dev 11 - last goodbye

Isn't it strange how time seems to be fleeting?

How you could remember what has happened mere years ago, as if it was yesterday.. how one could remember everything that they lived for- everyone whom they loved, everyone whom they cherished.. and yet, by now, it's all gone. Something about this that instilled a terrible heartache.. and amidst the night, the Exarch made his way to the grave of Actaeon.

To the grave of his brother; yet, he carries more than that.

"...It's funny, you know."

"I never said my goodbyes to you. To all of you."

For he carries the resemblance of Zus, of Jasper, of Actaeon. And a single flower for each of them.. a single flower that could tell of the pain that he carries with himself. Despite such, he steadily approaches to a single grave, laying down the flower and a simple note that was written down, his hands reaching out to carefully inscribe on tombstone.

Right next to the graves, the shrines are made.

A single shrine for the three.. one composed of the ivory colors; one composed of the part of Nerin- for the bones are steadily laid out in a matter to display three images - one of the boar, one of the shield and one of the flame.

Nerin takes a seat, his gaze steadily narrowing at the tombstone.

How long has it been..?
(Nerin)

With the shrine steadily created, he remains sat next to it for a while, only eventually reaching out to the three candles that he prepared- each steadily lit ablaze with the azure flames of the blue, each made to burn for extended period of time. One in honor of the fallen..

"You left too soon.."

"You, Zus, had always been brave. Far too brave for your own good..." At times, he isn't sure whether it's his fault back then, whether he could really help his brother.. for when he remembers it, there's hardly anything that he could do about it.

"Jasper.. you were a diligent knight and a good friend. I'll always remember you." Now and ever. For even as the world moved on.. he knows that he has to move on too - but the memories still remain.

"Actaeon. You were too good of a brother. They did not deserve you." And he most certainly did not deserve this death. Yet, the inscription is steadily made across the shrine, one dedicated to the three.

'Those you share bond with are those that make the journey worth it.'
'The bonds made on the journey are stronger than blood.'
'Cherish them, for they may not last.'

The first line is drawn upon the shrine. Where he contemplates for a moment, reminiscing back on everything that has happened.. he can't help but smile. Even if it hurts, even if it hurts so terribly each time to understand that they're gone and there's nothing that could get them back..

He knows that it was worthwhile.
He knows that it made him different.

"..I won't forget all of you."
(Nerin)

There's an end to every tale, every chapter.

Isn't there? After all, he knows that they would want him to live on, to live his life and enjoy it.. to build a family of his own and ensure that the future would be bright for him; he knows that his brothers and a close friend would never want him to skulk like this, to focus on everything that has happened. For they know that Nerin deserves better than this..

That he deserves at least some respite in his life.

Here, he knows that he cannot remain forever locked in this trap of the nostalgy, of the constant memories that flood his mind. He cannot, or else it would swallow him whole.. and that is something that he intends to avoid.

"I'll.."

"I'll move on. And never look back."

The memories are there to serve as reminder. Of the times had, of the laughs and stories shared.. but it's never a reason to fall down into the depths of despair. Here, amidst the candle-lit environment, amidst the shrine that he sits infront of in the middle of the night..

He knows what he must do.
He knows he has to live on.

A single hand reaches out. Before he would leave, before he would move on with his life and do something else entirely.. a single inscription is left.

His final words.

'We don't notice the moments shared together, until they only become memories.'
'But you'll be remebered always.'
(Nerin)