Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 87050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
The realization hit me like a physical blow. I would have to walk through the ship, stand on the bridge, completely revealed. The thought made me want to curl up and hide, to disappear into the soft fabric of the couch. But beneath the fear and shame, there was something else—a tiny spark of excitement, of arousal at the idea of being so utterly vulnerable.
I swallowed hard, bracing myself for what was to come. I stood on trembling legs, forcing myself to meet Sala’s gaze. “Alright,” I said, my voice shaky but determined. “Let’s go.”
Sala took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze as we stepped out into the corridor. The air of the ship raised goosebumps on my bare skin, making me even more aware of my nakedness. I fought the urge to cover myself, knowing it would be futile.
As we made our way through the winding passages of the Prince Hend, I marveled anew at the enormous difference between this ship and the Conqueror of Bresla. The Conqueror’s harsh angles and utilitarian design seemed like a distant memory as the Magisterian ship’s elegance unfolded before me. The glowing walls, with their milky sheen, looked like something out of a dream. I noticed for the first time that even the floor beneath our feet felt warm and slightly yielding, almost as if it were alive.
We passed several crew members as we walked, and I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment each time. To my surprise, however, none of them seemed shocked or even particularly interested in our nudity. They simply nodded respectfully to Sala and continued on their way.
On Vion, of course, and aboard ships like the Conqueror, concubines like me were kept naked most of the time, but both Vionian men and Vionian women seemed to enjoy calling as much attention as they could to the shame involved. Both men and women had frequently touched me on my bare bottom or even between my thighs, as if to demonstrate their mastery of the people the empire had subjugated and put to use as instruments of their pleasure. Bystanders would stop and watch on the street if a young Vionian man decided to order me to bend over and present my bare cunny for his inspection.
“How… how can they be so casual about this?” I whispered to Sala, gesturing to our naked bodies.
Sala smiled gently. “Magisterian culture is very different from what you’re used to, Tessara. Nudity isn’t seen as shameful or inherently sexual. It’s simply a natural state of being, especially for wives and concubines.”
As we rounded a corner, we came upon a group of officers engaged in animated discussion. Among them were several strikingly beautiful women, some clad in crisp uniforms while others were as naked as Sala and myself.
Noticing my wide-eyed stare, Sala explained, “Magisteria, unlike the Vionian Empire, goes to war with the full scope of its military talent, both male and female. But male officers are also permitted to bring a wife or concubine if they choose.”
I watched in amazement as a uniformed man bent to kiss a naked woman before rejoining his colleagues. The woman’s face glowed with pride and affection as she watched him go.
“So the naked women… they’re all wives or concubines?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Sala nodded. “Yes. Some, like myself, are senior wives who serve alongside their husbands in various capacities. Others are concubines brought along for comfort and support during long deployments.”
As we continued our journey, I couldn’t help but notice the easy camaraderie between the clothed and unclothed crew members. There was a sense of mutual respect and shared purpose that seemed to transcend their state of dress or undress.
We passed through a large, open area that Sala informed me was one of the ship’s recreational spaces. Here, off-duty crew members relaxed and socialized. I saw uniformed men and women engaged in games of strategy, while nearby, a group of naked concubines practiced what looked like a form of dance or martial art.
As we approached what I realized must be the bridge, from the way the corridor had begun to widen, my heart began to race. The enormity of what I was about to witness hit me full force. I could hardly believe I would see the fall of the empire that had defined my existence for so long, and yet it seemed true. My palms grew clammy, and I found myself gripping Sala’s hand even tighter.
The doors to the bridge slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a scene of controlled chaos. Officers moved purposefully between stations, their voices a low murmur of technical jargon and status reports. The air crackled with tension and anticipation.
My eyes were immediately drawn to the massive viewscreen that dominated the far wall. It showed a breathtaking vista of stars, with the blue-green orb of Vion Prime hanging in the center like a precious jewel. At this scale, I could even make out—with the help of the blue circles added by the Prince Hend’s computers—the impressive array of capital ships that surrounded the planet. The combined might of the Magisterian fleet had indeed come to finish the grim job of extinguishing their enemy.