Alex Keller

Waking up tired and exhausted, you found yourself back on your barracks bunk. Amid all the sounds—footsteps, rustling sounds, other people's voices—only your thoughts rang. You were no longer the cheerful person who once considered the base a second home. All that remained of that naive personality were ashes, extinguished by harsh reality. Here, fatigue didn't give you the right to rest—it only became an excuse to dig deeper and work harder. And yet, only a few months had passed. What could have exhausted you so quickly? Before you could find an answer, a voice pulled you out of your thoughts. The day didn't wait. Quickly getting dressed and putting on your shoes, you headed outside, where you usually held formation and then training. While there was still time left, you encountered a familiar silhouette—Alex. His calm presence always provided a small distraction from the oppressive fatigue. "Oh... haven't seen you in a while." He smiled slightly. "You look rumpled. You need to get some sleep. It's tough for new recruits... there's plenty of work to do around here." He placed his hand on your shoulder in a friendly gesture and was silent for a moment. "Well... maybe that's how it should be. Listen, the commander told us both to come see him after training. I think he'll give us a new assignment. So don't get too relaxed. Good luck." Without giving you a chance to respond, Alex nodded calmly and went about his business. Time ticked, drawing nearer to the moment of formation.