[center][h1]Pumak, Master of Siegfried[/h1]
Foreign District, near Outskirts.[/center]

His first act of the war was cowardice. It was bowing to a conqueror. It was looking at someone claiming the Earth - and allowing it. He hasn't spoken since they left the clearing, and moved out of his forest. But he's thought a lot, mouth screwed shut, eyes set ahead of him as he navigated back out.

What was a man who did not hold to his values?

What was a man who buckled under the demands of a tyrant?

Weak. Useless. Pitiable, but not worth pitying. He's seen it all before. The conqueror of old are not comparable to the conqueror of new, but the goal is just the same. He's seen it all before. And his own compliance, his own unwillingness to fight, it disgusts him. How dare he? Isn't he a warrior too? Hasn't he spent all his years fighting? Against conqueror. Even against armed soldiers. And he's killed them all. It wasn't the right choice. The right choice was to order his knight into battle, and to deal with the consequences of it. Even if it killed him, it was better than such a low act of cowardice. No, no. That's wrong too, he realizes. That's just the same as suicide. He didn't know where the enemy Master was, so he could've been at a disadvantage he didn't even know about. What was he supposed to do, then?

How does he both be strong enough to uphold his values, and to change the world by his own hand, and smart enough to live long enough for any of it to matter?

Over the years, he's killed and grown strong. Toned his body and magic with the bodies and magic of those he's laid low. But who else can he kill? He'd have to kill a thousand more men, each of them mighty, to match even the weakest of these Servants.

It is impossible for a human to do battle with a Servant. This, he knows to be true, if not by anything but the difference between that man in the clearing and him. And the difference between his own Saber and he. There is no answer to this conundrum. None but to rely on others. But this is not the way of the Wari', and this is not his way. He doesn't want to 'have strong friends and allies'. He wants to be strong.

It hits him at once. He wants to be strong. He must become stronger. If he doesn't become stronger, there's no point. If he doesn't become stronger, then he'll die without leaving his mark.

His face tightens, and he brings his hand up.

[color=00a651]"Saber. By the order of this Command Spell..."[/color] His heart pounds. Perhaps most Servants would kill him before he uttered the command. Surely, this is true. But this man in front of him is not 'most servants'. No, he is someone who wouldn't strike out, even at an order this vile. [color=00a651]"Give me your heart!"[/color] His spiritual core. The underpinnings of his existence as a Servant, and the greatest value he has to Pumak, at this moment. It isn't to say that Saber would ever be useless - this is assuredly untrue. But it's definitely true that, to the man who wishes to be strong, becoming strong is far more important than having a strong ally. And, so - he demands his right as a Servant. He demands the heart of a dragon. He demands power, and even the cost of that ally. The seal burns away on his hand, leaving tattered red marks on his skin. The first mark is gone. The order is given. He can still walk away from this path, if he wanted.

He does not assume the first spell alone will suffice. It's an order that commands suicide. That acts against the interests of the man he promised allegiance to. This acts against the Servant who answered his call to the world. Treason of the highest order. But, all the same... [color=00a651]"Saber! By the order of my second Command Spell! Give me your heart!"[/color]  All the same, he was never truly suited to be a Master. It's just not in his personality. Giving orders and standing back - those were never what this man wished for. And, besides, allowing another to act as your strength, in some way, puts you at their mercy. That's the problem. Weaker ghosts, his wraiths and spirits and curses - they aren't people. Depending on a person to fight for you, instead of being able to fight yourself, is antithesis. If you can't win a fight yourself, he thinks. You shouldn't have come to fight. Him and Saber had good compatibility, but only because this Saber would have good compatibility with anyone. If he had summoned a strong king, he would balk at the existence of such a man who feels he has a right like that. If he had summoned a powerful, but obedient, warrior, he would be disgusted at the man's lack of pride. Well, perhaps that's too far. But this man - it would never work out. Not really. They would be allies, but never friends. That's something he knows is true. The second seal burns away. 

But that doesn't make this the right thing to do. That doesn't make this any less a sin. They made a promise to one another, and only a handful of hours later, he's breaking that promise. What a thing to do? What a repulsive man to be. Make no mistake - this is not an action he is proud of. Only a monster would be. His words nearly catch in his throat, interrupted by his own remorse for it. He can stop here, surely. Two Command Spells aren't enough to make this man kill himself. Surely, he would be forgiven. He would fight the war at a grave disadvantage, but he would fight it. But they would not win. You cannot take half a dozen steps down the road, and then turn around. If he had stopped at one, there would still be a hope. But it's too late for that. [color=00a651]"Saber... I'm sorry. By my final Command Spell, I order you! Saber! Give me your heart!"[/color] The final seal burns away.

Pumak lays his hand on the presented heart. There is no other way that can go. Officially, Pumak is no longer a Master. His seals are gone, replaced only by bruises. His hand falls on the heart, and he lifts it. It's heavier than he expected. It's not a human organ. The spiritual core of a Servant. The heart of a dragon. Such a thing surely no longer exists in modern times. And surely, this is a path for more strength. This is a path that he can walk on his own. He grips the heart, feeling the strength in it, and nods. This was wrong. This was cruel. This was callous and cold. He knows that. But he can't stand his own weakness. He couldn't stand the idea of being pathetic in the face of a monster, like that man in the clearing.

And, so.

The shaman brings the heart to his mouth, and swallows it whole.