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.
***
9th of Fonic, 12 AVE.
Domani, Capital of The Vaid Empire.
The deafening silence of the chamber felt like a nagging itch inside Cendra's mind as she remained still, her legs crossed as she quietly sat upon the cold metal floor.
Before her sat her father, a mirror of her own position, his utter stillness unnerving each time she sneakily peeked open her eyes. Together they were placed in the center of The Chamber of Deliverance, the giant crescent symbol of House Vaid nearly cradling them upon the floor. Candles burned lightly in a circle around them, flickering through the darkness.
How many hours had passed as she sat there? Did she even dare to wonder? For all she knew the world beyond the locked pod chamber had ceased to exist, swept away into nothing. She did her best to remain focused, to truly delve into Dominax's teachings, yet her mind began to drift. She thought of the battle of Lake Ti, remembering her heart pumping as she drove her blade through her first man. The power she had felt coursing through her veins, burning as if it could suddenly consume her.
Her silver eyes crept open once more. Spying her father, his unnatural appearance sent a shiver down her back. As if frozen in place, it nearly seemed as though his breathing had stopped, existing as a statue of radiating power.
Closing her eyes, she did all she could to calm her mind. He had finally granted her his attention, and she'd rather open her wrists with a dagger than disappoint him. Yet after mere minutes she drifted once more, thinking of Clin. Her hand subconsciously fell to rest upon her belly.
"Enough." Dominax's deep voice boomed through the chamber, causing her to flinch. "You're restless."
The sickening sensation of failure seeped into her stomach, until she met his gaze and saw an unconcerned expression upon his features. "Apologies, father."
A wave of his hand dismissed her words. "You lasted longer than I expected from one of your temperament. Your concentration will improve through practice, and soon you'll be able to delve into yourself with ease. Your power will build as you mentally explore, sensing every aspect of your own soul."
"I
will
practice, father. You have my word." She replied with an ambitious smirk.
Placing his hands upon his folded knees, he sensed the same odd flicker from her that he had felt since the very beginning of their meditations. "This isn't the manner of training that you're accustomed to. Swinging a blade has its uses, yet any ordinary being can learn to weld a weapon with some amount of skill."
Once more she thought of Clin, of their hours dueling in the training yard. "Am I to assume that such training is over?"
"Of course not, my little flower, yet it shall take a different form. From now until I see fit you shall duel your sister under my guidance. You'll fight together. You'll bleed together. Only against another Vaid can you ever hope to master your skills."
The command swept the smirk from her face as she fought to refrain from scowling. "I'd prefer-"
"Oh, I'm aware of what you'd prefer, child. I've granted you Lord Clin in every other aspect, yet Vixin's development is just as important as yours."
Shifting her legs, Cendra released an annoyed breath. "So it is, yet she can hardly hope to stand against me in the training yard. I'll be reduced to the basics, as if teaching a child."
"Are you so sure?" Dominax questioned with a devious grin. "I've fought her myself. You'd be surprised at just how fearsome she has become. Further, you won't be fighting in the training yard, but here, only under my observations."
Taken aback, she was unable to keep the slight hint of a quiver from her voice. "You've...dueled? Together? Without
me
?"
"My flower, she required far more direct guidance than you. As I've said, you're dependable." He replied. "Your prowess during the battle only proved my predictions, though there is much you've yet to learn."
She held back her tongue, and instead nodded her head with begrudging obedience. Vixin would not keep her from her rightful place at his side.
Pleased at her display of control, if only barely holding, he shifted the subject. "That shall be dealt with later. For now, I shall demonstrate the necessity. Hold out your hand, my flower, and grant me a glimpse of your power."
"A glimpse?" She asked slowly, attempting to stall. Then, biting her lip, she closed her eyes and concentrated. Gradually, her body straining with a quiet grunt, a small flame ignited within each of her outstretched palms. "Like...this?"
A chuckle escaped him as he nodded, allowing her to cease her efforts. "A flame, of course. Your sister would have chosen lightning."
Rubbing her hands, she granted him a questioning look. "Was I...incorrect in my selection?"
"The opposite. You did exactly as I expected." He said, pausing as he chose his words carefully. "We often simplify the abilities of our bloodline as mere 'fire' and 'electricity', but in truth they are far more complex. Both are coaxed from our inner natures."
Raising an eyebrow, Cendra listened closely. The answers granted first to her spoiled sister finally sought her out, and she held every intention of receiving them with open arms.
"The nature of humans rests upon a spectrum. At one end falls aggression, strength, the urge for combat." A flame erupted into his palm as he turned his hands over. "On the other falls intrigue, cunning, the desire to manipulate." Lightning sparked in his left hand, crackling as it danced over his skin. "We are no different."
She watched him, as if a beacon in the flickering darkness.
"You crave to fight, to spread our influence through direct conquest and bloodshed. Vixin is skilled with a blade, of course, yet she'd see us defeat our enemies through intrigue, subverting the thoughts and beliefs of citizens into obeying. Flame, and lightning." He explained, raising his right and left hands in turn. "Both are essential."
Cendra looked to her own hands. "Will I never master the other half?"
"Of course you will. As your powers grow it will be necessary to explore both paths, though your preference shall always show. Your nature demands to be expressed. Though lightning may struggle to flow from your fingertips as easily as it pours from Vixin's, your fire shall burn far brighter. Use it. Hone it. Make it serve you, for it
is
an extension of you."
With a glimmer of hunger in her eyes, she glanced to the candles surrounding them. "I suppose that's fitting. Let Vixin toy with her Sages, I'd prefer the imperial might of the legion any day."
Again, he sensed the flicker within her womb, hardly more than a whisper fading into air.
Biting back a smirk of interest, she reluctantly opened her mouth. "Tell me, father, shall I learn to control the flames that fall within my reach? To pull them from torches and weld them against our enemies?"
He chuckled, remembering when such questions had been his own, long before Nitri had fallen. Nights spent beside Briza as they tested his capabilities, far from any curious eyes, before their secret sessions under the trees had become much less innocent.
Cendra watched with curiosity as her father reached to grasp one of the candles, igniting a flame in his other palm.
"Our abilities take the appearance of ordinary fire, it's true. It can burn, scar, and consume, yet we don't produce true fire. The flame you see is merely the form your soul takes when brought forth into reality." He said, gesturing to his free hand before shifting his attention to the other. "The flame burning atop this candle is little more than heat, holding no place in the immaterial. We have no more control over it than the breeze, yet in time you shall make the flames summoned from your fingertips dance in any way you desire."
Both encouraged and disappointed, Cendra nodded in understanding as her hand once more settled upon her belly. Again Dominax sensed the flare, as if two souls rested within her flesh.
Slowly rising to his feet, he swept his hand in a gesture for her to stand. Then, as she masked whatever unease she felt, he lured her forward. "That shall be all for today, yet come..."
Obeying without hesitation, she stepped forward and concealed a grin as she felt his fingertips rest gently upon her midriff. As he closed his eyes she parted her lips slightly, unable to deny her enjoyment at feeling him so close, as only the skintight chimira-silk of her outfit separated her from his touch.
"My flower..." he opened his eyes, meeting hers. "Truly?"
Nodding, she granted him a loving smirk. "Of course, father. Clin and I fulfilled our duty without delay."
Utter satisfaction spread across his face, clearly sensing the growing life within her womb as he narrowed his focus. "Indeed you have...Clin should be rewarded for his commitment, yet it seems he's already experienced a privilege far greater than most could dream of."
"He
certainly
enjoyed himself." Cendra replied with pride. "I once claimed that I understood your words best, that I earned my place as a Princess of House Vaid. Now, I shall prove it beyond all doubt, the first to fulfill my purpose. This child shall be the beginning of the third generation of your blood. A
legitimate