Phoebe's Tale

Phoebe has no soul, and the one raising her is Eric, an undead wizard who travels between universes and hails from the future. Most people would hesitate to entrust a soulless infant to anyone, let alone a monster, yet Eric has taken on the job.

He has worked hard at it. Phoebe receives a thorough education, and Eric chose a fairly decent society for her to grow up in. He trains her in her magical abilities and passes on everything he knows. He also widens her view of the world by taking her to other worlds, other eras, and other histories, including some futures. Throughout, he tries to be a devoted father while preparing her for an indifferent cosmos.

His reasoning is that every child reaches a point where she must leave the nest and make her own way. Some who leave soar, and others stumble.