I'm exhausted… is this the price of being an orphan? I'm only twenty, and… and now I'm about to die. Did I do the right thing—becoming a soldier?
"Brother!!! Brotherrr, Liuke!!!"
"Seems like I did."
Liuke's voice cracked with a weary sort of acceptance.
"Klane—what are you doing here? In the bar?"
"I overheard people talking outside. Did they fire you?" she asked, her voice tight with concern.
Liuke let out a hollow laugh, the clink of his glass echoing against the dim walls. "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. By the way, you're quite young to be sneaking into a bar—how did the bartender even let you in?"
"I snuck in," she said softly, brushing off his question. "But why did they fire you?"
"Maybe it's because of my solar energy," Liuke admitted, a shadow passing over his face. "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 manipulate solar matter… I'll collapse. Permanently."
Klane's eyes widened. "So… you can't protect the other kids from those ice monsters?"
"I can't speak for the others," he said with a faint smirk, "but there's one girl I saved… and I think I did a good job. Otherwise, no one would even bother checking on this orphan. Hahaha."
"I'm not that special… but… I really worry about you. What will you do now, Liuke?"
"I don't know," he whispered, the drink trembling in his hand. "I have some money saved after all these years, but I never 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, holding a glass of wine. The dim lamplight caught the streaks of grey in his hair.
"What do you mean, rare?" Liuke asked, frowning.
"Rare," the old man said, voice steady. "A young man's body doesn't usually reach Burnout. I've never seen a case like this."
"I… don't understand," Liuke muttered. "But I feel drained every time I 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 twenty? Since death is 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 die?"
Liuke let out a bitter laugh. "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 them 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 be with me? Who would ever love me? Looks like I'll spend what's left of my life alone, in some hotel room."
"You should try talking to girls, slowly, build a connection," Klane said, her voice gentle but firm. "You've spent your life saving children… now it's time to think about yourself, a little happiness for once."
Liuke's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Hahaha… Klane, I don't even think I'm talking to a girl. How do you know all this?"
"I've watched carefully," she said with a small grin. "I've seen how my parents talk to each other. That's how I learned."
Liuke shook his head, the tension of the night weighing on him. "Alright, Klane… it was good talking to you. I'm heading back to my hotel room. I'm exhausted… more than I can remember, and I need sleep."
"Already? I thought you'd take me to the toy shop first?"
"Alright then, let's go get the toys first," he said, and together they went to the shop. Klane finally left for home, toys in hand.
"Bye-bye, brother!"
"Take care, Klane," Liuke replied.
Back at his hotel, Liuke trudged up the stairs to his room, each step heavy.
"Time to sleep," he muttered, collapsing onto the bed.
Sleep swallowed him immediately.
And in the depth of that sleep… a dream.
He was wandering a vast desert, the sun scorching, his body parched, dry to the bone. Not a single drop of water remained.
He ran, desperation fueling his every step.
"Is this heat… this desert… mine? Then why… why am I on the edge of death here?"
And then… he stumbled. His movements slowed, his limbs heavy, and his eyes blinked shut.
"Am I… dead?"