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.
***
22nd of Onis, 10 AVE.
Kingdom of Vaidrin, Domani.
A deep groan spewed from The God Emperor's mouth as his silver eyes slowly crept open, granting him a view of the narrow stone ceiling towering above him. With an effort he forced himself to rise from whatever form of cushion lay below him, allowing him to sit up as reality slowly trickled back into place.
He was sitting upon one of the cushions that occasionally lined the countless hallways of The Grand Pyramid, that much was certain. Yet exactly
which
corridor in particular he was in remained...hazy.
Looking down, Dominax spotted the bare body of one of the many slaves under his service, her heavy breathing an indication of an especially deep sleep. The events of the previous night gradually returned to his memory, yet another little distraction to ease him into the next.
Satisfied with his recollection, he let his hands fall into his lap as he slowly hunched over, peering aimlessly at the floor. For a quiet moment there was no distraction, no warm body to push against to hold back the thoughts, and in the hollow silence of the corridor he allowed himself to feel the full weight of The Empire upon his shoulders. Millions of beings relied on him, both for protection and sustenance. To show weakness would invite the ambitious gaze of neighboring kingdoms and empires, and to falter for even a moment in maintaining a sufficient food supply would result in the deaths of thousands. Moreover, their faith fell entirely onto him, their living God among men. A demeanor of anything less than absolute divinity would incite theocratic catastrophe, unraveling the very foundation of The Empire.
He ran his fingers through his pointed beard, keenly aware of the growing number of sneaky white strands hidden amongst his dark hair. At the age of thirty-seven he had ruled over his people in some capacity for fifteen years, from a wandering group of Nitri survivors to an Empire of three vast kingdoms. No number of years could keep the faces of Briza and Cendra The Elder from his mind, and now more than ever the image of Xenia remained a permanent echo flashing across his consciousness.
For an instant he gritted his teeth before releasing a deep breath to calm himself.
"Ah good, they told me you'd be here father." A voice came from the end of the hall, and Dominax turned his head to see Cendra The Younger approaching. No doubt she had pushed her way through the guards stationed at each end of the hallway, just around the corner out of sight. He could sense them there, of course, standing firmly and ensuring that none besides The God Emperor's children themselves could reach him in such a vulnerable state.
She strode over to him, her long legs moving with grace and strength. Nearly achieving full maturity as of now, there was no doubt that she'd make a striking figure of beauty and power the moment she finally reached adulthood.
Dominax instinctively straightened up, concealing every doubt and wounded thought behind a smirk of royal confidence. "My child, why have you come to distribute my peace?"
She bowed as she reached him before obediently lowering herself to one knee to ensure that he sat higher than her. "Father, Lord Clin has requested I inform you that our ships are prepared to sail at your command."
An obvious flush of red came to her flawless cheeks at her mention of Clin's name, and Dominax made a quick mental note to better train his children to conceal their emotions. The unmissable sensation of youthful infatuation that he sensed inside her mind was FAR more dangerous than an innocent blush, for who else among the ever-growing number of his unacknowledged offspring out there would also be able to sense her intentions in the future?
"Ahhh...very well. After years of peaceful development, the moment of invasion falls at our feet." He said, reaching down to gently clasp her cheek as he gazed into her silver eyes, seeing his own. "Are you prepared to become a being of value, my flower?"
She felt the warmth of his palm against her smooth skin, fighting to maintain eye contact amidst his overwhelming authority. "Of course, I shall do all I can for The Empire..."
"And for our dynasty?"
Her resolve overcame her fear, and her expression hardened into determination. "Always, father. I won't forget your teachings so easily."
An insidious grin spread across his face, and he leaned over to kiss her forehead before rising fully to his feet. "Then come, duty awaits. You shall no longer be a mere princess spoiled by luxury, but instead a capable warrior born through war. It is time to earn your family name, Cendra
Vaid
."
She nodded, and he could sense a genuine feeling of excitement radiating from her as she stood. "I'd like nothing more, my lord..."
Together they walked down the corridor, navigating the twists and turns until they found an exit onto the second great balcony encircling the entirety of The Pyramid. They strode to the eastern face of the balcony, peering down towards Domani's ports.
Father and daughter, both laid their eyes upon the tens of thousands of legionaries gathered, filing into organized lines as they poured onto the waiting ships.
"The days of Kinia are numbered, my child, for its people shall soon find themselves under a new King."
24th of Onis, 10 AVE.
Kingdom of Kinia, Privin.
Every previous king of Kinia once walked these halls, men now reduced to bones and dust. Alrin could nearly taste the remnants of the past, his ancestors watching from the grave with bated breath to see if he was capable of defending their legacy. Yet when he pushed open the doors to the king's personal dining chamber, he scowled at what their legacy had become.
What appeared to be nearly the entirety of the nobility lay inside, the only hint of clothing consisting of elaborate masks to conceal their faces. Men and women pairing together, swapping, watching, all locked into an orgy of excess and secrecy.
Alrin merely stood in the now open door, his face firm as he waited to see which of the masked hedonists would reveal themselves to be Olvir.
Sure enough, within a minute or two of stoic disapproval, one of the men finally noticed his presence at the doorway and quickly made their way over to him. The man pulled off his mask, revealing the laughing face of his brother.
"Ah little Alrin, have you come to join us in celebration? It's the fifth anniversary of my ascension after all!" Olvir said, receiving shouts of approval throughout the sea of moans.
"No, your majesty. I wouldn't consider today to be a day of joy, as I bring news from the south." Alrin said grimly. Like his younger brother, King Olvir had a full head of dark hair, though where Alrin's was cut short and sheared around the sides, the king kept his flowing neatly in long kept strands.
"Do you now?" Olvir said with a lackadaisical smile, even as he hurried to close the door behind him to leave their pair alone in the hallway. "Have the barbarians finally launched their little excursion?"
Alrin squinted without humor. "The Vaid Empire has launched an
invasion,
my lord. Even now our scouts report sightings of their fleet on the river."
"How dare you grant them any name other than what they are...barbarians!" Olvir said as he shoved his brother's chest, though failed to move him an inch. A life of military command had granted Alrin a solid body of muscle, in sharp contrast to Olvir's skinny frame.
"Call them what you wish, but they are on the move now. I highly suggest that you send an immediate request for assistance to the courts of Harin and Spirexia." Alrin stated in a hard tone. "And I do mean
immediate
, as it should have been your first course of action the moment we received reports of an increased military buildup."
"You can't presume to lecture a KING on diplomacy, little brother. I saw the threat exactly as I see it now...utterly useless. There has never been a time in our history where we haven't been required to throw back an occasional barbarian migration, nor has there been an instance when we have failed to do so. Let them come, and we'll send them beaten and bloodied back to their southern tribes."
Alrin felt his hands tighten into fists. "We are no longer dealing with tribes, chiefdoms, or simple hunting groups, my lord. The world has shifted, as they have united and evolved into something we've never been forced to deal with. For the sake of our people and the legacy of our dynasty, I implore you to make a formal request for aid."
"
Our
dynasty?" Olvir said with a smug grin. "How ironic that a mere bastard would care so deeply for a family that didn't want him."
The younger man's face hardened further, yet he made no move to speak.
Perhaps assessing that he had pushed too far, Olvir's smile softened. "Though dear brother, I never thought that of you. You've done much with the position I've granted you, so come, enjoy yourself for the evening. Let the savages come, for we shall smash them against our outer walls!"
Alrin eyed the door with disdain. "I'm afraid I'm far too busy ensuring the safety of every spoiled noble in that room,
my lord
. If you won't send for assistance, I must prepare our men for the coming war."
Olvir merely shrugged before patting his brother's cheek. "Oh little Alrin, why must you always be so grim?"
"One of us must be, your majesty." He replied with only the bare minimum of the respect that a king required. "I won't disturb you further."
Before he could dismiss his brother, Olvir watched the younger man turn and walk away, leaving him alone to momentarily bite his lip in thought. He then turned around and opened the door, returning to the orgy that raged inside.
***
