A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

Noticing Emma's pout and uneasy mood, Emily narrowed her eyes at Erik. "What did you say to Emma?"

Erik grinned mysteriously and wiggled his eyebrows. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

He knew it was risky to tease this woman, considering her tendency to lose control, but he just couldn't help himself. It was fun. Besides, she needed to learn control, and he was providing practice.

But Emily remained composed. Perhaps it was the earlier encounter or perhaps the happiness twinkling in Emma's eyes despite her pout. Either way, she simply snorted. "Fine. Don't tell me. We still need to find a way to prepare for future attacks."

Erik was surprised at her calm reaction but only felt his respect for her rise. Quick to anger, maybe, but also quick to adapt.

He nodded at Emily's words. "Don't worry, Elora and I have already thought of something." Elora immediately appeared next to him. Her crimson hair blew in the wind; her green eyes twinkled with mischief, and a corset with a short skirt once again adorned her figure.

Before even fully materialising, her finger was already pointing at Emily. "That's right! And you're going to help me!"

Emily looked surprised. Perhaps she had not fully realised Elora was back yet despite having seen her earlier. She spoke up. "Wait, how did you even get back here?"

The wolf and fairy pair had never thoroughly explained the plan to Emily and Emma. There simply hadn't been time. All they had known was that Elora was going with Katya, disguised as an average human.

Erik had explained the situation to Emma yesterday when the girl had asked him about Elora's safety. But Emilly still knew nothing.

The fairy giggled condescendingly, looking at the black-haired woman as if she were an idiot. "Please, as if that oaf of a bear-woman could keep Erik and me apart. We have an unbreakable bond and can never be far from each other."

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It wasn't much of an explanation, but Emily wouldn't get anything better from her. Elora continued. "Anyway, from today on, you'll be my little apprentice. We will be covering this boat in sigils while I begin to teach you."

She grinned maliciously as her eyes twinkled with cruelty. "Better prepare. I am not a kind teacher."

Just as Elora had told Erik back in the Ashcroft mansion, she saw tremendous sigil-crafting talent in Emily, and intended to nurture it. She may not care about the sisters like Erik did, but she respects talent.

Besides, a servant who could craft sigils was far more useful than one who couldn't.

Emily raised her eyebrows in surprise. "You're going to teach me?" Then, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Why?"

Ever since creating that aetherium infusion sigil, she had wanted to learn more about it. Both because she recognised the potential and because she found the process enjoyable.

But, the few interactions she had with Elora clearly depicted her as a callous woman. So why teach her?

Elora's lips curled up in derision, "I have my reasons. But why bother asking about them? I can see in your eyes that you want to learn, and even if you refuse, the covenant will force you. So, any more questions? No? Good.

Follow me!"

Having finished her words, Elora flew off to the front of the ship.

Annoyance and anger were visible in Emily's black eyes, but no sign of losing control. In the end, she really did want to learn. And if Elora was willing to teach, Emily would suffer the fairy's dismissive attitude.

She suddenly began to appreciate Erik's more inclusive attitude a little more. She even began to suspect Erik was the only reason Elora hadn't simply kept her as a doll without a will.

With a helpless sigh and an increased opinion of Erik, she followed after Elora.

Erik chuckled at the appreciative look Emily had given him before leaving. It was not the first time this happened.

Regardless of whether this was their intention or not, Erik and Elora's differing attitudes had always created somewhat of a good cop bad cop situation.

After all, anyone who dealt with one of them had to take the other as part of the deal, and when they suffered through Elora's callousness and mischief long enough, they would suddenly yearn to deal with Erik instead.

Some would perhaps be confused as to why Erik loved someone like that. But Erik didn't care. He only cared about how Elora treated him, so long as she was at least a little considerate towards anyone Erik cared for.

He turned his attention to Emma and noticed she was still casting her light spell on him. Considering its limited effect on him, he barely even noticed it. Drops of sweat had begun to appear on her forehead as she continued to pour power into her spell.

Erik smiled at her willingness to help but didn't want her to exhaust herself for no reason. He touched her magic circle and used his superior control of aetherium to gently break her spell. Breaking a spell like this could cause a backlash if done without care.

Emma looked at him with confusion and sadness. Likely wondering if she had done something wrong. But Erik smiled reassuringly at her. "Thank you for the help, Emma. I'm fine now."

Hearing his encouragement made a bright smile appear on Emma's face. Erik felt almost blinded and once again wondered who had been unfair enough to give Emma this level of beauty and cuteness.

He looked in the direction Elora and Emily had gone before turning back to Emma. "Aren't you worried about your sister?"

Emma shook her head without losing her smile, "She'll be fine. I know Miss Elora cares little for big Em and me, but she does care a great deal about you. And you care about us. She may be a little harsh with big Em, but she won't do anything to harm her."

Erik chuckled as he marveled at the intuition for people's intentions and feelings that Emma's nature affinity had given her. "You're right," he said and patted her head.

"Anyway, go inside and prepare some tea or something. I'll be with you in a moment. I want to spend our time on this boat increasing your power as much as possible since you're lagging behind the rest of us."

Excited at the prospect of becoming more powerful and helpful, Emma's smile became even brighter. "Yes, Sir!" She said energetically before running off to the ship's kitchen.

A low laugh escaped Erik's lips, amused by her enthusiasm. He turned around and gazed out over the sea, thinking about what lay beyond--the deeper ocean and, eventually, the Americas. He wondered about the state of the world there.

He had only ever heard stories and seen movies about the United States, many of which involved an apocalyptic America. Were they doing better or worse than Europe? Who was ruling it? Or had it become a no man's land like Africa?

He also considered Canada and the countries in South America. The council's info said something about a human supremacy regime in parts of Asia. Maybe there were similar setups with shapeshifters. Could he and Elora use that to their advantage? Only time would tell.

Then, his thoughts turned to the deep blue ocean. Since the awakening, no ship had ever returned after attempting to sail to the other end. What kind of mutations had the aetherium caused in the massive creatures that dwelled in the deepest and darkest places of the world?

Perhaps he would find out. Or, perhaps, he would simply find a plane and get to America by air. Or something else entirely. Either way, he would go there eventually, but likely only after getting revenge and growing much stronger.

For now, they would travel along the coastline, going from the Netherlands to Germany, then Denmark, and finally, Norway, before going all the way around to the other side and reaching Kirkenes.

Hopefully, this will avoid any truly dangerous sea creatures and allow them to have smooth sailing all the way. 'No pun intended,' Erik chuckled inwardly. He turned around and went to see what Emma had prepared for him.

********

About a day later, luckily without encountering any more tidal tempests, all four of them had gathered at the front of the ship.

Erik looked at an exhausted Emily with a sympathetic grin, knowing all too well the

unforgiving taskmaster Elora could turn into when dealing with sigils.

Sigils and Erik were the only things that could make Elora set aside her mischief and summon all the seriousness her small body could muster.

The tired Emily was currently on one knee in the middle of a large sigil and using a small, black sphere on the tip of her finger to etch in the finishing touches under the supervision of a surprisingly stern-looking Elora, who gave the occasional pointer.

This wasn't the only sigil they had created, however. In fact, the entire ship was now covered in sigils. Not even the ship's underbelly had been spared.