"Mana, under normal circumstances," I began, crouching down as I drew a quick rough circle in the snow with my finger, "flows through your mana veins. That's the route most people rely on to use their mana—think of it like an empty road. It's open, sure, but that also means it's vulnerable."
I tapped the edge of the circle. "One wrong movement, even a slight misalignment, and the mana starts leaking in all directions. That's what causes mana exhaustion for most beginners. Or worse—internal damage if they're too reckless."
Stacia was sitting across from me, legs crossed, arms resting on her thighs, watching me closely with a small frown.
