================================

Chapter 023: Dragon Matriarch

================================

One of the guards felt it was ridiculous, "Princess, is he a Terran? I can't smell the blood of a dragon in him!" At the word of a Terran, even the Captain shot a fiery glance at Siva.

"He is Terran." He calmly said, narrowing his eyes.

Flashes of light sparkled and the lightning domains expanded to cover every direction Siva will go to.

"Princess, why is he with you?" asked the Captain.

This smartness of being able to see that there was no hostility between Siva and their Princess means that for some reason, this Terran isn't an enemy.

Adding her words just now, something wasn't right in their relationship. Why does it look like she was defending him and siding on him instead of us, her own people?

"He—"

Before she could explain it, another flash of light came from the fortress and in a matter of seconds that flash of light became a person —a woman that was no less prettier and older-looking than Electra.

One look, she could be said to be an older version of Electra... and on another, she was like a future self of what Electra would look like if she matured.

And yet, charm-wise, the new arrival was actually more beautiful than her. There was something that made this newly arrived 'future Electra' more eye-catching than the younger version.

Siva couldn't help but think she may be the young sister... but something was odd... could she be...?

"Electra!" shouted the woman.

"Mom!" Electra cried as the woman flashed in front of her and hugged the woman tightly.

"Where have you gone off to? Why did you go out so suddenly like that?!!"

"Mom, I'm sorry I... I have to go... I... needed to..."

"Ssshh.... it's okay, it's okay. You're home now. It doesn't matter. You can just tell me where you've been to later when we talk." At this point, the other woman which is surprisingly Electra's mother —not her sister— looked at Siva with slight hostility, "My daughter have made trouble for you, Terran, but I am sure that there is a reason why you've come in our homeland with no hostility and is instead being in front of my daughter and not behind her."

Hearing this, the guards felt that this was indeed the case when they saw him earlier and now that they think about it, it was indeed quite offending to them that a mere Terran would travel in front of the Princess as if he was superior to her.

Immediately, they prepared to lunge at him but at the next instant, Electra came forth and stopped them from taking a single step forward.

"Stand down! That's an order!"

"But Princess!" spoke the same guard.

"I said stand down. Don't throw your life away! You cannot win against him."

Even her mother was shocked and the captain was even surprised, yet again. This is the second time she had spoken in behalf of this Terran.

"Who are you, Terran?" asked her mother. "I'm the Matriarch of the Lightning Dragon Tribe. I'm called Mohindra. What are you called?"

"Siva." he said. Nothing more. It's not that Siva was unable to add anything. It's just that he can't add a more suitable description since his mind is split into two right now.

Differing reactions came to the Dragons. There is bewilderment and there is wonder, but Electra's mother's reaction was different.

She began to sweat coldly and tremble, and then she panted as the fear crawled out of her legs.

"Electra, is... is this true?" she asked her daughter who could only nod weakly.

Then, to the shock of everyone, including Siva, a sight unfolded at the next moment.

Electra's mother knelt down and lowered her head, shocking the Dragons, "Your Excellency...!! Please forgive this lowly one for not recognizing your great one's identity at the first instance. P-Please, I beg you... if you're going to punish someone, just punish me and spare my clan..."

Such words came directly from their Matriarch had surprised, frightened, and even stunned every single Vajra out of their feet.

Just who is this guy and why is the Matriarch so frightened silly right now?

She tells her daughter the story of history so it was not an understatement that she would not know of the significance of that forbidden name.

"Matriarch!" called one of the guards, pointing his spear at Siva. When the Matriarch saw this, she twisted her palm and a lightning strike hit the man in the stomach and although there's no blood, the blunt sound is enough to almost make him drop in the sky and plummet to the ground. As a result, the guard could only kneel on his fours just like her from the pain.

Everyone else was shocked.

"All of you! KNEEEEEEEEL!!!" a loud, commanding voice echoed and even the captain was scared silly as he himself knelt in one knee, copying what their Matriarch was doing.

After everyone else, even Electra, knelt down, the Siva who found the situation awkward wave his hand as tiny 'parts' of the BMA flew towards their Matriarch and lifted her up.

"I did not come here to be worshipped or honored like in the past. Please... stand up..."

Actually, in the past, before he was crowned with the title of "Protector of the Stars" by the Gods that controlled some of them, the most 'recognition' he had received from any God is a simple salutation.

Not even being called "Your Excellency" was one of the honorary addresses placed at him. He was simply called "Siva, Protector of the Stars" with one nod and even a handshake, or cupping a fist. That was all the 'recognition' he received with his title.

Not one of them knelt and submitted to him like the way these Dragons are doing right now.

Back then, in fact, there're millions of them Vajras, Salamanders, Bakals, Hydralisks —of the Elemental Dragons of the eight elements— that NEVER knelt a single knee when seeing him. In fact, even to the Siva of today, if he disregards his arrogance as the third Trinity God and just plainly be as Siva, NOT The Destroyer, the flat-most level of respect he should be given would be a treatment comparable to a Chaos God-level existence.

================================

Dragon >1st> Lesser Dragons

Terrans>1st> Immortals

Demon >1st> Demon Commanders

Dragon Terrans Demon

Dragon >3rd> Elemental Dragons

Terrans>3rd> Elder Gods

Demon >3rd> Supremes

Dragon Terrans Demon

================================

In terms of authority level, Siva was only at the 2nd tier, utmost, with his title... but what changed it all is after the Ragnarok Era.

Because it was then that he was given the title of "The Destroyer" which entails the bloody crusade and the fear —not respect— the Universe gave to his name when uttering it.

There was bound to be records of his name with it, and it just so happens that the Vajras have one as well; that's why the Matriarch recognized it.

In fact... this is the first time, or second time, that a person had given this much recognition to his title.

"Stand up." he uttered and even though it wasn't a force enough to actually lift the Vajra up, the urge on his 'tug' was enough to make the Matriarch stand on her feet and stare at him in fear. The rest of the Dragons also stood up.

No one spoke amongst them in fear that they'd be hit by the Matriarch's lightning strike.

"May I ask Your Excellency...... how long have you been in this planet?"

Siva frowned, "Not too long ago, I'm afraid. Even I am not aware of time itself."

The Matriarch seem to nod in understanding, "For a legend such as you who had lived in the Age of the Gods through this day is indeed should not be a wonder. But I'm confused, Your Excellency, how did you manage to meet my daughter?"

Siva glanced at Electra standing beside her mother then glanced over the walls behind them. After the few hesitations he had left in him was drained out, he took a step and knelt in one knee in front of the Lightning Dragons' Matriarch.

"I came here... to offer my deepest regret and ask for forgiveness to the wronged fate I have made the Vajras suffer... from my last rampage."

"Your last rampage... forgiveness?" the matriarch couldn't help but wonder as she tried to connect a few dots —only to land on a frightening realization.

She gasped and couldn't say a word. Tears formed in her eyes as she stared at Siva.

"Y-You are..."

"Mom..." From beside her, Electra saw the tears in her mother's eyes and couldn't help but tear up as well, putting a hand at her mother's back.

But contrary to expected outburst of anger, their Grand Matriarch slowly approached the kneeling Siva and cryingly, sobbingly, went in all her fours as she abandoned all of her dignity as Matriarch of an entire Dragon Clan, and did the deepest bow in all of history in front of a shocked kneeling Siva.

With her sobbing voice, she spoke, "So you were the saviour of my daughter! Your Excellency, you don't know how much I've wanted to say my thanks all these years! I've always wanted to say thank you to you ever since that day!"

She did not lift her head and only cried and wept as she spoke the words that confused not only the Dragon Guards but also Siva.

—I saved Electra? How?

——I thought I killed her father?

———I thought I killed her husband?

After a few kowtows, the lowest display of humility and the highest demonstration of her gratitude, Matriarch Mohindra finally lifted her head up not because the "ceremony" was over but because Siva had her to stand up because he was confused as well.

"Tell me how I saved Electra..."

"It will be a good story to tell." She said, "Before I tell you the whole story, may I invite you to Horbe, Your Excellency?"

Siva hesitated but he nodded.

"Mom?"

"You listen as well, little child."

Electra could only nod. The party was escorted to the city fortress by the Dragon Guards and with a grand procession they arrived at the large manor at the top of a mountain peak.

The manor wasn't large; marble white in impression and looked like some Austrian Noble's mansion.

Although it was hardly necessary, there was a road lined on both sides with pine trees-looking sets of trees that towered over 30m or more on it. In front of the manor was a fountain circle with Koi Fishes of different colors swimming about. The circle itself was part of the road and it gave Siva the same feeling he got when he first visited Amanda's house —the overall concepts of their houses were the same.

The entire manor was surrounded by a vast garden territory. The manor front itself faced the southern vista, overlooking the town city where the bustling citizenry surprised Siva greatly.

"Are they... Terrans?!!"

While flying on the way, Siva had to stop and went on to secretly deploy a Liberty Drone, concealed by the mini realm.

"What's that?" asked Matriarch Mohindra, looking up at the invisible Liberty Drone 40m away from them.

Siva was startled, as someone close to being an Elder God... I shouldn't be surprised about her being able to feel the fluctuation in space I made.

He explained, "Those are my eyes. Can you tell the general shape of it?"

"It's purely material... but it runs in pure energy... I can even feel my daughter's Mana Energy in it. Is it one of the Terrans' newest inventions?"

Electra blushed. How could she tell her mother that she had been enslaved by Siva and was made into his talking battery?

"It's not made by the Terrans. Heck. I'd be angry if the Terrans actually managed to steal at least one of my eyes away from my control."

As if hearing something assuring, Matriarch Mohindra did not speak more and only nodded at the statement.

It was enough to know that it was a Siva-only item.

After a pause, Matriarch Mohindra glanced over the city below them, "This is Horbe, Your Excellency. The city below us where the Dragons and Terrans are living together..."

As they flew, Siva controlled the direction of where the Liberty Drone should go while studying the city of Dragons and Terrans.

"It brings back memories..." Matriarch Mohindra felt a bit edgy as she heard this line from Siva. Is he really the [Siva] of legends?

Until now, she was still unable to believe that the 'person' who attacked them and "The Destroyer" is actually the same person. if so, then the things that had happened back then do indeed connects to each other in a grand way.

"Welcome to Vajra's Vault, Your Excellency." The Matriarch took the liberty to introduce their abode by its titular address —Vajra's Vault— that is all the representation of the different clans of the entire Lightning Dragon Tribe.

"It's indeed just like the Grand Mansion." Siva said as he surveyed the 10km radius of the manor on where he was standing from.

Although he wanted to take his time sightseeing in this place, he knew that there was something more important he had to clear out with her so he hid his desire and pinned it at the corner of his mind.

They entered the mansion and just like any other mansions he'd seen, it was dull and static outside but had so much room in the inside.

A flight of steps spiraled from the ground floor to the second on the left side, connecting the center of the hall to the center of the next floor above. It's an extravagant use of space, with a big chandelier of Light Crystals lighting the entire floor hanging in the ceiling —no— it wasn't hanging. It was floating!

The entire chandelier was floating and a branching web of networks connected the main body of the pendent to a series of spiraling decorative array of Light Crystals of more differing colors, giving the entire hall a unique aura of sanctity, peace, and an all the more unique feeling... the feeling of home.

This 'feeling' he got from the impression made his heart race... there was the guilty feeling of his sins but now there was something else in there... it was the feeling of longing.

Deep in his memories, there was a happy family he was used to and now... he was alone.

He once had a home but he was scared to come back to that place because he was afraid that he'll trigger his memories, his emotions, and so was in turn afraid... that he might lose to his demon.

Siva followed the lead of the Matriarch and he was led into a sanctuary-que room that gave the feeling to Rex of being in his conference office.

There was a sofa in the middle, a table, and there was also an open fireplace, burning with an orange fire that warmed the room.

The doors closed and only Electra, her mother, and Siva was left.

A sound rung from behind and two servers —also full pledged Vajras— came in with treys on their hands filled with snacks and a warm pitcher of tea.

"Do you have coffee?" Siva asked.

"It's rare to get coffee here but we do. But I don't know if you'd like the taste. It's a rather... different type of coffee. Rare, in fact... so you might not be familiar with its unique taste." Answered Electra's mother with a warm smile.

"That would be enough." Siva's urgent and quick reply was enough to prompt Matriarch Mohindra to expect so he spoke immediately, "Now please, clarify to me the things you said earlier... how did I save Electra 56 years ago?"

Matriarch Mohindra sipped once and elegantly put back the tea cup. Beside her sat Electra and she, too, is greatly confused by it.

Why didn't I know of it before?

She always knew that she had survived the attack of that monster 56 years ago, but she never knew that that there was another part in that story.

—the part where she was saved.

Her obsessive pursuit for revenge led her into imprinting a single belief in her mind; that whatever and whoever that monster was, he was still felled by her tribesmen... or perhaps her mother.

She hadn't an ounce of idea that there was also a piece of story like this in between that thought.

At this point, Matriarch Mohindra straightened her back and stood up, knelt in one knee, bowed, and made a gesture of her right palm facing up, supported by her left hand into offering something not seen.

Electra's eyes went wide, "Mother!"

But Matriarch Mohindra ignored her and spoke in a serious and deep voice, "Your Excellency, I didn't know that it was you who had come to Terroa back then, 56 years ago, and could swear upon my life that I have only learnt of the identity of the one that caused the calamity of our tribe back then this very day... and yes, it is also indeed true that you have saved my daughter's life that day for I have seen it with my own eyes."

"Seen it with your own eyes?" Siva was skeptic.

"Yes." Mohindra adamantly said and only now lifted his head glanced at Siva's 'cursed' face, "On that day, I saw how the invader fell from the sky in a blazing fire the color of blood... destroying this very mountain itself and killing the rest of the Royal Family aside from us three mother and daughters."

.

.

================================

================================

.

.

.

.

.

.

For latest updates and news regarding my releases, please follow me on Facebook @, and/or on twitter @; and finally at my blog as well @ where I will be posting exclusive chapters for some of my stories in the future, including the .

Please visit me on my Patreon account @ for a little help on monetary needs, or directly send your donation to my Paypal account @ .