The Butcher's Shop was located in one of the nicer districts in Septum, in one that was nice and quiet at this time of night. Only the sound of cars passing disturbed the otherwise peaceful serenity of the street, and the shop itself was the only one that seemed to be active, with a light visible from the window.
 
Which was odd, seeing as the owners were away on holiday for a few weeks.
 
Deep down in the basement of the shop, in the freezing cold old stone cellar filled with plastic-wrapped meat and bloodstained tools, a young woman stood over a large, intricately drawn symbol; her hands coated in the same thick, coppery blood that was splattered across the stone floor as the magical circle before her.
She could have done this in the safety of her own hotel room, and paid off the owners to not ask questions, but she'd happened across the shop a few days prior whilst collecting supplies; with only a little bit of effort, she'd got into the shop and confirmed the existance of a basement suitable to her needs. Thus, she'd found a suitable location without the need to cause any trouble for herself or that nice old couple running that huge hotel; she'd set up a temporary workshop in the basement on the day she found it, and by the time she'd arrived an hour earlier it was fully suitable to her needs.
 
The circle was drawn- the butcher had leftover chicken's blood in the cooler, conveniently enough for the ritual she had in mind- and the catalyst, a rusty old sword, was jammed into the floor dead in the center of that circle. Only one last touch was needed before it was complete, and then she'd only have to wait for midnight.
 
Her breath coalescing into fog in the cold of the room, she reached over to the table and picked up a syringe- the chicken's blood would be sufficient enough for the body of the circle, but she wouldn't stop there; she'd leave nothing to chance and complete the circle with some of her own.
 
Her right forearm was ready; a tight band wrapped around it to limit the flow of blood, she pushed the needle deep into it without hesitation, only wincing slightly as she felt it go through her skin and as she pulled the blood into the syringe. Depositing that into the small pot nearby, it only took a few more minutes to add the details to the circle with the fluids; and soon enough, the witching hour came.
 
Calling out an incantation to heal the puncture, the woman pulled her sleeve back down over her forearm and put down her tools; it was time.
 
She didn't know why, but the Grail had deemed her worthy of participating in a war of Kings, Heroes and Gods; and for all the world, she couldn't wait to begin. As much as she didn't know why she'd been granted command seals by the resurgent wish-granter, she would not question it; for her, the war itself was the reward, and the promise of a wish for the victor only a bonus.
 
The nearby clock struck twelve, letting out an electronic whine.
 
Grinning, she reached out her arm and began to chant aloud as the circle before her erupted into life.
 
[b] "Silver and iron to the origin. Gem and the archduke of contracts to the cornerstone.
 The alighted wind becomes a wall. The gates in the four directions close, coming from the crown, the three-forked road that leads to the kingdom circulate.
 Shut (fill). Shut (fill). Shut (fill). Shut (fill). Shut (fill).
 Repeat five times, shatter once filled.
 ... I announce.
 Your body is bequeathed to me, my body and fate lies in the balance of your sword.
 In accordance with the approach of the Holy Grail, if you abide by these terms, this reason- then answer me.
 Here is my oath. I am the one who shall become all the good of the world, and I am the one who shall lay out all the evil of the world.
 You, seven heavens clad in the words of power, arrive from the ring of deterrence, O keeper of the balance!"[/b]
 
And the room was filled with light as Beatrice Edelfelt's Servant was borne into this world.