The next morning Li Wang woke naturally and went out to help the soldiers with anything he could. He was stuck doing the smaller tasks—carrying water, passing tools, sweeping up debris—but even those left him exhausted. Despite the cold wind, sweat trickled down his back and his shirt clung unpleasantly to his skin.
"You don't have to do so much. You're already tired," someone chuckled softly at his side.
He looked up and saw the Farian woman again. She held out a small cloth to him. "Thanks," he said, taking it and wiping his face clean. He dropped down onto the ground and panted, shoulders hitching with each breath. She sat down beside him without fuss.
"How long do you have until the black hole closes?" he asked between breaths.
