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.

***

15th of Twic, 19 AVE.

Kingdom of Lian, Praith.

Praith had fallen, yet there was much to do.

In the wake of The Miarch's shaming, The God Emperor had wasted little time in handing out as many orders as there were warriors in the legion to fulfill them. Humans in white cloaks swarmed about the city, securing every building and dwelling. Occasional shouts of conflict echoed through the streets where small groups sought to resist, yet outnumbered and disorganized, the fight within much of the population had died with The Miarch's pride.

Everyone seemed to have a purpose. Dominax, his eldest daughters, Clin, Salduin, and Prince Fonax set about commanding the legion. Irith saw about securing a temporary home for her family, while King Galis scurried off with his servants to do the same. Slaves began to haul supplies from their former camp, constructing lifts to bring heavy crates from the ground far below.

Indeed, everyone had a purpose. Everyone except Lalian, it seemed. Unable to fight, nor lead the legion, his only use was to assist in providing designs to construct the lifts. It was a simple thing, having long considered such designs before ever boardingThe Silver Wind. After granting orders on which wood should be utilized for construction, dividing his workforce, and supervising long enough to ensure they were capable of the task, he found himself strolling through the city, unneeded for the moment.

Wandering back to the throne platform, he decided to see about securing his own quarters before he glimpsed a slave approaching Priarch Alinan's body. Left untouched where he had fallen, a ring of legionaries had been placed on guard around the corpse. Lalian heard the slave beg, his Lanthian words going unheeded. When the slave grew frustrated and tried to push his way through in desperation, he was rewarded with the blunt end of a spear to his stomach before being shoved hard to the ground.

"Your quarters," Lalian reminded himself. As the slave tried to reach the body once more, receiving the same punishment, Lalian couldn't help but approach.

The slave shouted curses the humans couldn't understand. Older, perhaps in his fifth decade, the slave had lost his wings long ago, his golden collar leaving a faint indent upon his neck. Despite his age, he was quite muscular, albeit only Lalian's height.

"W...what is your aim?" Lalian asked in his native tongue.

The slave regarded him with the scowl he had seen all too frequently during his short time in Praith, never meeting his eyes. "I need to get through."

"Yes, I see that." Lalian watched him rise once more. The crack of a spear against bone made him wince, and he raised a hand when the guard sought another strike for good measure. Returning to the imperial tongue was as simple as breathing when he stepped towards the guard. "Let him through."

Even here, in the lands of the Lanthians, the guard's gaze regarded him as one of their own. "My Lord, The God Emperor has tasked us with keeping vandals from the corpse while he attends to other matters."

"Indeed." Lalian tapped his chin. He peered down at the slave, watching the man clutch at a bleeding jaw. "Who was this...ah,Alinanto you? An enemy or friend?"

The slave spit green blood at his feet. "My brother."

"Lanthians have no brothers. The statistical likelihood of you both being sired by-"

"He was mybrother," the slave nearly growled. "Your master butchered him. Now he denies me the right to tend to his corpse."

Lalian hesitated. Eying the man's collar, feeling his own neck itch, he returned his attention to the guard. "I know The God Emperor well. He surely seeks to grant The Priarch a burial befitting a worthy being." He gestured to the slave. "L...let him through. This man will do no harm, and if his holiness is displeased, I shall bear the blame."

The guard shifted uncomfortably. "The God Emperor commanded-"

"Y...you were tasked with keeping vandals from the body," Lalian interrupted, finding his voice. "This man is not a vandal."

A silence lingered before the guard grumbled something under his breath before stepping aside. "As you wish, my Lord."

The slave didn't wait for Lalian's command. He stomped past the guard, eyes never leaving the corpse. The stains of green blood remained a reminder of the duel, sticky beneath his feet as he knelt beside Alinan's body. A hand closed the fallen Priarch's eyes, concealing the ruins resting in scorched sockets by The God Emperor's power. A silent prayer eased from the slave's lips, a final goodbye.

Lalian stood at his side, fiddling with his fingers as he once again found himself out of place. He needed to wander away or break the silence. He chose the latter. "W...what's your name?"

The kneeling man regarded him with the same scowl as before, yet the disgust upon his lips had eased. A shrug relinquished his defiance, followed by a sigh. "Kinaran. What of it?"

"Kinaran, y...your brother fought bravely," Lalian said, uncertain how else to comfort the man. The golden collar reminded him of the medallion around his own neck, a possible fate kneeling before him.

"He fought. He died. That's all we can do." Kinaran stared at the wounds carved through the corpse's flesh. "Your master took his life, yet Alinan was a Priarch once. None shall ever take that from him."

Lalian bit his lip, disquieted by the sight. "The God Emperor offered him mercy. Now...now we'll grant you all the freedom you deserve."

The slave scoffed. "What do men like us know of freedom? Still you serve a master."

Feeling his cheeks darken, Lalian shook his head. "I...I chose to serve The God Emperor. I aid a man I may be proud of."

"As did I." Kinaran touched Alinan's chest, closing his eyes. When they opened, his face hardened. "He did much to improve the lives of Praith's slaves. Your master claims to seek the same."

Lalian straightened. "He shall. On my word, I know he shall."

"Alinan didn't believe so. Maybe you'll all prove him wrong. Maybe not. Either way, I have a feeling the blood of countless Lanthians shall spill before you move on, slaves and mistresses alike." Kinaran took the corpse's arm, trying to lift it. "We didn't choose our fate when we were born, and we didn't choose this conquest. I'll merely hope the result is worth the blood." Carefully hoisting the corpse onto his shoulder, enduring the weight of dead flesh without complaint as the guards turned to regard him with ready weapons, he nodded. "Now, shall my new masters permit me the mercy of burning my brother, or must I fall fighting as well?"

Pondering, Lalian finally waved a hand. "L...let him pass. The God Emperor seeks to honor a worthy being, and so this man shall." Something about the sight urged him to help, attempting to lift a limb before it was yanked away. "May I assist you?"

The scowl remained, though it appeared fainter now as Kinaran shook his grim head. "This is my burden to bear. Yours shall be greater anyways. Watch us bleed the same green that runs through your veins, and when your master is done, pray that it was worth it."

Lalian watched the man go with heavy steps, carrying the fallen Priarch. For a moment he didn't want to find his own quarters. For a moment he wanted to be far away, safe in Domani.

***

The air was less humid near the treetops, yet as Anthara took her first step upon Praith's walkways in many years, she found her surroundingssuffocating.

Much of the city had changed in her absence. Constantly repairing, rebuilding, and sometimes expanding, the countless buildings were an ever-changing sea. Even still, she recognized remnants of her childhood as she walked hesitantly through the streets, surrounded by guards.

"A son," she thought to herself, caressing her pregnancy. "You'll bear a son in Praith. Such is the fate deserved for a traitor."

The eyes of the population were a torture that nearly made her retreat. They regarded her with astonishment, disbelief, and above all,disgust. A Lanthian walked among humans in a conquered city. If they could cut her throat, she knew they'd offer no hesitation.

Only the touch of her medallion aided her strength. Clutching it, she avoided the judgment of her fellow Lanthians, gaze cast downward. Only when passing familiar paths did she dare to glance up, seeing occasional dwellings in which she had made her homes long ago. Communal, all citizens shared their dwellings, swapping houses and rooms to fit the needs of the population. The first building in which she lived as a young woman had evidently collapsed, for more than half of the structure had been rebuilt with new wood.

"A son,"the thought echoed once more as a group of slaves made way for her escort. Without the conquest, her offspring would've been among them, locked in chastity as he was forced to serve mistress after mistress. How many had served her? How many had she used and discarded? How many went to sleep at night with memories of her cruel handling, as Lalian did of his own former mistresses? A sinking feeling formed in the pit of her stomach as they stared. The years had made most strangers, unable to recognize a single face in a sea of green features. Such was her only mercy.

The guards brought her to the center of the city, watching the cacophony of legionaries scurrying about their duties. When she saw Lalian leaning against the wooden railing of the throne platform, peering at the ground far below, she hurried to his side as the guards spread out to join the labors of their companions.

A kiss caught her mate by surprise. Flustered, he stuttered before she wrapped him in a tight embrace. "We've come to the vilest place in all of Ayphieal," she whispered.

"My...my love..." His thoughts seemed scrambled, rushing to reorganize. "Apologies, I forgot to find our sleeping quarters. If you'll g...give me a moment to-"

"You never forget, Lalian." She took his hands, her misgivings calming at his touch.

Lalian took an uneasy breath. "It's merely been a strange...terribleday. Forgive me." He seemed to hold back a storm of words, reconsidered, and sighed. "We seek to improve their lives, do we not?"

"Of course." Such words were all she had to cling to. "Else you should have cut my throat all those years ago."

Lalian took little comfort in her words. Instead, he reached to hold the swell of her belly, easing his shoulders. "At the very least, we'll build a future for him."

Anthara grimaced at the irony. A daughter would've walked freely into any Lanthian city. A son would only thrive in these lands after the conquest had freed them all.

However awful at reading the emotions of others, even Lalian couldn't miss the agony upon her lips. "He...he'll be strong, you know. He won't be like..." Lalian shrugged before gesturing to himself. "He won't be like me."

Caressing his cheek, Anthara met his lips. "Foolish Lalian, one should be honored for a child of your intelligence." She rested her forehead against his. "I merely don't want to look upon our son and see the faces of those I've wronged."

"Do you see them when you look upon me?"

She shook her head. "No longer."

He took her hand, holding it to her belly. "T...then there's nothing to fear."

She could almost laugh at the simple statement. Instead, she held her bondmate close, savoring their child together.

A son."She closed her eyes. "So be it."

20th of Twic, 19 AVE.

Kingdom of Lian, Praith.

Victory.There was no other word for the satisfaction Nafalya felt.

The burial chamber had become all too familiar as she and her fellow Truthseekers maintained their hold upon Praith's most sacred site. Barricaded inside, the entrance reinforced by legionary shields, each day passed slowly as the city outside was gradually pacified and secured. She refused to waste a moment, however. She sparred with her companions, meditated, exercised, coaxed her powers in careful displays of electricity to test her control. Hardly did she rest until necessary, ever improving her skills.

They had hauled the fallen Lanthian guards from the chamber on the first day, avoiding their smell. When the ancient corpses began to stink on the fourth day as the thin layer of Saitha protecting their skin finally faltered, Hesin gave the command to dump them back into their burial pits to soak.

Only on the fifth day was she summoned. As the guards outside the entrance passed along a message cylinder sealed by The God Emperor himself, Hesin chuckled behind his mask before tossing it to his apprentice. "Your daddy seeks your presence, it seems."

She concealed her excitement behind her own mask. When she grasped his forearm to offer a temporary goodbye, she pressed her forehead to his, offering a silent affection in the presence of the others.

"Savor this day," he said softly before she turned to depart. "You've earned it."

Permitted through the barricade, she navigated the city with quick strides, eager to face her father. She found the world falling into the darkness of night as the sun dipped below the horizon, denying her the sight of Praith in daylight but for the hints of the surrounding structures she had seen through the barricade. Even still, it was a curious feeling to walk the streets when she had only crept beneath them, able to step fully into the strange world of Lanthian civilization.

The legionaries patrolling the streets to enforce The God Emperor's strict curfew regarded her with interest. No longer did they see an imperial princess, bowing before her as if she was a precious child that required protection. Now they saw only an elite assassin of The Empire, keeping out of her way with fear in their eyes. Never did that stop them from looking, of course, sneaking glances when they thought she wasn't aware.They were wrong. Always did they study her body first, curious eyes running up her legs, her outfit doing little to conceal what they sought. When they glanced at her mask, she sensed their lusts turn to a silent disquiet.

She didn't need to go far. The message had been clear, a command to find her father's new quarters in the former Miarch's dwelling. Ever one to be near her throne, Evari had chosen a home near the central platform. Nafalya regarded the ring of guards outside the dwelling, studying the building. The ruler of the city hadn't been excused from the communal nature of her population, it seemed, for her dwelling was no larger than the surrounding homes. The only decorations to distinguish it had been by The God Emperor's hand, for massive white banners bearing the crescent moon of House Vaid hung from the rooftops to dominate much of the front walls.

It'd be a simple thing to approach the guards and reveal her identity. Instead, she sought to make a discreet entrance. After spotting a lopsided window on the second floor, she crept in a wide arc around the surrounding guards to climb the tree the building was nestled against from the other side. Maneuvering around the colossal trunk to reach the roof, she climbed down to pry open the rickety shutters before slipping inside without a sound.

Finding herself inside a small room, she moved out into a hallway, finding herself alone, mindful of her steps to avoid the creaking of worn floorboards. She could sense her father nearby, his soul reaching out to her, knowing she was inside. Testing several rooms, discovering nothing, she found her target inside the chamber at the rear of the short hallway. Opening the door, she was met with the purple glow of candles arranged in a circle in the center of the room, finding her father's waiting grin.

"Your security requires improvement," she said as a greeting, already settling on plans to secure the building.

Dominax summoned her with open arms. Armorless, he stood wearing only his one-suit and cloak, The Sword of Order at his hip. She accepted her reward without complaint, held tightly in his embrace. "You served me well, my flower. I'm pleased to see you unharmed."

The words were impersonal at first, his voice deep, yet she sensed his affection all the same.

He pulled back to cup her chin, removing her mask to study her pretty features before meeting her lips. "You're my little Goddess of Death after all."

His whisper quickened her heart, bringing a dampness between her legs as she heard the pride in his tone. "The price of The God Emperor's trust was a city. I seized it."

A low chuckle oozed from his lips. "So you did, my flower. Consider yourself worthy of my ear." He watched her blush, sensing her desire. His hand crept down her side, pulling her dagger from her belt. "A blade fit for an assassin, yet not quite for a princess of House Vaid."

She watched him step back, gesturing to the ring of candles. Purple light danced across his imposing features, illuminating the walls of solid wood around them. Much of the house had been constructed of planks against the massive tree, yet the chamber they stood in had been carved inside the trunk itself, alive and ancient. She stepped into the circle.

"A component is missing. Undress." He began to remove his one-suit. When he stood bare before her, she blushed with curiosity. "Your sister Cendra was the first to forge a weapon for herself. Now, you'll do the same." He pulled back her hood. "There is no place for clothing in this ritual, for nothing shall conceal us from the other. Meet me in your natural state."

She offered no resistance as he began to remove her robes. Her top fell first, discarded to the floor as purple light danced across her breasts. She unclasped her own belt, relinquishing the flowing skirt hanging from her hips. When her father's fingers found the strings holding her thong, the final strip of thin fabric concealing her, she bit her lip as he slid it down her legs. Naked beneath his gaze, she watched him inhale, as if savoring the sweet scent of the lust between her thighs.

Aching for his touch, she obeyed a command to sit. Crossing her legs, she mirrored his position opposite from her. The Sword of Order was placed across his lap, her long dagger in her own.

"Close your eyes. Focus upon my soul. I've emptied the building of all others, for no guard nor slave may disturb us." Silver eyes eased shut. "For the moment, onlyweexist."

Following his guidance, she concentrated, opening her mind and senses to meet his. Slowly, she felt a low hum echoing from The Sword of Order, able to see the glowing orb in its crossguard without her sight. It seemed to speak to her, whispering in a language she couldn't understand. Humming, tingling, it reached out, pressing her soul closer to her father's than ever before, wrapping around father and daughter.