A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

Still on the floor and clutching her throat, Zahra glared at the crouching Erik with suspicious scepticism. "You're really letting me go…?" Then she narrowed her eyes. "Wait! What do you mean with 'something to remember you by'?!"

Smiling, Erik's hand right hand snapped forward and grabbed Zahra's chin, keeping her head in place. "Well, even if I need to let you go for the sake of my own plans, you still attacked me, and there need to be consequences for that."

With growing concern, Zahra struggled against his grip, but had nowhere to go. "I— I won't be judged by you!" she snarled and tried to scoot back. At the same time, an illusory red magic circle appeared, and several shards of red magic shot at Erik.

Yet, she'd scraped the bottom of her already fuming aetherium storage. Not only did she drain it even further, but Erik had no issue deflecting these weakened, easily telegraphed shards with a lazy backhand.

"Give it up, Zahra," he hummed deeply. "You've lost. Accept your punishment, and you'll be allowed to get back to Maghreb."

Zahra wanted to shake her head, but Erik still held her chin. Meanwhile, Astrid crouched down as well and grabbed her shoulder with an excited grin.

Suddenly, Zahra gasped as Erik and Astrid worked together to fully suppress Zahra's omnisense. Her eyes widened. She couldn't move or sense her surroundings anymore, only able to look at Erik.

Because of that, she never noticed when a small fairy suddenly fluttered out of a crease in Astrid's armour. As it turned out, Elora had come with…

Having already discussed the punishment with Erik, she planted her small hands on Zahra's back with a sadistic grin.

"W— What the frick is going on back there?!" Zahra panted worriedly, struggling uselessly against their grips. Her hands were wrapped around Erik's armoured arms.

Astrid snickered callously. "Don't you worry about that. Why don't you tell me about this frick thing, instead? It's very cute."

"Fri—!" she stopped herself at the last moment before playing into Astrid's hand and clenched her jaw. "None of your business! Just— Just get whatever you're planning over with already!"

Elora, deliberately trying to hide her presence, didn't answer, but gathered power in her hands and engaged her sigil craft.

Dark green light flashed, and Zahra gasped again. Her eyes widened. "W— What— What are you doing?! S— Something is— ah—!"

"Just relax," Erik smirked, observing her carefully. "With no omnisense or aetherium, you have no way to meaningfully resist. It'll be over quicker if you let it happen."

"T— That's what a rapist says!" Zahra snarled, her body tense.

Astrid glanced at Erik with a small smirk. "She's kind of right, Erik. I thought you were against that kind of thing."

Erik glanced at his strawberry-blond wife and cocked an eyebrow. "Weren't you the one wanting me to ravage her?"

She shrugged, grinning with amusement. "Yeah, but I didn't think you'd agree!"

Erik rolled his eyes. "Rapists are weak and disgusting…" His lips curled up meaningfully as he winked at Astrid. "I make you want it first."

As Zahra struggled against Elora's sigil carving, Erik turned back to her and shrugged. "Regardless, I stand by what I said. I won't let one group co-opt a perfectly reasonable statement."

Zahra glared at him hatefully, but there was nothing to be done now. After a few minutes, Elora's work was done and, as promised, Zahra had found no way to resist against whatever she did, nor any real idea of who did it.

Winking playfully at Erik, Elora then disappeared back into Astrid's armour.

With that done, Erik and Astrid took their hands off Zahra and stopped suppressing her omnisense. A little panicked, she immediately started turning her head to try and catch a glimpse of whatever had been done to her. "W— What did you do?!"

Red aetherium flickered as instinct urged her to call on her power and defend herself.

But then Erik snapped his fingers, and Zahra both gasped and flinched when she felt the connection to her aetherium being severed and the illusory power fizzled out again.

"N— No…" she whispered, stunned. Finally, Erik noticed a hint of fear in her eyes. "Y— You said… you said you needed me to fight!"

Grinning, Erik brought his middle finger and thumb together again, as if getting ready to snap. "That's true, Zahra," and then he snapped his fingers again.

Instantly, her connection was restored, and Zahra felt a flood of relief as tension drained from her body. Now on hands and feet, she panted, utterly confused.

Before she could ask anything, Erik grasped her chin and forced her to look into his fierce, amber eyes. "You've been inscribed with a suppression sigil, Zahra. From now on, I decide when you can use your power. From now on, anytime you use your power, you'll know that you're only doing it because I allow you to do so. Your power belongs to me now."

Shock and realisation set in Zahra's mind as her breathing deepened. Beside them, Astrid was smirking with amusement. She did love it when her beloved exercised his power over others. She wasn't callous, exactly, but this particular bitch did try to kill her husband, so…

Knowing his message had come across, Erik stood up with a smirk and walked away, indicating for Astrid to do the same. Thus, Zahra was no longer in suppression range.

"Now, you're free to go, Zahra," he smirked lightly. "The teleportation won't be stopped again."

He shrugged. "I know you have some knowledge of sigils because you used one here today, but I doubt you'll be able to remove this one. You're welcome to try, though… But I might decide to cut you off for good as punishment."

Zahra was reeling from shock and fury, unable to form a coherent thought. Her mouth opened and closed several times, like a fish on dry land. She glared at Erik, no idea what to say, but filled with anger, indignity, and a little scepticism… Perhaps she still didn't really believe he was actually letting her go.

Surely he still wanted to know how they'd entered the city?

Erik noticed her hesitation and playfully pursed his lips, arms crossed in front of his chest. "You're also free to stay if you like. I'm sure a few nights in my bed will convince you to talk."

With an instant flash, Zahra was gone as well.