Caster glanced up at my face and immediately looked away, fearing the glimpses she got of my alphanoir soul every time she did so. 'Please, Master,' she breathed in a faint and demure sigh. 'The Command Spell doesn't just compel my actions. It strengthens them, too. I just... I just can't do this without your help.'

Classic damsel in distress. For the original woman scorned, Medea really knew how to pull the strings on a guy. I put on my best understanding smile and raise a hand to present my Command Spell. 'Alright, you win. I order you, Caster, use your magic to light up the room!'

It's hell on the budget to pay for utilities in a country like Japan. I already damn near beggared myself renting out this old warehouse to use as my base for a month, and I've only had the one airport meal since this "Holy Grail War" started. When I drew the magic circle in complete darkness, wearing my old flannel robe for warmth, I'd hoped I could at least get a strong Servant by summoning earlier than the rest.

Luck, as always, wasn't on my side. Installing the heating, lighting, and clean water through magic is about the only useful thing Caster's done since I summoned her. It cost me a Command Spell each time, but that's alright. I don't expect to find much of a tactical use for her beyond maintaining this base. She can keep Bob company, since I'm getting a little worried about his raving about "Japanese schoolgirls" ever since he strongarmed his way into this trip, figuratively speaking. It wouldn't do to draw attention in this War. The Magic Association seems even more crocked than the White Council. I'll take Morgan and his sword over vivisection any day.

'Master?' Caster's voice comes from behind me. She sounds weirdly excited; I wonder if a mouse in the corner startled her or something. I bet that's the case. I sigh internally and turn around--

shank

----

Harry used the second Command Seal to make Medea cast a small glamour on her face to make it look like she wasn't wearing makeup, which confused her so much she almost forgot about killing him.

Bonus: it didn't even do anything, because the command seal couldn't figure out what the order was either.

Something that could only be called a paradox surged through her body, granting the power to fulfill a compulsion that was somehow hollow and meaningless. Magical energy collected at the tips of her fingers and dispersed impotently into the air. Her Master looked at her with a critical eye and nodded. "Perfect," he said. "I can't even tell the difference."

Caster was one step closer to her goal, one step closer to ridding herself of this repulsive creature once and for all. But she knew, with a cold, blank certainty, that she would return to the Throne of Heroes, the exalted domain of immortal rest, thinking of this Command Seal and the man she tricked into using it.