I agree there is a lighting issue.
There is a strong warm lightsource in the bg, which should have some visible effect on the wizard. Did you maybe add red in his face and hand for this reason? Doesn't read as light, it's way too dark.
The staff itself is a lightsource, blue and near: it should also have a strong effect on the wizard. It could indeed be the main / only fg light-source.
Instead there is an undefined frontal white lightsource on the wizard which doesn't say anything about the story or context.
Actually, when I saw the first version of the sprite alone, I thought 'pillowshading'. It's not THAT bad of course

, but it does give off this same feeling of inconsistency.
Looks great anyway, I love how you mostly use 'natural' pixel angles.
Too much dithering in that sky though!