Faded Shadows
Chapter 15
Over the next few days, I was able to leave the hospital. According to the doctors there, I was 100% healthy and ready to go.
"Well Mr. Black." said one of the doctors in the room. "You are ready to go. Sadly the only thing we couldn't heal was the scars you have."
"No need to be sorry." I replied as I got off the bed. "I need something to remind me of what I've done in the past."
The doctor nodded as if he understand.
"I used to be in the Army." he said. "I understand the significance of a scar. It's just the fact that you look like you've been dragged through Tartarus and back."
"It's that bad?" I said as I looked for a mirror in the room, finding one on the back wall. I approached the mirror and was surprised at the man that appeared there. This man looked tired, dark circles under each of his eyes. The doctor was right about the scars. The majority of them were magic burns that left their mark. The rest were cuts or scrapes that littered his entire face all the way down his neck. This man looked beaten but determined to fix what he broke.
I looked away from the mirror and back at the doctor.
"It's not that bad." I said. "I'm just glad I haven't lost an eye yet."
"Well, That's about everything." said the doctor. "I believe the High Priestess has requested you be escorted to her study. I will fetch some guards and get you there momentarily."
The doctor opened the door and motioned for me to follow. Once outside, I saw several guards waiting outside. I recognized them as the guards that were always at the High Priestesses side.
"We'll take him from here, doctor." said the griffon in the middle.
The doctor nodded and gave me one last smile before he closed the door behind me.
"This way, Zhane." said the same griffon. "The High Priestess has everything set up and waiting for you."
After a few minutes, we arrived at the same study where I had slain that Gnoll. Inside, aside from a slightly stained floor, stood several pieces of equipment in which the High Priestess promised could conduct electricity. Her idea about me learning how to control my new magical source was using conducting rods. She told me time and time again how she enjoys experimenting with them and swears it's the best way to learn to control my new power.
In the room stood about five large metal rods that the High Priestess called conducting rods. Inside the circle was a smaller circle which probably indicated where I was to stand. On the outside were several large panes of glass that made a sealing circle around the rods. I could tell that she was well prepared for working with electricity. Also in the middle stood several griffon statues that I assumed would be used as test dummies.
"Are we ready to go?" I asked as I saw the High Priestess at the other side of the room.
"Ah, Zhane." she said as she turned towards the door. "Everything's set and ready. I have a failsafe in place just in case you lose control."
"That being?" I asked.
"You see that area in-between all of the conducting rods?" she asked. "That circle is a platform that is outfitted with several layers of rubber. If the current of electricity becomes too great for you, the platform will raise and encase you. I also had a retaining wall of glass set up to prevent stray bolts of electricity from harming anyone."
"Why in the world do you have such advance pieces of technology here?" I asked astounded.
"I've been charged, for some time now, to discover more useful applications for electricity. So far, tests have shown little to no results."
"Do you have an explanation for the magic that will emit from this study?"
"What do you mean?" replied the High Priestess.
"Agliss is very skilled in detecting magic once it's used. The last thing I need is for him to find out about this." For all I knew, he'd probably cut me into tiny pieces.
"It would be explainable." began the High Priestess. "A lot of magic is used in experiments here. If Agliss gets curious, I will be sure to turn him in the other direction."
"Well then, I'm ready to go."
"Scarhide's blatant disregard for the lives of the citizens living in this city angers me greatly!" yelled King Leo as he and Agliss stood alone in the throne room.
"To think that a General that I once trusted is now slaying innocents is frustrating and saddening as well as despicable and completely dishonorable. The Scarhide I know loves honor far above anything else."
"Time changes things." said Agliss as he looked at the King. "What I recommend is that we proceed immediately with the plan you outlined previously. With Scarhide pushed back from the Castle, I believe that now is the best time to enact your plan."
Leo took in one large gulp of air and let it loose slowly.
"You're right, especially with the time you are limited to. We will deploy tomorrow and initiate each attack at the same time. Once everything is finished, we'll control everything in this country except for the Angel Mountains. If everything goes according to plan, the Rebels will have their backs to the wall at that point. Being shut off from the rest of the country and starved, they wouldn't be able to fight. I say we give it two week after everything is successful and go in for the kill up at the Angel Mountains."
"That sounds perfectly reasonable." replied Agliss. "I will inform Zhane of the plan and direct him to Azure Phoenix. I quite sure they will be able to handle themselves. The only problem will be equipping Zhane for the mission. On the other hand, The Southern Shoreline will be no problem and will be handled quickly."
Leo smiled.
"It seems you sure do care for Zhane." said Leo.
"If I didn't, who would?" asked Agliss. "He and I are part of a species that has long since been extinct. There are only three of us left in existence. To top it off, he currently lives in a country that hates him with all of its being. Hell, the entirety of the Royal Guard either hates his guts or downright refuses to see him as something other than a monster. Celestia alone isn't enough to protect Zhane from those that he hurt. In fact, Celestia and Luna are the only two ponies of power that he isn't in bad favor with. There are still hundreds of Representatives, Princes, Princesses, or even ponies with significant wealth that are quite pissed off at him. For the small time he was active, Zhane made enemies that would make me shudder at thinking what they would do to him if they ever got to him."
"I had no idea that was the case." replied Leo.
"I'm just worried about what will happen once he and I return to Equestria." said Agliss.
"Once this is all over and you find that Zhane is in danger staying in Equestria, feel free to contact me. I am more than willing to house Zhane, no matter what Princess Celestia may threaten."
"I appreciate the offer and I hope that I will not have to take you up on that."
Several Hours Later
"Once more." I replied as I looked at the High Priestess through the glass. "I've got the hang of it."
The High Priestess nodded.
"You're good to go."
With the go ahead I readied myself for another go around. I lifted my arm up and concentrated on pushing the magic I had absorbed to my hand. After several moments, the palm of my quickly became consumed in a bright glow of electricity. This was it, I had control over it, now I just had to force my will upon the magic and make it do what I wanted. I slowly closed my hand and gave the magic a command. The electricity around my hand started to take a very narrow form, much like that of a rapier.
Being satisfied with the construct in my hand, I took a swing at one of the test dummies. After my swing I could see several burn marks around the area I had hit but no visible wound. From what I could gather, the electricity probably caused the burn. That meant that I could wield an lightning bolt. I smiled as I realized that I could possibly apply this effect to an actual sword. Making contact with another sword would cause the other sword to conduct electricity. Oh the possibilities.
I gave another and watched the electricity form back into a ball. I pointed my hand at another statues and gave one final command. The electricity on my hand went flying towards the statue in front of me. The statue exploded into several pieces once it met its mark.
"I'm done." I said as I looked at the broken statue. I was curious on what would happen if that hit an actual living thing. I was curious what else I could do with that electricity. I was curious about how much of that magic I could hold.
"You've done amazing, Zhane." said the High Priestess from behind the glass. "The progress you've made is remarkable. I can honestly say that I'm quite jealous of how quickly you learn."
"I already know how to use magic." I replied. "It was just a matter of applying my knowledge to a different type."
"Not all magic is like that but I'm glad that things worked out so perfectly." said the High Priestess. "You're probably tired, so you should get some rest. I cannot begin to imagine the stress that's put of your body casting that kind of magic."
"That's something I'll have to get used to." I said as I looked at my hand. Small black patches littered my palm, indicating that even electricity I produced could harm me with prolonged use. "I'll tread carefully with this power, I don't need to end up in a bed for another week."
The High Priestess opened her mouth to talk but was interrupted by one of her guards rushing into the room.
"High Priestess!" he yelled as he approached the glass. "King Leo is enacting the battle plan tomorrow!"
The High Priestess frowned.
"That foolish bird is going to get everyone killed." she said as she turned to me. "I've been meaning to ask you about it but everything has been so busy as of late."
"Leo plans to attack all major Rebel controlled areas at once. He has Agliss reclaiming the Southern Shorelines and Azure Phoenix and myself assassinating some second-hand man in the Snow-tipped Peaks."
"He's sending you?" asked the High Priestess.
"With Azure Phoenix." I said as I corrected her. "It was Azure's idea and now I'm stuck with him."
"I assume that you'll be fine now that you control that magic." said the High Priestess.
I sighed slightly and looked at the High Priestess.
"I'll need you to activate this collar several more times. I don't need to run out of magic tomorrow."