Passive Hatred

More Training

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Timeskip

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Alex returned to his quiet training spot, the clearing hidden away from the rest of Snowdin. He had been spending what felt like days practicing what he'd read from the library books—learning how to control his magic. The exercises in the books focused on harnessing emotions, and Alex knew from experience that his strongest moments of magic came from anger or frustration.

He took a deep breath, recalling what the book said: Emotion fuels magic. Negative emotions bring out more raw power, but they are increadible instable. Alex closed his eyes, letting his frustration bubble up. He thought about being stuck here, about how little he understood, and about how lost he felt.

With a crackle, a dark tendril shot out from his back, curling in the air. He tried to focus, keeping his emotions from going too far. The tendril wavered slightly but stayed formed, swaying at his command. He raised his hand, willing the tendril to follow. Slowly, it did, moving in the direction he pointed.

"Good... stay in control," Alex whispered to himself. He focused again, summoning two tendrils this time. They appeared, twisting like shadows. He aimed one at a nearby tree, trying to make it hit softly, while the other reached out to lift a small rock off the ground.

BAM/CRUNCH

The first tendril slammed into the tree with a heavy thud, sending leaves falling. The second one wrapped around the rock, but when Alex tried to lift it, the tendril crushed it into pieces.

"Damn," Alex muttered, frustrated. He had put too much strength into it. The books said control was key, and that precision was just as important as power. Taking another deep breath, he tried again, focusing on finesse.

He imagined the tendrils as an extension of himself, connected to his SOUL. With a clearer mind, he willed them to carefully wrap around a small branch. The tendrils moved more smoothly this time, coiling around the branch without breaking it, lifting it gently from the .

A small smile crossed his face. "That's better."

Alex continued his training, pushing himself to be more precise. He used the tendrils to knock over stones, lift fragile leaves without crushing them, and even dodge imaginary attacks. With each practice, his magic felt a little more natural, the tendrils easier to control.

As night began to fall, Alex realized he was making progress. The tendrils still had a wild edge, but he was learning how to tame them, how to balance his emotions with the magic. It wasn't perfect, but he could feel himself getting stronger.

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Present time

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After a long day of training, Alex returned to the old library in the ruins of the old castle. The quiet atmosphere felt comforting, a place where he could be himself at his own pace. He pulled out one that had caught his eye earlier, titled "Understanding and Summoning Your SOUL: A Guide for Beginners."

Settling into a dusty corner, Alex flipped through the book's pages. The writing was simple, but clear. It explained that everyone had a SOUL, the core of their being, and that magic users could learn to summon their SOUL outside their body for protection and power.

"To summon one's SOUL, you must first understand its essence. The SOUL is the embodiment of who you are, representing your inner strength, emotions, and desires. In magic, your SOUL acts as both a shield and a weapon. To summon it requires concentration and the ability to look within."

Alex frowned. He wasn't exactly the type to meditate on his feelings. The idea of pulling out something so personal, something that defined him, made him a bit hesitent .But he knew it was crucial if he wanted to fully understand magic (and himself)

The book continued: "The process begins by focusing inward, calming your mind, and searching for that spark of light that represents your SOUL. Once found, you can draw it out, letting it hover in front of you. In battle, this allows you to open opportunities for greater magical abilities."

Alex leaned back, thinking. He had seen SOULs before—during his encounters in the underground, people's SOULs would appear during intense moments, like during battle or when strong emotions took hold. But summoning his own? He wasn't sure how to do that.

The book had a suggestion for beginners: "Find a quiet space where you won't be disturbed. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and focus on your heartbeat. Your SOUL is always there, pulsing in time with your life. Let that rhythm guide you to it."

Alex shut the book, feeling both eager and nervous. He wasn't sure what his SOUL would be like or what would happen when he called it forth.

"Your SOUL is always with you," Alex repeated the words from the book in his mind. "You just have to focus on it."

He tried to picture it—something deep inside him, tied to who he was. His heart continued to beat steadily, and he imagined reaching out toward that rhythm, trying to pull it into the physical world.

For a while, nothing happened. But then, just when he was about to get frustrated, he felt a faint warmth in his chest. It was small at first, like a spark. He latched onto that feeling, concentrating harder. The warmth grew stronger, spreading from his chest to his whole body. Then, just as the book had said, he felt a shift.

He felt Empty........No Incomplete 

Opening his eyes, Alex saw a glowing shape floating just in front of him—his SOUL. It glowed softly, pulsing in time with his heartbeat. The sight of it took him by surprise. It was strange but also... comforting. This was him, in its truest form.

He stared at the SOUL for a moment, amazed he'd actually done it. His soul felt like him 

Even if it was the wrong shape 

WAIT WHA---

"You got to be kidding me"