Vaid Empire: Conquest Ch. 40

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.

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50th of Fixuin, 11 AVE.

Kingdom of Kinia, Deci.

The relative silence of the night sky beyond Dominax's open window could almost place him at ease, a quiet concealment of reality. He allowed himself to forget, if only for a moment, the vicious hoards waiting patiently beyond the city walls. They'd be eager for his judgment to slip, for the gates to open at a desperate order to send his warriors into a slaughter from all sides. There would be no escape through a direct assault.

He ignored thoughts of the population, having been beaten down thoroughly by the legion. Their savior waited just outside Deci, ready to save them from their 'tyrannical conquer'. Dominax would throw himself from Deci's walls before he allowed any of them to sabotage his plans.

"What plans?" He thought to himself, brought back to reality as he sat down. His elbows pressed against the wood of the desk, steepling his fingers in the darkness.

Word of Queen Regent Elmia's efforts to regroup her father's men had arrived days ago, yet what use was that now? The royal army of The Kingdom of Cendia had been crushed by Alrin in its prime. Beaten and bloodied without the experienced command of King Galis, what chance did they possess in breaking the siege?

A slight chill of the night ran across the room, forcing him to think of home. They had of course experienced some particularly cold nights in Vaidrin, yet The Northern Human Basin was far more temperate than he was used to. The humid rainforest had given way to colorful forests and open plains, and for a moment he felt every one of the roughly fourteen hundred miles separating Deci from Domani.

Of course, Irith was a possibility. The common citizens of Domani could be formed into a force set out to attack Alrin. They had left behind many skilled laborers and craftsmen when the highly trained legion had departed, yet such an idea fell away quickly. That was all they were, common. A citizen army simply couldn't be trained to adequately oppose Alrin.

In any real sense, they were alone.

Time was their only true ally, limited as it might be. Ample supplies had been safely sealed away inside the city before Alrin's arrival. Though it couldn't sustain the population indefinitely, Dominax merely needed to recall Dorian's words to feel a slight hint of ease, remembering the old ghost's explanation of how he had modified their original human ancestors long ago.

"An optimized digestive tract that produces no waste and requires less sustenance."

Their supplies would persist far longer, as they needed to eat considerably less to survive than their pre-Ayphieal counterparts, whoever they may have been. Yet simply avoiding starvation would not save them from their predicament, nor would it last forever. Alrin may have to wait quite a while if he truly wished for a bloodless victory, though when the population finally became desperate, he'd have what he sought.

Dominax eyed the neatly stacked pile of message cylinders resting upon the corner of the desk, each marked with the royal seal of Kinia. As he lit a small candle with his finger, he reluctantly grabbed the nearest message with his other hand.

Unsealing the cylinder's top, he pulled free the first girthy stick from inside. He let his eyes travel over the symbols etched into the soft wood, reading its contents. No doubt it would be similar to the previous messages he had read, yet he started from the beginning.

"Dominax of House Vaid, God Emperor of The Vaid Empire, I write with respect for your full title in the hope you shall see reason. Though you continue to ignore my messages, one cannot ignore the futility of continued resistance, as-"

He discarded the stick back into the cylinder, selecting another without concern for its number.

"...my brother orders your death, along with your men. I cannot dissuade his decision, yet I can personally assure you that the women and children of your legion will return home safely. They may be warriors in your culture, your females, yet I can make the argument that they were merely the families of your men. Do not allow your pride to-"

Again, he selected a different stick, feeling his grip upon the cylinder steadily tighten.

"I wait, Lord Dominax. I wait for as long as my duty requires. Surrender, and allow my men to return to their homes."

Once more he selected, his silver eyes beginning to glow in the faint candlelight.

"Your daughters are with you. I know this. Princesses Cendra and Vixin. They shall not be harmed. On my honor I vow to spare them, to see them safely returned to your lands. You need only to sur-"

A flame emerged from his palm, licking the message stick until its surface succumbed to the heat. It roasted within his fingers, burning to outshine the candle.

Then, a moment later, he allowed its ashes to spill onto the desk.

3rd of Silla, 11 AVE.

Kingdom of Kinia, Deci.

Cendra heard the clashing of swords and spears as she approached the barracks, hands folded behind her back like a proud imperial princess. She made her way to the rear of the squat building, finding the training grounds as dozens of legionaries sparred in grueling combat.

The voice she sought called out, shouting orders and corrections across the grounds. Yet despite his loud tone to be heard above the commotion, the voice carried the same polite and encouraging words as always. She had found Clin.

Placed in a chair to overlook the crowd from a slightly raised deck at the rear entrance, his injured leg rested upon a stool as he remained upright and alert. A clean bandage had been wrapped around the thigh of his one-suit, concealing the work the healers had done.

Slowly she ascended the short stairs, approaching him with sensual yet powerful strides. He turned to her, his eyes lighting up with surprise before issuing a quick final command to his men.

"May we speak?" She asked, attempting to appear casual as she stared off at the dueling warriors. The sunlight glinted from their white armor, as if calling to her.

"Of course...you always have a place at my side." He said, unable to keep the anticipation from his voice. He gestured to a pair of chairs near the door before removing his helmet and placing it upon his lap.

She pulled one of the chairs over to him, gracefully sitting down before facing him fully. Her silver eyes studied his face as she crossed her feminine legs, finally opening her pretty mouth. "I see they've treated you well. You look better...even if you deny yourself the rest you deserve."

He smiled, attempting to turn his body towards her before letting out a pained grunt. "Your father insists as much, yet I'll rest when we stand on solid ground free from this place. Still...the healers have done much to treat the pain. Whatever knowledge those strange women carry, they can do whatever they must if it means I'll walk again."

"And soon." She finished, reaching over to place her hand onto his forearm. "Listen...I came here today to apologize."

In response, he raised a blond eyebrow in confusion. "What could you possibly need to apologize for?"

However she had expected him to respond, she could only smile at the realization that their previous conversation hadn't shifted his opinion of her. "I behaved rather...childishly the last time we spoke. I shouldn't have left you like that, especially when you needed me. I'm sorry, Clin..."

Hearing the genuineness of her words, he simply waved his hand in dismissal. "There's no need."

"No need?" She repeated.

"Of course not." He said, placing his other hand atop hers as it rested on his arm. He then sighed, feeling her soft skin. "I believe my words still hold value, yet...I placed much of my own guilt upon your shoulders. That simply wasn't fair to you. What has occurred between you and Vixin has nothing to do with Hesin and I."

The mention of Vixin's name forced a slight blush of embarrassment to her cheeks, and for a brief moment she felt a hint of temptation to reveal the incident with the vibshir. Then, feeling the remnants of disappointment she had felt upon learning Clin hadn't been the sender of the box, she instead gravitated to the last of his words. "Hesin, then? That's who has tormented your thoughts all these years?"

Clin nodded. "He blames me for an event that occurred during our childhood, the first instant we met. I merely hoped you weren't resenting Vixin in the same manner he does me, children guilty of their mother's crimes."

Cendra pictured the door slamming in front of Vixin, hearing her sister's tears as she herself had broken down on the other side. Had she been too harsh? A flare of anger poked at her belly, and she tossed the thought aside. "Yet there is a difference. This 'crime' of Vixin's slut mother was the death of mine. Whatever you did to earn Lord Hesin's scorn, or your mother, his family wasn't slaughtered like some common animal. Xenia's assassins butchered Briza. That...is why she can't be forgiven."

His face turned pale at her words.

She calmed herself, taking a breath before continuing. "I'm...sorry, I don't want to repeat our last argument. Let us simply move forward and allow the past to fall away. Whatever this 'event' is that you speak of with Hesin, I won't force you to tell me. Not until you are truly ready." She said, before looking directly into his eyes. "I'd like to focus on the future. Our future...if you'll allow it..."

His smile slowly returned, and he reached over to cup her cheek. For the first time he felt her beautiful face beneath his fingertips, staring at him with the same hopeful face he had seen since her birth. "Perhaps I've...waited for something far too precious to bring into fruition until now. Perhaps...I'm too late, trapped by an enemy that would see us all dead."

She chuckled, feeling his touch. "All the more reason to act while we still breath. To create something worthwhile."

He studied her, taking in every detail. "I'd like that. Truly."

Unable to contain herself she bit her lip. "Then be quiet for a moment..." she said, leaning forwards. Their lips touched as she closed her eyes to enjoy every second.

Slowly they separated, gradually brought back to reality as the sound of crashing weapons continued to ring through the air.

Cendra moved to stand, causing him to grab her hand as if he were a drowning man clutching a rope. She giggled, patting it gently. "I had only a short time before I'm required to report to The God Emperor. Yet be rest assured...I will return. I won't abandon you again."

He slowly relaxed, embarrassed by his reaction. An abundance of words remained inside his throat, wishing to come loose. Instead, he watched her turn around. His eyes traced over the curves of her hips as she walked to the steps, her stride seductive and powerful.

As he returned his attention to the training men he felt a slight relief, allowing a smile to spread across his face.

39th of Silla, 11 AVE.

Kingdom of Kinia, Deci.

"Show me your worth."

The God Emperor's voice echoed off the high domed ceiling as he and Vixin walked in a circle, swords pointed towards each other. Father and daughter, they eyed each other as if old foes, each step carefully calculated.

Torchlight flickered over their ready forms, illuminating the stone walls of the underground chamber. Gone were the opportunities to meditate deep in the forest, their current predicament forcing them to utilize whatever seclusion remained available. Fortunately, Lalian had discovered the optimal location for their new training ground, located directly under Deci's stronghold and accessed through the dungeons. Circular in shape, the chamber remained littered with cushions and luxurious benches, clearly utilized as the site of the former Lord's secret orgies, buried from the eyes of the population.

Appearing confident and moving with a deadly seduction, Dominax could sense her fear. She had learned to conceal her true emotions, though not quite from him it seemed.

Studying each other, there was a flash of movement as they rushed together, meeting in the center. His sword swung low, forcing her to flip forwards and meet his next strike the moment she landed on her feet. They moved faster than an average human, their physical forms driven by their powers.

She slashed downwards, caught by his blade before spinning to avoid a burst of flame hurled from his palm. The move placed her a few steps away, granting her an instant to fling a web of electricity of her own.

The blade of his sword caught the web, its tendrils sliding down its sharp surface towards the strange orb in its hilt, as if consuming her attack. His weapon arced through the air, cutting horizontally.

With a twirl of her blade she intercepted his blow, redirecting it. He allowed a slight smirk of satisfaction to show, watching her blade dance through the air. Though needlessly flashy, he had always enjoyed the more complex and elaborate movements of combat. She indulged him, spinning her sword in a figure eight before chopping upwards.

He shifted to the side, narrowly missing the sharp chimira steel as it sliced through the air, a keen reminder of his lack of armor. He wore only his one-suit and cloak, retaliating with a flurry of intricately timed attacks.

Vixin met each of his slashes with her blade, their swords clashing together each time. The ringing sounds of their duel echoed as they moved, their powers naturally enhancing their capabilities. Where Dominax had spent the first two decades of his life struggling to learn on his own, always discouraged by his adoptive mother to develop his powers, Vixin had learned quickly. Each time he trained with The Creator himself, Dominax ensured that he understood each precious piece of knowledge before passing it onto his daughter, allowing them both to progress unrestrictedly. He retained a few hidden tricks from her, of course, ensuring he remained in control.

With a wide slash of his blade she jumped forwards, flipping through the air above his head. She landed behind him, causing him to spin around and knock her weapon from her hand. Then thrusting towards her, he stopped before the pointed tip could pierce her skin.

She remained frozen, only to bow her head in defeat.

"Impressive...yet you are not quite ready to utilize your powers in such a way. You jumped without calculating how I may react when you've landed." He scolded her, turning to put several steps between them.

"Yes Master." She said, her tone undefeated as she bent over to retrieve her sword.

Where once Dominax had kept his inner compulsions during their training strictly shoved down, he found that he could no longer rein in his interest after their final forest session. He allowed his eyes to carry up her legs, settling upon her feminine rump before she straightened up and turned around.

Vixin felt the tiniest hint of emotion from his mind, a sliver of what he wasn't able to conceal entirely. She pushed it aside as she readied herself, certain she had mistaken it.

Again they clashed, hurling at each other as if they were fighting to the death. Their swords carved through the air, fast enough to be a spectacle to any ordinary human. Through the heightened instincts of their unique blood they reacted, knowing where to block and calculating when best to strike.

She released a fireball that erupted against his sword, feeling a slight thrill as their blades intercepted once more. The duel allowed her to shed her emotions, draining the frustration that had built up from her confrontation with Cendra. Hadn't she only been trying to set things right? To apologize for something she hadn't even done? She-

Her thoughts were cut off as she sensed yet another hint from her father, faintly clearer. Just as she had felt that night in the forest, was she sensing that he was...aroused? She cleared her mind, focusing on the fight. She had sensed the same feeling that night, yet was she mistaken?

Dominax watched as she moved, her flexible body cartwheeling backwards to dodge a well-timed slash. She moved gracefully, bracing herself as electricity stretched from his fingers. She absorbed the attack, rushing forwards to meet him in the center of the room.

Her skin tingled from the remnants of his power as their blades met, forcing a slight smirk to form on her face.

He sensed her excitement, feeling her eagerness as her sword twirled. Yet there was something...more, a feeling he couldn't quite describe.

Their weapons met, sliding across each other before he spun. Vixin reacted instantly, bending backwards to dodge the incoming slash. Though it lasted a mere instant he looked down, watching her athletic abs through the designed cut-out of her outfit. As if time slowed down his mind moved quickly, taking in her details before reacting to her follow up attack.

Again she felt it, a glimpse of his mind. Could he be fixated upon...her? As she thought she had sensed in the forest? The idea sent a shiver of lust through her at such a taboo thought, yet she couldn't be certain. Instead, she pushed her hidden desires down, afraid of where they'd lead.

Dominax's silver eyes began to faintly glow as he fed his power into his sword, allowing a mix of electricity and fire to crawl up the blade until it was consumed in sparking flame. She moved to block his attack, only for the electricity to carry through her own sword the moment they made contact, electrocuting her hand. With a yelp she dropped it, pausing for only a brief instant before jumping backwards, putting distance between them once more.

Quickly she outstretched her hands, gathering power before unleashing a string of lightning. He caught it once more upon his sword, its crackling surface energized as he began to step forwards.

She watched him slowly approach, feeling her excitement building before clenching her hands, ceasing her powers. Then, with a deep breath, she loosed a powerful wave of flame from her palms, outshining the torches.

It slammed against Dominax's defenses, erupting into smoke and scorching the curved wall behind him. She peered closer, preparing herself.

As the haze began to subside, she felt a tingle of fear and anticipation as two glowing silver eyes appeared through the thin smoke, only for him to burst from its depths as he charged forwards.

His display of power coaxed a hint of lust to her loins as he leapt forwards, crashing his blade down. She rolled out of the way, feeling shame at her emerging feelings. Her usual forbidden desires, plaguing her even now.