A general born to rule

The new exploration

Back in Valorcrest, Marcus finally returned to the capital after months in the unknown lands. The situation there had stabilized, with the government now in the early stages of rebuilding and the people growing accustomed to the new technologies and governance brought by Valorcrest and its allies. Marcus entered his office, exhausted but satisfied with their progress. The dark wooden panels of the room, lined with shelves of books and detailed maps of the regions, gave him a sense of calm. He’d come far, but he knew his work was far from over.

Empress Valdrianna and Queen Elandra were already waiting for him. As he closed the door behind him, both women greeted him with warm smiles. Valdrianna’s dragonkin presence, powerful and regal, contrasted with Elandra’s graceful and calculating demeanor as the queen of the dark elves. Both had played crucial roles in stabilizing the unknown lands.

“Finally back,” Valdrianna said, standing from her seat near the fireplace, her towering figure casting a long shadow. “How does it feel to be home?”

“Strange,” Marcus admitted, letting out a deep breath. “But good. We’ve come a long way in the unknown lands. They’re starting to trust us.”

Elandra gave a small nod, her sharp dark elf eyes never missing a detail. “Trust is fragile, but we’ve planted the right seeds. Now, it’s time to turn our attention elsewhere.”

Before Marcus could respond, Sam entered the room with his three lovers—Alara, Aislin, and Seraphine. The demi-human women, with their feline and lupine features, were lively as usual. Their tails were wagging, an obvious sign of excitement. Alara’s cat-like tail flicked playfully, while Aislin’s wolfish ears twitched with interest. Seraphine’s cheetah spots gleamed in the light as her tail swayed smoothly.

Sam grinned. “You two wouldn’t believe what we’ve picked up.”

Marcus raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What is it?”

Sam took a seat and pulled out a tablet, showing a satellite image of a landmass far out in the ocean. “The space program is running perfectly. One of the satellites we launched picked this up. Uncharted lands. Far beyond anything we’ve mapped.”

Marcus leaned forward, examining the image. His lips curled into a smirk. “Looks like our next adventure.”

Valdrianna stepped closer, her piercing gaze focused on the screen. “Another unknown? Perfect.”

Queen Elandra added, “If we’re going to extend our influence, we should move quickly. No telling what other forces might be out there.”

Marcus nodded. “Agreed. Let’s prepare a convoy.”

---

In the following days, Valorcrest’s massive military and trade machine went into full preparation mode. Shipyards buzzed with activity as warships, destroyers, and trade vessels were outfitted for the journey. The newly modernized naval fleet of Valorcrest, equipped with far superior technology compared to anything else in the medieval fantasy world, would spearhead the expedition. Their ships were armed with advanced cannons, missile systems, and aircraft capable of both reconnaissance and combat.

Marcus stood on the docks, watching as the final supplies were loaded onto the ships. Alongside the military vessels, diplomats and scholars prepared to join the expedition, tasked with making first contact and establishing relations with any civilizations they might encounter.

Sam, always enthusiastic about technology, supervised the loading of several crates marked with the insignia of Valorcrest’s space program. Inside were communication satellites, which could be launched from the ships to keep a constant link back to the capital. His three demi-human lovers were also present, tails still wagging with excitement about the upcoming journey.