A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

The group started curiously glancing between each other, but Eira didn't make them wait. She quickly pointed at Naeku, "You," then at Fatima, "you," then at Nadia, "you," and finally, at an unconscious Enkai in the back, "as well as the bloody one back there."

She looked back at Erik with a confident smile. "They are the only four with sufficient genetic ties to the city builders, Master."

Unsurprisingly, Ankhur cocked an eyebrow at that information. "My daughter and mother are, but not me? How does that make sense?"

Eira shrugged indifferently. "I'm just telling you what the sigils in this place are telling me. I don't know what the qualifications are."

Most of the others were equally confused, but Erik had picked up some lessons about genetics from his now-missing wife. "They probably need a specific percentage of genetic ancestry," he hummed thoughtfully, but with a constant edge of impatience.

"If I had to guess," he continued, glancing at Ankhur and his family, "I'd say your Egyptian ancestors don't count, and they're looking for genetic markers of the Maasai you integrated with. Fatima probably had enough markers passed on from her parents, but your father didn't have enough to make you compatible, and then I guess Naeku's mother helped your daughter get there."

Without waiting for an answer or acknowledgement, Erik hurriedly turned back to Eira. "Alright, so we have the descendants they want. What now?"

Picking up on his impatience, Eira didn't waste any time. "You need to pick one of them to take control of the city and all its functions, Master."

Erik nodded and quickly glanced at the people present there with a cocked eyebrow. "Can we all agree that, given the options, Naeku makes the most sense?"

Wryly, everyone looked at Nadia, Ankhur's wife; the ancient, first-ranked Fatima; and finally, the bloody and unconscious Enkai.

"Well, I'm definitely not taking Naeku's place," Nadia, the only choice who made any sense besides Naeku, immediately denied, still busy healing Erik. She smiled encouragingly at Naeku. "I may not be your biological mother, but I'm sure you know I love you like my own daughter, Naeku. This is the birthright Hana gave you, and I'm content just being Ankhur's wife."

Neaku, still hugging Erik, looked at Nadia and smiled with relief. She was glad Nadia didn't blame her for not being angrier at Erik over Enkai. "Thank you…" she whispered, before glancing at the rest of her family. Fatima, Amina, Tarek, Leila, and Ankhur all nodded encouragingly at her.

Finally, she looked up at Erik, and he smiled as well. With a quick kiss on the lips, Naeku turned around and nodded confidently at Eira. "I'm ready. What tests are there? I'll ace them and get Elora back! She and I may not see eye to eye on everything, but we share a husband, and that makes her family!"

Eira grinned happily and gave two thumbs-up. "That's the spirit! I'm sure Master will reward you with lots of sex!"

And with that, the tension was back.

Naeku's cheeks became bright red, her eyes widening to saucers. "Wha— wha— whadoyoumean?!" she cried, burying her hands in her face, and didn't dare turn around. Erik had a clear view of everyone's reactions, however.

Ankhur trembled lightly, his eyes closed, his fists balled. He was very obviously trying to sink into the stone floor, rather than attack Erik.

Ankhur's wives, as well as his father, all got a blush of their own, but it was one of anger as they glared furiously at Erik.

Fatima, however, joined Runa and Leila in grinning at Erik and giving him a joyous thumbs-up.

Finally, Astrid and Emily giggled knowingly, and even the wryly smirking Erik was temporarily distracted from thinking about Elora.

Eira looked at all their reactions strangely. "Did I… say something wrong? I know I'm still a little unclear on social cues, but I was sure Master's lovers always greatly enjoyed the experience… was I wrong?"

Her question did not help matters, but Erik quickly focused back on the issue. Coughing lightly, he waved his hand. "Y— You're not wrong, Eira, but I'll tell you the mistake you made later, alright? Let's get Elora back first."

"Alright, I guess…" she muttered, obviously curious and a little upset that she'd done something wrong. Ever since meeting Erik, she'd been forced to get much more comfortable with the concept of sex, and she'd succeeded, but now there was still something wrong! She didn't get it…

Still unwilling to turn around and desperate to change the topic, Naeku quickly nodded. "Y— Yes! Let's do this!"

Her smile returning, Eira became excited again. "Alright!" Then she lifted her hand and was about to point at her. "I'll transport you to the testing area."

"Oh, wait, wait!" Erik immediately stopped her. "This is somewhere else?" he asked with some concern. "Can someone come with her?"

Before Eira could answer, Naeku narrowed her eyes and looked at him. "I can handle myself, you know!"

Pursing his lips, Erik dropped his hands and smirked at her. "I know that… but this isn't about you. Elora is down there somewhere. If I have to sit here doing nothing for however long it takes you to inherit this place, all while I feel my bond with her slowly slipping away, I'm going to go insane."

Naeku, still in the process of wanting to say more, closed her lips and pouted. She had no comeback to that and quickly glanced at Eira for her answer.

Fortunately, Eira nodded. "If the inheritor is bonded to someone, that someone can come with… but it increases the difficulty appropriately."

Erik breathed a sigh of relief. "Good," he nodded, before patting his own chest and standing beside Naeku. "Our bond should count, so send us both."

The increase in difficulty did not concern him in the slightest… because he had no time to think about such things.

In the universe as a whole, including Söl, there existed a great many different marriage-type ceremonies, but the generally accepted umbrella term for these a relationship of this kind was to be 'bonded' to someone else… and the bond Elora created between him and his wives should qualify.

Eira cocked her head and checked the scanning sigils, as well as the instructions left behind by the original builders. Then, she nodded happily. "I'm allowed to send you both, Master!"

Once again, she raised a finger and an eyebrow. "Are you ready?"

Before any of the others could offer any objections, both Erik and Naeku nodded… then disappeared in a white flash.