Death is calling

On today's news update: "The 'Children of the Sun' organization urges the government to lower the prices of the new Zephyr weapons as more portals from Planet X flood the abandoned cities." The hologram sounded.

Seon-woo lowered his cup of water, pulling down his mask just enough to take a sip before turning back to his homework. He hadn't finished it the night before—his body had given out again. The fourth time this month. He was used to it by now, but it was getting worse. The pain lasted longer every time it happened. It always started the same: headaches, then the unbearable heat that made his skin feel like it was boiling and finally he felt his throat clog up before his heart slowed down. Yesterday was the worst yet—it felt like every bone in his body was breaking. He passed out from the pain before it finally faded.

He knew it wasn't a cold, but he wore a mask anyway, just in case. As he wrote down the last answer, a sharp, aggressive knock on his door made him turn down the volume of the news. He stood and walked over to open it.

A boy wearing an oversized blazer and pants stepped inside anxiously.

"Hey, man, did you do the math homework? I totally forgot about it—I was at the ring practicing all night." The boy tossed his bag on the floor, already pulling out a notebook.

Seon gestured to the book on his desk. Jin snatched it up, flipping through the pages as he hurriedly copied the answers. Meanwhile, Seon grabbed his blazer from his bed. His apartment—if it could even be called that—was a single government-issued room given to orphans in the slums. The water barely worked, and the only thing that played on the holoV was the news. But he never complained. He learned to make do with what little he had.

"They brought in a new instructor yesterday," Jin said cautiously. "Kicked out a bunch of people he thought didn't have a chance at the academy."

Seon knew why Jin was hesitant. His friend had a real shot at leaving this dump, earning a spot in an academy, becoming a 'Child of the Sun.' Seon didn't. His body was too weak. It didn't matter that he was the smartest kid in their school. In a world where monsters roamed the Earth, intelligence meant nothing without strength. He forced a smile and sat in front of his friend.

"Well? Did you make it?" he asked, packing his bag.

Jin grinned and nodded excitedly.

Seon got up, gave him a weak punch on the shoulder, and picked up his water bottle. "Let's go, or we'll be late."

Jin hurriedly packed his things and followed Seon out the door. Seon double-checked the lock before they headed toward school. The housing complex was built close to the school for convenience, not comfort.

When they arrived, Jin immediately ran off to his group of friends. Seon, meanwhile, collapsed onto his desk, resting his head against the cool surface. A headache was forming at the back of his skull, and his heart pounded erratically. He took deep breaths, trying to steady himself, but a sudden wave of fear washed over him.

For no reason.

The noise in the classroom dulled. His grip tightened around his head. Slowly, the sensation faded, and the world returned to normal.

"The Children of Mercury have enhanced speed, quick reflexes, and agility. Venus' children have control over gravitational pulls, influencing emotional and physical bonds. Mars' children possess superior combat skills, raw physical strength, and aggressive tactics. Jupiter's children harness thunderous energy, granting command and strategic insight. Saturn's children manipulate time perception and gravitational fields for defense. The children of Uranus possess advanced mental acuity and innovative combat strategies. Neptune's children control fluid, create illusions, and have high adaptability. Pluto's children are masters of stealth, precision, and lethal finishing moves."

The teacher's voice echoed through the room as he tapped a console, displaying a hologram of the solar system.

Seon barely paid attention. He already knew all of this by heart. He'd read every survival and history book he could find, hoping intelligence could be a weapon in itself. But the more he learned, the more he realized it wasn't enough.

"Some of you will be enrolling in academies next year. Before we continue, here are applications for each of the seven planetary academies. Choosing the right one is a difficult decision," the teacher announced, passing out the forms. "Seon, why don't you tell us why?"

Every teacher did this. They knew he had the answers but rarely volunteered to answer them. They thought it was a way to keep him engaged but he burden it more of a burden an insult even.

"Each planet has an academy that trains students to survive in its specific conditions. Students must choose carefully to align their strengths and abilities with that of the academy. More importantly, awakened individuals can only kill monsters from the planet they chose, meaning their entire career will be shaped by their choice." He answered his eyes still half closed in a monotone. 

Silence. Some students absorbed the new information, while others examined the forms, knowing they had little chance of getting into elite academies. Military-run schools accepted orphans, but passing the physical exams was nearly impossible for malnourished kids surviving on government rations.

"A good explanation," the teacher said. "To make the right choice, you'll need to study each planet's environment, training regimens, and monsters. Take your time, and if you have questions, ask a teacher or a senior student."

The bell rang. Lunch.

Seon lowered his head again, hoping for a brief nap before the next class. He knew these forms were mandatory, but that didn't make them sting any less. The teacher's look when he asked that question… Seon hated it. Everyone knew his body was weak. He couldn't enroll in any academy. The forms in front of him weren't an opportunity; they were a reminder.

A reminder that when he turned eighteen, he'd be kicked out onto the streets.

He had heard the stories. The government only cared for orphans until they were old enough to fend for themselves. After that, they were on their own.

"2010. During the World Cup, portals opened all over the world, flooding Earth with monsters and sucking people in before vanishing. Then, those people came back and started killing the monsters. That's why we have to grow big and strong." He recited the childhood song in his head, bitterness twisting in his stomach.

He was powerless. No matter how much effort he put in, no matter how much willpower he had, his body would always fail him. The teachers had stopped giving him false hope. They just told him to enjoy the time he had left.

Jin would go to an academy. He would leave the slums. And Seon… he would starve, saving every penny just to breathe a little longer.

Yesterday's sickness had made it clear—his rage, his jealousy, his helplessness. He hated that his parents gave their lives for the Capitol instead of staying with him. He hated that the rich scum took everything from him. And most of all, he hated that there was nothing he could do but die.

His heart pounded again. But this time, he heard it.

The sound drowned everything else out. His breath, his classmates' chatter—gone.

Then, the pain struck.

A crushing force gripped his chest, squeezing the air from his lungs. He shot up from his seat, but a wave of dizziness sent him crashing to his knees. His vision blurred. All he could hear was his own heartbeat, hammering against his ribs like a war drum. He gasped, but no sound came. The edges of his vision darkened.

He had planned his life after being abandoned. He told himself he would make it to twenty.

He was only fifteen.

For the first time in his life, he knew—

He was going to die.

The world faded to black.