Akeno sat in the middle of the bed and opened the Yin-Yang store, searching for magic circuits. They were three of them.

  "Regur Magic Circuits: 20 Main magic circuits. Cost: 8 000 Yin Points."

  "Improved Magic Circuits: 40 Main magic circuits and 30 sub magic circuits. Cost: 25 000 Yin Points."

  "Peak Magic Circuits: 120 Main magic circuits. Cost: 60 000 Yin Points."

  [System, what are those main or sub magic circuits? And how do those numbers compare with regurs Magus?]

  [The Magus of the Mage Association average at around 20 Main Magic Circuits. Strong Magus with a family Crest nurtured over several generations have more developed magic circuits. Rin Tohsaka more or less correspond to the Improved package. The strongest Magus of her generation possesses about a hundred magic circuits in total.]

  [I see. I'm buying the peak package. I'd be a fool not to.]

  [Acknowledged. The instaltion will begin immediately.]

  Akeno suddenly gritted her teeth as she felt intense pain within her skull. It felt like someone was using a hot poker on her.

  Ever so slowly, the pain moved, leaving and brain to descend along her nervous system and her spine. And pain started to change, feeling less like a burn and more like a hundred worms were eating their way inside her flesh and skin.

  The process was agonizingly slow, and it took an hour for the magic circuits to reach her sternum and elbows. Akeno doggedly persisted, only grunting in pain or muttering the occasional curse.

  An hour ter, things became even worse. The magic circuits split into smaller ones around her hands, amplifying the pain, and they seemed to pay extra attention to her sensitive crotch. Akeno squirmed on the bed, biting down screams.

  She wasn't the only one, as she could also hear the others, the door and walls not being soundproofed. Chisato was loudly whining about pain being painful, and Asuka was cursing her System loudly.

  Things became a lot more tolerable when her arms and hips were done, and the pain only came from her thighs.

  It took another two hours for the process to be over. Akeno breathed in relief and checked her status. The magic circuits had increased her MAG attribute by a massive 80 points. When she circuted her energy through her body, she saw many glowing lines appear on her skin.

  "Is it done, Master?" asked Britomart with concern.

  "Yes, thank you. it was hell, but so worth it. And before we see to replenishing your mana, I need a shower." said Akeno as she stood.

  Unfortunately for her, the house only had one bathroom, and someone was already there, from the sounds of the shower running. She likely could have forced whoever was in to share the shower, since she was the leader of their group, but decided to take things slow.

  With a sigh, Akeno returned to the bedroom and spent a few minutes browsing the many items or abilities in the Yin-Yang store. Many were interesting, but one of them in particur kept her attention.

  "Lilith's Boon. A skill or item chosen by Lilith to help the user. Cost: 10 000 Yin Points, 500 Yang Points."

  For a moment, Akeno hesitated. She wasn't very fond of the idea of getting a mystery item for a very significant cost. But on the other hand, she trusted Lilith to give something worth the cost, and Noah had given her permission to use his savings as she saw fit.

  [System, I'll take this Boon.]

  [Understood… Lilith is creating a suitable item to help you, Akeno… The Boon has been received and is in your inventory. It is a set of two items, and User Noah received his part.]

  Akeno checked her inventory, and chuckled as she saw the new item. She took it in her hands.

  It was a strap-on. A double-ended one, with the inner dildo being a respectable fifteen centimeters long and five centimeters in diameter. The other one was longer by five centimeters, and both were ridged, with two of the segments having wart-like protrusions. The dildos were made of what seemed to be pstic, shiny bck and adorned with attractive purple patterns. They were fixed on a small panel of soft bck leather, and the straps had no buckles to adjust them, but she didn't doubt that it would be a perfect fit for her.

  A very fitting item for a succubus, smiled Akeno. And the description of the item only cemented her assessment.

  "Corruption. A set of two items composed of one ring (for the Incubus) and one double-ended strap-on (for the Succubus). Designed to facilitate the transfer of mana between Master and Servant. Once equipped, Corruption will brand the opposite party with a Crest upon climax, marking them as a Thrall. The Crest will disappear after fifteen days, unless reapplied, and each application will increase its level by 1.

  Level 1: The Thrall's libido is increased.

  Level 10: Adds a Curse* to the Thrall. The Curse can be changed or removed with any new application of the Crest, or at the Incubus/Succubus's discretion once the Crest reaches its maximum level. The Thrall will not realize they have been cursed. Only one Curse may be active at any time.

  Level 25: The Thrall experiences increased pleasure from the Incubus/Succubus's touch, and pink hearts will appear in their pupils upon climax.

  Level 50: The Thrall will have recurring dreams of being dominated by the Incubus/Succubus, until their fully accept the Incubus/Succubus as their Master.

  Level 100: The Crest becomes permanent, and the Thrall will develop a desire to add more members to the Incubus/Succubus's harem."

  "Well worth it. Thank you very much, Lilith-sama." muttered Akeno, awed, as she caressed the hard surface of the strap-on. Then she focused on the Curses, and their list appeared.

  "Curses:

  Pain so good: The Thrall derives arousal from receiving pain in a sexual context.

  Victory in defeat: The Thrall grows a liking for being overpowered and forcefully taken.

  Bondage bunny: The Thrall gains a taste for helplessness.

  People pleaser: The Thrall develops a strong desire for praise.

  Step on me: The Thrall gets aroused by verbal or physical abuse from the Incubus/Succubus.

  Good Kitty: The Thrall develops a liking for being leashed and treated as a pet.

  Can't get enough: The Thrall will love the taste of the Incubus/Succubus's body fluids.

  Servant of the Hive: The Thrall develops a desire for being objectified into a drone or doll.

  Chrysanthemum lover: The Thrall gains a strong liking for anal py.

  WARNING: The Thrall will slowly integrate the curse into their own preferences. As an example, a Thrall cursed with Chrysanthemum lover for a long period will not suddenly stop liking anal py if the Crest expires or the curse is changed to another."

  Akeno whistled as she finished reading about the eleven Curses and the warning. This item was just a cheat. She looked at Britomart, who was looking curiously at the item in Akeno's hands.

  "Master, what is this?"

  "A double-ended strap-on. It has been blessed by the goddess I serve."

  "A strap-on? What is it? I can't deduce its function from its form."

  "Ara ara, Britomart, you are quite innocent, aren't you?" chuckled Akeno.

  "I'll show you how it's used after… I don't hear the shower anymore!"

  Akeno quickly walked to the bedroom. Chisato was already waiting.

  "Damn, I'm too te."

  "Hehe. Akeno, your phone rang a minute ago. But I was in too much pain to give it to you immediately." smiled Chisato as she handed Akeno her smartphone.

  "Thanks. Did you have a good chat with Takina?"

  "Yeah." gently smiled Chisato. "It's been great. And it has done a lot of good to Aria, too. After all that happened, and when I had to leave for this world… I feared that Aria's heart was about to break into pieces. But now, she's back to how she was before Takina died."

  "I'm gd you both feel better. And Takina will be fine."

  The door opened, and Asuka came out, her torso, hips and hair wrapped in towels.

  "It really wasn't fun." sighed Asuka. "Though not as bad as fighting Angels."

  "Yes, like a hundred needles moving under our skin." shuddered Chisato.

  "Not as bad as fighting Angels?" asked Akeno, and Asuka shrugged.

  "When EVAs gets damaged, we pilots feel like it's our own body who got injured. And EVAs get damaged at lot, because Angels are no jokes. For us, a mangled arm is just another Monday."

  "Wow. I'm gd our Gundams aren't like that." winced Chisato

  "You both took the highest-grade magic circuits?" asked Akeno, and they nodded.

  "Well, it least we won't have to do it again."

  Chisato looked at the bathroom, then Akeno.

  "Wanna take a shower together to save time? I don't care if other girls see me naked."

  "Sure, why not?" smiled Akeno.

  Asuka nodded to them and headed to her room to recharge Aife's batteries, and Akeno entered the bathroom with Chisato.

  They both stripped and started showering. As they were cleaning themselves, Chisato smirked.

  "I was expecting you to use the opportunity to create some kind of bathroom scene."

  "You sound like you want me to make a move on you."

  "We both know that's coming, and I'm in a good mood, after taking to Takina."

  "I didn't ask you about your sexual orientation."

  "I'm bi."

  "Great." smiled Akeno. "Noah has few rules for his girls, but one of them is that we must be able to rely on each other for, fun, to make up for his inability to take care of us all properly, due to his ck of time. We all are bisexual in his harem. We don't have much time tonight, but how about I give you a taste?"

  Chisato nodded, and Akeno gently took both of Chisato's wrists, bringing them behind her back, and holding them together with her left hand. She pulled Chisato and pressed her against her body. With her right hand, she gently kneaded Chisato's left breast. And when Chisato gasped, Akeno kissed her.

  Chisato moaned sweetly as Akeno's tongue invaded her mouth, and when she broke the kiss, gasping for air, Akeno released her.

  "Just a taste, for now."

  "That was really nice. You're a great kisser." smiled Chisato.

  "Thanks. Do you have any fetish or fantasy you'd like me to fulfill?"

  "…well… I've participated in a few threesomes with Aria and Takina. I wouldn’t mind doing more with you and someone else." mischievously said Chisato.

  "Ever tried bondage?"

  "No. But I guess I'm about to."

  "You will, in the very near future. But don't worry, Lilith gave us the tools to make sure that our partners grow to love the stuff we do with them. We have a one hundred percent success rate!"

  "I'll be putty in your hands, then. What do you have in mind for me?" smiled Chisato.

  "I'm not sure yet. But I'm sure some idea will come to mind."

  Akeno nodded with a grin, and they quickly finished their shower and dried themselves.

  "Now, time for me to go py with Tamamo's fluffy tail! I've been looking forward to this since I summoned her!" grinned Chisato as she left.

  "I must admit I'm interested, too." muttered Akeno, thinking about the cute fox Servant. She left the bathroom and took Sanctuary from her inventory, setting it on the shelf. She poured some of her mana into it, and the gauge hidden under its wooden base filled up, indicating that for the next hour in the real world, almost twenty hours would pass inside the crystal ball. That was plenty to get started with Britomart.

  The servant was standing near, watching curiously, and Akeno smiled as she brought her inside with her.

  …

  "Master, where are we? It looks like a reality marble." asked Lancer as they found themselves in front of the wooden house. The house was surrounded by a pin covered by snow, but the temperature was only on the cool side. Fifty meters from the house in all directions, a thick white fog covered everything, including the sky.

  "It is one, in a sense, Britomart. The artifact I used allow us to enter a special dimension. I charged it with enough mana to st two hours on the outside, but in the outside, we have almost two days at our disposal. Let's enter the house."

  The house of was moderate side and but furnished. A fire was already lit in the firepce, adding to the cozy atmosphere.

  "It's a nice pce, as expected to Noah." smiled Akeno as she looked around. "I wouldn't mind spending some time with him inside… Have you thought about my offer, Britomart?"

  "About linking my soul to your own and to your lover's?"

  "Yes."

  "I am tempted, Master. Waiting inside the throne of heroes is… boring. We are just floating in the dark, vaguely aware of the presence of other heroic spirits around us, but unable to speak with them. The real world is much more interesting."

  "But I have two reservations, Master. First, I do not even know if it is possible, since I am already linked to the Throne of Heroes."

  [This isn't a problem.]

  "This is not an issue."

  "I see. My second reservation is, if I link my soul to Noah's, what will happen if you die?"

  "Noah or Lilith-sama will simply resurrect me, we both have an endless lifespan, and you would still be bound to him. As for you, I am not certain, but I think you would be brought over to my world, since it would not make sense for Noah to have a subordinate in a world he can never reach."

  Britomart slowly nodded. "Master, I have a wish."

  "I'm listening."

  "…Before I was summoned, I had offered my loyalty to Queen Morgan. But now… I do not know if I'll ever see her again. I do not know what to do anymore."

  "…I understand you, Britomart. I learned about this earlier today as well, and I didn't take it well, either. But I have something to help me cope. I have a family, people who loves me, and who I love back. People who give me a reason to keep going. Britomart, I want to share that family with you."

  "…Yes. A family, maybe this is what I need. I gdly accept, Master."

  "Thank you, Britomart. You won't regret it. Let's get started, then. Please remove your clothes." smiled Akeno.

  As Britomart made her dress disappear in an instant, revealing an outrageously attractive body, Akeno went over several ideas about what kind of sve she wanted to turn Britomart into. She didn't think making her a masochist or a pet would suit her well. her hair were too long to have her on all four regurly, and it would be a pity to cut them.

  She suddenly had the mental image of Britomart standing at attention, dressed in a skintight tex bodysuit, her face half obscured by a high-tech visor, struggling to not move or utter a sound as Akeno would py with her body. Like a good drone. An idea that came to her mind due to one of Corruption's curses.

  The more she thought about having Britomart py the role of a drone soldier, the more she wanted to make a scene about it. But even if Akeno could actually make Britomart into an obedient drone, thanks to her newest toy, she wouldn't do it. This was far too extreme, and she could only see it as an interesting setting for a py. So, she decided to get her Servant comfortable with bondage sex for now.

  "Come with me, Britomart. I'm sure there are rooms upstairs." said Akeno as she climbed the stairs.

  She was right, and the house's second floor had three rooms, each with their attached bathroom. The rooms weren't big, but they felt cozy and warm.

  "Britomart, this is the first time you're participating in a Holy Grail War, right? Before you became a heroic spirit, did you have a lover or a husband?"

  "No. I had devoted my life to serve Queen Morgan." said Britomart with a slight blush.

  "I see. That's not an issue with me, but I should warn you that when it comes to sex, my tastes are a little peculiar. Are you willing to let me indulge myself?"

  "Yes, Master." nodded the Servant.

  Akeno smiled, creating two pairs of bck tex stockings and opera gloves. She quickly undressed and started putting them on. When she was done rubbing the creases out and polishing their surface to a high gloss with a cloth and some silicon oil, she smiled to Britomart.

  "It's your turn, now. I'll help you put them on."

  "This is a strange material for clothes. It really clings to the skin" said Britomart as Akeno got busy dressing her.

  "Noah loves it when his girls wear clothes made of it. It's called tex, made from the processed sap of a tree. I rather like it, too, even if I generally prefer leather."

  Once Britomart also wore the stockings and gloves, polished to a high gloss, Akeno put her hands on Britomart's breasts and gently fondled them. They responded nicely to her touch, her nipples quickly becoming sharp and Britomart's breathing accelerating.

  "What do you think, my Servant? Do you like this?" smiled Akeno.

  "I could… get used to this… I'm getting used to it… Fwaah." gasped Britomart, her hands hesitantly starting to reciprocate Akeno's ministrations.

  Akeno leaned forward and kissed Britomart. The Servant quickly got over her shock and moved her tongue as well. Her movements were awkward and inexperienced, but Akeno has no doubt that she would be a quick learner.

  Little by little, Britomart learned by replicating Akeno's actions, and she became more assertive After a while, Akeno pushed Britomart down on the bed and climbed over her, kissing her again as she brought her left hand between her Servant's legs and rubbed gently.

  "Waah… this is…"

  Akeno smiled as she brought her gloved hand in front of her face, not surprised to see wetness on her fingers.

  "Ufufu, it looks like you're ready, Britomart, my cute Servant. I am going to cim you as mine."

  "Yes, Master." smiled Britomart.

  Akeno took Corruption from her inventory and slipped her legs inside. She brought it up her long legs easily, and slowly worked the inner dildo in. She sighed in pleasure when the hard object fully entered and, and the leather panel sat firmly against her skin.

  Then, she felt some kind of tingle, as the strap-on did something to her. She tentatively touched the business end of the strap-on and raised her eyebrows as she felt the touch of her fingers on the hard surface, as if her nerves were connected to the bck and purple pstic. Although she didn't think the dildo was made of something as cheap as pstic.

  "So that is what it is used for." smiled Britomart, earning Akeno's attention back to herself.

  "Indeed."

  Akeno positioned herself, and slowly entered, experiencing the double pleasure of having both a dildo inside her shift a little, and a fake penis starting to enter Britomart's tight and warm folds. She paused when she felt some resistance, then broke her hymen and entered fully in one quick thrust.

  Britomart tensed for a moment, but didn't show any sign of being in pain.

  Akeno stopped moving. "Tell me when I can continue, Britomart." said Akeno between two kisses, trying to distract her from the pain she may or may to feel with her lips and hands on her breasts.

  "Please move, Master. I'm okay."

  "Good girl." praised Akeno as she started thrusting. With the dildo's form being optimized to cause great pleasure, it didn't take long for Britomart to head toward her first orgasm.

  "Something! Something is coming!" cried Britomart, her body starting to tense. Akeno only accelerated her movements as Britomart was brought over the edge.

  As the Servant's soft insides spasmed and squeezed around the dildo, a message appeared in Akeno's vision.

  [Do you want to apply the Thrall Crest on the front, or back?]

  Akeno chose the back and continued enjoying the sensations transmitted by the dildo as she also experienced an orgasm. She could feel something going from the strap-on, into Britomart's body.

  [System? Is this mana I feel going into her body?]

  [Mana, but also some of your body fluids, collected by the insert in your body and transmitted to Britomart via a simuted ejacution.]

  [I see. This thing really has many 'features'.]

  [Yes. It was an interesting experience.] nodded Albion.

  When they both came down from their orgasms, Akeno id to the side, holding her Servant in her arms.

  "Did you like this?"

  "Yes, Master." smiled Britomart. "Your mana is very rich. I can feel it tingling as it spreads through my body. One time is enough to make up for what I expended during the previous fight."

  "Is there a limit? A point where it becomes dangerous for you to absorb more mana."

  "No. All Servants have their natural limits. Those limitations can be temporarily exceeded, with the most extreme example being the use of a Command Seal, but the Servant will slowly leak out mana they cannot contain until they return to their normal self."

  "That's good." grinned Akeno. "Because I don't intend to do this just once. We can fool around for a few hours, take a nice sleep to be well rested, and get out ready to go face our next challenge."

  She used Item Creation and coalesced some of her mana into long lengths of red rope.

  "Sit and turn around, Britomart."

  The silver-haired beauty obeyed, showing her back to her Master, and Akeno saw the Crest engraved on her skin, just above her butt. A few angur, stylized bck lines forming a heart shape, About five centimeters wide.

  Akeno looked down at the strap-on. The purples lines on its surface included this shape, but it was only the center part of a stylized butterfly pattern. She guessed that as the Crest would gain levels, its shape would gradually evolve into that of a butterfly as well.

  "For you first bondage experience, we'll start with something simple and comfortable. My cute servant, I want each of your hands to grasp the opposite elbow."

  Britomart did as instructed, bringing her forearms against each other behind her back, and Akeno started looping the rope, first around her forearms, then around her arms and torso, under and above her breasts. More rope went over her left shoulder, passing down between Britomart's breasts to loop around the rope under them and coming back up around the right shoulder.

  Akeno still had a few meters of rope left and used them to cinch the loops between her Servant's arms and torso.

  "And, all done." said Akeno with satisfaction. "This is called a rope bikini harness. How does it feel?"

  Britomart strained against the rope, but it held firm. She could raise her wrists upward a little, but that was it.

  "It isn't uncomfortable."

  Akeno nodded and stood.

  "Wait here for a minute, I'll be right back."

  She quickly left the room and headed for the basement. As she half expected, under the house was a smaller version of the dungeon rooms they had under the Paces. With a clear idea of where what she was searching for would be, Akeno only had to open a few closets before coming back to the room with one of Noah's special colrs, a bck leather blindfold, and a simple red ball gag.

  Akeno smiled fondly as she fastened the colr around Britomart's throat.

  "This will help you put you in a proper submissive mood, Britomart. From now on, you belong to me. Me and Noah. Not just as my Servant in the Holy Grail War, but on a more fundamental level."

  "Yes, Master." replied Britomart.

  Akeno nodded and slipped the blindfold over Britomart's eyes. She kissed the Servant, and her gloved hands started pying Britomart's body like an instrument.

  …

  Hours ter, Britomart, free of the rope but still wearing the colr, gloves and stockings, fondly watched her Master sleep. Servants of the Throne of Heroes didn't really need sleep and generally guarded their Masters at all times. She could still fall asleep if she wished to, and this pce certainly seemed safe enough, but she was busy thinking about her first day since being summoned.

  Things had gone very differently from what she had expected her first summoning would be like. First, the news that the person summoning her was acting on the behalf of someone else. Someone not from this world. Then, learning that the Holy Grail was corrupted, and meeting several other Masters and Servants. Where she had expecting to fight to the death any servant she would meet, she only had fought one, and the fight had been very restrained. And then, the revetion that her actions until her summoning had been predestined by the Gods.

  She didn't know who she was anymore. Didn't know how much of her decisions had been decided by someone else, and what she should strive for. Her Master's offer to join her family, was like a floating piece of wood when she was alone in the middle of an ocean. So, she clung to that offer. It wasn't really much of a choice, considering the alternative would be to be alone in this world she knew little about, or return to the Throne.

  However, what they had done in this bed… It was pleasant. Very pleasant. It was strange at first, being tied up, and wearing those glossy garments, but she liked this more and more.

  Britomart smiled gently as she watched Akeno's sleeping face. She looked so innocent, compared to the confident and sultry look she had before. There was something in her that she found very appealing. Was it the affection she saw in Akeno's eyes as they id together? The efforts she made to make the experience more pleasant to her Servant? Was it how Akeno treated her with genuine respect, like a friend or a partner, despite Britomart being a Servant and having to obey every order her Master would give her?

  Britomart couldn't be sure. Not that it truly mattered, in the end. The world she was living in faced a major crisis, and if she wanted to keep living, which she did, she needed to help.

  Besides… Akeno was growing on her. She wanted to protect her Master, to keep her safe, and to keep being by her side.