Soulcarved Mage

Xvalkken had two options: suffer under his father's boot, or flee into the Forest of the Damned Souls. He chose the Forest. He chose wrong. Inside, he found the graveyard of a forgotten empire, and a truth that shattered the world's lies: Mages have never needed to rely on primers to cast spells. For true magic does not come from trinkets - it is carved from the soul.  He traded his father's cruelty for the mercy of monsters, and learned to become something worse to survive. Forged in horror. Tempered in blood. He will carve out true power, in blood and soul.  *This book is a slow burn character-driven fantasy focusing on a magic system progression and world lore.  **Cross-posted on Royal Road, Neovel, and Scribblehub. If seen elsewhere, please let me know.  ***I'm a new author, so any feedback would be greatly appreciated.