magisternihil's 100-word story for June 22, 2026

magisternihil wrote the following micro-story on Hectalex on June 22, 2026. Each story on Hectalex is inspired by a daily visual prompt and must be exactly 100 words.

Being a watcher is, I mean the payoff is—well, all going well, the payoff is nil. Still, we’re alive. That has to count for something, right? I asked Gregor why there weren’t better accommodations. Surely you want the person safeguarding the future existence of your species to sleep comfortably. “Comfort leads to apathy, apathy leads to death,” was all he said, and from a guy who usually uses a thousand words to tell a hundred-word story, the simplicity of the statement had weight. So, I, and twelve others, take our turns watching, waiting, hoping for nothing. It’s a living.

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