Light flooded in despite the cold wintry air outside. The mansion itself a warm respite from the blistering winds that howled and screeched beyond the walls.
And yet not a single touch of it fell inside, amidst roaring fires powered by his magecraft, against the intricate bounded field that kept the heat from escaping. It was here, even though he had only stepped forth into this place a short time ago that he could feel at home.
For even if he were to come far away from the place of his birth, there was one gift that could bring it with him wherever he went. The wonders of money itself, that while others of his ilk would squander their fortunes and rid themselves of such vestments in the pursuit of their craft. In truth the real answer would always be to have both, the modern world may have limited magecraft in some ways, but such things were only for the peasantry in the first place.
Stretching down the corridors ahead, the full view of his might was laid out. From ornate carpets, a fine deep red the rolled across the room, and embroidered with only the finest gold trimmings.
From the deep velvet curtains, framing the floor to ceiling windows, illuminating his whole world. The effusive display of light serving only to enhance the grandeur. Even as others were forced to hide away from the light, once you had power everything in this world would flow towards you. All difficulties that existed in life could be overcome as long as you knew the price.
He strode forward, the thick scent of the bedroom oozing out behind him, the exotic fragrance billowing out through the halls as a reminder of the last night's opulence.
But alas, there was a time for work, and a time for play. And this moment was for his dreams, it was a place for him to excel and to fulfil his every dream. For such a moment, even if it forced his hand, he would forgo a few moments of pleasantry.
For the sake of the future, it would be so.
He strode in, staring out over his workshop as row after row of vats stood, each one cradling an orphan within the confines. Draining them of mana for his greatest masterpiece. The steady thrum as great as any leyline pouring power throughout the room in all its majesty.
It stood, as a vibrant centrepiece. Carved in the blood of orphans, even as the mana flowed through it, the perfect arrangement that tested the very limits of what money could buy. A stark reminder to his brethren who only ever thought of the art that there was power yet greater still held throughout humanity.
If only they were willing to pluck it.
He advanced, for even if he was early, even if the War had not begun in earnest. There was an advantage in being first to summon, and here amidst the cradle of humanity he had already written off all disadvantages.
As the words spilled from his lips he felt them, joining in amidst the orchestra. A whole symphony of instruments played out before him as the circle echoed off the sacrifices.
And the world was bathed in light, brighter than the Sun itself as for a moment he was forced to hide his sight. As fire coursed throughout his body, the familiar sensation searing away as it carved an emblem into his hand.
Through the pain he smiled, eager to see it, as the light faded, and the room returned to daylight he cradled his hand gently, the bright red runes carved into his flesh the measure of his success.
He raised his head, hungrily devouring the sight of his masterpiece, the perfect existence worthy of being called his Servant.
In the centre of the room, she stood. A ravishing beauty, with perfect skin, long vibrant blue hair. A smile as warm and kind as anything in this world. Covered only in a skimpy ensemble that barely covered anything, encased in some form of crocodile skin, or perhaps dragon considering the era.
She did not look like a warrior, more like one of his concubines back in the bedroom. Ah but to have such a chance, it wasn't like he would object. But even with unlimited mana, even able to draw on all his resources at hand. From appearances alone, he almost believed he might have drawn a failure, if not for the way even every last drop of mana dragged along by the bond was eagerly devoured. Even if she looked sweet, the existence beneath it was ravenous without end.
Standing amidst the banquet feast she ignored him. Her eyes seeing past him as she fixated on the vats alone, as though they might be her Master. Leaning forward against it as her entire body pressed into the glass.
But then even if they supplied their lives. It was within him that the intent was held.
With a firm smile he stepped forward. "Ah yes are you impressed by it, this method of draining mana from the lives of so many orphans, well it's so efficient that it's more practical even then using the greater source." He preened in his suit. "But before that I take it introductions are in order. I, Lord Richard have summoned you into this world to act as my shield and take control of the Grail itself. Name yourself Servant."
Uncaring she continued to cradle the vat itself, hands extending into claws. And for a moment he felt it tug. The slight feel burning on his hand as he felt the miracle awaiting his command, the final
But this paltry moment wasn't when he would need it most.
Tensing slightly, he watched closer. Rising up to his full stature, even as it still left him staring up at her. Wreathed in the full majesty that wealth could buy as he stood before her. "I asked my servant for your name. Is it not the least you could give to the one who brought you forth into this world?"
She ignored him, hands tentatively reaching out and caressing the vat beside her as she gazed within.
And in the darkness the child's eyes opened, the semblance of something darker hidden beneath it as the container around it shattered. The clear liquid dyeing itself black as it rose up and flowed out over his servant.
Bile rose in his throat, the putrid stench of rotting flesh hitting him as he recoiled. Prana flowing freely through his veins as he pushed down, the familiar pain lancing up through his form as he braced himself to push onwards.
She rose from the mess, rising higher still, as blood poured down her limbs. The thick fluid bubbling up as it raced out across the room around him. Bubbling up as it overflowed, staining his carpets an ever deeper crimson.
Yet even as the blood flowed endlessly, she remained calm. A serene expression on her face as the blood bubbled upwards across the room. The glimpse of what must have been her noble phantasm eating away into his mind.
He returned that smile, feeling the overwhelming power surrounding him settle into the world, even as his mind warned him not to get lost in it. Even if he had mana to burn, even if there were always more children to sacrifice.
There were limits before it would be troublesome to cover it up, but this power was intense, it was insane. A semblance that stood beyond anything he could have managed, to wring this much from the corpse of a single child? He'd sacrifice whole orphanages and schools to hold this at his fingertips.
From the bubbling froth they rose, twisted limbs prying free of the ooze as they went from tiny specks amidst the viscera to overwhelming monsters out of myth.
A serpent that writhed in its own coils, shedding the effusive blood in droves from its flesh as it welled up amidst the darkness. The form of a twisted leviathan growing until its form slammed against the walls around them. The remnants of the mansion cracking and shattering under the weight of its presence as it destroyed the lab in its throes.
The crashing glass splintering as it rained down, immersing the rest of his collection into the muck beneath them. The tide swelling over their forms as it twisted them outright, devouring and consuming them as their corpses melted.
And ever more monstrous forms bubbled up in their wake. Rising from the tide as a horde flowing upwards as the acrid smell burned in his lungs.
Perched on thin spindly legs, mandibles chattering as they echoed off the walls surrounding them. The insectoid creature rose from the muck, with pincers unfolding into a multitude of blades that flickered amidst the walls. Scintillating rays of a thousand colours reflecting off every surface, as more and more limbs unfolded. The head itself bulging outwards as its eyes expanded, welling up to cover the entire head, even as a thin proboscis extended from a tiny slit at the bottom.
He stepped back, drawing on all the composure his parents had spent years drilling into him. Clinically detaching himself from the world as the rotten stench creeped through his nose. Dragging himself back as pain raced through his circuits as they were set alight, the constant reminder of his status burning along his left arm as he focused himself.
As hoarse goat legged demon, tearing its way free as vines erupted from its shoulders and latched onto the building itself. Dragging itself free of the mud in an instant as it rose above to survey the world beneath it.
As the ooze welled up, bubbling forth as it belched forth amorphous bubbles, spikes erupting from nothingness within them as they rose into the skies.
As birds screeched out their existence, their feathers catching alight as they propelled themselves on tiny jets that burned green fire.
As lizards drew forth their gaze from the muck, their scales bleeding and peeling away as fresh tumours exploded outwards from them in every direction. A rain of broken shattered limbs pouring off as they endlessly grew anew in seconds.
Countless more abominations, twisted and deranged as they brought themselves into the world and breathed their first breaths.
Apostasy
And in the centre of it all, untouched by the tide, her perfect features marred as her face was split in an ecstatic smile that stretched far too wide, she stood. The scaled armour writhing as it grew further up the length of her form, scales splitting as more and more blood poured forth from her flesh beneath it.
Breathing deeply, even if she was a monster, no because she was a monster. He'd summoned something that stood above any hero, a perfect existence. As long as he took control here, it would be the only battle that counted. For against the tide unravelling before him no mere hero could hope to stand against it.
With a squirming sensation, the tide reached his foot, embedding itself in his soul as the curse drew forth.
The starting penalty is five
He wrenched back, slamming into the ground behind him as he focused. Prying the last of his body free as Prana coursed through his circuits. Pouring open the taps freely as he forced more power through them in an attempt to cleanse the rot he felt ripping through his veins.
And all eyes were turned upon him. From the mantis to the Queen herself, who must have been Echidna or some other who held the title of Mother of all Monsters. Probing eyes staring into his soul as an assortment of mandibles and teeth chattered amongst the whispered monsters,
He was going to die.
The mantis stepped forward, long spindly legs crossing the gap as it stared down at him, maw chittering wildly as it cackled. The wind bristling as he felt a current of power beyond even the strongest of miracles bubbling away deep beneath its surface. The breeze dragging him forward even as he struggled to pull back, the enormous weight of its gaze pulling him in.
He felt his circuits ignite, the flames ravaging out upon the world for a brief moment as they raced outwards, spiralling out as the conflagration drew itself up to the summit. As hundreds of years of built up human history erupted into the world before him.
The flames extinguished, dragged out before they even surfaced upon reality. The enormous conflagration dying out in the moment as it stepped forward. Eyes baring down on him with a merciless expression that barely registered as it snuffed out his power with barely a glance.
His hand extended, the miracle embedded within it burning brightly as he invoked it. The skeins of fate bending before his will as he gave a single absolute command upon those who stood before him.
"Stop."
Like a thousand chains he felt them cast out, ripping across the distance as they reached into their progenitors soul, binding her across every facet of reality as they latched on.
Falling away in every facet of reality, spewing forth in a torrent of blood as the Queen herself stared back at him, smiling ever so lightly as it failed to take hold. As the miracle burned out within a single moment, the entire existence enveloped with tat unstoppable tide of blood as it flowed outwards.
The second. "Restrain them."
Fire burned along his hand, the binding wracking out as it pushed forward. His will made manifest through the dreams of humanity.
The vicious smile on her face unwavering even as she stared back. And she spoke, the letters resounding through his head as they echoed off his skull. "KTKRKTKRKTKTKRKTKRJTKJKTKJKRJTKRJTKKTK." The smile never leaving her face, even as she casually stood, smile widening even further as the monsters closed it.
"Help me."
Like that his final miracles burned away. As she watched on, the same expression of warmth and kindness placed upon her face.
As the demons that swelled forth devoured him.