Inside the Hideout
Rowan could not fully concentrate on meditating, for every thought reminded him of his dire predicament and the crushing helplessness that barred any escape from his current situation.
He sat down inside the pool and scanned the area, observing the other captives as they sat in rigid silence, forcefully and fearfully cultivating mana with a desperate determination.
Meditating, under normal circumstances, is not a difficult task once one possesses a mana core and fully grasps the mechanics of cultivating magic. However, the same could not be said when one is forced to cultivate as though every moment might be their last, and even worse, no matter how hard one labors, safety is never guaranteed.
So
How could Rowan—a man who loves freedom—ever hope to concentrate in such an oppressive environment? The challenge was insurmountable and, in his eyes, utterly impossible.
