"Let me go! I said, let me go, you foolish old man!" Zyrith screamed, her voice raw with desperation. Her hair clung to her damp face as she thrashed against the enchanted ropes binding her. The magical threads glowed faintly, unyielding to her struggles.
Merlin stood a few feet away, his staff planted firmly on the ground. He regarded her with a calm expression, the faintest hint of a smirk playing on his lips. His silver beard and piercing eyes gave him an air of authority that only made Zyrith's frustration burn hotter.
"Let you go?" Merlin chuckled, his voice carrying a deep, rich timbre. "Now, why would I do that? You'll only cause more trouble. I think keeping you here is much safer for everyone involved."
