Ethaendra: Rise of the Storm Mage

Chapter 4: Aegis of Lightning

Youngwood City
Arlon
The following day

Today's agenda is to consult with Abigail. I geared up and headed outside, discovering a fine note plucked in the door.

Dear Arlon,

What is sleep? I exerted dusk till dawn, contrary to that, I've come up with a reasonable conclusion about your journey. Come over my laboratory all geared up and I'll give you a spectacular surprise.

Your smart and beautiful friend,

Abigail Toval

This letter held me caprice. What could she have possibly thought of? As I made my way to the Toval Laboratory, I had all of my equipment with me.

I walked towards the laboratory door, and Abigail opened it. Her emotions appear totally opposite from yesterday.

"Just in time!" she said excitingly. "Hastily come."

The laboratory looked really messy, as scraps lied down on the floor. Abigail surely worked on something persistently. With a seemingly exciting mood, she exposes me a huge smile, takes my hand, and shows a stool to me, covered in cloth, as what I am expecting.

"As you may know Arlon," she said. "I recalled the prophecy Larbistoc foresaw. He mentioned an orphan discerned as Ral the Wanderer is destined to win the lightning rod. By analyzing your life and the predictions of the prophet, I could conclude that it's a foolproof match. Your name is Raye Arlon Logger, you began as an orphan, and lastly, you love exploring. I can say we shall take the risk!"

"That's great, but what is that?" I curiously asked while staring at the stool covered in cloth.

"Essential gear for your expedition," she replied. "No one has ever told a truthful depiction of the perils down that fissure. I accumulated information, and discovered heavy static is felt as you approach closer to the Lightning Rod. That's why I invented this masterpiece, behold..."

She takes a deep breath and pulls off the cloth.

"The rubber cloak!" she continued. "Cover yourself with this, and almost any kind of voltage struck at you will be insulated. It also accretions your resistance against static. I know the rubber is sort of burly, but it is the best way to be tailored. Come, put it on."

I took off my armor and equipped the insulator. I can still move freely and maintain my dexterity, yet this is uncomfortably new.

"Now strike me with lightning," I said. "How are we going to find out this works?"

"My father is a wizard," she replied. "Every soldier was taught storm magic for the sake of military power. Let's visit him at the army camp. Quite a journey we'll take, and we shall use my family's carriage."

Wartha City
An hour later

Wartha City, the center of military power of Ethaendra. It is coastal, and heavily bulwarked, considering it is the frontmost line of defense. This explains the competence of the navy. A lot of pirates once wished to conquer Ethaendra, barely succeeded as none were able to survive the arcane bombardment.

Ethaendran Warships are currently the superior naval vessels in the world. Two decks of broadside cannons are magically enchanted with sparks, and the poor victim ship barraged with dozens of sparkling cannonballs would electrocute everything in the electronic blast.

The sails are fireproof, and the hull is finely constructed out of wood, coated with heavy steel. It would take a lot of sheer force and tactics in order to take down an Ethaendran Warship. Only 3 among hundreds of heroic warships were sunk throughout time.