For want of a Grail

by fangsla

This will be a story about Mario Mario and his master Cu Chulainn going around during the murder death kill not my story just posting it here after author abandoning the quest it a male master that enter a alternate 5th grail war more than 7 servants and masters tags au harem evil mc villain protagonist genderswap such as shiro no mc lemon

18. Chapter 16: The Hot Wind Blows D4P2

Chapter 16: The Hot Wind Blows D4P2

Calm down… This situation is indeed terrifying, but freaking out helps no-one. Calm down… Reorient yourself, sit on the floor. Think things through, act with intelligence, not fear... But the more you thought about it the less anything made any sense.

What happened to Fuyuki? Why were you the only one reacting to the ball of fire? Why can't you summon Gae Bolg? Why is it so cold when everything's on fire? Why is everything on fire? Why the fuck does shit like this keep happening to you specifically?

Like what in the hell did you do to deserve this shit…

Specifically, you mean. What did you specifically do to deserve it.

Even if you are thinking in your own head you felt that needed to be clarified.

The best answer you can come up with for what is occurring is a noble phantasm. You doubt there's really a limit to legendary weapons and the like can do, however what kind of noble phantasm could do this? If you had to guess? Some kind of berserker… So you're probably dealing with something that while strong is also incredibly stupid…

So plan for now… Find the servant, observe them, figure out how to get out of here, escape.

Simple, easy.

You are taken from your thoughts as you notice how the temperature fluctuates. Everything you've touched is nearly as cold as ice yet the air is sporadic in its temperature.

You come to a conclusion rather swiftly, that the servant causing this emits heat. When the air gets hotter the servant is closer to you and when the air gets colder the farther they are from you. At least you think that's the case.

Since the heat was most prominent on your left you decided to test your theory by walking very carefully in that direction. Your theory, at least you hope so, was immediately proven correct as it got exponentially hotter the farther you went left…

You start thinking this might not be a good idea if it's already this hot from just walking a couple feet…

Sighing upon the realization you really were going to do this you look behind you and realize you'd rather die a man than live like a bitch. So you soldier on forward despite the fact that every step you take the air feels more and more like you were in an oven.

Speaking of getting cooked. Your brain must be mush by now if you completely forgot about the carefully approach part so quickly.

Oh well… If the reaper has finally come for your soul, so be it. You aren't going to go out easy though, and even if you do, you'll go out swinging. More than a lot of people can say.

You finally begin to reach what you can only hope to be the source of heat in question but you are left in horror as you realize you still are quite aways away from getting to it. You were no longer being cooked in an oven, you were being left for dead in a desert.

You have no doubt that a normal human would have perished from heat stroke by this point. Yet you carry on with contracts at your behest doing their best to modulate your own body temperature. Doesn't stop you from sweating…

Oh yeah, speaking of… When you sweat it immediately turns to vapor. So that's nice.

You're walking towards the sun, you just have to be.

Some fucker summoned a sun god or some shit and you are walking straight into it. Even with your contracts working over time your head is so hot at this point our sweat glands are not producing sweat anymore.

As you bemoan your lack of ability to sweat anymore you take a second to stop and look forward.

Then you finally see it…

And it sees you…

What the fuck… Is that…

You face the Diligent Machine of Retribution, Khamsin…

Parameters

Strength: A

Endurance: A

Agility: D

Charisma: E-

Mana: E-

Luck: E-

Diligent Phantasms

Freedom Comes C: An unique 'reality marble' that is always active with its center point being the Khamsin Unit, meaning it's mobile. Only the target of the unit can see or feel the effects of the 'reality marble' as the temperature goes up as it closes in. Once inside the 'reality marble' the landscape is changed to be the same as the outside except everything is dilapidated and on fire. The Khamsin Unit also produces a heat so unbearable it'd melt normal humans by just being in their presence.

It's staring right at you… Well at least it's facing you… It doesn't feel like it sees you, yet… You are behind some rubble so maybe it hasn't made out your face by now? You duck down quickly to avoid catching its attention if you hadn't already.

Then you hear the thing more, to say the sound it produces was a stomp was a disservice. Every time it took a step the ground below you shuddered from the noise alone. It cracked from the force instead.

However, you feel the temperature cool considerably as you realize it's walking away. You take a breath… Think Will… Think…

The golem, machine, whatever it is hasn't noticed you.

All you have to do is observe it and figure out how to get out of here. Your contracts are keeping you cool enough to be able to think so you have no excuse to be reckless. There has to be a way to get out of here.

Just think Will! Think!

In for a penny in for a pound as they say…

You begin a mad dash across the street and into an alley that you see turns in the direction of a rather large building that the automaton is walking towards. Thankfully you're rather fast so you close the gap with no issue and begin traversing the alleys towards the large building.

Each stomp of the machine makes the tension of you running the alleys worse and worse. You almost fear for a moment you aren't going to get ahead of it in time. But as you turn out of the alleys and back into the open roads of the city you see the large building in front of you.

A lot of it was in rubble and it was nowhere near it's full height. You could see portions of the upper walls were completely gone, fires billowing as if they'd never stop burning…

It's perfect…

Being mostly made out of actually structurally sound materials, and NOT GLASS, makes it immediately useful already. Taking a second to look behind you, you see the machine making it's slow march towards your direction. It wasn't hurried.

Now time for the next step…

Running inside the building you set contracts all over the first floor in a way that would cause the building to fall forward if they were activated. Which you will in due time. So as you ascend the stairs you consider how you're going to stop yourself from falling with the building.

Then remembered you could just make a platform of air to stand on while the building collapses on the automaton below. Best part is that you'll be safe in case the thing somehow survives a building falling on it. See?

Good plans always make for stellar rewards. You really can't believe you've been an act first, think later guy this whole time! Your mentality aside… You run into a small, tiny, insignificant issue.

Yeah the building is very much on fire.

Now the fire isn't spreading but it's very much in the way of the stairs… And you need to get to the top floor…

You were just going to try and make yourself fire proof for a bit with contracts until you remembered that everything beyond the machine in this world has not emitted any actual heat.

So with great trepidation you place your finger into the roaring flames.

Then your whole body as your deductive reasoning was rewarded with a magnificent revelation. The machine is the only thing capable of producing heat within this world, except for you of course. As you walk through the flames with little issue you chuckle to yourself for being afraid at all.

It doesn't take much longer than that to get to the top.

Well what remains of it anyway, clearly there was more building to be had but being in this world removed a good chunk of it. You take a moment to stretch as even if you are certain what you're about to do is the safest way to deal with the current threat… Well, no point in not taking some precautions like getting limber in case you need to hightail it.

You find a good corner full of debris to get up on to start making a walkway of air. Making your way to just slightly off the ledge of the front of the building you look straight down… It's a long drop…

Good.

You're going to make sure this hurts… A lot…

Well… If machines can feel pain anyway.

Speaking of the damn thing's taking its sweet time. Unsurprising in hindsight… With that kind of size and legs like that? Yeah no duh it's slow. You were scared of this thing? Seriously? You need to grow up if such pathetic insects like this one terrify you at any point.

Like seriously. It's pathetic…

You continue to wait for what feels like thirty minutes as the automaton gets closer and closer. Just a moment more and it will be crushed like the insect it is.

With an unnecessary wave of your arm you enjoy the feeling as contract after contract dissipates and you hear the building creak. As you stare below you, you watch with great interest as you see the building collapse on top of the automaton.

For a moment.

Silence.

Then laughter. More laughter. Hideous raucous laughter, your own, as you manically let out, "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

You have to catch your breath. It was too much. You were so scared over nothing! Whatever kind of servant that was, somehow managed to be more disappointing than Medusa!

Stopping in your mad cackling you look around only to realize you're still within the world consumed by fire. You still feel a faint heat caress your cheek. You're still here…

You look downwards with wide eyes, there's just no way after all…

You collapsed… A… Building… On it…

The sounds of smashing, saws, and a digitized voice scream out from beneath the rubble. You first see the axe blade the automaton uses breach the rubble, then the hand, then the whole thing… It did look worse off than it did beforehand, you will grant yourself that.

However, to say it was in bad shape would be the height of arrogance.

The thing looks up to you, not like before where it was facing you. You could feel the mechanical eyes analyze your very form, though you could not see them. Paranoia took hold, even if it survived, it could not reach you.

You were far too high in the air.

Then as if your eyes couldn't get any wider you see the machine move. Really move, thrusters from its back activated as it surfed the rubble with surprising grace.

Okay so it was faster than it initially appeared big whoop! You're still hundreds of meters in the air!

As if to spite you the machine found a piece of rubble that had formed a sizeable ramp…

You suddenly realize what it was going to attempt to do…

There's no way it can get enough lift! It won't get lift!

Too bad machines don't give a damn about your preconceived notions.

"Freedom rings!" A cybernetic voice cries out, as the monstrous machine launched off the ramp like a rocket! It launched with enough speed that it would reach you in seconds…

God fucking dammit!

You stand completely still as the humming of the saw and the screeching from the metal get closer and closer. While this may have been no longer than sixteen seconds, it felt like an eternity. Just as the automaton was about to reach you…

SLAM!

All momentum died as the insect flew into your web. Standing up straighter you take a closer look at the machine, appreciating your handiwork as you see how well your trap was laid. Now to make it it's coffin!

Making a crushing motion with your hand as a show of force the air prison began pressing into the machine, terrible screeches came from it and the prison itself… You begin noticing that… No that's…

You're pushing your contracts too far… You're not strong enough to kill this thing now… You're not even strong enough to hold it for much longer dammit… Dammit!

What can you do! The second it gets free it's over!

Stuck in your misery you almost don't notice the wall of fire below you. The same kind of wall that consumed you and brought you in…

Wait, if the fire is what brought you in, then can it get you out? Does that mean the reality marble can only suck so much in? Is the center the machine?

Too many questions, not enough time for answers.

You leap from the platform to your possible demise, having all alternatives rescinded.

Moments Later, William Arathorn POV

It was like you had just fallen through a glass ceiling, your body felt like it had been cut by hundreds of blades and your bones certainly have become mush.

Your contracts quickly get to work on repairing your body. As you're forced to lie there you can't help but wonder if you could've chosen a much safer option for escape… Then again hindsight is a bitch.

So for the moment, you lay upon the ground. An insurmountable heat lies several feet above you, no doubt that thing was the source of the fire.

Thankfully that means that your contracts are still working but you can feel them wither as time passes, the details get muddied up and their purpose removed.

God, if you have any love for this damned soul, please let Medea or Cu find you before that thing descends on you once more.

You don't think your hairbrained strategy will work a second time.

Anyone?

Please within the next five minutes!

You don't have that long!

Your contracts can't repair the mental exhaustion you feel right now, you can't even bring yourself to twitch a finger…

As if listening to your prayers you're finally swept up by none other than your Lancer as he begins asking stupid questions like what happened. You just ignore him for now as Cu carries you to distant safety away from the fireball, not even noticing how close the threat to your own life was.

You can barely think anymore, you just need…

You just need a second to close your eyes.

Twelve Minutes Later, William Arathorn POV

You awake, sore, but alive. If there's anything you're thankful for at this moment it's that the curse hasn't begun acting up. The last thing you'd want right now is to be in genuine physical pain while your mind is strained.

Getting off the floor you sense both your servants nearby, in fact you can see Cu. He hasn't noticed you're awake yet. You take a moment to look around…

You appear to be in some form of abandoned building.

Windows are boarded up and you can see the doorway in which Lancer is standing in had been broken into. Getting off the ground you stand up straight to try and see if you can find Medea but she's nowhere to be found.

"You alright kid?" Lancer's voice calls out from the doorway.

Guess he did notice, even if he wasn't watching you… You answer his question without issue, "I'm a bit sore, but beyond that can't complain. Any idea where we are?"

"Nah, just some place we could tell wasn't occupied. We were gonna head to the mansion but we started getting shot at. Caster didn't want to risk you getting hurt so we ended up hiding here. Though I got to say, running into another Archer isn't fun." Cu explained.

You feel your face scrunch up as you ask, "Don't you have Protection from Arrows? You should have little issue…"

Cu gains a cocky grin as he says, "Well yeah. If they were just basic Archer's then obviously I wouldn't have much to fear. Not that I fear any of them… Well except maybe that Demon Archer chick, she really put me through the wringer last night…" You stare at him with a dead expression.

Rolling his eyes Cu continues with, "Anyways that's besides the point. What I'm trying to say is that all of the archers I've fought up until this point including this new one have had ways of getting around my Protection."

As Cu said that he pointed down at his leg and only now do you notice the gnarly wound that had torn through his clothing. It was but a singular scratch mark, probably no more than a glancing blow from an arrow… Yet the wound was so disgusting that you had a difficult time looking at it.

"Some kind of poison I believe. Ah, since you're awake now, mind healing that for me? It may not look like it but it stings like a real bitch." Your servant complained.

"All that from a single arrow? How'd you even get hit?" You question aloud as you not only supply him mana to heal it, as you also begin using contracts to rapidly seal the wound.

"Just because I have Protection from Arrows doesn't mean you do. While I was trying to make sure you didn't get shot, I got shot. Though I didn't even notice it till Caster pointed it out." The servant of the spear explained.

After a brief pause Cu then says, "So we're holed up here for now."

You then say, "Tch. I'm up now. I can take care of myself. Besides I'm not staying here for another minute just cause you're scared of getting shot."

Cu raises his hands up as he says, "Hey now. This wasn't my idea."

Speaking of, you finally call for Medea, and within seconds your other servant is by your side.

A pleasant smile on her face as she notices that you're fine, "Are you alright Master? If not, I can… Relieve you." You think she's asking that in case your curse is acting up but you can't tell. She might just be offering up sex for fun…

"I'm fine. We're heading back to the mansion, I'll explain whatever the fuck just happened when we get there if you're really curious." Is how you respond.

"Yeah, yeah." Cu says noncommittally.

While Medea says, "Of course Master." You can feel her worry from beneath her cowl.

"I guess we should also actually make a game plan for the war. Feel like we all have a different degree of info, we'll get ourselves all up to speed once we're in a quieter location." You add.

Nothing else is said as the abandoned building is left as it was.

Why do you even attempt to do anything anymore…

"Just to be absolutely certain, you believe you were in a reality marble, yes?" Medea asked for what was around the fifteenth time now since you had explained what occurred.

Jesus Christ. How many times do you have to say yes?

You know what, you aren't even going to grace her with an actual response. You're just going to glare at her until she gives up!

However, sadly, Lancer wasn't smart enough to keep his trap shut, "The kid said yes like eight times now. Sure it's a bit unbelievable but the unbelievable tends to happen in these kinds of scenarios."

Here she goes again, "You… Can't… Just… Move a reality marble. Even if this is a servant, to be able to do something like that… It's just impossible!"

Bringing her hand up to her chin Medea continued with, "The only way one could 'move' a reality marble is to dispel it and use it once more upon moving the necessary distance, which wouldn't be easy mind you. They would have to be a magi of unparalleled skill to achieve moving it a few meters in such a way! To be able to do something like that would be like true magic!"

Cu just shrugs at Medea's words before saying, "From what the kid said I doubt it's a Caster, but clearly that thing wasn't using a bounded field and I doubt it was true magic. Obviously it's insane that this servant is capable of that and all, but us Heroic Spirits tend to be those who break the rules, you know."

You could feel Medea's flat look from under her cowl as she said, "Yes, I'm quite aware. However-!"

"Could you not argue, for five seconds. By God you are making my head hurt." You complained, having had enough of your servants bickering like children. Though mostly Medea's fault for being unable to accept what you had said.

Not that you can blame her, servants were bullshit.

"Forgive me, master, however. Even you must admit, as a magus, what you described is absolutely insane." Medea stated.

You nod your head, then say, "It is, but we can't be arguing about what it is. Just how we are going to deal with it. We are aware of plenty of servants within this war, but there are plenty we aren't even aware of the existence of. We need to be coming up with ways to take care of the ones we do know, otherwise we're screwed."

You take a second to breathe in before continuing with, "It won't matter if I have two powerful heroic spirits by my side if the equally powerful spirits we are facing are more prepared to face us then we are them."

Letting your anger take hold of your words you say, "So if we could stop trying to confirm whether it was reality marble or not… Let us instead examine what we do know."

Pausing for a moment to ensure both were listening intently you begin anew with, "I was the only one brought into this altered reality in which the entire city was ablaze. The way this occurred was via a flaming orb in which I alone could see and feel... It also only sucked me into it's hellscape…,"

No matter how you slice it… There was only one option you had, "If I were to face that servant again… I'll most likely have to use a command seal to summon Lancer to my side and just hope for the best…"

"So just don't waste your seals? You've been pretty good at that so far." Responds Cu. While yes he was right… This was only day four of a wildly out of control grail war, who knows what could happen between now and three days from now. Especially with…

With shit like the moon…

You just remembered that invitation from two days ago… Meeting Skull Kid…

Honestly you hadn't thought about him much, but now you aren't so certain on how to handle him. You're still going to go, but you do feel it was a bit foolish of you to so easily decide that you were.

Especially considering he planned on crashing a moon into Fuyuki, however in the hell that was supposed to work.

You'll have to bring that up now then, "I just remembered something important."

Both your servants stare at you confused, waiting for you to elaborate, which you did… After taking a moment to collect yourself, "Do you remember, or rather are you aware of the Skull Kid?"

Both servants look at each other for a second before turning back to you as Lancer said, "Yeah, I can remember that obnoxious voice quite clearly. Digged right into my ears. Him and his servant, at least her voice didn't try to destroy my hearing."

"So instead of needing to watch a broadcast you two heard it like when I'm talking to you through our connection?" You ask.

They both nod. Alright well that's a bit concerning, but you at least didn't have to explain anything about that.

Welp now onto the worst part, having to speak plainly, "I received a letter from him asking for me to meet him at Fuyuki Bridge this evening. We'll be heading there as soon as the sun starts setting."

"Are you certain that is wise, master?" Medea asked.

"At first I thought there would be no harm in doing it. I felt as though there would be no danger in attending this meeting. While I'm uncertain if this is a true now, I still believe it to be worth going. I don't think we'd survive a fight with him if one broke out, but I also don't think I can back out at this point." You explain.

"Well, in the end it's your decision kid. We're just the servants after all." Was Lancer's response.

"We will be by your side Master. It was by your hands that I continue to fight in this war, it shall be by your hands to decide when I stop." Was Medea's response.

All they did in the end was put more pressure on you, you had become uncertain if you had been making the right choices recently. But in truth, you don't think you've been making any correct choices at all…

Truly ignorance was bliss.

After you finished talking with Lancer and Caster you had head outside to the back of the mansion to practice your form. You really had let your skills slip, you had been arrogant, a prideful little shit thinking you could win this war just cause you were you.

Just because Pride is what Apophis ascribed to you, does not mean you'll let that snake control you. You are Pride, this is for certain, but you'll make that Pride your greatest strength. Instead of letting it continue to be your most damning weakness.

A sudden voice calls out from behind, it's tone fatherly, "William?"

You stop what you were doing turning to face Wilhelm. A terrible feeling sunk into your gut that forced you to not look him in the eyes. Has your relationship with the man who could be considered more of a father than your actual one sunk so low? You barely acknowledged he existed, thrusting the tasks of caring for Lucia onto him…

When it should be your responsibility. When it was your responsibility. You are a terrible father, a worse son…

You are taken out of your thoughts as you feel a hand rest upon your shoulder. Resisting your shame you stare into Wilhelm's concerned eyes as he asks, "Are you quite alright?"

"No…" Is your response, you wanted to say more.

But what could you say? That you were scum? Was he even aware of the dungeon below the mansion? Of how you became indulgent in your most disgusting desires? That not only are you forced to continue to do so… But that even if you weren't you likely would continue anyway?

That you were a paradoxical creature stuck between heroic ideals and ancestry as well as villainous tendencies and debauchery.

You were scum, and felt no shame in being scum. In fact the only reason you can't look your father figure in the eyes is not even because you are ashamed of who you became… But because you failed him.

Unaware of what your mind was going through Wilhelm said, "Well I will not force the issue if you don't wish to discuss it. However, it seems you're trying to distract yourself."

You nod.

"Then perhaps a spar will be a sufficient distraction?" He suggests.

You nod again.

Wilhelm draws his sword from his sheathe. Most would be unafraid of such an old man, even as he drawed a weapon towards them. Not you. No one was more familiar with that blade in his hands than you, with the exception of Wilhelm himself.

The mystic code of the Astrea family, it has been maintained for generations to match the very sword it had attempted to mimic. From what Wilhelm told you it was known as the Hermagram, a mockery of the legendary blade Gram wielded by Sigurd.

To even compare the copycat weapon to the actual blade would be a foolish endeavor, Hermagram is a mere mystic code and its shape only mimics Gram before it shattered against Gungnir.

Yet to say the blade wasn't dangerous would be wrong, it might be a failure of a copy, but not only was it a sword…

"Guh!" You groan out as you block the mystic code with Gae Bolg, Wilhelm's superior strength pushing you back five meters with just the singular strike.

It was a sword that multiplied the force of all momentum it carried, and with how hard Wilhelm could swing… It really didn't matter that it was the most inferior copy of a legendary blade to have ever existed!

It hit harder than a bullet train!

And that was with Wilhelm clearly holding back!

"You were much better with blocking before William. There is much to work on!" Wilhelm shouted as he propelled himself forward, immediately forcing you on the backfoot… As always.

The second strike you redirect into the dirt harmlessly away from you, but Wilhelm is no easy foe.

As soon as Hermagram cut into the Earth the direction of the blade was turned towards your head as he slashed in a swift motion.

Which forced you to block another strike with Gae Bolg, you could feel the strain of your arms caused by blocking it head on. Not to mention you still skidded a few meters back from the strike.

With the respite of all of a second you smile.

It felt great to be fighting Wilhelm again, as he actively looked for ways to force you to improve, while Cu just kicked your ass until you were slightly better at not getting your ass kicked. Though it seems like today's lesson will be getting back into the swing of blocking and redirecting strikes.

Surely you're not that rusty…

A Minute Later

"Dammit!" You scream as you are sent through a tree. You bring up Gae Bolg to block another strike before being sent into the dirt.

You clash against Hermagram with all your might, intent on not being defeated by a mere mockery of a legendary weapon when you wield a genuine one in your own hands.

Seeing Wilhelm going for a punch you attempt to push against the sword only to find Wilhelm pushing you back twice as hard. Before taking a hard slam to the gut from your teacher.

Coughing from the strike you hold onto your spear tight, only for you to take a pommel strike to the chest as you lose your weapon.

Falling to the ground, you take a moment to breathe.

A brief respite then you get up to catch Gae Bolg as soon Wilhelm tosses it back to you.

Getting into your stances the both of you say, "Again!"

Forty Minutes Later

You lie upon the battle scarred dirt, utterly drained. Sores burn all over your body as you struggle to even stay awake, but it is only in your exorbitant pride that you manage to keep your eyes open.

Wilhelm was winded. You hadn't even managed that before you went into a coma.

Taking a minute to collect himself Wilhelm said, "Well, it seems you are quick to relearn the basics. I would suggest we begin with more general fighting skills but I believe that you have that handled…"

You hear him collapse to the floor as he chuckles to himself, "And I believe that took more out of me than I'd care to admit… You've become a lot stronger William… Though it came at the cost of your greater skill… Before that night I was certain you would've surpassed me by now, but it appears that it will take a bit more time…"

Where was he going with this?

"Will…" Wilhelm started.

"Yeah…" Your voice struggles to get out.

You could feel him staring at your fallen form… And you don't mean your body lying upon the ground…

His voice cracked as he said, "I know that since I've taken you in… That you have struggled to do the right thing…" Your heart stilled.

Standing up Wilhelm walked over to you, you could feel tears pooling in your eyes, "And I know that you have made many… Many mistakes… I know that kind of man you have become, was the kind of man I abhorred…"

You were now staring in the hollow eyes of the man you would've been happy to call father…

You had accepted death in this moment, you'd rather it be by his hand than some master or servant. Yet Wilhelm said, "And I know that I failed you, again and again… However, I no longer care for any of that. Even if you are doomed to become a monster, I cannot bring myself to stand against you."

"W-What?" You didn't understand

Wilhelm continued, paying no heed to your question, "I would feel that I was a coward if in your moment of most dire need that I abandoned you."

Kneeling next to you, you can feel the fatherly love behind his eyes as he says, "I won't let myself rest until you are a great man, whether that means a great good or great evil… I care not. As long as you surpass me as a warrior and as a human, nothing else matters."

"T-Thank you… Wilhelm…" You hold back your tears, but your soul has been torn in two.

Wilhelm holds his hand out, you reach up. Pulling you up, you resist the urge to hug the man, your Pride demanding you hide any weakness.

"Let's get you something to eat…" Wilhelm softly said.

You didn't argue.

A Few Minutes Later

Upon re-entering the mansion you begin to experience a familiar feeling. Well as familiar as can be after being subjected to it for four days.

The feeling of being watched.

You can already tell whoever or whatever it was, it was trouble, however there was something off. You felt that whoever was stalking you was right behind you. You could feel their eyes staring into the back of your skull. You could feel their bloodthirst wafting onto your body. You could feel their breath from where you stood.

So you turn around.

Nothing, yet the feeling of being stared at persists. Hell it even felt like you had made eye contact with whoever was watching you, but all you came across was an empty hallway.

"Is something the matter, William?" Wilhelm asked in concern.

You continue to stare forward not wanting to lose eye contact, or what you assumed was eye contact, with whoever was following you.

"Can you not feel that?" You ask cautiously. The bloodlust was getting worse and worse, you have a hard time believing that Wilhelm couldn't sense it from where he stood.

Catching onto the situation Wilhelm's hand begins moving towards his sword while you ready Gae Bolg. Neither of you speak for about a minute.

If a pointless fight could be avoided then it would be for the best…

However.

If it was an Assassin, it'd be best to deal with it.

The lust of the intruder begins to boil over, you can't stomach even being in its presence. Whether you can see it or not, whether it is hostile or not, whether if fighting it would be a pointless endeavor… You must act!

But what could you do?

"Just come out! This doesn't need to be a fight!" You call out, your voice echoing off the walls of the nearly vacant hall.

Wilhelm looks at you inquisitively before stating, "As much as I am glad you aren't jumping at the opportunity to fight… Whatever shares this hall with us I doubt is in a diplomatic mood." You would usually be one to agree, but it wouldn't hurt to not have to fight. Especially when you're in such a good mood

Nothing happens for a while and you begin to think a fight is inevitable, worst yet you'd have to make the initial strike.

Yet before you move to attack. They make their presence fully known.

Like glass reality shatters in front of you, and a figure appears. An unamused woman with pink and brown hair dressed in fine clothes wielding a parasol of all things. Her stare and posture radiate disappointment, but are quickly covered by a facade of playfulness.

Both you and Wilhelm are obviously mystified by the strange figure. For someone who was radiating such bloodlust that you could practically feel it touching you… The actual person behind it was far from what you had been imagining.

However, you knew better than to let your guard down, you had already been ready to strike so you keep your spear steady just in case.

Suddenly gaining a smug smirk the woman sashay's her way over to you which causes Wilhelm to immediately draw his sword and put his blade to the throat of the odd intruder. Yet she continued her gait without a care in the world, her smile growing ever larger as she pierced her neck upon the blade.

Only for her figure to shatter like glass.

You can't stop yourself from jumping a little at the sight, but you don't get to linger on your thoughts as you feel a finger tap on your shoulder. Flinging yourself around you are ready to strike down whatever was behind you.

Only for you to see the woman once more, holding what seemed to be a piece of paper under her right breast. The words were as clear as day, and her knowing smile told you all you needed to know.

'Hello, Pride!'

Upon reading those words you lower Gae Bolg, mostly out of sheer annoyance as realization dawns on you.

Of course it would be another one of them. So what does that make it now? Four?

Robin, the Skull Kid, Sam, and now this lady? How many others know about you being 'Pride' or whatever? You just stopped resisting at that point expecting her to go on some philosophical spiel or some other kind of bullshit only for her to stare at you in confusion.

"You don't have anything to say?" You ask, being honestly confused.

She looks at you blankly before bringing her hand up to her neck and doing a chopping motion.

Wilhelm then helpfully adds, "I believe she may be mute William."

Oh thank the lord.

"So you're here to try and kill me? Or no? Cause honestly if you want a fight I'm afraid I'm in too good of a mood to let you ruin it." You say.

The lithe woman simply shakes her head before bringing her hands up in a 'what can you do' manner. Then out of nowhere she pulls out a deck of cards and begins to shuffle. Taking a card out of the deck at seemingly random she then chucks the card at you.

You catch it easily and look it over to find the word 'Game' scrawled on it.

You take a second to try and find a double meaning but come up short forcing you to ask, "You want to play a game?"

She brings up her hand to do a so-so gesture before smiling at you. Then she and the card shatter as you hear a faint chuckle behind your ear.

Turning around again you find the woman walking off back towards the entrance as she waves you over to follow her. However, you must state, you are in a good mood. You are certain whatever shenanigans she is up to you will ruin that.

Do you really want to get involved with that?

The woman continues to beckon you, and you begin to feel your eye twitch.

You are not going to let your good mood be ruined. You are not going to let your good mood be ruined. You are not going to let your good mood be…

Oh fuck it.

Giving up on any and all resistance you turn towards your mentor and say, "Wilhelm I'll be right back, if you could prepare me and Lucia a lunch for us to enjoy once I return that'd be great." He clearly wants to protest but acquiesces to your request.

You take a second to breathe in and prep yourself only for it to go to waste as you hear glass shatter right next to you. It didn't require you to turn to see the smarmy grin of the woman as she rested her head on your shoulder before her form shattered once more.

30 Minutes Later

You find yourself in a familiar place.

On the outskirts of Fuyuki is where you find yourself once more.

You so desperately want to complain about how difficult the crazy mute made it to follow her, but now your mind is filled with questions. What could possibly be her reason for leading you here? You doubt she knows, but…

It remains a fact that she has brought you to where you and Archer had fought two nights previously.

Speaking of, the woman currently stands tall upon the scorched hill where you had so unceremoniously been killed by your own spear. The hill where you were taught the true potential of the Eyes of Balor. Your true potential.

Nothing about this could be mere coincidence could it?

The woman waves you over and as you get on top of the hill you look outward. It was a bit surprising that the entire other side of the hill was rather fin-…

That's… Not how fire works… There's something fucky going on you can already tell.

Looking towards the woman she gives you a knowing look.

Then she pushes you down the hill.

Not prepared in the slightest you find yourself rolling down the hill uncontrollably. You of course correct course half-way once your mind caught up to what just happened. You had barely been able to stop yourself from rolling all the way to the base of the hill.

Standing up annoyed as all hell, you look up the hill to glare at the woman only to find her already standing next to you. Her smirk compels you to attack her but you decide against as she starts walking away. She even made sure as she walked off that your eyes were drawn to her ass.

So… Now you felt awkward. You really can't tell what this woman is thinking at all. Instead of getting worked up with her, you settle with giving the woman the side-eye.

You then turn to continue walking with her, almost ready to chase after her in fact considering how difficult she's made it to follow her so far only to freeze up.

You couldn't bring yourself to even think as you look upon a most wonderous sight.

Where the hell were you?

Ignoring your confusion the mute woman just makes her way to the top of the hill with the large tree upon it offering up no explanation, not that she could give any. You just shake your head and begin to follow before turning around to check the landscape behind you only to find it completely gone.

There was nothing there, just a drop off… Into clouds… You honestly can't even be surprised anymore now can you?

Sighing to yourself you turn back to the hill and make your way up it, the mute looked like she was becoming impatient. You didn't believe there was any reason to hesitate following her at this point.

Upon reaching the tree you take a look around your surroundings and find yourself uneasy. It was a circular plane that all centered into the large hill…

Or maybe it would be better to say, the entirety of the landscape was there in service to the tree rather than the hill. It didn't help that it appeared that wherever you were was high up in the clouds.

"What is this place?" You ask instinctively only for a card to be thrown at your face.

You grab it reflexively and glare at the woman as she smugly stares back before turning your attention to what was written on the card.

'Moon.'

Well that's a fucking bitch ain't it.

You feel that's not all there is so you take your turn to be a smug bitch, "So this is the moon? Not exactly what I expected it to look like. You'd expect it to be a bit more barren and rocky. But I guess life's full of surprises. Pretty neat that you transferred us to the moon by kicking me down a hill." The mute rolls her eyes at your mocking tone.

She shakes her head then points out towards the clouds, you don't follow. The mute seems to get exasperated at your inability to understand as she takes hold of your arm, without your permission, then starts leading you towards the edge of the plane.

You tried to wrestle yourself out of her grip, but she's just ever so slightly stronger than you. Doesn't help that whatever she's trying to do, she is determined to do it.

Upon reaching the edge the woman then tosses you towards the clouds and for a moment your heart stopped.

Only for you to find yourself back at the base of the hill with a card stuck to your face.

Standing up and ripping the surprisingly sticky piece of paper you look at it to read 'Illusion'. Is it some sort of bounded field then? You attempt to use contracts to prod at what you assumed was just an advanced application of magecraft.

Only for your breath to catch in your throat, for your heart to stop, and for sweat to pour down your forehead. There was no bounded field, not even the trace of magecraft. It was as if reality ended just a few meters in front of you. This was no mere illusion as the woman believed.

This… Could only be achieved by true magic… There was a magician in the holy grail war.

If that was the moon as the woman likened it, then that means that the Skull Kid was a magician… That is troublesome then. Your instincts of the danger the Skull Kid presented were already high with his threat to crash the moon into Fuyuki. However, this goes beyond that, not only could he likely actualize the threat…

He was probably more of a danger than most of the servants in the war if he's truly capable of either.

Your thoughts are interrupted as involuntarily breathe in, not having realized how long you held your breath for. Standing up your expression is grave but you are determined to not give in to fear, you still have a feeling that not everything is as you think it is.

You believe there is far more to it than just the Skull Kid is using the Grail War to flaunt his power.

Yet it's undeniable, your family had instilled a healthy fear of magicians into you. This was just you realizing why your family feared them.

This kind of power goes beyond contractual magecraft, it is powerful no doubt, but the gap in power between your magecraft and what lies before you is too infinitely great for comparison.

The woman comes out to the base of the hill and stares at you weirdly. You ask her, "Do you know of the Skull Kid?"

She looks at you like you had grown a second head, as if it was obvious that she'd know. Then that begs another question, "Do you know of Apophis?"

Her eyes widen in realization, she points at you, before going into a thinking pose.

She looks at you oddly before tossing another card at you reading, 'Don't you know?'

Obviously lost with what is going on the woman's expression turns exhausted. She takes a moment to prep herself before waving you over as she enters… The… Whatever the hell this abomination is.

Back within the 'moon' you come across the mute pacing around thinking on what she should do.

She throws up her hands and suddenly you are within what looks to be a classroom? The woman herself was in completely different clothes. She looked like she was dressing up as a teacher with the suit and glasses she was wearing.

You were just… Really confused.

Yet before she could start with whatever she was planning on doing. The scenery in front of you changed.

Just suddenly you were completely different…

Wherever you were was a completely unfamiliar forest and it appeared to have rained recently… Honestly it looked more like a forest from back home than from Japan.

Whoever transported you this time didn't appear to be the woman.

The impish laugh from behind you told you all you needed to know, "Hehehe, hello Pride! I wasn't planning on meeting you face to face so early. You don't mind that I removed you so unceremoniously from my property, yes?"

As the Skull Kid went to speak you interrupted with, "I do mind actually. Where's the mute by the way?"

The Skull Kid stared at you for a few seconds before snapping his finger and the woman appeared, obviously almost as confused as you.

His masked eyes stare into yours as he attempts to speak once more, "She's here now. So if you will let me-"

"I will not." You state.

"Excuse me?" The Skull Kid responds.

You elaborate since apparently it wasn't obvious, "I will not let you. Honestly, I'm rather tired of all this bullshit. I don't care whatever game your fucking playing, I want an explanation as brief as you can make it while still making sense."

He simply stares at you for a few more seconds before chuckling in his grating voice as he says, "Hehehehe! We really are the sins we're given! The fact that you are entirely aware of how far above you I am yet you have the balls to say that straight to my face… I can't help but envy that bravado! I know for certain I wouldn't be so brave in that kind of situation!"

"It's not bravery, and we both know that. It's entitlement. I deserve to know, I've deserved to know for a while." You say in response.

Planting his feet down in front of you the size difference between the two of you becomes apparent as he stares up at you from your waist, "Fair enough. But if you'll let me indulge in a preamble that would be appreciated."

Sighing to yourself you say, "Go ahead."

And so he does, "I the Skull Kid am the Sin of Envy in this great game of ours. You, William Arathorn, are the Sin of Pride. The woman over there is Neo Politan; she is the Sin of Lust. You have already met two other Sins besides us, those being Robin and Samuel Rodriguez. Sloth and Wrath respectively." The now named Neo waves her fingers in your direction, you wave back to play along.

"Those were words." You say mockingly.

"And words have meaning, you'd be expected to understand them. But I can tell the great snake informed you of very little." Is his response.

So are there more Sins? Are all of you acquainted with Apophis?

The Skull Kid continues with his prattle, "Honestly though I am disappointed with Sloth, I understand she is beholden to her sin especially with that draconic nature of hers… But still, you should have already known of our existence. Four days in and you are just as lost as you were so many years ago aren't you?"

"Can you just get on with it?" You already understand you're ignorant, you would like to fix that.

Skull Kid takes a bow before saying, "As you probably put it together by now, there are several of us Sins within Fuyuki. We are all puppets under the control of the great snake, Apophis. There are seven of us each representing a 'Deadly Sin'. Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth."

He gives you a second to process his words before he continues, "We are to participate in the story Apophis wishes to tell. Feel free to resist, you have already felt the lengths he'll go to make sure the story plays out in a way he likes. In fact the more you resist the better in his eyes, complacency will ensure he gets bored of you. Then we're all in the hands of something much worse."

You raise an eyebrow as you ask, "What do you mean?"

You can feel the gravity of Skull Kid's voice as its impish quality is lost upon saying, "While for Apophis this is simply a story he wishes to see unfold. To the other gods it's not something so unimportant as that. This is a grand game spanning countless worlds in which the gods throw their chosen at another to come out on top! Just so that they can have more worlds in their pockets. Apophis in his role as the Voice chooses the setting, the 'participants', and the 'protagonist'. Those being you and us Sins."

Before you're even allowed to process that he continues, "Then other gods such as Ra send forth their Diligents, with the intent of having them face us within the confines of the setting. In this case the Grail War. Ra as a competitor for the role of Voice has the ability to send many Diligents while other gods often get only one chance of earning a world."

"Upon achieving a victory condition the game is over and whichever god came out on top gets to own all worlds associated with the one won. Apophis has the highest chance of winning as is by his right as the Voice, since his word creates the various worlds. However, if we are to lose, us Sins will suffer quite the terrible fate. Not only will this world be lost to another god, the one known as Osiris will consume us and our souls will suffer in eternity." Is how he finishes.

"Then what is my role in Apophis's eyes?" Is all you can ask after being told so much information.

"As I said, you are the 'protagonist'. You are to lead us Sins to victory against the Diligents and fulfill the victory condition that was set by the gods. Apophis automatically loses if you die, and after that it's a battle royale between the Diligents to see which god obtains ownership. It often ends with Ra's victory." He explains.

"How do you know all of this?" You ask.

Skull Kid chuckles as he elaborates, "This isn't my first rodeo Pride. This is… My eighth time as a competitor? It is my first time as Envy for sure. Though the rest of the sins are very much newly acquired. I was rather surprised at your lack of knowledge, the previous 'protagonists' were far more knowledgeable. You either have Apophis's favor or are truly despised by him!"

"Either way you are quite unlucky!" He starts laughing hysterically as his body floats backwards as if unconcerned with gravity.

You take a moment to process it all…

"Well?" Expectantly asks the Skull Kid.

Letting your posture slouch a bit you take a second to let out a yawn before stating, "This is just way too much all at once… You're gonna have to give me a night or two to think it over… Besides, even if I have questions I doubt you'd be willing to answer them."

The floating imp chuckles to himself as he says, "Kehehe, you aren't entirely wrong there. But don't worry, I'm certain many of your questions will be answered later tonight."

"Oh, yeah. That… I'm assuming all of the Sins are being required to attend? Meaning Robin, Sam, and whoever the hell Gluttony and Greed are will be there?" You ask just to be sure.

"I cannot be certain if everyone will attend. But for the sake of our eventual victory I hope they will." Is the masked imp's response.

You nod and think it all over once more… Do you really even want to win the war? Are you really going to fight for Apophis's end goals? Isn't this all just completely ridiculous? Everything in the end was planned out wasn't it?

Once again you are proven to be ignorant of just how much control the damn gods had over your life.

Is there even a point in resistance? Is this just your fate?

You are taken out of your thoughts as you feel a hand tap your shoulder. Turning towards Neo Politan, that is such a ridiculous name you have to mention, you just stare at her in confusion. However, all you get in response is a thumbs up from her…

Is that her attempt to encourage you or something? Probably best to not think too deeply about all this, or perhaps you just want to keep putting it off. That's it isn't it, you really just don't want to face the heart of the matter…

Damn your self-awareness for re-entering your life!

Your lamentations aside you do have one last question before you head back to the mansion, "Fuyuki Bridge later tonight huh? I'll be there, if only to get some answers… But could you have chosen any place less conspicuous than the bridge? If all of the 'Sins' do show up, we'll be the center of attention."

The skull just floats there for a minute before saying, "You have nothing to worry about." You have plenty actually.

But clearly he knows something you don't, and if anything he knows a little too much for you to really feel safe around him.

Turning away from your fellow 'Sins' you begin heading back to the mansion. Only for you to be stopped when you realized there was suddenly an extra weight on your shoulders… And two somethings rubbing against your cheeks, clothed thighs... You would attempt to turn your head but you already knew what it was.

"Really?" You ask incredulously.

A hand comes into vision, Neo's obviously, a thumbs up is her sole response. You still find yourself nebulous of Neo's personality it seems… Riding on your shoulders like a child? At least she's small and light otherwise you wouldn't be putting up with her current shenanigans.

Refusing to resist you sigh but begin marching on.

Upon returning to the mansion grounds Neo had decided to get off your back finally, only to then shatter into glass and disappear. Though she did wave bye to you before running off. Doesn't make you any less salty over having to carry her the entire way to the mansion only for her to go off elsewhere…

But that's just your life isn't it? Doing someone else's bidding?

God you are so fucking moody…

You want to make excuses for your behavior but honestly you can't. Sure your life sucks but what excuse is that to continue allowing your life to get worse? Just cause you don't want to try out of fear it'll amount to nothing?

That's not your way. That's not your family's way.

You should be striving to reach new heights and crush all opponents in this Holy Grail War you find yourself in, but your mind is muddied with the problems the gods caused and your past. How can you move on if you keep finding your mind wandering back to-.

"Ah, Master. Welcome back." Irisviel interrupted suddenly having appeared in front of you as you entered the mansion.

…

You also need to get out of your head now and then. The amount of times you've been taken out of your thoughts by others is getting a bit stupid.

Paying no mind to your issue of thinking too much you ask, "Good afternoon Irisviel. Did you need something?"

Your maid looks at you weirdly before shaking her head and saying, "Not at all Master, Sir Wilhelm informed me you had left the mansion and to keep an eye out for when you'd return. I just came out to welcome you back." You notice her left brow twitch.

You ask again, "Are you certain there's nothing you need?"

"Not at all. I have everything under control." Is Irisviel's oddly lackluster response, which was made all the more unconvincing by not only her choice of words but also due to her face beginning to sweat.

"Irisviel. I mean this as nicely as possible, but… Whatever is going on… It would better to just tell me, rather than keep it hidden from me… Poorly at that." You say with finality.

Taking a gulp your maid says simply, "Everything is already handled master, you have nothing to worry about…"

"But something did happen?" Is your response to the odd choice of words by your maid.

"Yes… I'm afraid I do not know how it occurred but your captive, the servant, escaped her cell. She was caught by Caster and Lancer, but it still doesn't change that she escaped in the first place. I fear I may have given her lackluster bindings when I brought her back to her cell last." Is Irisviel's explanation.

That was cause for concern but you have a feeling Irisviel is making it sound worse than it was, so you ask, "How far did she get before being apprehended?"

"Only to the steps, by then Caster and Lancer were already on top of her and she was recaptured. Still I am filled with shame for being responsible…" Irisviel laments.

You think it over for a second before saying, "Bring me to the scene, I'll decide who was responsible for what."

Irisviel nods and the two of you head to the dungeons together.

Upon entering the dungeon you notice that both Cu and Medea were within Medusa's open cell. You presume they were holding her or something along those lines. Descending the steps you notice that Sakura is exactly as she was left, so that alone tells you that Irisviel wasn't lying when she said Rider was apprehended quickly.

Though you have to wonder how your servants were able to respond so quickly to your captive's attempt to escape… It all fell a little too nicely into place in your mind.

Approaching the cell you watch Medea turn around to greet you with, "Ah, our Master has finally come to join us Lancer. I'm certain he can take over from here?"

You notice that Lancer was sitting upon a slightly writhing Medusa, she was clearly struggling but just unable to fight back while she was being used as a makeshift stool. Cu gave Medea the side-eye as he said, "I'll stay just a bit longer Caster. I'm sure you won't mind."

Medea's response was a simple, "Tch." Yet beyond that she only grimaced, taking no action.

You stared emptily into the Rider's own eyes as she glared at you before turning your attention to your two servants and asking, "So what happened exactly?"

"The snake here escaped her bindings somehow and broke out of her cell. Thankfully I noticed due to the fact I have her command seals, which allowed me to know that she was moving around despite having supposedly been restrained. I and Lancer then quickly responded to her breakout. It was a quick apprehension." Is Medea's take on events.

She clearly wanted to say more but Cu had his own take, "Yeah when there had been no prior issue she suddenly breaks out, not suspicious at all."

"Are you accusing me of something Lancer?" Is Medea's aggressive response.

"I didn't say anything of the sort." Says Cu as he lets a superior smirk appear on his face.

"You were certainly implying something…" Medea growls out.

You decide enough is enough as you say, "Stop with the fighting you two."

Both servants shut their mouths, thank the lord, but now you are just left with more questions on what could have possibly occurred. Walking over to Medusa and Cu you kneel and force eye contact with Medusa as you ask, "How'd you escape your cell."

As contract after contract begins to flood onto Medusa's being her struggles begin to get worse. Her face contorts into expressions of pain and fear. Soon enough she begins to say something, "I-I… I-I…"

Then you feel all of your contracts simply break…

"I won't tell you…" She gets out as her struggles cease.

Standing up you say, "Now that's not nice. Alright, let me ask a different question… Did Caster have anything to do with your escape?" The contracts assaulted her mind, body, and soul once more as she writhed underneath Lancer. He didn't seem entirely comfortable with what was occurring, not that it stopped you from continuing.

Meanwhile Medea seemed offended as she yelled out, "Master?!"

You pay the witch no mind as you continue to poke and prod Medusa's very being. And eventually…

The contracts win out this time as Medusa is forced to say, "N-No!" Medea sighs as Cu simply grouches.

"So it seems Caster is in the clear. What's your thoughts, Lancer?" You ask.

"Have no idea then. Maybe she just escaped her binds on her own after all?" Lancer stated unconvincingly. Obviously no one here actually believed that Medusa escaped on her own, except maybe Irisviel because apparently she isn't aware of how well she ties a knot.

Speaking of which… You look to the side and check out Medusa's former bindings…

All of her bindings were intact which suggested someone untied her. There's just no way she tore her way out if that was the state the rope was left in… It was as if whoever untied her had the intention of making use of the rope once more…

In fact the state of her restraints brings up the question of the cell door, why didn't she bust it down? Was it already open when she escaped her bindings?

Regardless you were certain of one thing and one thing only.

Medusa was let out. She did not escape.

"I have brought the items you have requested, Master…" Irisviel states as she rolls in a metal table covered with a variety of devices. From vibrators, to piercings, to a shock stick. Anything and almost everything that would be useful in what was to come had arrived.

"And what about my special request?" You ask, as a slick smile blooms upon your face. You had already made note of a covered object waiting outside of the cell.

Irisviel brings her hands together as she happily says, "You'll be delighted to know Miss Robin had something to your exact specifications within the 'toy' room!"

"Good. Now, Irisviel, you have other duties to attend to." Waving your maid off you go to change your focus to the captive Medusa but you feel a tap on your shoulder.

"May I make a request Master?" Asked your Maid.

You make an affirmative hum as you say, "Go ahead."

"Could I take some time to handle this devious slave myself? After I finish my current duties of course." She asks out of the blue.

"That's rather sudden. May I ask why?" You ask curiously.

Your maid begins to twiddle her thumbs as she says timidly, "I would just like to teach that pathetic thing a lesson is all. As your property, she should be obedient, yet again and again I have seen her fight against you. It just… It upsets me greatly, I would like a chance to solve the issue?" A dangerous glint appears in the deepest recess of her eyes.

One of intense anger. But your Maid was excellent at concealing her true feelings.

Hmm…

"Go ahead, though, make sure all your tasks are completed before doing anything." You state.

Irisviel nods before responding with, "Of course Master…" With that said your Maid makes her exit from the cell and dungeon.

With your Maid gone you finally turn your attention to the newly restrained Medusa. With her restraints completely intact you made use of the rope to force Medusa onto her knees. Her head forced into a bow by tying her neck to the knot in between her knees.

Despite this awkward position the petulant slave did her best to stare up at you in disgust, and while she was not gagged she kept silent. Instead she just glared quietly, no doubt wishing she could turn her mystic eyes against you.

But she clearly remembered the last time she tried to use such things against you.

"Is that any way to look up to your Master, slave~?" You draw out the final syllable to reinforce the Heroic Spirit's terrible fall from grace.

What surprised you was when Medusa tried to be snarky, "While I may not be happy about it… She is currently my master, not you."

You follow her gaze towards Medea, the usually hooded servant had stripped herself while Irisviel was retrieving your equipment and was currently fully nude. Which of course made her command seals apparent, but she was quick to fix such notions, "And he is mine. While I may hold the command seals… Don't you dare forget who you are subservient to above all, snake!"

"I know where my loyalties lie, witch…" Medusa hisses out.

Medea knowing her meaning immediately enrages and goes to slap the uppity slave, "You pissant bi-!" Before Medea's hand can make contact with the enslaved servant you grab hold of her arm.

"Master-!" Your Caster protests.

"Calm yourself." You say in a soothing tone.

Your servant's hands meet her sides as she backs away, letting you handle the disobedient spirit by yourself. Kneeling down to obtain eye contact with Medusa you activate your Eyes of Balor at their lowest level making your eyes flash purple as you watch the servant's expression become strained.

"You really shouldn't let such a useless thing upset you. Even when given the perfect opportunity to escape she couldn't make it past the steps of the dungeon." You deride.

You begin strengthening your eyes and watch with rapt attention as her already pale skin starts to become bone white. Barely able to handle the discomfort any longer Medusa clenches her eyes shut and that is when you flood a web of contracts onto her being.

For every ten that failed to clutch to her being, two succeeded in binding themselves. Her body is going to despise what is about to occur as her sensitivity and ability to climax have been completely fucked up by your contracts.

Everything messing with her sensitivity would likely last through the entire session… But you were uncertain if she'd be unable to climax throughout the entirety of her training.

With your work done you let your eyes return to normal and Rider's skin slowly shifts into a far healthier pale. But as relief reaches her face she suddenly becomes very familiar with the floor as your foot stomps down onto her head.

As a servant, such a strike stung more than anything else, but the point wasn't for it to hurt. Instead it was to make sure that Medusa understood that this was going to be unlike anything she experienced so far. Pleasure would not be the purpose of this session.

You begin forming even more contracts as you ask, "Now how should I punish you this time Medusa? What do you deserve for your disappointing escape attempt? You have to have something you believe you deserve to have happen to you for such a humiliating occurrence."

The disgraced spirit struggles under your foot as she raises her voice to shout, "No! N-No! S-Stop!"

You could feel your contracts be torn apart, she's probably figuring out how to avoid being forcibly contracted instinctually. Thankfully one makes it through as Medusa whispers, "H-Hang me."

Obviously she was referring to having you kill her, or that is what you believed. What else could she be intending? Hmm… Actually, "Hmm. That's a rather good idea, Medusa, thank you for the suggestion."

Taking your foot off the servant you catch a glimpse of her shrunken pupils and slightly fearful expression. "If you really think I'm going to kill you after all this effort to curb your disobedience you truly are a worthless servant." You state.

With your attention fully off Medusa you begin making your way to Medea. The nude servant looks at you strangely, most likely confused on what you were doing, and so you choose to enlighten her, "Medea, to apologize for how everyone was accusing you of letting out this useless thing... How would you like the first round?"

A malicious smirk grows on the blue-haired servant as she stands idly no longer and begins approaching the restrained Medusa.

As for you? You lean against the cell bars and watch on with a satisfied smirk as the first thing Medea does is kick Medusa's bound form onto her back.

Due to how Medusa was restrained she ended up lying upon her arms while her legs prevented her and Medea from seeing each other's faces. What surprised you was that Medea seemed unhappy with

"Aw… Now we can't have that~..." Cooed Medea as she brought her index finger under the knot that kept Medusa's legs and neck tied together.

Pulling her finger up she growls out, "I want to see that pretty face!" Upon the knot snapping Medea is quick to pin Medusa's legs to the floor. You notice a brief glow come from Medea's hands...

After a moment Medusa's body flinches before going completely still. It seems your blue-haired partner in crime just paralyzed your captive. While Medusa had indeed lost pretty much all motor function she still fruitlessly glared at the Caster on top of her.

Taking her hands off the bound servant's legs, Medea cups Medusa's face before bringing her into a deep kiss. Honestly it was the last thing you were expecting, but you watch in anticipation doubting that Medea just wanted to get intimate with Medusa.

Yet… You can't deny such a sight is hot.

Pressing her lithe body into Medusa's your servant continues the passionate make-out session only for it to suddenly stop upon Medea pulling away. Now you felt blue-balled.

However, Medea was quick to regain your interest as she brought Medusa to her feet and untied her arms. What surprised you was when Medusa suddenly began walking toward the back wall, placed her hands upon it, then bent over presenting her ass to the both of you.

It was obvious by Medusa's facial expression that she did not do that of her own will.

You wish your contracts were capable of something like this, completely influencing another person's actions with but a simple application of your magecraft. While you found Medea's works fascinating, your servant had escaped your vision and gone to the table full of equipment.

Upon your Caster re-entering your line of sight she was now wearing a rather nasty strap-on. It was quite thick yet was only an inch shorter than your own member, but this alone would be nothing worth noting. What was worth noting was that the entire shaft was studded with bulbous bumps that you could only assume would be incredibly uncomfortable to get fucked by.

As Medea sashayed over to Medusa she forced the servant of the mount's legs together before forcing the large strap-on through her thighs. Your servant let the entire length of the faux-dick rub against Medusa's pussy and stomach, all the while her hands roamed around the paralyzed servant's cheeks.

Medea looked at you expectantly as she asked, "Which hole would you like me to loosen for you, Master?"

"I'm thinking you should make that asshole of hers loose." You say with an entertained grin.

With a lascivious look Medea responds with, "As you wish Master… Now slave, if you will."

Medusa's body works against her as she maneuvers the strap-on out of her thighs and onto her ass. She struggles for a moment but with grit teeth the Rider servant forces the half of the faux cock inside of herself.

At that point Medusa's expression was in clear and obvious pain, her face stuck in a silent scream with no noise escaping her mouth.

Grabbing the busty servant's purple hair Medea pulls Medusa off the wall as she forces the Rider to walk over to you with the strap-on half-stuck inside her. You watched in confused arousal not really understanding what Medea was doing until she pressed your captive into your chest, her large breasts rubbing against your clothed pectorals.

With Medusa so close you were able to observe every little detail of her face. How her face naturally changed from pain to disgust when she was forced onto you… Or how beautiful her eyes look when laced with fear…

It was intoxicating to see what should be a proud historical/mythological figure be so uneasy around you!

You almost chose to break your word and have fun with your captive early with how she was staring at you... But you gave Medea the first round… Best to let her have her fun now.

And what fun she is having!

With the current position Medusa is forced to use you to support herself as she gets railed from behind by Medea. You had to point at most Medusa had taken only three-fourths of the strap-on your Caster was wearing, and speaking of the witch…

Medea's fingers glowed a hot pink as she let her hands wander the entirety of Medusa's back and stomach. Upon each contact a slightly red spot would be left behind, only noticeable due to the Rider's naturally pale skin.

You begin noticing that the Rider's face was starting to flush, and upon noticing herself, the usually pale faced Medusa becomes a rosy red. It was an amusing sight and since you were curious of what was occurring you ask, "So what did you do to her?"

Gripping the back of Medusa's head, your servant smushes the submissive captive's face onto your chest. With full view of her face you notice that Medea's own face shares a shade of red with the Rider servant.

Trying to keep her voice from showing her carnal desire, your Caster attempts to speak with an even tone, "A little bit of shared senses here… Some-... Mmmm…. Increased sensitivity there-. Oh yes~! And lastly…" She obviously failed to hide how horny she was.

Forcing Rider to look up at your face the servant's eyes glazed over as Medea continued to thrust away into her asshole, with your servant finishing with, "'Hearing' our every dirty thought about what we're going to do to her... Overwhelmed with the equivalence of three people's libido, while being unable to make sense of any of it except the desire, she's becoming more of the lust-addled slut she already is!"

"Is she actually hearing our thoughts?" You asked with a raised brow as Medusa drooled into your chest, seemingly not cognizant of what was going on as she came from the pleasure. Though it didn't last long as she snapped awake upon you finished speaking and she then immediately attempted to back away from you…

Obviously with Medea still lodged in her with the strap-on, that wasn't the smartest idea.

Upon impaling herself, fully this time, on the faux cock the Rider servant went stock still. You thought it was from the shock but as Medea grabbed her chin it was clear that the Caster servant was just messing with her victim. "What do you think of those beautiful visions, snake?" She asked with a smooth voice.

Did she not hear your question? You genuinely want to know if she was being given a direct view of your thoughts. It wasn't something you'd be comfortable with. However, you kept silent, intent on watching how the scene played out.

Medusa refused to speak, she instead chose to clench her eyes shut as if doing so would help her pretend as if you two weren't there. Medea rolls her eyes then pulls Medusa backwards, pressing their bodies together, as her breasts squished into the Rider's back her hand found its way across the submissive servant's face.

Grabbing Medusa's chin once more, Medea forces the purple-haired beauty to stare into her eyes before saying, "Naughty girl~... We're just beginning, and besides at this point… We both know you want this just as much as my master and I. So why even pretend that you have any dignity left to keep, just embrace it…"

Medusa shakes her head and tries to rip herself from Medea's grip which causes your Caster to groan in displeasure, "You just have a knack for resistance don't you! What's even the point?" Fed up with Medusa, Medea then forced the bustier servant off the dildo with an audible pop, put her down on her knees, before then planting her heel into the back of Medusa's head forcing the Rider to bow.

A hiss comes from both of the servants' throats.

You watch with slight amusement at the display before stating, "Medea."

As if realizing she was in front of you Medea flinches to the sound of your voice and stares at you with concern, as if she was worried she did something wrong. Silly, silly girl.

"I had asked you a question before Rider managed to break from your control. If you could answer it while my contracts hold her in place, I would be happy to let you continue." You state magnanimously.

Taking her foot off of the back of Medusa's head, Medea nods as she asks, "Could you repeat it?"

You sigh but fulfill the request, as otherwise you weren't going to get an answer, "Was she actually hearing our thoughts."

Medea's eyes widened as she then said, "No. I was embellishing Master, I thought you would appreciate a livelier scene… I'm afraid the manipulation of her senses is the most I could do. Though I did force her to see herself in certain predicaments, it was all born of my own imagination and not taken from my actual thoughts… So you are safe in your own head, Master."

You nod, however while you did enjoy the scene, it does not mean you are happy with her embellishments. She made a mistake obviously, but mistakes must be corrected.

With that you let your contracts scatter into the metaphorical wind as you then watched Medusa attempt to jump at you.

Of course with your lovely servant so close to you she immediately noticed the free Medusa, her shout was full of surprise as she watched what was a restrained Rider suddenly pounce, "Master!"

Not having been able to prepare herself to protect you, Medea instead ended up the subject of your captive's ire in her attempt at an intercept.

"Get off me snake!" Medea demanded as Medusa straddled her chest. You watch as Medusa's hands near Medea's throat and just as they are about to meet, you intervene.

The Rider servant suddenly finds herself unable to move, and with great purpose you walk towards the sorry scene of your servant having been overcome by her own servant. "Medea, while I am not mad with your earlier choice of words, I am the slightest bit upset. You had good intentions, but that does not mean you knew what was best."

"But, Maste-!" Medea shouted, unable to remove herself from under the purple-haired servant.

"Keep in mind what I am annoyed by is not what you said. It is the fact you made a singular crucial mistake." You explain, leaving the crucial point out of your words to force Medea to think of the answer herself.

Yet she came up short, "I'm afraid I don't understand Master..."

How unfortunate. Well no point in prolonging this then, so with the full force of your leg you kick Medusa off Medea. With the captive off of your lovely Caster, you raise her to her feet. Pulling Medea into an embrace from behind, cradling her neck in your arms, you let out a quiet laugh as she blushed.

You then whisper, "It is in fact the same mistake you were supposed to be punishing poor, poor Medusa for. The most important thing servant's such as you and her should learn, is that you exist to serve and obey me. And while we may be partners, you are subordinate to me. Never ever forget this again, and if you are uncertain I will like something…"

"I-I understand Master, please do forgive me." Begged Medea quietly, clearly eager to not have you be upset with her.

"Good, now if you really want to make it up to me, take off that obnoxious strap-on... I prefer my pussy dickless after all." You joke mockingly.

Upon finishing your lecture with Medea, Medusa finally made it to her feet and she seemed ready to charge at you again.

Not even giving her a second of thought you wave her off as her entire body freezes once more as you encase the majority of her body with solid air. Contracts really are cheating when fighting against such lowly servants aren't they?

Now it's time to show Medea how it's done.

Walking up to the frozen Medusa you lock eyes with her. Her glare was weak and tired, she clearly wanted this to just be over. But you've just begun. Standing in front of your victim you look her body up and down then say, "I can tell you're tired slave, and I can empathize... However, not only did you attempt to escape, you made Medea look guilty-."

Your words cause Medusa to grimace and clench her eyes shut before she turns her head away from you. She then interrupts as she grunts out, "Is your reasoning always that pathetic? This is no 'righteous punishment', this is just a sick game to you…"

"I'm not trying to make excuses for my actions Rider. Obviously I do this because it's fun, however you didn't let me finish." You explain, Medusa looks at you in quiet contempt. Her stare was expectant but fierce.

A moment of silence passes. Feeling awkward, Medusa embarrassingly asks, "Well?"

Letting out a quiet snort you finally continue with, "Well… I'll let you be if you can apologize to me for what you did. Not just for trying to escape but also your poor attempt at painting my loyal servant in a bad light."

The servant became stone faced but in a very short amount of time she mutters out, "I-I… I apologize… M-Master…"

Smirking to yourself you take a good grip of her buttocks as you enter an embrace with the captive servant. Bringing your mouth to her left ear you whisper, "And mean it, obviously."

"You're vile…" She groans.

You respond with, "It's fun to be vile, because let's be honest… If our positions were switched you'd be doing something quite similar. So don't talk to me about how much of a monster I am when it is unquestionable we are two of a kind, 'Heroic Spirit'." Your words seem to have an impression on her as she becomes noticeably glum.

Hanging her head down low, Medusa speaks with a low tone, "We are nothing alike."

Taking your hands off of her rear you then flick her nose before stating, "Far too similar for your own liking. I get it. Doesn't mean we got to lie. The only difference between us is that I don't try to hide my evil or pretend to be righteous like you do. Otherwise we are shockingly alike, Medusa."

She spares you a glance but says nothing as her head falls downward once more without a second though.

Smirking to yourself you try to get a rise out of her with, "You know. Once I capture that pretty little former master of yours I think I'll let you have the first round with her. Wouldn't it be just depressingly ironic?"

Raising her head into a leveled glare, Medusa hisses out, "You won't lay a hand on her!"

Waving your finger in front of her face you then say, "I won't touch a hair on her head… Until after you mess her up in my name of course."

"You really think I would do that to my master!" She shouts out.

"No, I wouldn't want you to do that to me anyway. But that minx you once called master? Oh yes I do." You state matter-of-factly.

The audacity of your claims causes Medusa to pause as her resolve cracks and all she can say in response is, "You… You're insane… You have no idea just how wrong you are do you…"

With a raised brow you stare at Medusa due to her response. With an even tone you then say, "I'm right, you just don't realize it yet."

"Like this Master?" Medea asked as she finished tying the knot.

With a quick nod you then say, "Perfectly done. Just give it a tug to make sure it's nice and tight!"

The Caster nods in response then does as she's told with a smug grin on her face. Medusa groans as her tits are pulled on via the rope you had Medea tie, and it appears to be perfectly tight. Smiling to yourself you then say, "Let me handle it from here."

Medea tosses the untied length of the rope to you and upon catching it in your hands you make use of your contracts to make an invisible hook on the ceiling. With the hook now present you throw the end of the rope with great accuracy through the hook and then catch the falling end in your hands.

With the rope now around the hook you begin tying it around the bindings on her breasts and nipples. The way you tied everything forced Medusa onto the tips of her toes as her breasts were used to hang her from the ceiling.

Upon finishing the knot you notice that Medea is by your side holding a piece of equipment from the table. Something called electrodes, it was equipment that would send electrical jolts through whatever it was attached to when activated.

From what you were told, they were generally used for stimulation.

But you shall be using them for something much more fun.

Medusa is forced to watch helplessly as you attach the electrodes to her breasts with tape to ensure they would stay on. Uncertain if they would work, you send a test shock through Medusa's breast.

"Ah!" Medusa gasps, her eyes showed just how painful it was.

"Good! It works. Now just give me a few more seconds Medusa, I have just a few more additions for you then we can start." Your voice had a pleasant tone that made Medusa shiver in fearful anticipation. It seems she was not as excited as you were, a shame.

You attach the last three electrodes around her pelvis, specifically next to her clit, and the last one was placed directly on top of her clitoris. With another test shock, and a screech, you hand off the controller to Medea.

"Whenever I tell you to shock, just turn this dial all the way up. Then press here." You explained. Medea nodded and gave her own test shock.

"Stop!" Yelled out Medusa as Medea 'accidentally' held the button down for too long.

You head over to the equipment table and make note of the oddest piece of equipment upon it. It was explained to you why it was amongst the rest, but still… It was quite odd that amid all your tools designed to make a person as uncomfortable as possible that a plant was one of them.

Grabbing the ginger from the table you start peeling them with contracts, just to make sure it was correctly cut.

As you were busy doing that you asked aloud, "Hey Medusa? I have a question for you."

"I'm not in a position to refuse your questions…" She says in response.

With a hearty chuckle you say, "True enough. Now tell me… Do you know what figging is?"

"No?" Was Medusa's response.

Done with peeling you turn around with skinned ginger root in each hand and say, "I don't blame you for not knowing as I wasn't even aware of it until very recently. So let me inform you on what it is, because I find it quite fascinating."

Standing in front of the bound Medusa you hold out both of the skinned roots and start explaining, "Figging is a form of punishment taken all the way back from Ancient Greece. They would insert these lovely things into the genitals and anus of disobedient female slaves such as yourself. Recently people instead use such methods for pleasure instead of curbing disobedience, it's all quite interesting to someone such as myself."

As you finish you begin forcing both of the roots into the respective holes you mentioned. The restrained servant tenses up and grimaces as an uncomfortable feeling permeates her lower body. "But today we'll be using them for their original purpose." You state happily.

"Hold these in her for a few seconds, Medea." You command your servant.

She follows your demands and gently holds the ginger in place as you go to retrieve tape. Within seconds the ginger is held in place by tape. Medusa struggles for a moment as the ginger does its thing but she quickly realizes that she shouldn't move so much.

With that done your surprise can be unveiled. Walking out of the cage you grab the device Irisviel had brought and roll it on a dolly. With it now inside the cell you take off the cloth covering it and revealing what was underneath the whole time.

"Now Rider, would you like to prove your skill at riding?" You say humorously.

Before you was a rocking wooden horse with a serrated steel edge on where one would ride it. Pushing the dolly forward you set it down in front of Medusa and then move the dolly out of the way. With it set down you walked around Medusa before telling Medea, "I'm gonna lift her so I'll need you to push the horse under her while I'm holding her."

"Right away Master!" Affirmed Medea.

Taking grasp of both of Medusa's wonderful thighs you then raise her up which was surprisingly easier than you'd thought it would be. She was strangely light. It only takes Medea a few moments to move the wooden horse to where you needed it.

With task done you lackadaisically let go of Medusa causing her to drop harshly onto the edge of the horse. Of course considering what it was made of as well as the fact it was serrated, the fall hurt more than it normally would, which then caused Medusa to scream out.

Upon fixing the rope you force the horse forward causing Medusa to have to bend backwards and the horse to start rocking. She did well on hiding her groans but you could make them out still. With the ginger and wooden horse there was far too much discomfort for her to not make groans of pain.

However all that pain was entirely localized to her lower half. So time to give those wonderful breasts some love!

You walk over to the equipment table and pull off a long whip. It was a normal one, it would just leave lashes and not do any serious damage. It'd still hurt obviously. You didn't want to cut up those mammaries of hers so you'd use this whip for now.

"We will be doing ten lashes on each of your breasts, Medusa. I want you to count them aloud for me. If you make an error or refuse to say which number we're on for that specific tit then I'll add an additional lash to the requirement. Understood?" You explain.

"Get this over with!" She tiredly shouted out.

You start with the right breast, you aim just a little under the nipple. As you swung the whip you shouted, "Shock!" Medusa's eyes widened as her body was overcome by the electrical stimulation to her breasts and clit.

The whip struck not long after, yet Medusa managed to shout, "One!"

Good girl! Excellent! Honestly you expected that to trip her up!

You then strike the left breast aiming for the base of it and Medusa with pain in her voice lets out, "One!"

Striking her left breast again you strike the covered nipple as Medea shocked her at the same time and yet, "Two!" She got it out even as the pain was clear from her expression and voice.

You strike the left breast two more times in a row and yet, "Three… Four…" It took her a second for those but she at least said them so you'll be magnanimous.

The whip then went to strike the left breast only for you to change course last second and have it lightly, in comparison, strike the right. "Two." Medusa called out.

This went on for a while but Medusa only slipped up once…

You couldn't even be mad at her! You had to slam your foot onto the base of the horse causing it to jump up and dig into her while Medea was shocking her at the same time for her to fuck up.

So hats off to you Medusa! Now onto the most important part, stress relief. For you anyway.

Putting away the whip you had been using, you pull out a bullwhip. The whip you had just used was designed to cause pain and discomfort, but no real damage. The bullwhip on the other hand…

Well actions speak louder than words and all that.

Walking behind a panting and sweaty Medusa you tell Medea, "I want you to shock her every time I hit her with this." Your loyal servant nods and readies the controller.

"I will be counting down to ten, once I am done counting this session will be over. So congrats Slave you've done very well. Just one last hurdle for you to get over… But a word of warning. This will hurt." You say menacingly as you ready the whip with a crack.

"One." The first strike draws blood straight down the back as you breach Medusa's 'skin'. Before she can even react you strike two more times by each of her shoulder blades. Though the second strike fails to make a cut, it only left behind a bruise.

You strike just below the neck as you say, "Two." You then aim for her ass as you strike in between her cheeks, then across them.

"Three." You whip the left side of her back leaving it a little bloody after ten strikes.

You start doing the same to the right and upon the fifth strike you state, "Four." You then begin giving her cheeks the same treatment, starting with the left once more. Though you only aim to leave bruising rather than cuts.

That ass is meant to be clapped not cut up.

Moving onto the right cheek you start noticing that Medusa is crying now, tears run down her face as her body is set on fire by the pain from the whip and electrodes. With one last strike to her right cheek you let out, "Five."

You then begin wildly striking her back not aiming for anything specific, just intending to cause as much pain as possible in as short a time as you can. Your sadism was made manifest in full.

"Six!" Her back is so pale, why is it not red?

Your face becomes manic as you shout out, "Seven!" Still too pale, why isn't her skin inflamed in marks of red?

"Eight!" The audible cries for you two stop began but still there was so much white on her back. You've struck almost every part of her back and yet it isn't red enough.

"Nine!" It's not like you want blood to pour from her back, but is this really all you can manage with but a hundred lashes? Are you really that weak that you can't even cause such injury to a helpless woman?

You stop striking Medusa's back and announce, "Ten." Your sadistic desires abide. You didn't want to let your own wrath take over like before.

Overall Medusa's back was relatively fine, oh no doubt it hurt. But you could only count twenty cuts along the entirety of her back, none of them were exceptionally large and they weren't bleeding that badly.

Contracts alone fixed up the cuts leaving behind red marks of where you had struck. You yourself wiped away all the blood as Medusa huffed in exhaustion clearly far too tired for anything more, she didn't even pay attention to you removing the ginger.

With a pleasant smile and voice you say, "You're such a good girl. Let's get you off this then nice and comfy all right?"

She did not resist.

Medusa was now hung up in her cell like once before, with but a few additions. You did not remove the electrodes and instead added vibrators on top of them. You also inserted a vibrator into her pussy as well as a larger one that was tied to her left thigh right next to her vagina.

You had to argue with yourself on whether you wanted to gag and blindfold her but you settled on just gagging her. You want Medusa to be very aware once Irisviel comes to have her way with her. Though you'll inform your maid to take it a bit easy on her considering she was such a good girl this session.

You had mentioned earlier you had left on the electrodes and obviously you didn't want to make poor use of them but you also didn't want to fry Medusa like she was meat on a skillet. So Medea was using a Dragon Tooth Warrior familiar to use the controller whenever Medusa struggled in her bindings.

You had asked if it would be a drain on her but she laughed it off so apparently it was a stupid question.

With that you made your leave.