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 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.
***
21st of Fonic, 17 AVE.
Kingdom of Harin, Great City of Visti.
Rain sprinkled lightly atop Visti Castle's rooftops. High upon a covered balcony, Irith reached out to feel the water running through her fingers. "Loyalists shall say the north wept for The God Emperor's departure. Others shall claim the world shed tears for the fall of Harin. Either way, it's a strange feeling to leave after so long."
Dominax gazed far into the distance towards the south, unable to see The Chimira. The vessel of The Creator hovered high above
his
throne, beyond the sight of the north. "Other aims require my focus. Harin may forever rest under my peace now."
Irith touched Arinax's shoulder as their son stood between them. Zela peered through the bars of the railing with a smile, ever curious. A pain touched Irith's chest, wondering what Enil would've thought of her children. "I find it odd to know I may never see these lands again. Perhaps that'd be for the best, for there are far too many echoes of the past here. I only hope we've done what's best for those that remain. We brought them a better future, didn't we, my love?"
Dominax nodded. "Have no doubt of that."
She hesitated. "Yet I've heard whispers of recent trouble in Pinni and Harkrin."
"A temporary setback that's been swiftly dealt with. Grant them no further thought." Dominax frowned in displeasure.
Irith's expression hardened. "I'm not a follower that must be talked down to. Speak plainly. I'm your mate, and I know what happened." She turned to him with searching eyes. "Why didn't you consult Clin and I?"
"If we're speaking plainly, state your accusation," his deep voice demanded coldly.
She covered Arinax's ears. "
Slaughter."
With a glance back at Zela to see the girl reaching out to play with the rain, she continued. "The citizens of Pinni and Harkrin rioted to prevent their Lords from kneeling to The Empire, and the legion cut them down when they resisted. By
your
order, no?"
Dominax pulled her hands from Arinax with disapproval. "Let the boy hear, for he'll have to commit the same horrid deed someday. Yes, I gave the order. A flicker of resistance shall ignite an inferno that'll be our undoing. I extinguished it. The survivors shall spread their tales as a warning to those that would wound my Eternal Peace." His tone offered no argument. "Mercy that permits chaos and disorder to consume the population is not a virtue."
"You acted without our counsel." Irith folded her arms.
"Would you have convinced me otherwise?" Dominax raised a questioning brow, and Arinax looked to his mother with confusion.
Irith bit her lip. "
I don't know
. Sometimes I wish the path ahead was a simple matter of good and terrible. The loss of many was always inevitable when striving to rearrange the world for the better, yet you can't expect me to stomach the details so easily."
"You'd need only to weep for them should I have permitted their resistance to spread. They can do no further harm now." Dominax met her with a solemn expression. "Clin shall hear rumors of what occurred, and in time, he'll come to understand. The man's counsel has many uses, though not in this. Not when a firm hand is required to act decisively to avoid destruction."
Irith nodded, feigning understanding as her stomach tightened with unease. As they stood in silence, she looked out across her former homeland, seeing The Empire in every direction. They had fought for this day.
He
had been the catalyst. Dominax had raised them from nothing, birthing an empire all because a young man had stood in the ruins of his world and decided enough was enough. Despite her misgivings, she couldn't help but admit her respect for her mate. Could such a man be wrong? Her worries remained.
"Leave your doubts in the north. The fleet departs in the morning, but tonight holds ample time for Arinax's training." He touched their son's shoulder, guiding him away. "Come, boy."
As Arinax looked to his mother with dread, Irith grabbed the prince's hand, stopping him. Dominax glanced back, in no mood to argue. Every instinct urged her to pull her son back to safety, yet she knew the defiance Dominax would tolerate had
firm
limits, even for her.
Her grip loosened. She saw Arinax's despair when she released him, feeling a motherly agony as she failed her son. Silently, she watched them depart.
"Mother? Are you hurt?" Zela asked when tears began to leak from Irith's eyes.
She quickly wiped them away, forcing a false smile as she picked up her daughter. "No, sweet girl. Mommy is fine." She brought her to the edge of the balcony once more, cautious of the drop below. "I'm merely excited to return home. Aren't you?"
The girl nodded joyfully, oblivious to the bloodshed that had torn the land around them apart.
45th of Fonic, 17 AVE.
Kingdom of Vaidrin, Near Arcia.
Waves lapped at the ship's hull as it cut through the river. Hesin leaned against the bow's railing to look down, watching the water writhe and swirl. The sound was soothing as he touched his mask, more exhausted than he had realized. The conquest of the north was at its end, and he allowed a satisfied smirk to creep upon his lips, hidden.
He had done his part.
The smallest creak of the deck from behind was the only hint of an approaching being. Any ordinary man would've been oblivious, yet his trained ear knew better. Turning around, he saw disappointment in Nafalya's eyes. "Close."
"The firm footing of castle floors has lessened me," she shook her head without anger. "I'll improve, master."
He nodded in silence. As she stepped closer, he couldn't help but glance at her midriff, her pregnancy beginning to show. He couldn't help but be intrigued.
She took her place at his side, every step calculated. "Curious. It seems we're of the few that'll return home whole." She eyed the legionaries going about their duties. They carried themselves with pride, yet beneath, she sensed their weary thoughts. "Even poor Cendra hasn't escaped without scars of her own. I can sense her pacing about her quarters right now, trying to withhold her panic at being aboard a ship once more." Nafalya chuckled in amusement, pointing down as if she could see below deck. "What a shame."
"Good. Scars have their uses." He watched her with his remaining eye, seeing her dark hair fluttering.
She smirked, sneakily taking his hand. When he didn't pull away, she pressed closer.
Savoring the softness of her touch, he finally broke the silence. "You know what awaits us in Domani. You know of your father's designs for us."
"Oh, I do." She held his arm. "I've long known what our fates hold, though that doesn't mean I'm content to wait so long."
Glancing over, Hesin felt her guiding his hand to her chest. Slowly, his fingers brushed her breast, making him shutter with desire. "And your pregnancy?"
She shrugged, allowing him to squeeze for the first time. "A small inconvenience."
"
Hardly
," he whispered into her ear, smirking. She was promised to be his, yet another had tasted her first. His Truthseekers were everywhere. Their eyes were his. Mere whispers were all he had, yet if his suspicions about The God Emperor were true...
She felt his other hand touch her belly, sensing his lust. Pleased, she caressed his cheek.
Dominax would only permit him to learn as much as the man allowed, of course. The God Emperor was cunning, yet the hints he offered were too strong to dismiss. Hesin grinned deviously, for the possible paternity of her child was a truth he couldn't help but find amusement in. Did any greater taboo exist? The degeneracy of the thought coaxed his curiosities, his thoughts only interrupted when her finger slipped beneath his mask.
He reached up to stop her. Deadly silver eyes met his, waiting until he eased. With a nod of rare trust, he allowed her to lift the mask enough to leave his lips bare. With a chuckle she kissed him, tasting the future father of her next child.
"Seek me out when we reach Domani. There, my patience shall end," she said with a seductive smirk.
As she slowly walked away, he watched her wide hips sway with every step. "
I should thank you for many things, Dominax, yet your daughter stands atop them all."