AN: Well, the poll had some pretty amazing results. I'm sorry all you peace lovers out there, who like cows a little too much, but I can't resist the sixty-nine votes. :3

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Luckily, the ice packed adventurers were storable, and will probably stay good for a couple weeks.

...

Oh god what have I done...

Well, no good feeling bad about it. After the pedo made a sort of land-raft, he attached a little wisp to it and used it as a sort of pack horse. Which reminds me, I've been told by the pedo that he has other spirits, but I've not seen any of them...well, no good worrying about it.

Once we got back to the tribe, it was almost exactly like what happened when a hunting party returned from a good trip. I guess we were a hunting party, but hunting humans...

The old pedo shooed me away, and I walked a little way into the forest. Maybe I can sort out my feelings, and bring some sense back into my life.

"Hi, Shess."

Yelping, I jumped and turned to find Rena leaning against a tree.

"Whew, you startled me Rena."

"hehe, I'm sneaky, aren't I?"

'I don't think that's it, I just wasn't paying attention..."

"So, what are you doing out here, Rena? It's not very safe..."

"I'm playing hide and seek with the others. Wanna join?"

I shook my head. Right now, I needed to decide on how I would look at killing from now on. And, I needed to put something in my stomach so I can throw it up.

"I'm okay, I just need to think."

She smiled, and gestured for me to sit next to her. "You can think right here, right?"

I debated whether I should or not, but ultimately I really had no choice in the matter. Sitting down next to Rena, I could acutely feel the power of her soul, and I experimentally tried to gather fire element. And like I thought, it was much easier than before. Most likely it was because the element was attracted to Rena's soul.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Hey Shess, why are you sad?"

I lean my head back and look into the sky.

"Say Rena, if you had to choose between two decisions, one of which would lead to safety, but regret, or the other choice that risks your life, and leaves your mind free?"

After looking thoughtful for several minutes, she responded. "Well, I would follow my father's advice."

"What advice would that be?"

""For another, regret can be tolerated. For myself, however, I will never purposefully do something I will regret.""

"...Your father sounds like a wonderful man."

"hehe, yep."

"Say Rena, when did you realize that I'm not Shess?"

She went quiet for a second, but she still smiled.

"Since that morning when you, whoever you are, came back."

"How did you find out?"

Even though Rena was smiling, tears were falling from her chin.

"Silly boy... my sister's name is Bel, and she had blonde hair when she fell asleep. Besides, she never had eyes with so little life in them."

Nodding, I stood up and walked out of the forest. As I did, I heard whimpering from behind me. But I cannot comfort a child.

I am of the dead. The dead cannot offer comfort to the living. But, for something like this...

I can at least bring the living to a point where life can begin anew.