Three minutes after we started, thin nose died. Unlike the others, he had a disease that affected his health, leaving him with no chance for survival.

Other than that, things were going well. Goatee and Short Beard were rolling around screaming their hearts out while they spasmed, the frost slowly enclosing their torso.

In fact, Plain seemed to have no problem whatsoever. His body was twitching and jerking, but only a few inches. His eyes were closed, and he breathed deeply and evenly, even though his lungs quivered. To think that one of these four had such a suitable body and disposition for this.

Shifting my gaze back to Thin Nose, I thought it would be a shame to waste such a complex spell. So, grimacing at the gore, I ripped the ice stake out of his chest, and examined it.

Thin Nose was completely frozen, his skin cracked and the bones underneath showing strain. His eyes had burst from the pressure, and his skull and body was bloated with frozen water. Blood would have leaked out, but it was frozen. Meanwhile, the stake was completely untouched. And, looking at it from here, it seemed like something was missing from the spell...

Gathering an element that seemed to have a mind of it's own, I start to think. This element is unknown to me, and it fights me every chance it gets. The second my mind wonders, it speeds toward me and attempts to destroy me. And yet...

I can feel the power. Pulsing beats like the sound of drums echo from every particle, creating a symphony of bass. Just holding this element, I close my eyes and feel the pulse wash over me. A sense of energy, of arrogance, and self importance rushes into me.

'Why am I even helping them? I should just kill these ants before they wake up.'

Shaking my head, I try to empty my head of such thoughts. Such nostalgic emotions....anyway!

Gathering more of this chaotic element, I fill the frozen structure of my spell, and seal it within using more curse and dark. Eventually, the chaotic element will eat away the bricks of ice, and spill out. However, during that process leaking will occur. To the person it is administered to, it will be as if hell had a hell. But, if they have a strong enough mind, they will be able to handle the constant corruption. Though, it doesn't matter how strong you are. Once the walls collapse, no mortal will survive...

But, what was it that Plain had said? "I have to look after them."

If I were to give him this, he will die young. Reaching the age of forty would be a miracle. But, he chose to live. So, I will give him the means to surpass all others and become strong enough to protect the other two.

Without a second thought, I grab Plain by the neck and throw him to the ground. Putting my foot on the back of his neck, I carefully place the spike that glowed red near the base of his spine, at the small of his back. As I do this, I notice the rings with strange symbols glowing red and pulsing with the element.

Without any hesitation, I lift my arm and jam the stake as far into his back as I can. As blood spurts from the wound, the stake begins to lap it up, thrumming louder the more it tastes. Plain begins to scream.

Hearing that sweet tune, my rings glow even brighter.

Snapping out of the reverie, I drag a boulder over by it's element and sit atop it, preparing to begin my sentinel.

The other two are still screaming, so that means they're still alive. Honestly, it's amazing that three of them have survived this long. Other than plain, I expected the two of them to succumb to the frost within an hour. Looking over at them, I see something strange.

Short Beard and Goatee are kneeling with their heads held against the ground, in a posture of prayer. Holding up the backs of their hands, both of them are biting a tattoo in the shape of a mouth filled with teeth. Meanwhile, the frost had fully engulfed their chests, and had begun to make it's way along their limbs. Looking at the rate the ice is spreading, both will be dead before sunrise. A shame, but at least they will be going to a place where their existence means something. Wether that purpose is endless torment or paradise, it is all beyond me. Plain is howling with all his might, and black mist is being expelled from his breath. Looks like the taint has made it's way into his lungs.

Honestly? I hoped they'd die. They are brave, but they are fools.

There is no such thing as "Things turning out for the better." It's just something god says to keep the people docile so he can play with them.

Looking once again at Thin Nose, I see that the ice has begun to melt and fluid is seeping out in a puddle around him. Becoming curious, I felt something tickle the back of my mind. The sight of a dead body that had been alive a couple of minutes ago stirred something up in my heart...not. I don't have a heart anymore, just a useless piece of flesh that sits in the middle of my chest. Stretching out my hand, I speak the words that come to my mouth.

"Rise"

At first, nothing happens. Then, jolting up, Thin Nose sits up and gets to his feet. Coming to stand before me, he stands silently.

Correction, not 'him.' It. Thin Nose was just a corpse now.

Still, I'm curious as to what is happening. Turning my attention away from the howling men, I get up and walk around the corpse.

'How does it stay up? Why does it seem to look at me, even when it's eyes are turned away?'

Giving it a hesitant poke, I wait curiously for the reaction. I got none.

Sitting there passsivly, I got the impression it was holding itself back. Holding itself back from what? Following it's gaze, I looked once more at the three men. For the two, the ice had reached their knees and elbows, and the ice was beginning to creep up their necks. Meanwhile, black veins pulsed with a burning red, popping out in spiderwebs all over Plains body.

'Does Thin Nose retain memory of them from when he was alive...?'

However, the eyes did not contain warm feelings. It reminded me of a cat staring at a mouse just out of reach. Then I realized that something was pushing at me, and that thing was foreign. It wasn't that the corpse was holding itself back, rather it was being dominated by my mind. And not in a million years would this corpse with half a brain be able to dominate me.

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Subconsciously telling it to turn around, it obediently turns to face me. Inside it's eyes, it seems to have no interest in me. It seems that hunger doesn't drive the corpse, but rather, it hungers after warmth and life. Like me.

At first it's just a grin, but soon I'm smiling and chuckling. Soon that chuckling evolves into full-throated laughter, and finally graduates into yells of amusement. I'm laughing so hard that I feel my tear ducts attempt to work, but it's just a habit from when I was alive. That's right, no tears from the dead. Perhaps that is why loved ones cry at your funeral, to let you think you're crying along with them, one last time.

But I have never had loved ones. All I have had is one or two people who didn't abuse me.

Getting back up, the corpse seems completely unmoved. I would have shivered at it's lifeless gaze had I not already forgotten how. Having a chill emanate from you 24/7 really lets you gain resistance to the cold. Once again pondering over this corpse, I come up with a hypothesis. Perhaps this corpse is like my True Form, emotionless.

'Wait...what's my True Form?'

Experimentally, I say in my head "Activate -True Form-."

Error: Unable to take -True Form- due to emotional blockage. Before activating this ability, please remove the mental block.

'Mental block? Why would I have a mental block stopping me from doing something?'

Answer: Because of your previous actions while in -True Form- your subconscious has sealed the ability away.

So...basically, it was my fault. Maybe that was why I forgot the last...I don't know how long. Maybe it has something to do with this 'emotional blockage.'

Never the less, I need to think of my current problems. Besides, I'm sure -True Form- isn't that useful anyway.

Looking back at the walking corpse, I feel nothing but disgust. But, perhaps this ability of mine can come in handy. You never know when having an extra pair of hands can be helpful. Thinking this way, I try to remember any stories of people raising the dead. As close as I can remember, the people who could do this were either really powerful priests, or really evil mages. Can't tell what they have in common, but I'm sure I'll find out more eventually.

But, I at least know that what I can do is uncommon, which means I shouldn't go bragging about it. Priests get their robes in a twist when someone claims to do something they can't. Of course, the priest in my village had been different. He would always hold classes for reading, and all you had to do in order to join was let the priest touch you. I learned to read reasonable well that way, but I had to stop because the priest seemed to take a liking to me, and invited me over to the confession stall. A that point, I promptly ran away. I was really grateful to my brothers for beating me that night, it helped me forget. But, a couple days later the priest disappeared, and I can't remember what exactly I was doing when the news came...

Anyway, now is the present. It's not good to dwell on the past.

...what was I thinking about...?

circling the corpse, I start thinking of ways to put it to use. But, I have no idea other than telling it to hold down Plain. He was starting to spasm even more violently, and with that force if he were to hit a rock he could break something, possibly his skull. I walk over to examine the two once again, to find that they have stopped screaming. Thinking that they were dead, I walk forward to set them to rest, and close their eyes should they remain open, when I hear muttering.

The ice has claimed every part of their body, and all that is left uncovered is their faces. With their lips moving, the rasp of a dry throat seems to suggest harmony. They were trying to sing!

I almost laughed again, but when I saw that the ice was retracting, I shut up.

'How? How is this possible? They should be dead!'

It's been five hours since we've begun, they should have lost the will to live an hour ago!

And yet...

They did not.

Turning to look at Plain, I still hear the screaming. I see blood coming out of his pores, instead of sweat. HIs eyes are closed tight, but I know what lays beneath.

And yet...

His fist is clenched. Clenched around a plate of metal hanging from his neck, and the strangest thing...

He's grinning!

He's looking death and worse in the eye...and he's smiling!

They should be dead. They should have long since given into the pain, and still they refuse! Bleeding from his pores, corruption tainting his entire body, and still he fights on!

The two are singing a silent song, harmonizing with each other even though their ears no longer work. Singing together though their lungs don't work. They stay in beat with each other, even though their hearts are still. And yet, they're not done.

Just when I thought I could no longer be surprised...

*Bump-ump* *Bump-ump*

I hear it! I can hear their hearts restart, and through the element in the stakes, I feel their blood begin to move.

No. No way can someone have so much will to live. I can't believe it, I can't!

(You cannot, or you willnot?)

They should be dead. They should be frozen corpses. Instead, they are alive.

I can not speak. I can not think. I can not feel.

Falling to my knees, I admit defeat. Even though I did my best to kill them, they refused to die.

So be it.

These goddamn fools...making me care about them.

The sun begins to rise, and it shines upon three of the biggest fools of them all.