He nods in the rushed way of someone trying to end a conversation fast. Embarrassment explodes among the volatile cocktail of emotions mixed inside of him. Istredd's sympathy both makes him feel better and worse about all of this. Better, because it means mercy — he won't make him stay and try more magic in spite of his meltdown. Worse, because it probably means he's the most pathetic thing the guy has ever seen in all his years of practicing magecraft. Cool.
"I'll...see you tomorrow," Wilhelm says brusquely, turning to leave. It's after a few steps that he remembers he can just vanish from the Horizon at will, and he does so, unceremoniously.
It would be hard to come back, but he will force himself. Maybe Istredd is right, and strengthening his control over fire in general will someday make it easier to spark his own. And if he's wrong, and the problem is as insurmountable as it feels to Wilhelm right now, then maybe practicing his magic will at least prevent it from exploding out of him unwanted.
He was right about one thing: Wilhelm cannot stay stuck where he is forever.
the end
"I'll...see you tomorrow," Wilhelm says brusquely, turning to leave. It's after a few steps that he remembers he can just vanish from the Horizon at will, and he does so, unceremoniously.
It would be hard to come back, but he will force himself. Maybe Istredd is right, and strengthening his control over fire in general will someday make it easier to spark his own. And if he's wrong, and the problem is as insurmountable as it feels to Wilhelm right now, then maybe practicing his magic will at least prevent it from exploding out of him unwanted.
He was right about one thing: Wilhelm cannot stay stuck where he is forever.