The carriage continued its steady journey forward, the rhythmic sound of its wheels rolling across the road blending into a soft, consistent backdrop as the world outside slipped further and further away, leaving behind an enclosed silence that felt almost detached from everything beyond its walls.
Damon sat quietly within that space, his posture composed as he closed his eyes once again, though this time there was no attempt to reach for mana, no effort to recreate what had just happened, but instead a deliberate shift inward toward thought.
He began to retrace the sequence.
Every detail.
Every moment.
Was I too hasty…?
The question surfaced first, simple yet direct, as he considered whether his impatience had caused the disruption, whether the mana particles had reacted to a subtle imbalance in intent rather than technique. The thought lingered briefly before he dismissed it, his mind moving with quiet precision.
No… I don't think so.
