"It can't be recent. Not given how well set up they are," Lia replied, voice gone quiet and thoughtful. "But of the people I've encountered, I don't believe there have been any here longer than two weeks. I don't know if that's the typical duration..."

If it was, it raised several questions. One of the foremost being: where were any of the patients who had been there previous to that? Lia's expression darkened as the most obvious answer offered itself, all unwanted.

"I've not heard yet of anyone being able to slip the shackles. But...a man of my acquaintance did mention that they were able to temporarily return the full use of his abilities, albeit at a cost. Which means either the method they use to hamper us is selective, or there's something that can counteract it."