Unlike the other stories, this story is told from the perspective of Solania's childhood friend Kingston, and not of Solania herself.
“It wasn’t your fault, Solania.”
“But I was his teacher, Kingston. Who else are they going to blame?”
I had never seen Solania this upset, and with my cover in my Time Monitor role being a 1400’s French cloth merchant, I had seen my share of upset women. But it was clear that Anil’s death weighed heavy on her, even though she had not caused it.
“The elders will understand,” I said. “They know how hardheaded Anil was, and they know you didn’t take him on as an apprentice willingly.”
“I suppose,” said Solania, her face softening. “I told him not to go, after all.”
“And you were wise to do so. FutureBending is dangerous, and requires more training than any role in the 4th Dimension.”
Solania didn’t say anything. I remembered that her father did not agree with FutureBending, and that Solania knew that too but was uncertain where she really stood. Anil’s death would most certainly push her one way or another on the issue.
“Maybe it’s true what they say,” she said after a moment. “Maybe I was the wrong choice.”
