Dread Mage

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Sonder's hands became calloused and rough from the unrelenting work and training, but still, she persisted.

She woke each morning with a singular focus, getting stronger, and each day brought her closer to her goal.

She took time before she made breakfast for herself and her Hersir to go to the giant rock that she had to whittle down.

No matter how weary her hands were, her spirit burned brightly, and somehow, without her even really taking notice of it, because she saw the rock daily, she had already removed a chunk of it.

However, it wasn't enough. With just four months left, her target was to reduce the rock to nothing more than a pebble.

With determination, she placed her hands on the stone, continuing her endeavor to grind it down.

It was a source of frustration for her, as were many things.

Her anger had been simmering within her for a while, but only recently had she grasped its magnitude.

Almost subconsciously, she started to lash out at the rock, her strikes growing in intensity as her anger mounted.

Summoning her strength for a final effort, she drove her fist into the stone with all her might.

A reverberating crack echoed around her as a large piece of the stone fractured off.

Could she count this as progress? Breaking the rock instead of filing it down? She didn’t voice any complaints about the smaller piece, but it felt somewhat like cheating.

The rock was now smeared with her blood, and her fists were raw and bleeding.

She exhaled deeply, looking at her marred hands and feeling the familiar surge of magic coursing through her veins.

It had been building up inside her, just like the anger, and it was no coincidence that these two emotions were so intertwined.

It had been accumulating within her, just like her anger. She couldn't comprehend why, but it seemed like her magic amplified every time her anger spiked, a sensation she felt pulsating under her skin.

Good job," Hrygo praised, stepping out of their home.

She held Sonder's hands, examining the inflicted wounds, finding none too concerning.

"You are on the right path," Hrygo continued. "Clean your hands, have your meal, then we'll proceed with the training."