A Lingering Prayer

Dusk awoke to the reactor's soft purr, its dim light seeping through the cracks in her home; painting her walls in uneven streaks of teal light. She stirred in her bed, her pillow still damp with tears from the day before. Although she suspected new tears had formed overnight.

They no longer battered her relentlessly, in fact, she was beginning to find calm within their sensitive drips. Each drop was no longer a jagged fragment of despair; they were raindrops nurturing her resolve, helping her grow roots strong enough to hold her upright. She could cry without shame.

She looked at the blueprint beside her. It would likely be Quill's final creation, the final creative spark produced by his Blessing. It would mean a long day ahead of her, finding everything she needed would take some time. Thankfully he knew of all the best places for materials in each corner of Thermoa. Whether it be collapsed homes, leftover parts kindly donated by the scientists, or just pieces of scrap lying around.

Dusk spent her morning searching between these sites, sifting through piles of discarded machinery and forgotten stashes. The task brought her to all the places Quill had loved, his keen eye always managing to unearth treasures where others saw only junk. At the first site, she unearthed a bundle of wiring still partially intact. At another she found an old lightbulb, its filament still somehow intact even after years under rubble.

As she worked, her thoughts began to wander—something they hadn’t done in forever. For the first time since the Abyss, her cool whisper of reason returned to her. It had tried before to pull her from the pit of grief, but she had silenced it, unwilling to let go of her pain. Now, though, she welcomed its presence, relieved by the return of its steady insights.

Dusk paused, sitting down amidst the scrap heap. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to meditate, sorting through the emotions and memories that had once overwhelmed her.

§

Her mind drifted to her earliest days as a child, wandering the narrow corridors of Thermoa with a quiet defiance. She had been brash and uncaring then, keeping to herself and avoiding the bonds others forged so naturally. Most friendships in Thermoa were formed in childhood, but Dusk had shunned such connections, retreating from their prying eyes. Those days weren’t terrible, she mused, but they weren’t particularly good either.

It was in this time that she'd grown her curiosity, spending her time exploring the unique secrets of Thermoa. She relished in it. Each little undiscovered corner giving her more joy than any friendship could. At least, that's what she thought at the time. 

She grew to be more agile, growing her stamina as she explored for longer and longer periods each day; ignoring any pleas the scientists had for her to come back. She pitied the other children, they failed to see the joy of curiosity. They were dull, so she ignored them, and did so for some time.

§

As a young teen, her explorations had expanded beyond the corridors she knew, drawing her to the middle levels of Thermoa. It was during one such adventure that she met Quill. She found him headfirst in a pile of rubbish, legs flailing as he tried to free himself. Dusk had watched, amused; leaving him there for a few minutes before finally pulling him out.

From that moment on, their friendship grew quickly. Dusk was fascinated by his inventive mind and the gadgets he built. Quill, for his part, was simply grateful to have someone to share his creations with. Unlike Dusk, whose parents had died when she was young, Quill’s parents were distant, only responding to the scientists’ request for more births out of necessity rather than affection. He’d been a child born to sustain a dwindling population, and Dusk had been his first real connection.

Quill’s Blessing intrigued her. She had heard of others with such gifts, particularly among the scientists who kept Thermoa running, but Quill was the only one with a Blessing she knew personally. He used this gift to craft inventions, working not for the scientists but for himself.

Quill was given an offer by the scientists when he was a child. A simple question of if he wanted to use his Blessing to help them with their work. He said no. Not out of any particular distaste or hatred, but purely for himself. He wanted to spend his days in peace, making unique creations and exploring the limits of engineering; and maybe even show these feats to someone.

So when Dusk walked into his life, he was overjoyed. The provided insights, thoughts and ideas to each other. With time, their friendship grew, becoming more invaluable with each passing day. It was no longer a relationship bound by sharing simple curiosities, but a true friendship, that could never be replaced.

§

Dusk had met Pearl not long after Quill, stumbling upon the graceful artist sculpting in a secluded area of the lower levels. Pearl’s hair was much shorter then waving delicately behind her as she worked, captivating Dusk within seconds. At first she simply sat and watched, entranced by Pearl’s focus and skill. Not speaking a word, nor getting too close. Simply watching in admiration.

Though one day, Pearl broke the silence, asking her if she wanted her own sculpture. Caught off guard, Dusk had stuttered out an embarrassed yes: resulting in Pearl's first ever gift to her. From that moment on, she visited Pearl more often, her infatuation deepening with each consecutive interaction. 

Pearl's early life had been quiet. Being both soft-spoken and timid she often shied away from others around her. Although she didn't mind this one bit. Unlike most children, her parents cared for her dearly, instilling a rare concept of affection into their beloved child. She poured this affection into her art, savouring the elegant procedure of making art. 

Even when her parents had passed on, she didn't mind. Her time with them had been even better than she could've hoped for, and she wished them all the best in whatever came after. She sunk this emotion into her art, each tear and smile guiding her hands. It was in this state of content, that she gained an admirer. 

The small mouse had crept up on her one day, it stayed silent, watching her with a mix of interest and intrigue. After that first fateful day the mouse continued to come by, keeping its distance as if trying not to disturb her work. Pearl paid little mind to the mouse at first, viewing her as nothing more than an onlooker, appreciating her art. Though over time, things changed. The mouse had grown into yet another source of comfort, her eyes shone with such sweet appreciation whenever she watched. Pearl had come to love those emerald eyes.

On the day that Pearl finally spoke to her, the mouse had scurried up with glee. Their bond only grew from there, eventually blossoming into a love neither had anticipated but both cherished deeply.

§

Then there was April. Dusk had met her much later, long after bonding with Pearl and Quill. She first noticed the vibrant-haired reactor guard sitting glumly at her post. Struck by the contrast between April’s fiery appearance and her somber expression, Dusk had approached her, hoping to spark a conversation. She regretted it almost immediately. April’s overwhelming energy caught her off guard, leaving Dusk to wonder if she’d made a severe mistake.

Despite her initial reluctance, Dusk found herself returning to April’s post, waving hello and engaging in brief conversations. While she was a lot, Dusk had always found some level of joy from their interactions. Pleased that she could make someone so happy just by visiting them.

April had been lonely for much of her life. Her boundless energy and optimism had never fit well in Thermoa, where most people became single-minded in their pursuits or withdrawn in prayer. Her attempts at connection had often been rebuffed, leaving her isolated and alone. She had joined the reactor guard volunteers in the hopes of changing this, but it was to no avail. People drifted from her like planks in an endless sea, until one day, someone gave her a chance.

Dusk had come up to April of her own volition, and April was overjoyed. For the first time she had made a friend, and she was wonderful. Through her she even met two other kind souls, Quill and Pearl. April had never felt such joy in her life. So when Dusk had asked her to join her on an expedition, she agreed without hesitation. She didn't care where it was, or how long it would be for, she'd get to spend several days exploring with her best friend.

Though when the adventure neared its end, she saw Dusk was in danger, something was wrong. So she reached forward and pulled her to safety, as she knew Dusk would've done the same for her. Though in her final moments, when she reached out to touch her friends hand one last time. 

She didn't grab hold.

§

Dusk’s heart grew heavy. When she had ventured into the Abyss, she had been consumed by fear—not for her companions but for herself. That selfishness had nearly cost Quill his only true friend, would have dragged Pearl into endless grief, and it had ended April’s life.

Now, as Dusk sat amidst the scrap, she did something she had never done before. She prayed. Not to the reactor that others revered, but to April. Dusk clasped her hands together, closing her eyes. 

The scene replayed before her, each terrifying moment etched into her mind; but this time, she grasped her hand. The flames wrapped around her arm, pulling her in. They were warm.

Dusk rose to her feet and finished collecting the materials. The last few pieces she needed for Quill’s invention were gathered quickly. A small smile graced her face, her steps were lighter. Her heart was finally free.