ELEMENTAL: Heir of Indra

In the heart of an ancient forest, a mother bluebird was seen darting between towering trees. Her movements were rushed, but her gaze was razor focused, scanning the underbrush.

All of a sudden, she noticed a faint rustle among the fallen leaves. This caught her attention. And without delaying a single moment, she swooped down, plucking a plump earthworm from the soil. A proteic catch!

But, it wasn't for her to enjoy. So, she took off the ground for her destination. Just as she flapped through the dense thicket with struggling worm in its beak, a sharp cry tore through the morning air as something unfolded it's massive wings.

She knew the sound. How could she forget it. The weight of that looming presence, to whom she lost her other half.

A surge of panic rose within her, but instinct quickly took over. In that split second, it was all about survival: fight or flight.

With a sudden jolt, she veered to the right, her wings beating hard. And then something extraordinary happened! Air, as if answering her desperate will, surged around her, forming a powerful tailwind. The gust propelled her forward at an astonishing speed, blurring the world around her as she shot through the sky like an arrow.

The predator gave chase, its eyes burning with hunger. With a ferocious screech, flames erupted from its wings, igniting the air behind it. The heat distorted the space around it, and in an instant, the fiery updraft catapulted it forward, closing the gap between them.

Sensing her doom drawing near, her heart pounded, and her breath came in quick gasps. Yet she refused to slow down. Instead, she reached deep within herself, summoning the wind with every ounce of strength she had left. A sudden whirlwind swirled around her, wrapping her in a turbulent vortex. With a final, desperate push, she let the air explode outward, sending her rocketing through the sky—just as the predator's scorching talons slashed through empty air where she had been a heartbeat ago. Even so, just the heat generated from those talones left burning mark on her beautiful feathers.

And without any care for that, she pushed on. Because, she spotted her hope, an opening: a narrow gap between thick , just wide enough for her but too tight for the falcon. With one final burst of effort,she darted through, leaves and thorns scratching against her feathers.

Behind her could be heard the frustrating screech of a flyting crematorium.

With will and might, she gets to live another day. It's hard owned, but worth the struggle.

She earned it.

After a journey through the woods, she finally reached her nest. And what greeted her was chaotic melody of chirps, chirps- competing for one another, for the precious sustenance she brought. This was nothing new to her, as she mothered many healthy child throughout her life-cycle.

She always enjoyed the process of motherhood, it's the central aspect of her existence. What's more beautiful than life? And what could be more noble than the process of giving birth to life?

But, this time, after losing her partner, it has become quite challenging. Even so, with a loving nature, she calmly took on the challenge to raise them.

But the chirpers will be dissapointed today, as her survival protocol already forced her to drop the worm for optimum mobility. With her cloudy glaze tinted with wisdom, she could only stare at the verdant expanse stretching endlessly.

Above it lied a grey canvas covered in clouds... Boring... Toneless..

After taking ample rest, just as she was about to take off for another hunt, a brilliant purple arc split the sky.

As though ingrained in its primal instincts, it's little heart quaked. She huddled over her chicks, trembling, even refused to look ahead.

Boom…..

Thunder shattered the silence. More purple flashes followed, each more brilliant than the last. The chicks quivered beneath their mother's protective wings as the wilderness cowered. They weren't alone. Dwellers of greens, their heart skipped a beat with each thunderous roar.

High above the sea of clouds, beyond mortal reach, thousands of lightning arcs danced like celestial serpents, slowly converging. As they continue to merge one after another, the majestic form of an ancient dragon slowly materialized.

Its sleek body rippled with raw power, covered in gleaming scales that reflected the purple lightning. Each movement was poetry in motion. Its very being was full of dominant elegance. Yet It's strong claws exude great terror. Whiskers of pure energy flowed from its noble visage, and its eyes blazed with the wisdom and wrath of millennia.

"HOW DARE THEY!"

The dragon's roar shook the firmament, which echoed throughout the heavens and earth!

"HOW DARE THEY.....!"

"HOW DARE THEY.....!"

With a final earth-shattering roar, the dragon streaked westward at an impossible speed. All there was left was echo of his questioning of someone's defiance..

***

Six million miles distant, a vast armada of warships hung in the starless void. The fleet stretched as far as the eye could see—a testament to the military might of multiple civilizations united in purpose.

Massive dreadnoughts, their hulls gleaming with shiny alloys, formed the vanguard. Behind them, countless support vessels moved in perfect formation, their energy signatures pulsing in eerie synchronization.

At the fleet's core loomed the flagship, a Colosseas that dwarfed its escorts. Scars from recent battles marred its nano-engineered armor, evidence of unimaginable stresses endured in the crucible of war.

Within the flagship's command center, six captains gathered around a holographic tactical display. Their faces bore the weight of exhaustion and grief, their postures stiff with unspoken tension.

"Half our combined fleet, gone," said Captain Casius. His weathered face illuminated by the display's blue glow.

"The Seventh Expeditionary Force was completely annihilated."

"Is the PCR prepared yet"?" a gruff voice inquired.

"Still calculating. Waiting for the still surviving units to regroup., but preliminary estimates suggest—"

The chamber doors slid open with a soft hiss. All heads turned as a regal presence stood at the door, the Commander of this fleet. He strode in with a confidence that belied the chaos outside, his lion-like mane of auburn hair cascading past his shoulders. His light brown skin, seemed to glow with an inner fire. Despite the chaos of recent battle, his military uniform remained immaculate, the insignias of his rank gleaming on his broad shoulders.

"Commander Skander, sir!" they saluted in unison.

"At ease." Skander said. "The sacrifice of our brothers was not in vain. We have achieved what many deemed impossible. Their king and warlords now lie slain on the battlefield. No longer shall our lands feel the oppression of Indra. What awaits us now is a future of freedom and prosperity."

Despite his encouraging words, uncertainty clouded the captains' faces. They all knew the behind the scene details, and what forbidden powers they had called upon to achieve it.

Seeing his speech didn't make any spalsh in the still-damp water, Skander opened his mouth to speak again. But before he could, brilliant purple light flooded the chamber, momentarily blinding everyone present.

Outside, lances of lightning, thick as a warship's spine, tore through the void, striking the vanguard vessels at the same instance.

BOOM!

The impact was deafening. The mighty dreadnoughts, for all their advanced technology, crumpled like paper, their flaming hulks plummeting toward the planet below, trailing fire and debris.

A voice like thunder itself echoed across space: "Punishment from God is here.. be prepared to face your fate... And the annihilation I bring with me!"

"Enemy attack", someone shouted. Ai instantly recognized the situation and aimed particle beam weapons at the massive draconic silhouette that had materialized before them.

By then , Skander had also come to his sense. But instead of commanding to fire, he gave an unexpected response.

"Deploy energy shields!" his voice cut through the chaos. As he looked at sky, more and more electric charge converging, he hurried,"Focus all available energy into the shields. Divert non-essential systems!"

"MAXIMUM ENERGY SHIELDS ENGAGED, COMMANDER," the ship's AI responded in precise military cadence. "ALL NON-ESSENTIAL SYSTEMS DIVERTED."

Another purple flash lit the void.

BOOM!

The blast reverberated through space, a shockwave that tore through the remnants of the fleet. When the blinding light and concussive force subsided, what was left of the armada lay in shambles. Only few vanguard vessels remained operational, their systems flickering like dying embers.

"Damage report," his urgent cry could be heard..

"SHIELD INTEGRITY AT TWO PERCENT, COMMANDER. CRITICAL SYSTEMS FAILING. THE SHIP CANNOT SUSTAIN ANOTHER DIRECT HIT."

On the other side, the dragon regarded the surviving flagship with contempt. "Futile resistance," it rumbled, gathering more power.

And a massive hologram of Skander appeared before it. "Stop, Zephyron! As a guardian, why are you interfering in mortal affair?"

The dragon's fury intensified. "You dare to utter these words after bringing foreign demigods to our motherland?"

Skander's voice carried desperation and exhaustion. "We had no choice. It was the only way to win this war and bring peace to the world."

"Then enjoy your victory in hell, pitiful son of Agni."

Zephyron's eyes narrowed, preparing to unleash the final, fatal strike. The air crackled with impending doom as his lightning surged higher.

But just as the storm reached its peak, Skander shouted, "Mattriccha!"

The lightning bolt, just released by the blue dragon, twisted impossibly, missing the flagship and carving a massive crater in the planet below.

"What did you say?" Zephyron demanded.

"It was her will... All-mother's will... to eliminate the Indras by any means necessary. If not, Winter would have been the first to stop us, not you."

Silence fell. Lightning crackled around the dragon as it processed this information. Finally, a single bolt rose from the ground to meet it. Zephyron accepted it, and the message it contained.

Afer a moment of silnce, it let out a sigh, "Why?"

Then, fixing Skander with an imperious stare, it commanded: "I care not for your schemes. Crawl back to your domain and never step on this land till the new Moon."

His authoritative tone expects no denial. The dragon's form diverge into millions of lightning arcs, vanishing without a trace.

"All ships... retreat to base," Skander gave out te command with a shaky voice, his hologram wavering. His shoulders, usually squared with military precision, sagged beneath his pristine uniform.

A muscle twitched in his jaw as he input the retreat coordinates, his typically steady fingers missing the keypad twice. Beads of sweat traced paths down his temples, despite the bridge's climate control.

As the fleet turned northward, Skander's hologram lingered. His eyes, gazed southward with regret.

***

Far from the battlefield, deep beneath the heart of kingdom of Indrath , another drama unfolded. In a dimly lit chamber, attended by midwives, a queen fought through labor's agony. The royal obstetrician, wiped the sweat from her brow as she examined Queen's condition. Concern etched deeper lines in her aged face, conveying the gravity of the situation.

"The labor is premature,leaving the fetus underdeveloped. For unknown reasons, the child's vitality is continuously diminishing. We can't stop it! If this continues, the child will be stillborn."

"ARE YOU SURE, Granny Zora?" inquired a dignified female voice.

The obstetrician remained silent, directing her meaningful gaze towards the humanoid android standing beside her.

The android's eyes glowed blue as it reported in a robotic voice,

[FULL BODY SCAN COMPLETE.

Her Majesty's vital signs: Normal.

Organ function: Within expected parameters.

Fetal abnormalities detected!

Life force declining: 62%... 59%... Probability of survival under current conditions: 0%]

The dignified woman was Alina Eronhrid. The Head Guardian of the palace and a trusted protector and friend of the Queen. Hearing the report, she furrowed her brows. Her whole life, she dedicated it, to protect the Indra family to the last breath. Yet, she couldn't do anything, even when the android prophesied fate of the royal's last bloodline.

Queen Mavia, despite her pain, remained aware of everything. Her trembling hand caressed her belly as she felt her child's life force ebbing away. With tremendous effort, she whispered, "Zora, attend me."

The obstetrician leaned close, listening intently as the queen spoke words too soft for others to hear. Zora's face shifted subtly with each word, her nods growing more deliberate. When the queen finished, Zora straightened, her jaw set with quiet resolve.

"Andrea, Alina, follow me," Zora quickly walked outside the chamber, The android and tthe visibly confused Alina follwed her outside the chamber.

Zora turned to the android. Her eyes narrowed with sudden suspicion as she recalled the Queen's cryptic warning. "

"Andrea," Zora began, her voice carefully measured, "how long have you served with me?"

"One hundred and fifteen LC, Head Midwife," the android responded.

"And who commissioned your construction?"

"The Royal Scientific Division, under direct orders from the late King," Andrea answered.

Zora's eyes narrowed further. "What was your primary directive upon activation?"

"To serve as medical support and record keeper for the royal family's medical procedures," Andrea replied, but there was a microsecond of hesitation—imperceptible to most, but not to someone who had worked with her for over a century.

"And your secondary directive?"

Andrea's eyes flickered—just slightly. "I have no secondary directive, Head Midwife."

That flicker was all Zora needed. The Queen's words suddenly made terrible sense. "Thank you for your service, Andrea. Your duties are concluded.".

The android's eyes pulsed with an unnatural light. "Head Midwife, I must insist on staying to monitor the birth. Protocol dictates—"

"Alina, now!" Zora didnt wait for her to finish.

Alina, though confused, acted on instinct. Her fingers snapped, releasing a pulse of concentrated energy. The effect was immediate and horrifying.

Andrea's synthetic skin began to peel away in layers, revealing the complex machinery beneath. Her face, once perfectly human-like, split along hidden seams as internal defense protocols activated. A high-pitched whine filled the air as her quantum core began to overload.

"UNAUTHORIZED TERMINATION DETECTED. INITIATING DATA BACKUP TO—" Andrea's voice distorted, dropping several octaves before cutting off abruptly.

Her metallic skeleton tried to lunge forward, but Alina's energy had already compromised her motor functions.

Blue circuit lines flickered across her frame like dying lightning. Her eyes, now exposed mechanical orbs, swiveled frantically in their sockets, recording until the very end. Each joint and servo failed in sequence, accompanied by the sound of shorting circuits and cracking synthetic materials.

Finally, her quantum core gave out with a soft sigh, leaving nothing but a heap of scattered parts and twisted metal on the polished floor.

Zora stared at the remains, her mind racing. The sophistication of Andrea's hidden systems, the attempted data transmission—it all pointed to something she wasn't aware of.

"Clean this up. And prepare the emergency pods, we are leaving this place after her majesty's labor," Zora ordered the stunned guards, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil. She turned to the still-confused Alina. "Her Majesty has made her choice—the ultimate sacrifice she can make."

Alina failed to understand. Granny Zora's subsequent actions didn't make sense to her. "Why destroy Andrea? What decision? What sacrifice? The child is gonna be astillborn. The last ember of Indra's lineage is going to be extinguished today. What else there is to it?" She was about to follow her inside, but stopped "Stay where you are and guard the entrance." She heard Zora's voice.

An hour passed like an eternity. The doors finally opened, But cry of newborn could be heard. The saddened Alina stepped inward with dejected steps, only to freeze in astonishment. She detected vital signs and a beating heart within that small, fragile body by the side the queen.

"Praise the Indra! He lives! A miracle!"

But her joy turned to horror as she beheld Queen Mavia, her praises got stuck in her throat..

The Queen, Mavia Indra, whom she had faithfully served, was the epitome of beauty, intelligence, kindness, abilities- recorgnized by the whole civilization.

The lady who exuded the vitality of spring, had transformed into a majestic old lady, a survivor of winter. Her face etched with countless wrinkles. Her once cascading jet-black hair, now appeared aged and grayed.

Understanding dawned upon Alina as she comprehended the meaning behind those lines. "Her decision... the ultimate sacrifice..."

"Why?" she whispered.

Mavia answered weakly, "What mother would watch her child die just before her eyes, Alina?"

"If all he needed was life energy, we have a treasury full of them. And even a portion of your life force would have been enough to save him, right? Why go to such extreme lengths?" Alina cried out, struggling to make sense of her actions.

Thunder rolled overhead, as if nature itself protested her choice.

Mavia smiled in response. Then slowly explained, "Things are not as always as we seem, Alina. There would be no future for him if I didn't gave him my life force. The divine lineage won't allow outsiders to interfere with the formation of his existence. No life-saving treasure would be able to preserve his life. The divine lineage allowed this only because my blood runs through his veins, only because I am his mother."

"But—"

"No 'buts.' Life without him... would be meaningless. The pain of losing him...it would tear at my heart. I can't bear it anymore" Tears traced silent paths down to Mavia's aged cheeks.

"This child is the fruit of our love. I cannot allow anything to happen to him, even if it costs me... Cough... Cough... Ahhh..., it seems, I don't have... much time left."

Alina stood silent, her own tears falling freely.

Mavia gazed at her son with infinite tenderness, kissing his forehead and cheeks. "To be orphaned at birth—what a cruel fate. I am sorry, dear. I won't be there for you when you need me the most. Nor will be your father...."

"But I believe in you, my child. This fate will only make you stronger. This tragedy will steel up your resolve."

She whispered in his ear, words that would be etched into his very soul.

"You won't kneel to this fate, won't yield to anything. You will stop at nothing and be ever victorious."

"Promise me, my child."