Regret is a pilgrimage back to the place where I was free to choose.
In “Reeling for the Empire,” it follows Kitsune who is one of many girls captured and forced to have their bodies change in order to produce silk from their bodies. This short story is extremely fantastical, creating these creatures that are stuck in this factory. The author does well explaining the world of Kitsune and the other girls, showing us her past, the changes one goes through, and “Nowhere Mill” where they cannot leave. I think this
story is a story of not repressing your past and who you truly are, and also taking control of yourself and your own future, as Kitsune does by revolting and using her memories to create the blackest silks she can. My favorite quote from the story is: “Regret is a pilgrimage back to the place where I was free to choose.” (page 45)