"Hayley's moral distinction runs from 'right without the presence of regret or guilt' to 'wrong and you should feel bad'," Solomon said. "She, unfortunately, said as much herself in our conversation." The girl hadn't even known the definition of culpability, which was surprising only because Solomon kept forgetting how young she was.

"She's my student," Solomon admitted. "Among the first of those I met here--being from a world without magic, she was curious about learning some. She's a rather driven young lady, but imprudent. I've warned her about the risks of learning necromancy but it hasn't made much of a difference; if I were to refuse to teach her she'd only learn on her own."

The best thing he could do was teach her anyway, and teach her the difference between addition and control, power and prudence. It had been his responsibility they even reached this far--at the time he hadn't been quite aware of the risks himself, and by the time he was he had forgotten it was relevant to Hayley herself. Now there wasn't much else he could do save minimise the damage.

"I don't know that she considers me friend," said Solomon. "A nuisance, perhaps. A means to an end. Someone worth listening to, on occasion, but only when she chooses."