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Mostly because “everyone knew she couldn’t,” Nayelle bit her lip and kept studying. The pain faded, but clumsiness remained. There was nothing wrong with her new work except against what she had made before. To others, it was first-year apprentice work, a little above average, but Nayelle knew.

Finally, the day she had been dreading came: her yearly evaluation. She chose her three best pieces from the last month, and waited nervously as the Master examined them.

“Is this your best work?” he asked slowly.

“Best recently.  It’s not as good as I’ve done, but it’s better than some at the Market,” Nayelle said, trying to keep steady. She didn’t want to hear what she thought was coming.

“You’ve done better than this.”

“I guess not anymore.” She choked in a sob. “I’ll try harder, I’ll practice later-”

“Nayelle,” Master Noler said. “You’re already better than some. You could become better than most. But your hand was damaged in ways that are beyond our best healers to repair. You wanted to be the best.”

“I’d take being one of the best.”

“You were going to be. But now, you know it’s not likely.”

“I can still try–”

“I think you should prepare to go to Skystar Academy as a craftmage. You can study here until then. Your innate magical talent is strong and, because the fire in the kiln was magical, you may be able to do more in some way.” He took a breath; he didn’t want to tell Nayelle this. “You could do well as a potter, but you will never be one of the best. As a craftmage, you may yet do great things.”

“I don’t want to give up,” she whispered.

“Then call it trying a new plan. Your parents agree that you should go to Skystar.”

She swallowed. I want–but if Master Noler said she couldn’t, she couldn’t. “Then I guess I will,” she said, forcing her voice steady.

“Skystar is different. You’ll spend more time learning to use things, less time making things to be making….”

She knew he kept talking, and she knew she should listen, but she couldn’t let go of one thought.

I could have been one of the best. And now I never will be.