It had been 2 years since I first began my deep dive into nature and metal magic. Time passed quickly, filled with endless days of training, experimenting, and honing my skills. The cave that once felt like a humble sanctuary was now filled with evidence of my progress—shelves lined with tomes, rows of plants growing in perfect harmony, and metal constructs scattered around, each an experiment in shaping the raw materials of the earth.

I’d come a long way. Both my mastery of nature and metal magic had advanced beyond anything I could have anticipated. Where I had once struggled to coax a single vine to grow or to transmute a simple iron orb into steel, I was now operating at a much higher level—Tier 3 in both disciplines, a feat I took great pride in, even if it was still on the relatively weaker side of the scale. In my world, the magic tier system spanned from Tier 1 spells, which were basic and foundational, all the way up to Tier 10 spells that were classified as legendary. I had yet to reach those heights, but Tier 3 was a solid start.

The journey hadn’t been easy, though. My days were filled with constant practice, pushing myself to understand the deeper complexities of each type of magic. With nature magic, it wasn’t just about making plants grow anymore—it was about communing with the very essence of life, feeling the pulse of the earth, and directing that force to my will. I could now heal with far more precision, regenerating not just superficial wounds but injuries down to the bone. More than that, I could manipulate plant life with a degree of finesse that felt second nature to me. Entire forests would bend to my will, trees growing in the span of minutes, vines thickening and twisting into walls of impenetrable defense, or blooming with poisonous thorns when necessary.

I’d even grown to appreciate how interconnected nature magic was with the cycles of life. Understanding how life, death, and rebirth were all part of the same continuum gave me an edge when using nature mana. It was no longer just about controlling plants; it was about controlling life itself, and with that power came a deeper connection to the world around me. Elves and green dragons might have been the traditional masters of nature magic, but I, a blue dragon, had pushed those boundaries further than most could imagine.

Metal magic had evolved just as dramatically. Ground magic was tough to master, but I had always enjoyed the challenge. After countless hours of trial and error, I learned to sense the subtle vibrations in the earth more acutely, extracting rare ores and minerals with precision. What had started with small orbs of iron had grown into something far more sophisticated. I could now manipulate vast quantities of metal, forging weapons, armor, and intricate constructs out of steel, silver, and even rarer metals.

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It wasn’t just about shaping or transmuting metals anymore, though. Metal magic, when combined with my knowledge of ground magic, allowed me to control the properties of the metals I summoned. I could make steel stronger, lighter, or imbue it with specific qualities like resistance to heat or magic. I even started experimenting with magnetism, learning to create a magnetic field that I could control with my mind.

I was learning that metal magic wasn’t just about shaping and transmuting but also about mastering the core essence of minerals and metals. Each had its own vibration, its own magical resonance, and understanding that was key to pushing my abilities further. I had reached Tier 3, a level where I could summon vast structures from the earth and shape them in moments, create weapons that shimmered with a strength beyond mortal steel, and even imbue them with magical properties from my other disciplines.

The road to Tier 3 hadn’t been without its challenges. There were moments of frustration, where I would hit a wall in my learning, unable to progress. The more I delved into metal magic, the more I realized how deep and complex the discipline truly was. Each type of metal had its own quirks, its own magical properties, and it took time to master them all. My most recent accomplishment had been learning to work with steel, and forging it into a set of armor that could withstand both physical and magical attacks. But not like prevosily I worked it to add more durability then normal steel and improve it which was quite difficult. Tho I would never need armor due to my natural scales its a good way to practice control which metal magic needs.

Reaching Tier 3 was an important milestone, but I understood it was merely the beginning. There were still seven more tiers above me, each representing a significant leap in power and complexity. To reach Tier 10—the realm of legendary spells—would require years of dedicated study and practice, far beyond what I had already accomplished.

As I stood at the entrance of my cave, looking out over the mountain range where my clan resided, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. The year had been long, but it had been worth every moment. My mastery over both nature and metal magic had grown to a level that I could never have imagined when I first started. I was learning to walk the path of a mage, a journey that promised endless opportunities for growth.

But I knew I wasn’t done. There were still more mysteries to uncover, more levels of mastery to reach. I had barely scratched the surface of what was possible with nature and metal magic, and I was eager to continue my journey. With the power I had gained, there was no telling what I could accomplish in the years to come.

For now, though, I would take a moment to appreciate how far I had come. Tier 3 in both nature and metal magic—a year of hard work and dedication had brought me here, and I knew that this was only the beginning of my journey into the deeper mysteries of magic. I also had many other types of magic to master. I had books on Sound poison and acid magic right now I think it's about time I dive into the trying to reach tier 3. And maybe figure out blasted ice magic.