Chapter 172: Out Of Place

Vyan's mind swam in and out of focus. The edges of his vision were blurry as darkness seeped in like a slow, encroaching tide. He could barely feel the rough ground beneath him, the coolness of the earth doing little to soothe the fiery pain throbbing through his skull. 

His hands were bound behind his back, the metallic bite of handcuffs digging into his wrists with every sluggish attempt to move.

"Where… am I?" The world around him was an indistinct blur of darkness and muffled sounds. He couldn't tell where he was or how he had ended up here.

He tried to summon his magic, to ignite even the faintest spark of mana, but his efforts were in vain. The energy was unreachable as if being restricted by whatever tied his wrists. 

Magic… I can't use magic.

Panic flickered at the edge of his consciousness, but he was too disoriented to grasp it fully.