Theo's dragon wisp gave one last defiant cry before dispersing into shimmering light particles.
He felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him as his defenses crumbled.
The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was the smug look in the leader's eyes and the shadowy figures of the abductors standing over him.
The abductors hoisted Theo's limp form over the shoulder of the burly man, securing him with runic bindings. "Let's move out before reinforcements arrive," the leader ordered, and they swiftly retreated, leaving the shattered remnants of the battle behind.
A few hours later.
Theo slowly regained consciousness, his head pounding and his body aching.
As his vision cleared, he realized he was inside a giant compartment of a big flying machine.
The walls and floor were cold and metallic, and the air buzzed with the hum of AetherTech machinery.