Vaid Empire: Conquest
is a massive fantasy series that aims to mix
erotica
with the quality of a published novel. New chapters and artwork are released every month absolutely free, with the completely optional possibility to receive early access. 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.
***
50th of Silla, 9 AVE.
The Shai Domain, Ishtai.
Varse watched the many snow blanketed buildings of his home city pass by, feeling a nostalgia that threatened to make him sick.
"Are you succumbing to the motion, my Potentate?" The young assistant girl seated across from him asked innocently, evidently viewing the pained expression that had snuck its way onto his face. "We're nearly there."
He brushed aside her concerns. "Ah...no, there are simply...lingering memories. Worry not."
Her words proved true when they arrived only a few minutes later, coming to a stop outside a squat circular building that seemed to stick out sorely from the common aesthetic of the city. Just outside the main entrance the Chidrae lowered itself into the snow, a large six-legged creature covered in white-silver feathers that carried the enclosed travel house atop its back. Hardly more than four seats facing each other, Varse crouched as he exited through the small doorway and out into the open air of his home city for the first time in decades.
A nauseous shiver ran through him, as the smell of all sorts of recently fished aquatic monstrosities lingered in the air. It brought back the memory of his parents, carried away by their Lish captors. His face hardened further as he shrugged the image from his shoulders, turning to watch as the assistant struggled to remove a long wooden case from the Chidrae travel house.
He granted the driver seated on the small roof a nod, silently acknowledging their deal that he would remain until Varse's business here was concluded. It
was
just business after all, even if its existence had to remain strictly off record for the time being. All he did here would ensure the survival of The Shai Domain, yet much would have to remain concealed until the time was right.
As for The Council themselves, they had been fed a false story of an entirely different location that his journey would take him. The previous years had severely dampened their suspicions and doubts regarding him as their Potentate, for the seemingly exponential growth of the Vaidrin crisis had apparently burned out. Yes, Vaidrin had evolved into the first human empire in history, yet its vile
God Emperor
appeared entirely happy to lay back and enjoy his gains. What had once seemed like an inevitable threat against Dril security had stalled, becoming nothing more than a neighbor to watch from afar.
That was what The Council believed, of course, though Varse knew better.
He knocked on the door to the circular building, only waiting a moment before a young Dril girl answered. She appeared little more than twelve years of age, her black hair tied into two knots on either side.
"Master Vesh, we have company!" The girl called back behind her, earning a grimace from Varse.
Within seconds the girl was pushed aside, replaced in the doorway by a Dril whose eyes lit up at the sight of their visitors. Immediately he bowed his head in mutual respect, as Varse mirrored his actions.
There was no doubt about who he was, as though he was now a little fatter than before, the scarred face of one of the greatest former agents of The Shai Domain was unmistakable. The past few years had seemingly treated him well, as his missing eye had been adorned by an eyepatch embedded with a flat gem as red as his remaining eye. He did little to conceal his missing ear, however, which was now accompanied by several new scars that slashed across his plump yet grizzled face.
"By the gods, you finally decided to pay us a visit." Vesh said with a wide grin.
Varse nodded without humor. "Indeed. I've come to assess your progress with the boy."
"Of course, my Potentate. Please, come in!"
Both Varse and his assistant followed the man inside, leaving the frozen city behind as the door was sealed. He took a moment to glance at the young girl that had opened the door, only to turn and scowl at his host. "
Master
Vesh?"
The large man casually waved aside the criticism. "A mere formality, my Potentate. I found this one attempting to pick my pocket at the market, and needless to say I saw potential in her."
Varse held out a finger. "That won't do." He said firmly. After all, every Dril must be equal under The Domain. "But in any case, don't allow the training of this girl to distract you from your true purpose."
"The boy is my primary focus, as this one is merely intended to assist in his future tasks." Vesh explained, leading them down a short hallway. "But I suppose you didn't come all this way to reprimand me, yes? Come, see the fruits of what you've left behind."
The man pushed open the door at the end of the hall, emerging into a large circular chamber that seemed to take up much of the building's interior space. They stepped out onto a balcony that encircled the curved walls, as the chamber extended downwards an additional level below ground.
Varse stepped to the railing, gazing down into what could only be described as a training arena. There, for the first time since he had handed his newborn son over to the care of Vesh, he laid eyes upon the roughly thirteen-year-old boy as he was locked into combat with two Arkos slaves and a third Dril combatant.
The boy swung both of his curved blades, slashing and parrying his opponents' weapons. His left sword slid under the defense of the left Arkos, opening a wound that sent the man tumbling to the floor with gasps of agony. The other swung high, striking the right and sending drops of Dark Purple blood to the stone floor.
As for his fellow Dril, the boy leapt forward, bringing his blade down in a swipe that unarmed the man, causing his opponent to hold out his hands and slowly back up. The boy merely bowed his head, sheathing his weapons as he wouldn't dare spill the blood of a Dril, even as the two Arkos lay rolling upon the floor in pain. They'd live, though not without visible scars that signaled their defeat.
"You've made him fearsome." Varse muttered in satisfaction, catching the attention of the boy. Their eyes met, and for a moment he couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of guilt. Then in an instant the feeling was snuffed out.
"Come, I will introduce you to our weapon." Vesh said before turning to make his way towards a set of stairs that led from the balcony to the arena floor. They descended, meeting the young man near the center. "Boy, this is-"
"Potentate Varse of Clan Chalvarrus." The thirteen-year-old interrupted. "I know. Not a day goes by where I don't thank our gracious leader for his guidance."
Taken aback, Varse paused before clasping his hands behind his back. "And your name is?"
He straightened up with pride. "Salik, my Potentate. I shall be the blade that puts an end to the enemies of The Domain."
"Indeed you shall, Salik." Varse said with a satisfied nod. It was obvious that the boy suspected little of his true paternity, just as intended. "Your training is of great interest to me, child. We both know that the human God Emperor is merely biding his time like a Vidshi waiting beneath the snow to snatch his prey."
Salik tensed at the mention of Dominax, involuntarily glaring. "Of course, I have trained every single day to put an end to that threat. The God Emperor shall fall by my hand, or I shall die trying."
Varse turned his head to Vesh. "You've taught him well."
"Of course, you've made it his purpose to kill
that
human and so it is." Vesh replied, before suddenly breaking into a chuckle. "Aye but watch this!"
The mentor crossed over to one of the alcove cutouts along the arena wall and retrieved a training dummy that appeared to have armor in the crude shape of The God Emperor's own. VERY crude in fact, as its wooden surface was littered with deep cuts. "Go on boy, show the human what you're made of!"
Without hesitation Salik spun, hacking off the head with a single swipe of his blade. The wooden head tumbled to the ground with a dull thud.
Varse frowned. "It shall never be as simple as that, as a man who proclaims himself a deity can be stubborn to kill. Ah but come Salik, I've brought you a gift."
The assistant laid the wooden case on the ground, bowing her head before backing up.
"Go ahead, child. Claim what's yours." Varse instructed, gesturing to the case. "If your purpose is to kill the greatest threat of this age, you shall be equipped accordingly."