In literature, “hardened” is a richly versatile term that functions across both tangible and abstract realms. Authors often use it to depict materials that have been transformed by nature or fire into unyielding substance, as in walls of hardened earth or fore-wings hardened by evolution ([1], [2], [3]). Equally, the term characterizes characters or hearts that have grown impervious through suffering or steadfast resolution, suggesting both a protective rigidity and, at times, moral callousness ([4], [5], [6]). In religious discourse, “hardened” conveys themes of stubborn defiance or divine judgment, where a heart is set against repentance ([7], [8], [9]). This layered use provides a vivid sensory and emotional texture to narratives, evoking images of both physically and spiritually unyielding conditions.