With his life on the line and Thrud's minions hunting him down like a priceless treasure, Phillard studied magic like never before and his brain helped him along the way. Nightmares of his head mounted on Thrud's wall and the reports of the tragic end of her victims fueled him with endless willpower.
He learned Spirit Magic at an astounding speed that reinforced the trust and confidence the Lindwurm bloodline had in his abilities.
By the end of the war, Phillard's contributions were so great that the Kingdom offered him a fief and a noble title. The Lindwurm proved smarter than Morok and turned the offer down, preferring gold over power accompanied by the invisible shackles of duty.
As a self-Awakened, he was freed from his apprenticeship as soon as peace returned. Surviving the conflict and mastering Spirit Magic in life-or-death battles were proof enough of the Lindwurm's skill and wisdom.
