the front, separated by a wooden wall carved with angels and demons. A small rectangular opening allowed them to talk.
"Sir," Klein said nervously, "aren't you scared?"
Kal clenched his jaw.
Can't this idiot see I'm not in the mood?
Just drive.
The carriage lifted off the ground.
"Yes," Kal finally answered. "I'm scared. But I don't have a choice."
He looked out the window as the city lights slowly faded.
"But I heard," Klein continued, "you survived the Forsaken Island test and the infiltration mission to the Rising Sun Kingdom. People say you and your friends completed them easily,without losses."
Kal's heart skipped.
"Really?" he said quietly. "Guess that makes me proud."
Klein hesitated.
"Where are your friends now?"
"They're dead," Kal replied. "They died protecting me."
His smile vanished. Outside the window, only darkness remained.
"I'm sorry, sir," Klein said softly. "May I ask something?"
"Go on."
"If you lost your friends… why didn't you leave the knights?"
Kal spoke so quietly it almost sounded like a whisper.
"Because this job is the only thing that makes me feel close to them."
Klein swallowed.
"So… you've made peace with dying."
Kal didn't answer.
The carriage climbed higher. The kingdom's lights vanished completely.
Reflected in the glass, Klein saw Kal's face
calm, empty, almost bored.
After a long pause, Kal said softly,
"Who said anything about dying?"
Klein opened his mouth to reply
But Kal had already turned away.
The carriage disappeared into the darkness.