Deepwoken: Penumbra

Generation: Emotions

Colt walked through the quiet castle at night, going into the garden. Regent's usual black clothed guards weren't around. Colt made sure his work didn't resemble the previous ruler's.
The quiet sound of flowing water could be heard as he walked up to a golden table, lighting two candles on it's sides.
In the middle was a picture of Faust Ytreshi, Gwen Mirad and Patrick Jaeger - Faust and Pakki the first.

"I really miss you guys..." Colt said as he sat down near the fountain and memorial. "We went through hell together... And I'd still be in hell if it wasn't for you guys..." He said, looking at the picture. He reached out, moving the candle to the side, revealing it was back from before they became even apprentice divers.
"Honestly... I'd go back down to that hell if it meant getting to spend more time with you... Even if only for a minute.... But this world is too cruel for that."
Colt looked up at the sky. "I wish I could say I believe you're in a better place... But I don't. I know what this world is like. ... It's too cruel to have a place like that."
"We really did go through hell together... All I can do now is to do my best to make sure no one else has to. That... That this surface world is one where people can be safe and happy... I know that's what you would've wanted."
He got up, leaning on the memorial, gazing deep into the picture. "I wonder... The nation I created... Is it a place where we would've stayed? Gwen's plan was to get out of the Depths, and live happily ever after... But it wasn't that easy." A couple of tears dropped onto the table. "It's never that easy... I wonder... If you were here... Would you say I'm doing a good job?" Colt shook his head, a couple of more tears dropping. "Either way... You'd be so proud of little Faust and Pakki..."

Simultaneously, Kevin walked up to the top of the mountain at the Miner's Landing. There was a similar memorial, but with a different picture and candles already lit. Kevin placed some flowers onto it, the mechanical noises of the large cogwheels turning invading his head.
"I don't know why I'm here again... I've said it so many times before..." Kevin said, already tearing up.
"I'm so sorry... I wasn't there for you when I should've been. If only I was smarter.. I could've saved Gwen... That's the reason you went after the Ministry..." He said, looking at the picture. "It's all my fault... I should've been there. But I wasn't... And... And I don't know how to make it up to you." He said, full on crying as he dropped his Railblade to the ground, sitting down in front of the memorial.
"Please... Please forgive me! I know I egged you on and I supported you when I shouldn't have... I just... I wish I told you... I needed you guys more than you needed me. Right after I was made a deepdelver, I was out on a mission... I didn't realize what the purpose of my oath was, and I left them. I was a fighter, when I should've been a guardian. When my friends, my comrades needed me to protect them, I wasn't there. And they perished because of it. And when I saw you guys... Left in this world of hell with no one to protect you... I just... I felt like I had to step in. From that moment, I had something to live for again. A second chance. And I really tried... Yet I lost three of you... And now it's happening all over again..." Kevin shut his eyes, tears streaming down his face, his teeth gritted. "Will somebody finally tell me how many more people I need to lose to learn?!"
He stayed silent for a moment. "You guys were truly special... I'm sorry... People say I dwell on it too much... That I visit you too much... But I just can't afford not to. I can't just... Forget about you. I never will... I promise."
Kevin looked at the picture. "I don't know what to do... I really don't... Colt always acts like everything is fine... Like-- Like I just need to relax... But I know him.. I know he's on edge too, and he doesn't know what to do either! I bet you guys could help us... Help everyone..."
He took the picture into his hands. "Sometimes, when I wake up, I still expect you to be there... Like... Like I could just go back to Etris... And walk into the library and you'd be there... I would give anything for even just a second with you guys..." He placed the picture back on the memorial, shakily grabbing his Railblade and slowly walking to the stairs leading down. Before he walked away, he looked back one last time. He stared for a few moments before going down the stairs.