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墨書 Inktalez
In the dim prison cell, Leo huddled in a shadowy corner as if that darkness was his only refuge. The air in the cell was filled with dampness and mustiness, but to Leo, none of it mattered. His heart was filled with a deeper darkness than all of this - a darkness of humiliation and despair.
Yesterday, he was a proud Second Lieutenant in uniform, but today he had fallen to become a prisoner stripped of everything. The former glory and pride seemed to be mercilessly trampled and shattered at this moment. Every brick and tile in the cell seemed to mock him silently, and every passing moment reminded him that he had become a criminal in the eyes of the Interstellar Federation.
Leo's heart is filled with countless question marks and reflections. Every struggle and resistance of his is shattered by the merciless reality. In this cold prison, he feels an unprecedented loneliness and powerlessness. His world has completely collapsed, leaving only endless waiting for the administrative order that will permanently expel him from the military.
He curls up as if trying to hide himself, to escape this cruel reality. But no matter how deep he hides, the sunlight of reality will always mercilessly shine into his hiding place, reminding him of the fate he cannot escape. This night is long and hopeless for Leo.
During the three days spent in prison, every moment felt like an eternity for Leo. Time seemed to lose its meaning there, and the cold and silence of the cell became the norm of another world. The mottled walls and damp air became his only companions.
It wasn't until the third day that this monotonous prison life was disrupted by a loud knocking on the door. The guard rudely banged on the cell door, gruffly ordering Leo to get up. Leo's eyes slowly emerged from the cover of his arm, swollen and bloodshot, revealing the torment and distress he had experienced in the past few days.
His eyes held no fear, no anticipation, only deep weariness and emptiness. The guard couldn't help but feel a twinge of disgust at the gaze, as if the prisoner before him had already been consumed by the darkness of the prison, leaving behind only an empty shell.
The guard's voice echoed in the dead silence of the cell, and Leo slowly stood up, every movement seeming slow and heavy. His gaze wandered around the cell, the space that had once made him feel suffocated now becoming a brief refuge from reality.
He followed the guard's footsteps out of the prison cell. The world outside the prison was completely different from the world in his memory, and every step felt like entering a strange and cruel reality. Leo's heart was filled with confusion and unease, unsure of what kind of future awaited him.
The guard roughly pushed Leo into the public restroom area of the prison, urging him to clean up quickly. The light in the restroom was cold and glaring, reflecting off the tiles and illuminating the narrow and cold space. The dripping of the faucet in the corner intensified the gloom and desolation of the place.
The guard casually tossed a set of random clothes to Leo, made of rough, dull-colored fabric. He coldly ordered Leo to hurry up, his tone revealing impatience, as if Leo was just a trivial part of his work process.
Leo took the lifeless clothes and silently entered the cubicle. The water washed over his body, but couldn't wash away the weariness and turmoil in his heart. He felt like every movement was weighed down by heavy shackles, and every breath was filled with heaviness.
After putting on the shabby clothes, Leo silently gazed at himself in the mirror. The reflection no longer showed the energetic and determined young officer, but a person worn down by reality, exhausted. In his eyes, the once fiery flame seemed to have been extinguished by the mercilessness of reality.
After getting ready, Leo took a deep breath, pushed open the partition door, and silently stepped out of the restroom in response to the guard's urging.
Leo was pushed into a simple office by a security guard. Several military photos hung on the wall, and the interior was plain and lifeless. This was a veterans' affairs office, a place specifically for handling military retirement procedures. The guard said a few impatient words to a staff member sitting behind a desk, then pointed to a nearby chair, indicating for Leo to sit down.
The staff member seemed accustomed to these routine procedures. He took out a thick stack of forms and documents from a drawer and began coldly explaining to Leo the contents and the importance of signing each document. But for Leo, these documents only confirmed his transition from a dignified soldier to an ordinary citizen, a change that was irreversible.
Leo's mind was not on these documents; his thoughts drifted far away. He casually flipped through the files, his gaze empty, as if searching for answers or avoiding something. Every time he signed with a pen, it seemed like he was putting another period on his military career. His signature was mechanical and powerless, each stroke confirming the further passing of his dreams and dignity.
The office staff seemed unsurprised by Leo's indifference, continuing to mechanically explain the procedures, occasionally glancing up to gauge Leo's reaction. The room was filled only with the sound of papers being shuffled and the monotonous explanations of the staff.
All of this, for Leo, is nothing but a sad footnote in his life journey, a reality he never wanted but had to accept. His heart is filled with endless questions and a sense of powerlessness, but in this moment, he can only sit there in silence, completing this final ritual.
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