Vaid Empire: Conquest

Vaid Empire: Conquestis a massive fantasy series that aims to mixeroticawith the quality of a published novel. New chapters and artwork are released every month for free, with the completely optional possibility to receive early access on the official Vaid Empire Website. The Series focuses heavily on worldbuilding, story, and characters.

The world of Ayphieal is shattered and chaotic, with kingdoms and tribes of six distinctive races vying for territory amongst themselves. It is only when a young human warrior finally pushes back against the chaos that the world begins to shift towards order.

***

1st of Silla, 20 AVE.

Kingdom of Narok, Near Fask.

Like a dot upon the black dunes, their target stood miles ahead. The dark walls of Fask were all that rose from the desert sands.

The warm sun beat down upon an already exhausted legion, though their rest could not come yet. They could not stop now. A mere five days after the battle of the mountain pass, they continued to march towards the town the Arkos army had hoped to spare from human blades. Always at the back of The God Emperor, their holy ruler drove them hard.

Larger than a mere village, though not quite as grand as a full city, the town of Fask beckoned them like a welcoming oasis. They could not yet see the river that ran behind it, though they knew it was there from their maps.

They would not find a desert more temperate in all the world, though still the heat washed over the black sand. If the lands of the Taziks were the harshest of all, and Wonakaros and the north desert were brimming with monstrosities, Narok was a merciful paradise in comparison. Even so, Vixin did not feel like she was in paradise. A single glance told her the legion did not either.

The palanquin swayed as they marched. Sitting inside, the princess kept the silky curtains apart to watch their progress. She saw dark clouds hanging in the sky far in the distance, tinged with purple and too far to offer the others protection from the sun.

Yisi sat at her side, while their daughters were kept far at the rear of the legion to protect them from the coming battle. As they approached, however, it didn't appear as if there would be much of a battle at all. The vast majority of capable warriors in Fask had fallen in the mountain pass, and none stood upon the sands to greet them now. Mere boys and old men guarded the top of the walls, the last hope of a doomed population.

Their victory had been easy, and the next would be easier still. Vixin tried to savor it while she could, knowing that every warrior that hadn't already faced them would be gathering elsewhere. A few quick triumphs would not win a war, and the Arkos had yet to show their true strength.

Every sway of the palanquin brought her closer to civilization. After months in the harsh mountains, Vixin desperately craved a bath. She wanted solid walls around her, a place to truly rest, safe from the arrows of those that wanted them dead. Even as she sat restlessly, the sight of Lalian's trembling distracted from her own needs. Sitting across from the green man, she reached over to take his hand. "She'll be alright, Lalian."

"Y...yes, princess," was all he said, too lost in frantic thoughts.

Far ahead, Anthara marched at the back of The God Emperor. When at last they reached the walls, the legion halted at his command.

Terrified Arkos boys and weary old men readied their arrows and spears. Below, Dominax could have demanded their surrender. Perhaps they'd even negotiate, should he offer the right price. Instead, he glanced at Cendra and Nafalya at his sides, and along with their Knights and Truthseekers, they hurled a powerful wave of fire and electricity towards the gates.

The horrid scream of shattering stone ripped through the air as the gates imploded, sending rubble tumbling down the street behind. As arrows flew and the population cried out in terror, a flood of white cloaks charged through the breach.

***

Clin walked among the aftermath in a daze. When the sun began to fall towards the horizon, the last hint of resistance had been snuffed out. Fask was theirs, bloody and ruined.

His orders came firmly, though in truth he wasn't really there. He was a man lost to thought, his actions automatic and driven merely by experience. Wandering among the corpses of those brave and foolish enough to stand against the legion, he held the appearance of a capable, albeitexhausted,leader as he and the others under his command sought to secure and pacify the town. In truth, he was drowning.

Barbarity would not be tolerated. His orders were as strict as ever. Little could be done in the heat of battle but to try and limit the damage they inflicted. Civilians were inevitably caught in the chaos, and their innocent blood would forever stain his hand. In the aftermath, however, his work truly began.

Savages raided and burned homes.Hiswarriors would not. The moment Fask surrendered, and the battle was done, he enacted the same laws any city in The Empire was entitled to. The Arkos population was offered the same protection as the humans in Domani. Legionaries were commanded to put out fires. When he came across a recruit forcing himself between the legs of a screaming Arkos girl, he ordered the man to be castrated. When a commander ordered her men to plunder the valuables of one of the larger homes, Clin removed her hand, the punishment for a thief.

Horrors and purple blood filled the streets. Such was his legacy. He sought to minimize further harm.

Kunir watched the sun set behind his mentor as they stood in the market, surrounded by marching legionaries and clusters of commanders and royals locked in a dozen separate discussions. The remnants of a last stand lay in ruins around them.

"You look exhausted, old man," the sandy-haired Knight greeted Clin as he sauntered through the chaos. "I've received word on the final number of casualties we suffered. I have a feeling it'll liven your spirits."

Hardly did he hear. When the young man put his hand upon his shoulder, he finally snapped from his thoughts. "Hmm? Oh, yes. Thank you. Take it to The God Emperor himself."

Kunir grimaced, finding the thought foul. "He's busy breaking in a new throne. Though if that is your wish..." He sighed, accepting his place. Lingering, the sight of Vixin strolling through the bloody market caught his eye.

Returning his gaze, the princess offered a smile. Her gentle hand subconsciously moved to rest upon her flat midriff, the memory of the night she had made him a father never far from her mind whenever she encountered the handsome Knight. Their gazes held as she made her way to join Salduin's side. When she glanced over at Clin, however, the hand upon her womb became a sin, and she pulled it away as her smile fell. Guilt met guilt, and a silent apology couldn't help but fill her pretty features.

Two men had tasted her passion. The Knight let her go with an unsaid gratitude that would not easily fade. Clin merely looked down, feeling as if yet another great weight strained his armored shoulders.

Kunir made a move to begrudgingly carry out his orders, though he held back as he took in the sight of his mentor once more. "You should rest. It's been a long and bloody day."

"There's more to be done," Clin countered, waving his hand in refusal.

"And more commanders are gathered here than I ever learned to count. You look as if you'll collapse, and I'd rather avoid having to haul you to the healers," he chuckled. When Clin's grim expression didn't ease, his own hardened with sincerity. "Truly. Your work here is done. Trust us to do ours."

"I'll rest when I'm certain I've done all I can. I..." He sighed, rubbing his eyes. "I must be certain."

Kunir could not keep the concern from his gaze. Luckily, he knew his mentor well. "I'll ensure your orders are carried out personally. The Empire's laws will continue to protect these people, and any legionary that defies them will be punished. You have my word." He touched the hilt of his sword, as if he could duel the entire legion himself. "AfterI remove myself from The God Emperor's sight, of course. Trust me. I'll watch over the citizens of Fask. Is that not what you trained me to do?"

Hardly could Clin argue, seeing the fire of certainty in the young man's eyes. With another sigh, he stood a little straighter, as if the weight of his burden had lessened. A small relief, though he'd gratefully accept any. "Ah...very well. Fine. An hour of rest, though not a minute more."

"Good." As Kunir glanced over at the temple where The God Emperor had already made his temporary stronghold, he hesitated. Then, reaching beneath his white cloak, he pulled a small object free and held it loosely. "Though, before you rest, I suppose now is as good a time as any. I've been working on something. Something to pass the days while we marched."

For a mere moment Clin seemed to return to life as his curiosity bloomed. Letting the object drop into his hand, he discovered it to be a rock carved into the shape of a disc about the size of his palm. Upon its surface he saw the moonlight trace over the etched lines, forming the image of a sword atop the crescent moon of House Vaid. "What is this?"

Kunir shrugged. "The Privictis Order has yet to claim an official symbol to mark our Knights. I thought...well, who knows? Maybe you've been waiting for inspiration."

Clin ran his thumb over the lines. "This would have required quite a bit of time to carve."

"A man can grow quite bored when waiting for the snow or an Arkos arrow to kill him." Once more he grew serious. "Consider it a gift, a thank you for the cloak you once put upon my back."

He eyed the white cloak in question. Even as his own hung dirty and ragged, the young man's had been painstakingly cleaned each morning, the holes patched and the tears mended. "Why the crescent moon?"

"I won't pretend that I give a damn about the royals now. But a Lord once showed me thatsomeof the nobles care about the common people.Someare willing to defend the ordinary beings of this world." He pointed to a Vaid banner that now hung from a nearby building. "If that is the symbol you fight under to serve the population, I suppose I'd be proud to wear it at your side."

The young man was a beacon in the darkness, though he threatened to drown Clin all the same. Legionaries and slaves continued to remove corpses from the market. He was not the good man Kunir believed him to be. "And the sword?"

"You took the dagger of a thief and put the sword of a knight in my hand. You taught me how to use it to serve those in need." Kunir gripped the hilt of his blade. "You made an orphaned boy into a man."

Clin could not keep the sorrow from his eyes. Among his mistakes, the young man was not one of them. "You did that yourself." He offered a humble smile, grasping Kunir's shoulder as he gestured with the disc. "Though you're right, our Knights need a symbol. I can think of no other that is more worthy."

If Kunir hoped to conceal a grin of gratitude behind his nod of respect, he failed. "Thank you." He gestured away from the market. "Now rest, old man. I'll tend to the people in your absence. You have my word."

Clin departed, leaving the sandy-haired Knight in his wake. He knew Kunir would not fail him, nor the population. With a tight grip upon the disc, he made his way through the legion towards his personal quarters.

Of course, he had little intention of actually resting.

Pushing against the edge of the market, as close to the center of Fask's trade as possible, the temple stood, squat and round, topped by a dark dome. The largest building of the town, it was considerably smaller than many of the castles that had risen throughout The Empire. Hardly was Fask the grand jewel of Narok.

Clin avoided the main entrance as it sat open to the town. Even from a distance he could see the commotion inside the main hall as many sought to speak to The God Emperor. Instead, he found a side entrance that led into a connected structure, a multi-floored annex with many living quarters that the royals had already divided up as their own.

Finding his new room by questioning the guards, he discovered that his belongings had already been placed inside by slaves. There was no door to lock, only a curtain of silk to pull across the empty doorway.

Making his way to his desk, he fell into the chair as if his legs finally gave out. The bed called to him, promising rest, though he opened a drawer instead and lit a candle. If an hour of peace was all he had, he'd make the most of it.

He retrieved a blank message cylinder from inside the desk. Upon the stick inside he began to spill his soul, his shoulders hunched beneath the weight of his guilt.

"Cendra, my love, I have proven myself unworthy."

Always did his confessions begin the same. Always did they threaten to strangle him. When he could endure no more, he looked over his words, despising them, far from the explanation she deserved. He let it burn in the flame of the candle.

Once more he tried to write. Therehadto be a way to make her understand what he had done. Therehadto be some perfect combination of words that would preserve their love and spare Vixin from the inevitable destruction such a confession would bring. With every symbol etched into the wood, he risked everything, yet withholding his guilt would undo him all the same.

His strength was withering. Clin found his eyes drooping, dueling with his exhaustion as he snapped awake. He could not rest, though hardly had he slept at all in far too long. Once more his hand halted, unable to find the proper words, and thus the wood met the flame.

"Cendra, my love, I have proven myself unworthy."

Again, he started anew. He wrote with words that served as a shield, dancing around the truth of Cilith until at last he grew disgusted with his cowardice and burned the message.

Snapping awake without realizing he had begun to drift into sleep, he realized he was falling forward, catching himself. His work was not done. He could rest only when he...

Staring at the blank wood, pondering, frozen with indecision, he dared to close his eyes for a moment longer than he should have. With his arms folded upon the desk, his head gradually sank down. Even the cool steel of his armored forearms did not stir him.

With thoughts of Cendra, he drifted to sleep.

***

Only the moonlight shimmering across the black sand guided their steps. As the lovers swiftly snuck from the walls of the conquered city, they did their best to avoid tripping.

"Yisi, if my father finds out we left without guards, he'll kill us himself," Vixin said, trying to slow her bondmate's pace as she was practically dragged along.

"Hush." She pulled the princess's hand as she held it tight.

Together in the darkness, they reached the shore of the river. The gentle waters carved through the sands, and glancing back, they could see the lights of the nearby town as legionaries patrolled the walls.

Hardly was Yisi visible against the landscape at night. As she peeled the one-suit from her curves, however, the dark fabric slid down to reveal her fair skin. Vixin watched as the soft flesh of her lover nearly glowed in the moonlight, a pale goddess revealing herself in the darkness. When at last she kicked the suit away, she stood naked in the night.

Biting her lip at the alluring sight, Vixin's hesitation couldn't help but wane. She too began to undress, casting aside the dark cloak she had donned to camouflage herself. Already the shimmering light trickled over her skin through her revealing leotard, and when she finished stripping, she joined Yisi's nakedness. Despite her misgivings, she covered a grin.

The water was cool to the touch, though not yet unpleasant. A royal toe dipped to test what awaited, though it was Yisi who dared to step deeper first. Taking her lover's hand, she guided her into the water.

"Yisi..." Vixin stepped forth into the shimmering river, letting it rise up her soft thighs as the shore sloped steadily.

She pulled her along until they were waist deep, hardly a few steps from the edge of the river. "You should have let your fear die on the mountains."

"And when whatever lurks in these strange waters finds us?" Vixin countered with a hand upon her hip. It had been madness to sneak from Fask alone. "Will you drag my corpse back to Fask?"

"The Lanthian claims there is little danger," she replied. Though adventurous, she was hardly suicidal. "We spoke. Vile creatures infest the north and west. Here, so close to The Capital, only...odditieslurk."

"So far as Lalian's documents know." Though she peered around them with caution, Vixin made no move to retreat. The body of her lover was a lure, drawing her closer until they touched.

Yisi found her hips beneath the gentle water. "I had to endure endless complaining about the dirt and dust atop the mountains. Now I bring you the bath you've craved, and still you continue." The faintest hint of a smile touched her tight lips.

"Then silence me." Vixin claimed a kiss, feeling her warmth in their cool surroundings. Their time was short. If the night's quickly fading heat didn't drive them back first, their absence would certainly be noticed. For the moment, however, she cared little.

Hands exploring, gliding over wet skin, they savored each other. Alone, gone was the conquest, The Empire, Fask. All but their bodies in the darkness had vanished. All but a single thought, one that made Vixin pull her lips away.

"What now?" Yisi asked quietly.

They could hear the gentle flow of water passing their nude forms. In the quiet of night, she touched her lips with guilt. "Forgive me." Peering back at the town, she saw the torches burning to hold back the dark. "Just a thought of Clin."

"Again?" Wrapping her arms around the princess's royal waist, she pulled her tight against her nakedness.

"He suffers while we sneak away to enjoy ourselves." With the walls in sight, she knew the legion was still at work. "I saw him before the sun set. He was a...husk, far worse than he has been of late."

Yisi sighed, though she would not let go. Long had her lover watched the man from afar while crossing the mountains. She would not let him ruin their moment. "He'll still be there in the morning. Save your guilt until then."

Vixin offered her a distasteful glance, though her touch softened her expression. "And in the morning my deed shall remain. I believe I've ruined him, Yisi."

Hands caressed the sides of her lover as Yisi savored her royal curves. "He was a tormented man before you took his seed. The whispers of his nightmares still linger, do they not?" Gliding beneath the water, she explored her soft thighs.

The touch was tempting, like a shadow over her guilt, yet it lingered. Fingers dragged over wet skin. They sought to explore every inch of her, bringing a tingle between her legs. "We've all heard his screams at night, yet I fear I've made them worse. A mere glance will tell you he's exhausted."

Hands sliding upwards, Yisi bit her lip as she enjoyed the smoothness of Vixin's subtle abs. "To watch this belly swell has certainly broken many men. You gave him a child. Instead of gratitude, he shatters."

"He betrayed my sister. A man like Clin doesn't forgive himself easily," Vixin said, feeling her unease tighten in her core. "I used a good man like a pawn for my vengeance, and now what remains?"