Alvarine Frosthowl pressed his paw against the ice-covered training stone. The cold bit at his fur, but he held firm. He wanted to master the ancient frost magic his ancestors had wielded. Every elder in his family had learned these spells. Now it was his turn. He lifted his staff and traced a circle in the air. Blue light followed the tip, leaving frost trails that hung in space. The pattern grew larger as he focused his energy. A shimmering portal of enchanted ice formed before him, its surface rippling with soft light. Perfect. He could practice his aim here, test each spell against the solid ice. He fired three quick frost bolts. Two hit the portal's center. The third went wide and shattered against a nearby rock. He gripped his staff tighter. The elders had trained in these mountains for generations. If they could master this magic, so could he. The portal faded after an hour of practice. His paws ached and his breath came in short puffs. He needed to work on something different, something that required control instead of power. Down the slope, he spotted Marina's Well. The ancient stone structure shimmered with frost along its edges. Water magic was the next lesson in the old teachings. He approached the well and peered into its depths. Dark water reflected his face back at him. He raised his staff and focused on the surface. The water began to freeze from the edges inward, forming patterns of ice. Control. That's what the elders had always said mattered most. He watched the ice spread across the water until it formed a solid sheet. His ancestors had done this same training. He was following their path, one spell at a time. He looked up at the distant peak where the Tower of Dah'l stood. The ice structure rose high against the gray sky, its walls glowing with ancient magic. That's where his family's deepest secrets waited. The tower held the final teachings, the spells that separated a student from a master. His grandfather had trained there. His great-grandmother before that. Someday soon, he would climb those frozen steps and prove himself worthy. But first, he had to master these basic skills. The tower would test him harder than any training stone or frozen well ever could. He turned back to his practice, frost gathering at the tip of his staff once more.