Chapter 34 - Fiery mana

As Richard became aware of the depleted reservoir of mana within him, a disquieting sensation crept over him. It wasn't merely the absence of magical energy that troubled him; rather, it was an unsettling feeling that something was amiss. He chose to initiate the process of mana gathering. Seating himself on the ground, legs crossed in a lotus position, Richard grappled with the challenge of maintaining balance. The act of sitting, seemingly mundane, presented a hardship, a struggle that unfolded with a precarious wobble. His hand instinctively reached out, hitting the ground just in time to avert a potential fall.