The Ability Restrictor, created by Dex, is a silver circlet with swirling design that Sophie was forced to wear in Everblaze, as her punishment for reading King Dimitar's mind.
Dex created one of his own later because he blamed himself for hurting Sophie with his gadget after she warned him about it. Dex later threw it into the fire Brant had set and vowed never to make another one.
Dex made the ability restrictor, but when the Council learned, Terik was sent to order him to create an ability restrictor. Unbeknownst to him, the Council had ordered it to be made for Sophie, after she paid a visit to her San Diego home alongside Keefe. However, when Sophie was forced to try it on, Dex learned the truth and made a last minute failed attempt to refuse to help.
During this time, she drank Slumberberry Tea to knock her out for three days in a row, and ate Clarifava which is a food the gnomes grew for her to help her body resist the influence of technology.
Later on in this book, during Sophie and Grady's battle with Brant, Dex removed it forever (since he was the only one who could) after she called him with the panic switch. Since Grady had been incapacitated, she'd needed backup.
Reasoning[]
Dex said that he just wanted his family to be respected so that the triplets (Bex, Rex, and Lex) wouldn't have to go through all the scorn he went through. He said that this assignment gave him and the Dizznee name a chance. In addition to this, the Council later threatened his family, saying that if he did not put it on Sophie, they'd all be exiled.
Ability Enhancer[]
Dex was trying to make a device that could give Talentless elves powers, so others wouldn't have to face the scorn his parents faced, but the Councillors requested him to change it into an Ability Restrictor. He showed it to Sophie during Foxfire, however she didn't take the invention well, and she and Dex started to quarrel. Dex also made this enhancer because he was jealous of Fitz and his relationship with Sophie, wanting to outdo him.
Effects[]
The ability restrictor only hindered Sophie's abilities and did not completely shut them down. During the assigning of the restrictor, it was proven that it didn't fully block her telepathy, because Magnate Leto was able to slip through, and told her not to tell anyone about it. It also gave Sophie very painful headaches. She briefly fell unconscious when it is first put on before Dex modified it to hurt her less.
Keefe's Request[]
Later, in Unlocked, Keefe asks Dex to make another, so he could talk without worrying about commands. Dex refuses, saying he would never make another after what happened with Sophie.