Regret

The Regret is a metaphysical notion that manifests in all people native to Domhan, including dragons, but not in the Veikas.
Initially, the people born on Domhan lived carefree lives, which allowed them to develop independent thought - which eventually led to them getting into conflicts, which eventually escalated into war. When Ako witnessed this, it grew sad and disappointed. This feeling manifested in a very real way in the First Being; it came to be known as the first Regret.
Ever since that day, all of the people born or reincarnated on Domhan have started to feel a Regret; a powerful, nostalgic feeling of remorse regarding something they did, either in their current lives or in a past life. This Regret is often not formed out of a small thing, but out of an important action that they (or a past life) did. For instance, an Emberi's Regret may be "I wish I told my daughter I loved her before she died in the war", or "I shouldn't have killed that man, especially when I knew he was innocent".
A Regret may come from a person's current or past lives, and it may even change over time; this has a tendency to happen if a person's actions lead them to feel deep remorse, which is common in times of war and strife.
While some people are fine with ignoring their Regret, it is always present - like a nagging feeling at the back of one's skull. When confronted with similar situations in their lives (e.g. when somebody with a Regret related to murdering an innocent witnesses such an act), the urge to try and make things right can sometimes become overwhelming. Nonetheless, many would rather focus on their new lives, not on the past - others are content running away from these feelings.
On the other hand, there are some that would seek to solve this Regret - to make things right in their new lives, to cull that feeling from their soul entirely. These brave souls have their work cut out for them, because many beings, like Ako's Judges, prey on those who seek to end their Regret once and for all.
It is well known that only a few people have ever managed to solve their Regret. Legends say that these people reached a state of mind that was close to enlightenment. Yet nobody seems to recall what happened to these people in the end. What happened to them, where did they go? Only Eolas would know, is what many believe. Regardless of this mystery, the journey of self-discovery needed to solve one's Regret can often be an adventure in and of itself.

Regrets and Society

When a person is born, they "inherit" a Soul, and its Regret along with it. It is said that even small children, possibly even toddlers, are aware of their Regret. This is because Regrets are so powerful that they are like an "imprint" upon one's soul. You can ignore it, but you cannot get rid of it. And so, even children are aware of these images in their head, of these memories that aren't quite their own, of this deep feeling of melancholy in their gut whenever they think about their Regret.
Most countries have institutions put into place that can help children come to understand and accept their Regret. Sometimes, this is done in schools; other times, by trained professionals, akin to therapists; and sometimes, the parents help their children. Nonetheless, these institutions and support systems are critically important, as feeling deep shame for something that one isn't even responsible for, combined with the usual challenges of childhood and the teenage years, could have devastating psychological effects. And even WITH these support systems in place, some people become so greatly affected by their Regret that they fall prey to the Judges very early on in their lives, which is an incommensurate tragedy.
These early childhood experiences stay with a person for the rest of their lives, and truly determine how they will deal with their Regret. Some seek help for the rest of their lives, as the Regret is so powerful that they have a hard time ignoring it; others manage just fine, and go about their daily lives as if the Regret never existed; and others still decide to go and try to solve their Regret once and for all, that they might be rid of that awful feeling.
The Regrets have caused a number of headaches for judges and lawmakers the world over. Since it is impossible to tell what one's Regret might be, all sorts of criminals have justified their acts by saying they were trying to solve their Regret. This argument no longer holds any water in most Domhan courts, and so those who truly do seek to solve their Regret must contend with the fact that they must do so within the confines of the law. Which is particularly difficult when their Regret involves killing someone, for instance. Of course, some do not care and simply go for it anyway, but this is foolhardy, as they may create a new Regret for themselves in the process.

Type

Metaphysical, Divine