Aleister's mind raced, Medea was a tricky individual. Trying to Command Seal her may not work with Rule Breaker in play, and in all honestly, he'd much rather have such a beautiful woman working for him willingly, yes-men tended to get boring quickly.
Medea wasn't exactly a saint herself, she was called the Witch of Betrayal for a reason, but she also had a very simple set of morals and of course like all Servants, she had a wish. She was risky, but if he got her on his side...
"I suppose yes, this is a rather unusual summoning isn't it? I am Aleister Crowley, no relation to the other one I assure you". He began, while he'd never feel the need to point out he had no connections to his namesake, in the case of dealing with Heroic Spirits, it was best to point it out. "As for why you've been summoned in such a way, I want to make a deal with you, Medea of Colchis".
"A deal? Go on". A spark of interest appeared in the witch's eyes, and Aleister wasn't about to lost the drive he'd built up fade.
"This world is one beyond Gaia and Alaya's reach, I have... Contracted I suppose is the best term with an otherworldly entity. In return for generating feelings of respect, fear, worship or lust towards me, which will be converted into energy for the entity, who in returns grants me abilities". He explained, a look of both intrigue and wariness entering Medea's eyes.
"And I suppose you have some idiotic dreams of conquests and making maidens your concubines?". She hissed out, shit shit shit! How did he recover this? Wait, there was a way, which would ether work or he'd be forced to use a Command Seal.
"Yes". He spoke simply, causing Medea to actually have an expression of shock. "And I do fully desire to make you mine, however, such a path would be foolish to tread down. Instead I seek to make you an ally, and in return, I shall do all I can to grant your own desires".
Medea's eyes narrowed, but there was a pink tint to her cheeks.
"V-very well, if you agree to a binding contract, I shall... Work with you. But I refuse the opportunity for us to court, I have no interest in a man who will abandon me the moment he finds a more attractive woman". She spoke, a parchment of paper appearing in her hands and writing quickly spreading across it, before floating to Aleister's hands.
Reading over it, it was rather basic and... There wasn't a single attempt at lies or manipulation across it, but there were three rules of note he found.
1. He couldn't use his Command Seals on Medea without her permission.
2. He could not attempt to drug her, nor could she try to drug him.
3. If ether attacked the others without permission, the attackers heart would be bound under a curse.
It was... He could see some ways she could use these rules, but he had a final condition to make.
"You cannot use Rule Breaker on this contract, or the Noble Phantasm will pass ownership to me. My benefactor has warned me of each of your abilities". Aleister spoke, a frown crossing Medea's face before nodding, more words appearing on the contract. Reading of them, he nodded. He grabbed a pen from nearby and quickly wrote his name down, Medea doing the same with a far more ancient feather-pen.
"Very well then, let us work together... Master".
"A pleasure, Medea".
Servant acquired! Although it seems Medea doesn't approve of Aleister's desires to waifu her, and considering her last relationship... I don't blame her. She's a bit of a complex one as she does desire a relationship with someone she can love... Aleister is just VERY lustful over love, but if he can prove he can love her and any future harem members, you'll get yourself a witch waifu!
In alchemy, there was one tool that was desired above all others, the Philosopher's Stone. It was said if you had a Philosopher's Stone, you could perform any alchemy, for Aleister who needed exotic materials he couldn't currently create for many of the more... Special technology out there, it was perfect.
Of course, creating a True Philosopher's Stone was no easy task, only one person he knew of could craft them easily, and even with Medea, creating a Philosopher's Stone was beyond them. They could create a soul powered version, but that would require... A lot of souls to power.
"If I want a Philosopher's Stone, I'll ether need another blessing from Gaia, or to improve my craft drastically...". Aleister thought aloud, looking over his research notes with a frown. He was smart he knew, but he wasn't a genius who could craft a Philosopher's Stone within a few weeks.
So with all the stuff thats been Alchemy related lately, I decided to give Aleister a proper Alchemy Skill, which can randomly improve when working on an alchemy related spell.
Spell improved.
- Transmutation (The most basic spell of Alchemy, transforming the chemical makeup and structure of things to make new things. Can now be performed in two seconds).
Skill created.
- Alchemy 27%
Aleister carefully bent the golden metal into a ring shape, infusing mana into every piece of the gold as it shifted about into a stable shape. Next using a gloved hand he picked up the ring and brought it to a tub filled with apple slices and water, placing it into the tub.
Next he grabbed some peaches and began draining the liquid out of them, pouring it into the tub and mixing it together, a shining golden glow coming from the ring as the ritual started to take effect.
The apples of immortality from the Norse, the peaches of immortality of China, and the Sea of Life. Gold is also associated with life, vitality, health, and unification, adding even further onto the ritual. Of course, only the gold was the real deal, the rest he was more... Borrowing onto the concepts.
After a few minutes he pulled the glowing ring out of the tub, and grabbed the final piece, a tiny shard of diamond he'd managed to separate off the larger shard using alchemy. Binding it to the ring, he felt as the new Mystic Code was complete.
Placing the ring onto his middle finger, Aleister grinned as he felt its energy spread across his body.
Mystic Code Crafted.
- Ring of Life.
When worn, triples the rate the users stamina and health recover. Also ensures both body and mind will stay healthy.
Aleister looked nervous as a magic circle went over his body, Medea watching over him didn't help much (Especially as she had traded out her cloak for a rather flattering dress that clung to her curves beautifully).
"An... Interesting Origin and Element combination, Master". She spoke as the magic circle faded away, an interesting combination? "Wind and machines, not exactly matching".
"Wind as my Element and machines as my Origin... Not what I expected regarding my Element, but I suppose the machines Origin could come from Gaia's blessings...". He mused, ignoring the twitch in Medea's lips. She hadn't... Reacted the best when he revealed the current name his benefactor went by, calling it a 'Arrogance' to name themselves after a primordial.
"Wind spells are devastating if difficult to control, as how an Origin in machines, I cannot help you there". Medea replied and as she sat up his gaze was drawn to her fantastic body, a blush spreading across her cheeks. "If you don't stop staring, contract or not, I will kill you".
"A man cannot resist staring at visions of beauty, and you my dear princess are a true sight to behold". Aleister honestly compliment, and it was true. She came from a world where such figures of beauty were common, but someone as naturally beautiful as Medea in this world was a rare thing indeed.
Bond formed!
Medea: 1.
Element and Origin revealed!
Element: Wind.
Origin: Machine.
Aleister had decided it officially, whenever he found who was manipulating him, he'd do something truly horrible to them.
There was nothing, absolutely nothing he could find on who was trying to manipulate him but their attempts were obvious. Multiple news stations reporting on the slaughter of the Merchants, each somehow making his acts seem more brutal each time, some even blaming crimes he had nothing to do with on him.
It was infuriating, he knew someone was working in the background, but how did he deal with them? He was really starting to regret not summoning an Assassin who'd be far more familiar with this-
"You believe an Assassin superior to me, Master?". Medea asked, he paled as he realized he had thought aloud and his Caster was giving him a light glare.
"Well princess, if you have any ideas I'd love to here them". He replied, frustrating seeping into his tone. Perhaps he'd be more respectful under different circumstances, but these manipulators were willing to target his family, he wasn't in a good mood.
"Of course I do Master". She held out her hand, as a... Crow formed? What? "A simple construct, no modern technology could even tell the difference. I could have dozens of these keeping an eye on areas of interest, the moment someone approaches your family, we will be informed and can deal with them".
"...Excellent Medea, perhaps I was to hasty to regret. Could you also form a bounded field around the house and bakery? If you can do so, we will do whatever you want for an entire day". Aleister spoke, a smirk crossing Medea's face as she nodded. It would take a bit of time it seemed to get used to the fact he now had a extremely skilled Caster on his side now.
"Oh Master, you shouldn't promise such things so casually...".
Having a extremely skilled Caster can be very handy, Medea's only limit is mana and if need be, she can consume the souls of the captured Merchants.
Aleister looked over what had once been his basement in awe, where before it was a small area where he'd barely managed to store all the captured Merchants, now it was a large lab at least triple the size of his own house.
A prison area where the Merchants remained, with Squealer and Mush having their own unique cells for scanning their parahuman biology. A potion brewing room, a room filled with various books written in Ancient Greek, and... A bedroom? He supposed Medea did need someone to sleep, although he did wonder where she got all the clothing from.
Said witch was currently creating some sorts of staff, resembling the one he'd seen her use in Fate/Grand Order... It was strange having exact knowledge of a game he'd never played or existed in his reality. In fact, put that into his potential notes, recreating F/GO in Earth Bet could get him lots of money, especially as he remembered each detail down to note.
"Your thinking something idiotic, aren't you Master?". Medea asked with an annoyed frown, he could only raise his hands in surrender.
"Was simply thinking of recreating Fate/Grand Order here, it could bring us in a lot of cash. We can only get away with making rare materials with alchemy for so long". He explained, he hadn't seen a reason to hide how the knowledge of her world was granted to him. Most would perhaps deny it, but for a Heroic Spirit, it was just another Thursday.
"...Not a bad idea, although you'll have to ether say I inspired the appearance of 'Medea', or edit its appearance. The same with any future Servants you summon". She replied, he nodded. Not a bad idea, plenty of designers used people they knew as design inspiration right?
"Who knows, perhaps I'll even recreate Fate/Stay Night, a Caster route would be fun don't you think? Dating both you and Artoria Pendragon is a dream for any man". He teased, although it'd probably have better effect if this Medea had knowledge of Artoria, but that wasn't the case.
"I don't understand why you keep teasing me about this Artoria, no matter how beautiful she may be, I doubt another version of myself would fall so far for her". He just grinned at Medea's words, oh if he ever summoned a Saberface, Medea would eat her own words.
For a few more moments they talked, Aleister would admit it, he really did enjoy having someone he could talk to about well... Everything. Medea didn't even blink when he mentioned torturing and experimenting on Merchants, in her own words...
'If they've willingly thrown their life away serving under a man as pathetic as this Skidmark, then its better to recycle them for better use'.
It was hard to remember sometimes with how she teased him back and they talked so casually, but Medea was called a witch for a reason... And honestly? It made her even more attractive in Aleister's eyes.
Bond up.
Medea: 2.
Two bond ups in one chapter? Impressive!... Or Medea is desperate for some social interaction she'll accept this perverted man who's already stated his desire to fuck her.