That feast was the last time I remember having a decent break. Dorian took his role as my trainer seriously, working through the major families and their political connections as often as possible. To my surprise, it wasn’t just noble families. A good third of the more influential merchant families were included, as well as families that had strong connections to either the Church, Hunters, or Legion. He even used his own family’s resources, bringing in a hand painted card set. On one side was the portrait of a family member, and on the other was their major connections as well as suspected connections. We worked whenever we had a chance, but while I could remember faces fairly well I was terrible at maintaining connections in my brain with their information. In the three months we had to work, I was barely able to manage the main family members.

That isn’t to say I had copious amounts of free time. Daniels increased our training. Not only did he send us against some of the veterans, he also mixed them up with us and sent us sparring against each other. Often we would spend a week with a new construction that would challenge us. Fake rivers, rocky terrain, even fortified positions. We would have to defend or attack at his whim. Day, night, rain, the weather didn’t matter.

Some of us received specialized training. Paul spent a month in the field learning scouting techniques. Lawrence and Virgil, our two cartographers, were both given quick runs through an engineering course. While they wouldn’t be able to build most things from scratch, they would be able to do field repairs or make flotillas for crossing rivers. They could even make siege towers given enough time. Joffrey and Alfred were tasked with messenger duty. They had impressive memories for recalling the different battlefield markers.

While my physical abilities were pushed to the limits, my magic surged beneath the teachings of Alphonse and that special wine of his masters. I was rapidly closing in on mastering the level 10 Blood Dynasty spell, which would allow me to track all the blood relations of a sample. I was able to form and control blades at a moment’s notice, and they were able to survive several strikes from a blade. This was one of the few spells I was allowed to practice with the group.

Of course, they couldn’t make it a simple exercise. Some days I would be splitting my concentration between flying blades and blades I conjured that were wielded by allies, some days I had to enhance the cutting edges with blood. Rains of blood shards would be thrown with padded practice arrows in the defense of simulated castle walls. Injuries caused by my blood allowed me to overpower the innate magic of most people’s blood. It would start with me using the blood to create bindings, which eventually morphed into a blood paralysis that couldn’t be undone by physical means.

But the most important part was my aura control. Alphonse was the one who discovered how to resonate your aura with your voice, and he told me of the limitless uses for such a power. Powers for both good and evil. I could allow people to march almost indefinitely with the proper chant, or I could take over the minds of the weak willed and bend them to my will. Alphonse had even foreseen my objection to the latter, and had pre-empted me with a priest of Solaris being present when he described the technique.

“This is a conundrum, and I’m glad you brought me here for this.” The elderly priest explained. “This is one of the most dangerous powers that can be taught. But like many things, this power is but a tool. A tool is neither good nor evil, but how it is used is the determining factor. Using it to get people to part with their coin purses would be evil. But what if you were to use it to help you infiltrate a vampire stronghold and rescue prisoners? The Church will not oppose you learning this, but we do want you to know the dangers of this power. Please, make sure of why you are using it before using it. We have faith that you will continue being a force for good.”

While overwhelming was possible, I much preferred a slightly different use. I could enhance whatever the person was feeling with my aura, though fear was the easiest. Under Alphonse’s lectures and his incredibly difficult practice, my aura was almost more versatile than my magic. I could use it to scout out pathways without alerting guards, harden it to take down enemies silently, disguise it so that I appeared to be part of the scenery or overwhelm the senses. My battles with Alphonse grew far more vicious and lasted much longer. Every night I felt like I was growing closer to his level, and that victory would inevitably be within my grasp.

He sensed it too, and so threw another problem my way. Instead of simple aura battles, we were now battling with all three. Our injuries multiplied, but we always pulled any blow that could have been lethal. Minor cuts and bruises? Of those I had plenty. Even dangerous cuts that I would have to staunch the flow of blood myself were not off limits.

“Pain is part of battle. To train without pain is to do you a disservice, and I refuse to set you on that path. Now come, disciple. Tonight we fight as the vampires do!” Alphonse said one night when I asked about the injuries, and we battled for as long as I had the strength to stand. It was nearing dawn when I left that night, and I passed a small group of grumbling librarians. They were complaining about all the extra work they were having to do, but I put them out of mind. Alphonse coming up with all this extra training for our group was worth a few librarian apprentices doing a bit more work.

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

One week before graduation

“Excited?” Dorian asked as we headed to the barracks.

“Yeah.” I nodded, then added, “Excited and scared. I know we’ve been through a hellacious training schedule, but I’m still worried about how we will fare in real battle. That’s something you just can’t train, and the thought of killing someone again.” I shuddered.

“I know. I’m worried about it a bit too. I heard they used to have us execute criminals so that we were at least blooded before sending us out, but they need too many recruits to keep it up.” He sighed.

“Prolly for the best. I wouldn’t want to live in an area where that many people were condemned to die for crimes committed.”

“Hear, hear.” Dorian nodded. We continued walking down the street, but something was strange. He seemed a bit more nervous than usual, and there was a bit of a tremor in his aura. I scanned our surroundings, but nothing was out of the ordinary.

“What’s wrong?” I finally asked.

“Damn. You really can read emotions with that aura, can’t you?”

“Only of those I’m close to. I can’t say that I’ve ever felt your aura tremble before. So what’s bothering you?” I asked, stopping in the middle of the street. It was late enough at night that it wouldn’t be an issue.

“Right. Well, this is weird.” He said, running a hand through his hair. “I’ve been thinking, and I’m worried about the guys. We’re all young, and in a week we are heading off to war. There’s some things that I feel need doing, ya know?”

“Like what?” I asked, intrigued.

“Seriously? You’re gonna make me say it?” He chuckled. “Fine. I don’t think anyone should die a virgin. So I was hoping you wouldn’t mind pooling your money with mine and taking the guys out to take care of that. Sort of a graduation gift from the group officers.”

I was stunned. Stunned that it hadn’t occurred to me, and stunned that I hadn’t thought to do something similar for the group. “That, well. That’s brilliant.” I finally stammered. “Where should we go?”

“Where?” He asked, confused for a second but the light of realization dawned on him. “Oh shit. You’ve been training damn near every night, haven’t you? Are you?”

I nodded, slightly ashamed for some reason until his arm wrapped around my shoulder and he started hauling me toward the barracks. “Brandon, you gotta learn to live life man! Don’t worry, we’ll get you squared away. The Pleasure Flowers is the best place in the city, and I can have it set up that nobody will know. If we can scrounge up a gold for everyone, they’ll give us a room for the night. I guarantee that the ladies will keep quiet about the performances, at least to outsiders. Talking among themselves is to be expected.”

“That, well. I would appreciate that.” I mumbled.

“No worries. I’ve got six gold on me, can you cover the other five? Maybe throw in a bit extra if you can. That way the guys won’t have to worry about tipping the girls.”

“I can match your six.” I said after a bit of consideration. “Will that be enough?”

“Good enough. I’ll set it up, can you cover for me tomorrow? Tell Daniels it’s for family.”

“Absolutely.” I said, noticing through his aura that he wasn’t lying. It put a smile on my face, knowing I wasn’t the only one that was considering our group was becoming a family.

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

“Alright boys, Brandon here told you we were working on something special tonight.” Dorian said as we left the barracks as a group. It was the first time in a long time I was walking out without some symbol of the Legion on me, and the largest blade on any of us was a knife. “Consider this a graduation and welcome to the Legion present from the both of us.”

“Oh gods, what did you two cook up?” Joffrey asked.

“Pretty rich comin’ from you.” Paul retorted, giving the larger guy a small shove.

“I’ll show you rich!” He started, only to be interrupted by Dorian.

“Easy now.” He cautioned, pulling the attention back to himself. “In a week we graduate and head off into the dangers of war. As officers, as nominally as you can use that in basic-“

“Spit it out already ya pretentious bastard!” Alfred called out from the back.

“What he means to say.” I spoke louder than the other two. “Is that for the last six months we have all been preparing to face the worst life can throw at us. For having overcome that in the most spectacular of fashions, you are all deserving of a reward. And between us we couldn’t think-“

“Ya got that right!” Paul joked, getting fake hit by several of the guys.

“Har har. We couldn’t think of a better way to release some stress than to have a beautiful woman give you a helping hand.” I finished. As a stroke of luck, we had just walked up to the Pleasure Flowers. “Everything’s paid for fellas, let’s have some fun!”

We walked in, and about half the group were awestruck. I was too, but did my best to hide it as I followed Dorian up to a gorgeous blond with the barest wisps of lace promising a hint of what lay beneath if you just looked at the right angle.

“Be still my heart, if that ain’t a company of Legionnaires I don’t know what is.” She said in a sultry voice, patting her chest in a way that managed to accentuate her assets.

“Rose, my darling.” Dorian said, kissing the back of her hand. “We won’t hold a week against you. We are indeed the next set of recruits to join the Legion. But for tonight, we are but men in need of your aid. We know we go to court death, but some amongst us haven’t had the pleasure of the company of a beautiful woman. As leaders, Brandon and I just couldn’t abide that.” He placed a bag of coins on her table, and gave her his most charming smile. “I do believe we will need all the rooms in the top floor for the night. Are your girls up for teaching these soldiers the proper way to sheath their swords?”

She gave a quick check of the weight of the bag, smiling as she did so. “Dorian, try as you might, my heart belongs to none. But your gold and your plight has struck a chord in my heart, and my ladies are more than willing to perform.”

Her voice got stone cold for a moment as she stood up. “Now, the rules gentlemen. My girls often enjoy being rough, but there are limits. No bruising, no bleeding, and if and when she says no, you stop. Immediately. Break a rule, and I will be taking it out of your commander’s hide. You will also be barred from this house, and blacklisted among all the houses. Do you understand?” Everyone immediately bobbed their heads. “Excellent! Then come right this way, and have an ale. On the house. As you drink, my girls will make their way around. Choose one, and they will keep you company for the night, guaranteed to teach even the most worldly of you a thing or two come the suns rising.”

We walked into possibly the most luxurious room I had ever seen. It was easily as large as our barracks training yard, and covered with couches and tables. Awestruck, we split up only to sit down and sink into the lap of luxury as the pillows on the couches seemed to suck us into a soft embrace. No sooner had we been seated than mugs of ale appeared, along with a scantily clad goddess. Hairs of all colors came on women of every height. There were those whose chests were barely hills on the plains, and one woman who was so large that it would take both of Thomas’ hands to hold one, and he might have needed a third. Ever surprising me, Rose herself delivered my ale.

“I’ve heard you were a special circumstance, my dear.” She said, tracing a finger along my chest and arm before slipping beside me and sipping my, well probably now our, ale.

“I promise to abide all your rules, rest assured.” I said.

“Oh, I’ve no doubt about that.” She waved my concerns off with a dainty hand. I couldn’t help but notice the blue veins in her arm beneath her pale skin. “Dorian has vouched for you all, and that’s more than good enough for me. No, I’ve heard rumors.” She leaned in, brushing her breasts along my arm as she whispered in my ear. “That you drink blood like a vampire, and yet the light of the sun will never do you harm.”

“Th. That’s right.” I mumbled, taking the ale she offered and drinking a bit. I shuddered, memories flooding my mind. First was the night I was poisoned while drinking ale, and the second was what my stomach’s reaction would be to something that wasn’t diluted with blood. To my surprise and relief, there was blood in the glass. Enough that I didn’t have to worry, bless you Dorian. I still trembled, my left hand unconsciously caressing the reminder burned into the skin of my stomach.

“Are you alright?” Rose asked, immediately concerned.

“It’s fine.” I said, giving her a smile as I wiped a bit of red residue off the top of her mouth. “Bad memories trying to come to the surface.”

“Oh my, but don’t you know how to get a girl going.” She purred, taking the mug and placing it on the table. “Care to have me tonight? It’s been so long since I’ve had the pleasure of welcoming someone to manhood.”

“I’d be honored.” I said, idly tracing a vein. “But might I ask why me?”

“Of course hun.” She said with a wicked grin. “Unlike most of these girls, I’m what you could call a collector. Oh hush, not of something as simple as virginity. That’s ridiculous and all too easy. No, I’m a collector of rare things. Dorian told me a bit of your story, and I’m interested. From how you can recover your stamina with a bit of blood, to your strength, to the unknown. Have you tasted blood straight from a body? Shhh, don’t tell me. I just wish to know what you and your body can do.”

“I see. Well, we can’t really give everyone a show down here, can we?” I asked, getting a peal of laughter from her.

“Oh, some would enjoy that quite a bit, but you’re right. Let’s retire for the evening.” She said, pulling me from the couch with deceptive strength. Faking tripping, I bent down and swiped her from her feet, carrying her out through the door and up the stairs through the laughter of her directions.

She showed me many things that night, of the pleasures that a man and woman can have together. I was more than up for her challenges, taking it slow and gentle at first before we started getting more exotic as the night wore on. While I might have had to down a few vials of blood to keep everything moving along, she was more than fine with that. Especially when I showed her the blood shackles and the different feelings I could induce with a bit of aura. I vowed this wouldn’t be my last trip to sample the Pleasure Flowers, as they certainly lived up to their names.