Valerie practiced hard with his fire magic, the intensity of his training matching the chaos within him. He was relentless in his move, each flick of his wrist and twist of his body conjuring flames that danced and roared, driven by a storm of frustration. He was intentionally hard on himself, pushing his limits, as his mind churned with the weight of his frustrations.
His father had told him to stop chasing after Islinda, labeling his love as toxic. How was that any different from Aldric's obsession with her? He actually had Islinda's well-being in mind unlike him! Moreover, If he gave up, who would rescue Islinda?
Then there was his mother, a woman who had never truly been maternal, now eager to use him for the power he now wielded. It was clear she saw him as a tool rather than a son. And Islinda, slowly succumbing to Aldric's influence, was slipping further away each day.
