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.
***
45th of Silla, 11 AVE.
Kingdom of Kinia, Deci.
"This might just do."
Dominax looked down from the wall to study the landscape below. At his side Lalian released a faint sigh, relieved that their seemingly endless walk had come to an abrupt end.
Far below the crenellations lay a muddy outcrop at the base of the wall, its edge dropping steeply into a shallow stream that curved around the Eastern border of Deci. The tree line hugged its banks tightly, allowing little room for Alrin's men to set up camp. Instead, The Prince had formed small groups to patrol the area every hour.
"My lord, I could be of more assistance if you'd inform me of your intentions." Lalian said nervously as a slight breeze ran over his cloak.
"Here, where our enemy may taste my words?" Dominax scowled as he walked to the other side of the wall and peered down into the cramped city. Several squat buildings had been built adjacent to the defensive structure, pressed directly against the stone surface. "If you'd like to be of some use to me, discover which of those homes possesses a cellar of any kind. Use the men to pacify any disgruntled citizens."
***
It took little time before he gained his answer, as upon returning to the area he found Lalian standing proudly beside the entrance to one of the small buildings. The apparent residents stood nearby, both a man and a young woman wearing expressions of concern and confusion as two guards flanked them on either side. Clearly bondmates, Dominax granted the pair a moment of amusement as he sensed the spiritual lines of the infant cradled in the female's arms, feeling the paternal line linked to an individual that obviously wasn't her mate.
Wondering if the man was aware of her little secret, Dominax brushed the thought aside as he came to a stop before Lalian. More important matters were at hand.
Bowing his head Lalian stepped aside and gestured towards the door. "As requested, my lord. We discovered a ladder leading into a small subterranean chamber. I've already taken the liberty of ordering their supplies to be transferred into our stockpile."
A smirk spread across his face as he gently laid his hand upon the Lanthian's shoulder. "Well done my friend, though such was not my aim."
Evidently perplexed at failing to deduce his master's wishes, Lalian raised an eyebrow. "You've commanded all citizens to relinquish their food to the legion as it may be rationed systematically. These two seemingly haven't obeyed...thus it logically-"
Dominax held up his hand to silence the green man, taking a step into the house before gesturing for him to follow. "I've never felt shame in admitting that your intelligence outrivals the best of us, yet perhaps there is something I may yet be capable of teaching even you."
Together they found the ladder, hearing its rickety wood squeak as they descended into the cold cellar. A torch had been lit in preparation by whichever guards had confiscated the supplies, its light flickering over the poorly constructed walls. The chamber was just wide enough for a family to comfortably lay down, granting the two men ample room.
"Tell me, when an animal is cornered how does it react?"
Lalian blinked at the unexpected question, pulling his cloak tighter around his short tunic in the damp chill. "It attacks, despite facing greater odds. Though desperate, one could say that any action, even when seemingly doomed to fail, holds greater odds of victory than mere inaction."
Dominax nodded. "Indeed, unless the option to forge its own escape remains. It becomes far more dangerous,
cunning
. In such cases where a ris becomes trapped in its burrow by a hunter...
it digs
."
Lalian watched him place his hands upon the crude stone bricks, assessing them. "Surely you don't intend to..."
"Oh I do, little Lanthian." He replied as he turned his head to shoot the green man a smirk. "Long have I pondered our predicament, yet the solution rests just on the other side of this wall."
"Are you aware of how long that could possibly take?" Lalian replied, his surprise at realizing his master's plan causing him to momentarily forget his nerves. "The very foundation of Deci's walls must rest directly behind those bricks. Yet even should you manage to dig through, there is no telling how long you'll need to tunnel before breaking out to the other side."
"Ah, the very doubts that were thrown at your own feet when faced with constructing The Grand Pyramid. Many thought that such a project would be impossible, that hundreds of years would pass before its completion. Yet we find ourselves far less than two decades later and we already approach the day it shall be finished." Dominax said, calmly folding his hands behind his back. "You all fail to appreciate the impact of devotion. The slaves and builders toiled away while believing their efforts were in service to a true God. The legion shall now have their turn, knowing that their failure shall mean the very death of them all. We possess
no other
choice."
Lalian reached up to stroke his chin in thought. "You wish to tunnel through to the other side, yet I find it implausible for a legion to escape undetected. You don't desire to...flee on your own, do you?"
Turning to face him fully, Dominax's expression hardened. "Flee? To watch the bulk of my life's work die without so much as raising my sword? No, my friend. If a tunnel can be opened to the other side, small groups of men may be spirited from the city under the cover of night. They shall remain concealed in the forest until a sizable force has been built, allowing us to attack Alrin from behind without him ever suspecting our intentions."
"That is..." Lalian began to say, his voice slightly shaking with anticipation. "...
a risk
. If anyone were to inform the enemy-"
"That is why Hesin shall assist you in overseeing this particular project." Dominax cut him off.
Lalian pointed to himself as his cloak fell open. "Me, master?"
"Of course, no other architect has ever been your match. Construct me this tunnel, this fleeting hope." He replied, moving forward to cup the side of Lalian's head. "This brain of yours has earned its keep tenfold. You've proven yourself to be a worthy being in my eyes, Lalian, and I call upon you once more."
A slight shiver ran down Lalian's back at the feeling of his hand, yet despite his fear he nodded firmly. "For you, my lord? It shall be done to the best of my abilities."
Satisfied, Dominax removed his hand. "
Good.
You may use as many of my men as you require, though there can be no delay. Hesin's Truthseekers shall keep an eye on any individual who so much as glimpses this cellar. Should anyone speak a hint of our intentions...they shall be executed on the spot."
Lalian nodded in response, unable to keep a smile from creeping onto his face. Already his mind had begun to work, conjuring and assessing new ideas. They'd need a system to remove the rubble, a schedule to maximize the efficiency of the legion workers, and reinforcing structures to stabilize the ceiling of the tunnel as they-
His thoughts were cut off as Dominax gestured towards the ladder once more, moving to ascend. Together they departed from the house, allowing Lalian to appreciate the warmth of the sun after standing in the damp confines of the cellar.
Dominax ordered the guards to remove the couple from the area, waiting until only himself and Lalian remained before pointing up to several places along the wall. "To distribute the sound of the excavation, you will need to conduct several
loud
repairs there, there, there, and roughly there. Should the enemy patrols hear an increase in noise from this location alone, they will focus their attention here. That
cannot
be allowed to occur. Instead, you will blend the sound and deflect their attention. They'll hear only our attempts to prepare the walls for a defense that will never be required."
"I understand." Lalian replied, making a mental note of the locations.
"I will also order repairs on the main gate, ensuring their attention remains mostly focused on the opposite end of the city. They will see what we want them to see, hear what they must hear. A display of desperate men scrambling to reinforce walls and gates while they lay back and wait for our surrender." Dominax said, chuckling.
Lalian watched as his silver eyes began to lightly glow with a sadistic smile.
"Alrin claimed that he has captured a beast.
We shall show him our fangs when we strike from behind
."
49th of Silla, 11 AVE.
Kingdom of Kinia, Deci.
Her training had granted her an abnormal amount of time in the dungeons of Taroi and Deci, and as she slowly walked down the long corridor buried beneath the desolate streets Vixin realized she no longer loathed their unnerving ambience. Instead, their dreary walls had become a respiratory of knowledge, bestowed upon her from both Rosila and...
her father