Here's the poll about the title.

I'll probably close it and make the most popular answer definitive on Wednesday night, when I post chapter 10 (I plan to at least).

Enjoy the chapter!

Edit: Never mind, just noticed you can decide when the poll ends.

Edit 2: I re-read the chapter and found a LOT of mistakes, so from now on, I will more thoroughly examine my chapters before posting them.

Edit 2.5: I haven't changed the overall story, just some words and sentences, so people who have read it won't have to read it again.

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Although I decided to take care of them, I have no idea how to actually take care of children.

I never had any, nor had I any interest in having one, thinking them loud, obnoxious and tiresome.

And now I’ve got two of them at once.

Not only have I got two of them, one of them is a girl. Perhaps I could improvise raising a boy, but a girl? Even in my long life I’ve rarely talked to little girls.

Though the same counts for little boys, but still, is it alright to raise her without an adult woman as a role model?

But first things first, although they seem to like me to some extent, distrust of strangers is not that easily overcome, even for normal children.

And they are not normal.

I don’t know whether the horns and wings were added during an experiment or that they were natural.

But it doesn't really matter, after having heard the commander say ‘angel’ and ‘demon’ with a slight hint of disdain in his voice, I guess they are discriminated against either way.

But for now, let’s get away from this place. I’m beginning to smell the blood.

But therein lies another problem.

Where to go? Normally, I stay in a rather relaxing place, isolated from the world and taking short naps to pass the time.

But if I do that now, years will pass in the blink of an eye, which is bad for the children's education.

Do I need to go to a village, giving them some social experience?

Or would that be bad, since they might be discriminated against.

And, do they eat? I’ve replaced or made obsolete all necessities a normal body would need, but is it the same for them?

The longer I thought, the more I began doubting my decision.

Must I really take care of them?

No, wait. I decided I would.

I promised to take care of them.

For a better future, not just for them, but for me as well.

Know what?

Let’s just ask them.

Firstly, destination.

“Does one of you have a place they want to go?” I asked.

Damien and Anna looked at each other for a moment and then turned to me.

“ “The sea.” ” They said in unison.

Slightly surprised at the immediate answer, I looked at them inquisitively, silently asking for explanation.

Damien picked up on it.

“I promised her that after we escaped, we would go to see the world, starting from the sea.” He said, embarrassingly scratching his cheek while her face, too, blushed slightly.

I noticed she blushes a lot.

Is she shy?

And why is he blushing too?

Since when have promises been embarrassing?

Then again, I do not exactly know the relationship between the two, but, given some time spent together, I will.

“Hmm, I see.” I said, looking upwards and tapping my chin with my finger, as if thinking about what to do.

Of course, my decision was already made.

“Let’s go to the sea then.” Their faces noticeably lit up after saying so.

Having just woken up, I had no idea where the sea was, but that’s easily fixed.

Using the Energy in the ground, I connected all of it together, forming a network of threads spanning the entirety of the continent and, as such, allowing me to sense our location and the geographical lay-out of it, albeit rather roughly.

Apparently, we were somewhere around the middle and the sea was way, way off in the distance.

It’s something easily solved, of course, but that doesn't mean it isn't annoying.

I dissolved the entire network, except for a single thread connecting our location to that of the nearest beach.

Stretching out both hands beside me, I said: “Okay, found it. Damien, Anna, grab my hand and we’ll be off.”

Offering them both a hand, I smiled kindly at them, hoping it would make them feel at ease.

Honestly, it is absolutely unnecessary to hold hands, as proven with teleporting Emily and me towards Lillian.

But if I can make them think it’s somehow dangerous and that they’ll have to rely on me, I might inspire some trust in them.

A little manipulative, true, but I believe it is necessary.

After all, trust is the most important thing of any relationship.

Without trust, even if you love each other, it won't go anywhere.

Damien took my right hand, albeit very slowly and hesitantly, doubt written all over his face, but that is to be expected.

Anna on the other hand continued to stare at my hand while keeping her own close to her body, as if hugging them.

With a slightly pale face and her eyes darting around between my hand, the hand holding Damien's, and her own hands, she was clearly torn at what to do and obviously didn’t fully trust me yet, even if she wanted to believe in me.

A wise decision, might I add.

Although I saved them, I’m clearly a stranger.

Seeing her so torn at what to do, I decided to concede a little.

“Don’t worry, you can hold Damien’s hand too, if you want to.” I said, doing my utmost to show a comforting and trust-inducing smile.

Her face instantly lit up, smiling broadly and her eyes sparkling as her problem was solved, although just a second later, I could see a hint of guilt on her face.

I felt both glad and slightly guilty seeing this.

I believe I’m not the type to trick a child into feeling guilty on purpose, but on the other hand, the hint of guilt on her face clearly showed she felt she had somehow betrayed my kindness, increasing her goodwill towards me.

I hope.

After she grabbed his hand, I closed my eyes and feigned a slightly troubled expression as I created a portal on both ends of the thread, the thread functioning as the Energy bridge.

Unlike a Soulthread, I can use this one directly.

Within a few seconds, delaying it on purpose, a portal was opened and through it, you could clearly see a rosy sky and the suns slowly setting into the sea.

The distance was large so it naturally covered some time zones and, since the closest beach lay eastward, the time was several hours later, making our side of the portal still shining brightly underneath the midday sun, while on the other end, it was clearly dusk.

Seeing the sight, Damien and Anna were clearly impressed, making me smile lightly with accomplishment.

“Now, hold on tight to each other’s hands and step through the portal.”

I could feel Damien’s hands clearly tightening, showing he, be it unconsciously or not, started to somewhat trust me.

The three of us stepped through the portal at the same time and felt the sandy beach underneath our bare feet.

Come to think of it, haven’t I been bare-footed even before Solomavon?

I don’t even remember the last time I wore socks and shoes.

How uncivilized.

Anyway, as soon as we stepped through the portal I closed it behind us and released Damien’s hand.

On the other end, Anna continued holding Damien’s hands as both of them bolted straight for the sea as soon as I left Damien’s hand, almost stumbling over the small bumps as they ran.

Clearly, they deeply trusted and loved each other, though I don’t know what kind of love.

Were they friends?

Did they view each other as siblings?

Although I doubt whether they loved each other in the ‘mature’ meaning of the word – implying love actually can reach maturity – they might have some form of puppy love between them?

Adorable.

For the time being, while relaxing on the beach, I smilingly watched them play in the sea during sunset, splashing each other happily whilst squealing with glee as only children can.

My face hardened.

Thankfully, they are still children and can recover quickly, but having seen them so thoroughly malnourished and unhealthy and especially after seeing their souls, I couldn’t help but think back on my past.

If they experienced something equivalent to what I had, there is no way they would remain happy like this.

The torture of having their souls altered so thoroughly it could change its colour, something I’ve rarely seen.

The latest case of seeing a soul change colour was during my wife’s agonizing death, changing from a the standard pure white to blue as the fire slowly ate away at her.

Her pain lasted ‘only’ three days, after which she was thankfully released, her soul disappearing to either the afterlife or oblivion.

But these children, they might have had it harder.

The pain caused by Blue Fire is indescribably painful, but at least that has an end.

The way their souls had been altered, although definitely being less painful then the devouring feeling of Blue Fire, must have lasted for months, if not years.

Years of painful torture, only wishing for release, being death or otherwise, is a life-changing experience.

One I know all too well, unfortunately.

It definitely isn’t some trauma easily resolved by escaping.

The sun now having fully set underneath the horizon, the both of them walked towards me, dripping wet and coldly shivering.

Smiling at them, a flicked my wrist and immediately dried their clothes and warmed them up.

Afterwards, I conjured up a fire and set it onto the sand, needing neither wood nor any other fuel to keep burning.

I transmuted the energy into a couple of soft, warm blankets and gave them to them, after which they tiredly thanked me.

For some time, I talked to them, telling funny stories of the time with my wife and discretely asking them a couple of questions.

Naturally nothing too deep, asking about some stuff they liked, whether they needed to eat and stuff, and, rather sneakily how long they have escaped, revealing they escaped this a couple of days ago, but never slept until now.

It was their first carefree night since they escaped.

A night I know all too well.

The night of nightmares.