That decision dragged him far from home and straight into the tutelage of a shameless drunkard, an earth mage whose greatest talents were leveling mountains and emptying bottles. Unfortunately for Ludger, the man was also a former guildmaster. Between half-coherent lessons, improvised training, and near-fatal “practical demonstrations, thanks to a troublesome companion” Ludger learned that earth magic wasn’t about raw power, it was about anchoring, endurance, and knowing exactly when to stand firm and when to reshape the ground beneath your enemy’s feet.