“How are you feeling sir?” Clarence asked at breakfast the next morning, sliding his own tray next to my waterbag.

“Rough. Turns out that overusing your mana results in a splitting headache. And before you say anything, I am not about to try healing myself. Or use many for anything else.” I softly replied.

Clarence nodded, saying, “A rather wise choice. I was under instructions from Master Devon to ensure that you used no mana today. He knew you were going to overdo it. According to him, all beginners do.”

“Sounds about right. Let me guess, after this painful lesson, we quickly learn what our limits are?” I said with a slight snort. “Sounds like the kind of lessons my old man was fond of. The only thing he never let you mess around with was the pigs.”

“Believe it or not, even the Duke was fond of similar lessons. Unless death or serious injury was on the line, pain does make a wonderful motivator.”

“Oh I believe it. Though half of the time I think it is just old men wanting to watch the next generation make the same mistakes they did, so they can have their turn at laughing.”

“Ha! Oh, that could very well be the case young sir. Though I doubt you will ever get anyone to admit it.”

“True, true.” I nodded, taking another sip. “Say, do you know who is supposed to show me around town today? I wouldn’t mind getting started early before the day really heats up. I don’t know how you guys manage in the lower heights.”

“Ah, that is right, you grew up in the mountains, didn’t you? Well, I was going to send Charles with you, but he isn’t quite ready yet. Would you mind if I joined you? It might be good to let someone else get some practice with the head servant position.”

“You sure? Wow, thanks. Just make sure it doesn’t inconvenience anyone here.” I said, slightly awed that he would help out.

“Oh please, it will be my pleasure. Give me a minute to make some preparations, I’ll be back here shortly.” With that, he practically inhaled his breakfast before heading out and talking to several groups of people. It wasn’t but five minutes before he was back and smiling. As we headed out, he was more than happy to fill in how the capital worked.

“So. In the middle of the city is the royal residence. Eight stories tall thanks to the marvel of concrete, by law nothing can be higher than half of its height that isn’t defensive in nature. Of course, we can’t have something as ugly as concrete exposed, so it is covered with stucco walls and fantastic reliefs. They say it took artists twice as long to complete all the murals as it did to build the actual palace. You’ll likely notice that the palace and the noble quarter tend to resemble more of the conquer culture, while the commoner’s areas tend to be similar to the original inhabitants.”

“I’m sorry, conquerers?” I asked, confused.

“Ah, they don’t cover that in basic schooling, do they? Well, long ago from the east came the first legion. Whether they had fled the fall of their original empire, or had become lost after a particularly vicious rout in battle has been lost to history. They came to this land, and managed to elevate the native people. In exchange for a place to live, they taught the locals to build, of math and science and alchemy, and the importance of many things like bathing. As a show of good faith, they even started intermarrying.”

“Now, it isn’t foolproof, but a lot of nobles tend to resemble those who came with the first legion. They will have lighter brown hair and slightly darker skin. Those born with more of the locals will have paler skin, and straight dark hair. The exception of course being the Imperial line, as for the longest time their habit was to ensure that sons took a native female as their bride, while daughters were wed to the rising aristocracy to maintain ties.”

“Enough of that, though. Trying to place a person based on their looks is a fool’s endeavor. Besides, the architecture is far better to focus on, isn’t it?”

I looked around, really noticing the differences this time. Each building had several columns, and little things to add a personal flair wherever they could. Aside from the public bath houses, this was the first time I had really noticed buildings incorporating arches. As opposed to back home, where most buildings were simple wood constructs with partially dug out floors. Wood and bamboo partitions were used to split up the space and give people privacy. While I was looking, Clarence continued, “So the north-central portion belongs to the King, and the rest is spread around it. On the west half is the Noble’s district. Despite some idiot’s urging to give ourselves fancy titles and rename it the Cloud District, we would much rather keep our feet on the ground with our fellows. Anyway, our district takes up a half circle due west of the royal area. Opposite us is the merchant quarter, completing the circle around the residence. You’ll find that the more ornate and costly places to shop tend toward the noble’s quarter at both sides, while the middle is where you will find things with a much better price.”

“Now, there are a few inns in the merchant’s district, but they are far too costly. Surrounding the inner circle we have the outer circle. At each of the compass’ main points is a barracks. That leaves a lot of space in between, and it is absolutely filled. There is an open air bazaar at each half point of the compass, usually surrounded by taverns and inns. The farther away you get, the more you will find the housing you are likely used to. Half sunk into the dirt, with wood and thatch covering it. The entire city is five miles across.”

“And the roads?” I asked.

“Easy in the central city. They are always at right angles. Roads named after a person or a god run east and west, while numbered roads run north and south. Numbers start in the east and increase going west. In the outer city, the roads are more paths and can change over time. Only the main thoroughfares cut straight through, and are heavily defended should an enemy attack.”

As we headed through the city, I froze as I saw what had to be the main temple for Solaris. “Everyone does that when they finally see it.” Clarence explained. There were two golden torii gates at the east and west sides of the temple. The path between them was made of the same clear stone that the temple back home was, though this one was shaped completely different. The four corners of the building also had torii gates, though these weren’t quite as elaborate as the major ones on the property. The roof also curled upward after the gates. The roof had three separate layers to it, each smaller than the last. Combined with this style were the stylized columns that every house in the noble district seemed to have.

“This building is a monument to the beauty that Solaris blessed us with. See those major gates? On the equinox, the sun rises and its path moves it between the gates. In the middle of the church is the Pillar of Solaris, made of the same clear stone that all his churches have. At exactly noon on the equinox, his glory is made manifest as the column bursts with a blinding light. The northern and southern torii on the building mark the path of the sun on the solstices.”

“It’s beautiful.” I breathed, awed by the construction. I could easily see the two types of construction merged together, and they did it so harmoniously. There were growing houses surrounding the main church for crops all year.

“It is, isn’t it? South of here are the mage colleges. They were built more in line with the noble district, and their students help out with growing plants for the church. Most of it is rare ingredients needed for alchemy, or those that make healing potions.”

Tour over, we spent the rest of the day going through and getting what Clarence considered “the essentials.” My pants were fine, but he decided my shirts were just dreadful. I ended up with some that were made of white linen with a tiny stripe of blue trim. While I could fit in with my old clothes in the common areas of town, he insisted these would be the bare minimum in order to fit in with the legionnaire training. I also managed to refill my blood supply, and got Clarence to promise that I would get my feeding from a sentient done the next day. Just because I had an entire month, didn’t mean that I was going to use the entire thing. We also grabbed my special pass at the mage’s library, yet another building that seemed to defy expectations. It was a simple rectangular building. Three stories tall, with entrances on each side and no decorations whatsoever.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

That night

Footsteps echo down a stone corridor, well lit by wall scones. Contrary to most expectations, the cells were clean, dry, and mostly empty. Each door was simply a set of bars welded together with a lock and a hinge, allowing any jailer to see within the cell. Stopping at the cell at the dead end of the hallway, a hooded figure looked in to see the occupant calmly sitting with his back to the opposite wall.

“You’re far too early for me to break, Your Grace.” Gregory spoke. “Hell, I’ve had food and water, even a nice chamber pot to do my business in. You were even kind enough to make sure it was big enough as well.”

“Much as I despise you, you are still human. So we have standards that must be upheld.” The Duke said, lowering his hood.

“Lemme guess. ‘Why would you do such a thing? What good would it be hiding her death from me?’.” Gregory did a poor imitation of the Duke’s voice.

“If you want to tell me, I would like to hear the answer to that.” The Duke calmly nodded.

“Would you believe for the money? I was planning to string you along, letting you think that she was busy solving cases so that you would send enough cash our way. You wouldn’t let your youngest get injured from lack of money, would you?”

A sibilant voice hissed from the shadows, “Liesssssss.”

“What is that thing doing here?” Gregory snarled, immediately adopting a defensive position.

The Duke smiled, “Well, I asked him. Who would have thought that he had something of a grudge against the hunters? Anyway, with his skills, there won’t be any questions about the information we gain. Despite how much you swear it works, I always doubt at least half of the information obtained by torture.”

“A wisssse thing to do.” The voice hissed, seeming to come from every shadow in the cell, despite the door never having been opened.

“Don’t think I fear you creature!”

“Oh? Let’s test that.” With those words, the shadows sprung to life. Before he could react, Gregory was bound, spread eagle, against the back wall. From the other side, a tall, gaunt form seemed to rise slowly from the ground. The only things visible were the pale white hands with contrasting blue veins, and red eyes set deep within the hood. “There it issss. The thunderous cacophony of a heart facing that which it truly fears. The sweet stench that floods your sweat. Protest all you want, human. Your body betrays you. Heh, heh, heh.”

Even the Duke shuddered a bit as the creature slowly approached. With a blindingly fast motion, a hand shot out and opened up the barest hints of wounds on Gregory’s arm. A long tongue shot out from the hood to catch the drop of blood from the claw, and the creature shuddered in pleasure.

“Oh, how long has it been since I have tasted it fresh from the vein? This robust flavor, the gentle warmth. Kssssssshhhh” The creature shuddered again as it sucked air in between its teeth. “As for our deal, Duke, this shouldn’t take long. It all depends on how strong his master truly is.”

Silence descended as the creature sat cross-legged on the ground, deftly weaving strands of magic between its fingers. Within ten minutes, the spell was ready. Casually flipping a hand, the circle of arcane symbols held together with strands of blood and darkness shot across the room and buried itself into Gregory’s chest with a hissing sound. Face contorted in agony, Gregory couldn’t even scream as the symbols seemed to burn themselves into his skin before sinking deep within and disappearing without a trace. The creature moved across the room, grasping Gregory’s jaw and forcing him to stare into its eyes. The only thing the Duke could see was Gregory’s unblinking face illuminated by a dark red glow.

“Aaaaaand there we go!” The creature hissed with joy. “His old master’s spell has been supplanted with my own. One moment. Wait, what’s this?”

“What did you find?” The Duke demanded.

“A fragment, barely overheard. Something his old master never knew he heard, or Gregory here wouldn’t have been replaced. Tell me, Your Grace, was your daughter younger than the youngest born to your brother?”

“I’m not positive, but I do believe so. Yes, now that I think about it, by a few hours. Why?”

“Someone has figured out the Blood Obliteration Ritual. Before you go asking about it, promise that what I tell you never leaves these cells. Otherwise you hear nothing from me on the real reason your daughter died. Why a lone hunter, newly passed of her exams, was sent out to subdue a lone rogue when instead it was a nest started by a Blood Baron.”

“You have my word. My binding word.” The Duke clarified, infusing magic into his voice.

“This is a terrifying ritual that I thought long destroyed. Even vampires fear it. At midnight on the longest night, drain the last drop of blood from thine enemies heart. Twelve magi to summon the door, and one to hold it open. As death reaches to claim the soul, bind his touch to the bloodline and choose which way his scythe swings. Widdershins to claim the bounty of youth, deosil for the wisdom of age, the birth of the victim the fulcrum on which Death’s instrument turns.”

“What does that mean?” The Duke asked, confused.

“It means that on the longest night of winter, your daughter would have been killed. As the youngest of the bloodline, they would have killed any blood relatives that were older than her, obliterating the entirety of the royal family.”

“By Solaris.” The Duke muttered, staggering back as the blood drained from his face. “How did they?”

“This one doesn’t have that information, but it does explain the rise to power. One of the ones that wishes to claim the Sanguine Emperor title is the only one with the full knowledge of the ritual. Hopefully they are as paranoid as I and would have immediately destroyed the knowledge and any who might have come across it. Is there anything else you would ask of this?”

“How long has he been a thrall? And how did we miss it?”

“Not a thrall. Deep hypnosis to start. Capture young hunters and hypnotize them, then release. When presented with a certain phrase, the conditioning would trigger. Once one of theirs had ascended to the master position, they were activated and turned into a thrall. Smart, his old master. Sacrificed weaker portions while keeping the stronger parts protected. Occasionally used his pawn to send the hunters after an enemy, but never in the open and used sparingly. Until the proper opportunity arose.”

“Is there a way to counter the hypnosis?”

“No. Triggering it while not being of the familia will cause the victim to go on a killing spree. You could always brand the sign of Solaris somewhere on them, hoping that they don’t notice it and reverse the branding. Or you will have to keep killing compromised Meisters until you elevate one that isn’t compromised. Unlikely given the previous Meister likely compromised all of the most recent graduates. You will almost have to completely rebuild the Hunters. Pity.”

“Damnit. Very well, you’ve done a fine job and provided a valuable service to the kingdom. As a reward, you may take three swallows of blood from the prisoner, with the stipulation that no mark be left behind and he take no permanent injury nor death from your actions. Afterward, return to your nightly duties.”

“Your Grace is far too kind. I’ll ensure that the prisoner is not able to speak of what transpired this night as well. Until next time.” Hurried footsteps carried the Duke away as the slightest of whimpers escaped from the cage.