Jack was surprised at how quickly Yorik had arrived. From what Molly had said he wouldn’t be available for at least another hour, and yet here he was. “Damn you got here quickly. Wasn’t expecting to see you for a while yet.”

Yorik looked slightly puzzled at that as he replied, “I had informed Miss Pendlemire here that I would be able to make it as soon as I finished my duties for the day and that it would be approximately two hours. It’s now a bit past the two hour mark but fairly close.”

“Ummm.” Came a nervous sound from the maid, “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking about it and just told you what I was told. I forgot to factor in just how long it took me to get our dinner and everything when I told you how soon he would be here.”

“No no, it’s fine. I just need to rearrange my plan a bit but it shouldn’t be any kind of issue.” Jack waved off the apology, feeling a little frustrated and dreading the fact that with this he would most likely be finishing setting up the ritual circle with his body in an extreme amount of pain. Really though it felt like it was just par for the course with how his life had been.

“So, what was it that you needed me for? I was told earlier that it was something about painting but she wasn’t fully clear on what exactly you needed.” Yorik prompted after Jack fell silent for a moment.

Jack startled slightly at the noise before shaking himself slightly and explaining, “Ah so I have a full design that needs to be painted onto my skin and I need it to be perfectly done. The material that is going to be used for it is both limited in amount, so there isn’t any spare for mistakes, as well as more then a little caustic to human flesh. So, if it gets on my skin in other places then intended it will cause more than a few problems.”

“Are you sure you want me to take care of something so important? I know for a fact that I am not your favorite person.” Yorik questioned raising an eyebrow.

Jack shrugged slightly as he agreed, “True. However, not once have you acted less then professionally with me no matter your distaste of who I am and what I could possibly be representing for the Bertrand family. So, I trust that in the same vein you would make sure that this is done in a similar manner. I’m not overly sure if it’s just your professionalism or that my biological father did something to earn such strong loyalty from you. But in the end, I guess it doesn’t matter.”

“True enough. I do indeed do my best for the family, no matter how difficult the task. Now then how intricate are we talking and just how dangerous is this material?” Yorik nodded somberly, straightening slightly at Jack’s mentioning of his loyalty.

“Pretty complex. Here let me show you.” Jack went over to the pile of objects and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. Walking back over to Yorik, he unfolded it, showing several diagrams of a human body from every angle. Each one covered in numerous lines and runes.

“You need all of this painted onto your body?” Yorik asked shocked

“Mostly, there are a few things here that are carved into the flesh instead. Out of those I should be able to reach and inscribe most them. The painting on the other hand I need assistance on.” Jack agreed before gesturing to specific parts of the diagrams. “As you can see here, I need all of this done on my back, head and legs in spots that I either cannot reach or can’t be certain of following the patterns properly. I can most likely get all of the front… though I am not the most confident in my own artistic skills.”

Yorik took the illustrations from Jack to look at them more closely. While he was examining them Molly walked over to look as well, no longer able to hold back her curiosity. As she saw just how extensive the damage to Jack’s flesh would be she couldn’t help but to gasp in horror. “How can you stand doing such… such a horrific ritual if it needs you to do this amount of? Of I don’t even know what to call it.”

“Self-mutilation perhaps?” Jack asked.

Shrugging Molly struggled to even formulate words through her shock, “Yeah, okay, self-mutilation. It’s insane.”

Jack nodded solemnly, “It is indeed quite a large degree of bodily injury that is required. But to answer your question I am able to stand it because I need to if I want to live. There is an excellent reason for the shear amount of damage that I will be undergoing. If I don’t do that then I will not be able to absorb enough mana into my body to actually do what is needed. I personally cannot absorb that amount naturally. Judging from what I have seen of you and Yorik here, if this was designed for you two you would probably need less then a quarter of all of what I have marked here.”

“Wait…” Molly furrowed her brow as she considered the implications of his statement, “Wouldn’t that mean-”

“Yes. I have long since come to terms and learned to work around it however. I just needed to find the correct way to do so and not be willing to give in to what others said. Anyways, we are getting off topic.” Jack agreed before refocusing his attention on Yorik, “So, what do you think? Can you do the patterns and everything needed without any errors?”

Yorik pulled his attention away from the sketches to shrug slightly and answer, “Maybe? I mean if I knew I was going to be doing something like this I would have liked the chance to practice it, so I could diminish the chance of making mistakes. With how intricate this is I am a bit leery of it especially as it could have potentially devastating consequences if I mess up.”

Jack sighed, “So, no then. Damn. Very well. Thank you for your time. I will simply have to manage on my own.”

Shaking his head Yorik clarified, “No, I’m not saying no necessarily. I just feel like I would need at least some level of practice before I attempt to do the designs on you. How soon did you need this done anyways?”

Jack paused for a moment before shaking himself out of his paranoia. He was already well past the point of no return anyways so lying or obfuscating anything now was pointless. “I am going to start the ritual tomorrow at noon to make best use of the summer solstice.”

Yorik rubbed his chin staring at the plans before sighing. “Okay. Let me practice doing these tonight and I think, I think, I should be okay to do them in the morning. Does that work?”

Jack at first felt a little disappointed that it would take that long before he remembered just what he still needed to do himself in preparation tonight, “That, actually, that is great. I was steeling myself for the act of finishing setting up the ritual circle while suffering the aftereffects of the body preparations. I was not looking forward to it.”

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“Wait you were going to have me do this and then be setting up your circle afterwards? Are you insane? How would you manage to do that with the level of pain that you would be feeling?” Yorik stopped and stared at Jack as he realized just what the man had been planning.

Jack shrugged uncaringly, “I can’t say for certain just how bad the pain of this would have been, or rather will be. However, I am more than a little familiar with living in constant agony. It certainly wouldn’t be anything new or unexpected.”

Yorik looked at the madman in askance as he drawled out, “Right… well I will go get started on practicing this. Was there anything else that you needed Mr. Bertrand?”

“Nope that was everything that I needed. Thank you Yorik. I will see you here tomorrow morning then.” Jack smiled broadly.

“Very well” Yorik let out in a sigh at what would now be a long sleepless night.

With that Jack turned back to the pile of materials, grabbed the next chalk he needed and got back to his work.

The hours of the night passed quickly and soon the next morning came around. Jack sat in the middle of the ritual room, his body covered in a sheen of sweat and his eyes blinked blearily from exhaustion. Finally, the ritual room was prepared. Every surface of the interior was covered in geometric shapes, runes and sigils. With the various items taking places of power within them. All that was left was for Jack to clean himself once more, have Yorik carve and paint the sigils into his flesh, and then preform the rite to fix his broken mind.

Jack let out a weary bone deep sigh. Soon his nightmare would finally be over. It had taken nearly half a year from when he was first infected but finally after eight long months his mind would once more be fully his own.

With a heavy grunt Jack forced himself up onto his feet. He could be tired later. Right now, he had more to do. Stifling a yawn, he trudged out of the room, taking great care to not step onto any of the work that he had done over the course of the night.

Stepping out into the antechamber Jack was surprised to see the maid, Molly, curled up in the corner asleep. So deep had his concentration been last night that he hadn’t even realized that she had stayed after Yorik had left to practice. With another sigh Jack once more forced his paranoia of betrayal away and walked over to her shivering form. She hadn’t even gone to fetch herself any kind of blanket or covering. Pinching the bridge of his nose at the foolishness on display he shook his head, bent down and gently shook her awake.

“Huh? What?” Blinking sleepily the maid tried to figure out what was going on before she focused on Jack and bolted upright. “Oh Mr. Bertrand sir! I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to nod off. Let me stand and I’m at your disposal.”

“Relax.” Jack waved her off and in a gruff tone asked, “By the agier why didn’t you leave for the night? Or at the very least fetch yourself anything to deal with the cold?”

“You didn’t say I could go sir.” She answered meekly surprising Jack. Last night she had willing to raise her voice and shout about his seemingly insane ritual. Now she was acting almost like a terrified rabbit in front of a wolf.

Jack closed his eyes and slowly counted down from five in his head to calm himself. Hitting one, he opened his eyes and stared deeply into Molly’s. “You sat here and suffered the whole night through because I didn’t say anything about you being allowed to leave? Then why didn’t you ask me if you could go?”

Molly hesitated for a moment before quietly stammering, “Um… I-I did sir. A few times. Y-You… well… you seemed to be so absorbed in what you were doing that you didn’t seem to notice at all.”

Jack paused and sucked air in through his teeth in embarrassment, “Ah. I see. My apologies. If in the future I am still here or you have to deal with me, then please feel free to leave in such a situation. I certainly will not get upset over such a thing. Now then for this morning, I am going to go get myself cleaned up for Yorik’s arrival later. I believe at this point I should not need your assistance any further.”

The maid took a deep breath and centered herself as she nodded, “Very well sir. I will go and get started on my tasks for the day then.” With that she brushed herself off, straightened her clothing and started to head out into the hallway.

Just as Molly was leaving the room Jack called out and stopped her, “Oh! Wait, I just remembered, there is one thing I do need if you could help me.”

“Of course, what do you need me to do sir?” Molly turned and asked.

“I need something to bite down on while Yorik is working on me.” Jack gestured absentmindedly at his jaw as he spoke. “While I have a great deal of experience with pain and I trust myself to be able to handle it, the body still does have involuntary reactions to such agony and I don’t feel like breaking my teeth or biting off my tongue today.”

At the mention of the pain that he would be experiencing Molly flinched and squeaked out, “Yes sir. I’ll get you something for that right away.”

“Excellent. If I’m not back yet from my ablutions please just leave whatever you find here. Thank you.” Jack smiled warmly as he thanked her. The smile seemed to have almost the opposite effect of what he intended as she flinched away even more.

“Of course sir.” Molly agreed, and as quickly as she could she scurried from the room.

Jack watched her leave and let out a sigh before leaving the room himself. It seemed at some point she had come to the conclusion that he was dangerous. Perhaps it was his willingness to go far beyond what other people would do, or perhaps it was some dream that she had during the night. In the end it didn’t matter. No matter how people viewed him he would make his way in the world and succeed where everyone expected him to fail.

Two hours later Jack stepped back into the room feeling refreshed and relaxed. His body was a little unhappy with the lack of sleep and the fact that he chose not to go get breakfast but a good long hot shower had done wonders.

Sitting there in the room waiting was Yorik. He looked as sharp and professional as always, but as Jack got closer, he could make our deep bags under the butlers eyes. It seemed that they both had gotten no rest the night before.

“Good morning Yorik. Are you ready to do this?” Jack greeted him.

Nodding tiredly the butler yawned in reply, “I’m as ready as can be. It doesn’t look like anything is set up for me to-?”

Jack cut him off shrugging as he did so, “Ah, yeah. I didn’t set anything up yet as I was unsure of just when you would be ready today. I’m glad that it’s so early. Give me just a moment here and I’ll make sure everything is out.”

While pulling out the various mixtures and brushes needed Jack asked “By the way did Molly come back while you were here and leave anything? Or was there anything new in here when you arrived?”

Yorik who had been in the process of moving the stool to the middle of the room paused and pulled a wad out of thick leather out of his pocket. “Oh yes. I almost forgot. She came in about half an hour ago and gave me this and asked me to give it to you. Said that you asked for it.”

Nodding, Jack reached out and plucked it out of Yorik’s hand. “Thank the Agier. I was not looking forward to going through this without at least something like this.”

It did not take long for everything to be set up. The sketches of what needed to be done were hung up on the wall next to the mirror, and all the tools needed were set on a small cart. Several brushes of various thicknesses and levels of coarseness along with a few covered jars, the wad of leather and two extremely sharp knives. Jack looked over everything one last time before nodding and stripping off all of his clothes.

Taking a final, deep breath Jack held it before letting it out slowly and speaking. “Okay, let’s do this then. The painted designs first, followed by the carved runes.”

“Right.” Yorik’s response was short and sweet as he too focused entirely on the task at hand in order to prevent making any mistakes.

With no more to be said Jack sat down, grabbed the wad of leather and stuffed in in his mouth. There was a brief moment of dread as he heard the first jar open and the brush dip into it. Soon however there was no room for thought at all in his mind as the brush made contact with his skin and pain consumed his world.