“I am blameless before God!” Shouted the gilded man, his weak voice struggling to reach Liam.


    This time, King Aldric interrupted the Lord Bishop. Words passed between the lightning God’s endorsed ruler and representative of the church in his court. At least one of the knights in the king’s guard spoke, pointing to the Lord Bishop.


    “Arlet, If this goes sideways, protect Nyota first.” Whispered Liam.


    Shifting out of line, he aligned himself directly with the bishop, reaching for Nyota’s hand as he passed. An arc of electricity painfully arced between them. Like a miniscule bolt of ‘don’t touch me’, causing his hand to spasm and involuntarily jerk away from hers, he mouthed “I’m sorry”. Eyes watering from the sting.


    All movements were under the keenly focused microscope of court. Each man, woman, and elf seeking to gain some advantage or ally. By whatever methods. Be it through extortion or true friendship, thus the change in formation did not go unnoticed. Especially by nervous magicians and irritable watch captain. Though they did nothing to hinder it. This third breach of etiquette was wearing on even the most apathetic of courtiers, calling their attention with the promise of a fourth and maybe fifth outburst.


    Sycophants and sadists alike aimed their eyes at Liam, waiting for their moment of satisfaction. King Aldric was a competent ruler. He would not allow so many breaches of noble society go unanswered. Whispers of possible punishments began to circle the crowd, growing loud enough for the king to catch notice of them.


    Raising one hand with the palm outward, King Aldric called his court to order, silencing them while he spoke directly to the Lord Bishop. Irate gesticulations passed from Lord Bishop to his majesty, irking the king until he pointed from his gilded chest to Liam. The Lord Bishop pounded on gilded book, vehemently making some sort of demand. King Aldric nodded his head, signaling to a guard that they had reached a course of action. The Lord Bishop’s face reddened, but he said no more. Instead stomping down the five crystal steps that elevated the King’s platform.


    Liam felt lightning wiggle inside of him as the man approached. A sensation that made him want to vomit and shoot. Go full Sidious on the golden nimrod. Though, force lightning seemed far less impressive now that he had his fingerguns. Each step the bishop took made his lightning butterflies jump and fly about his gut.


    “Stop your spell at once Lord Bishop!” Demanded Liam, activating his [mana manipulation] in an attempt to quiet his electric wiggling.


    It was no use, lightning refused to lie idle. Liam sidestepped the six royal guards in front of him, giving the Lord Bishop a clear line of sight to him. Knights from behind King Aldric’s throne marched forward, surrounding the king with gilded tower shields. As if the knights were preparing to absorb gods wrath. Steel tower shields seemed like excellent conductors but the runes sprawled across them hinted at enchanted armor.


    “You dare to order me? You! The one who dares to break the king’s sacred law!” Shouted the bishop, volume rising as he neared.


    Sparks began to arc across Liam’s clothes, a byproduct of the building energy. With his [mana manipulation] active he began to shunt the wild energy into the staff of Avignon. When that filled he rested its butt on the carpet beneath, grounding the sparks out of existence.


    “I name you a heretic! One unworthy of his station. Therun Taloc made you! Gave you everything you own and this- this INSOLENCE! Is how you repay him!” Howled the Lord Bishop.


    He tried to aim his staff at Nyota, only to find Gaius and six royal knights standing between them.


    “You parade your crimes in front of the king himself! Heretic! The God of Thunder shall judge you for your sins! Submit now and beg for forgiveness!” Screamed the Lord Bishop, shifting his focus entirely at Liam.


    I wasn’t aware of any other lightning wielders in the kingdom, but maybe that shiny outfit of his turns him into some kind of lightning rod. What is he thinking?! There are too many people here, if I dodge then he’ll hit someone, and I can’t strike first without provocation. Think Liam think! You need to find a way to ground a full strength lightning strike.


    Crap, how does grounding even work? When was my last class involving voltage…? Middle school? Okay Mrs. Jurgen was my teacher back then, what did she say about how electrons move? Crap, I''m drawing a blank! Wait… It’s like a waterfall, positive voltage at the top moves down the cliff to negative voltage. So, like water rolling off your shoulders.


    Liam raised one hand towards the Lord Bishop, palm facing the toady. Stepping to the side he bladed away from the man, narrowing his profile in case the holy man was foolish enough to start shooting. Then, extended his other hand rearward repositioning the staff of Avignon at a sharper angle to the floor. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Okay, focus Liam, instead of lightning imagine positive and negative ends of a battery. Positive side towards the loudmouth and negative out your arse. You almost succeeded with redirecting Quetzalcoatl’s bolt, this man shouldn’t hold a candle to him.


    With that in mind, Liam found Green serenity, a place of stillness in the onrushing storm. His mind wandered freely, body preparing to channel the tempest’s wrath. The Lord Bishop saw his serenity and howled something incoherent about Therun Taloc.


    “His name is Therun Perun Taloc, named for the greatest gods he slew. Why shorten his accomplishments?” Asked Liam, genuinely curious.


    These people couldn''t actually think that Perun was a lionized version of Therun... Could they? Some purred mispronunciation of Therun.


    A dozen gasps burst across the court, and half of those came from the dismissed bishops behind Liam. Few nobles understood the implication of his words, failing to understand the heresy he had just committed. Or how utterly damning it was to humanity’s supremacy. Those few well-informed nobles who comprehended his words stood with open mouthed shock at flagrant blasphemy.


    Yet, what was hidden to the nobles was known to the Bishops. The rejected holy men had followed Liam’s procession, sneaking in behind the royal magicians when Liam turned his back on them.


    As a unified body, the dozen holy sycophants summoned their spells. Light gathered into the tips of their staves until they glowed with a golden power. Ten of the nearest royal knights readied their halberds, breaking the ceremonial rank in favor of a more practical fighting stance.


    “Heretic! Filthy Insolent disobedient Heretic!” Screamed the Lord Bishop. “May god have mercy on your souls!” He shrieked.


    Liam shook his head, letting a soft exhalation escape from his lips.


    “Therun Perun Taloc, you must be chained in the bowels of hell for such a hapless fool to lead your church.” Whispered Liam, circulating his own lightning.


    His continued resistance finally broke the Lord Bishop who gave up any pretext of nonviolence. Grinding to a halt he yanked open the golden book, reading a passage from it aloud. The royal knights in front of Liam hit the deck, diving out of the line of fire. Liam glanced to Nyota, finding Rhendal and Arlet on either side of her, an orb of purple magic surrounding them. While in the corner of his eye he saw the mages summon walls of earth behind him. Tearing the velvet carpet and denying the bishops any shot at Liam or the king.


    “In the hush of darkest night, under heavens'' shroud,


    I summon thee, O lightning''s might, with voice both strong and loud.-” Yelled the bishop.


    A dozen royal knights dashed forward, encircling the king and carrying thick metal pavises in both hands. Gold or silver runes covered the movable walls more magical warding.


    “With staff of oak and righteous will,


    So now, with verse and heart, I''m bold,


    Invoke thy sparks, thy thunderous skill.-” Continued the bishop.


    The royal knights withdrew a pace, closing their ranks and overlapping pavises in front of the king, shielding him from any attack with enough steel to stop a cannonball.


    Bloody Heaven! Those would’ve saved hundreds in Sintra. If the king sends even a handful of what he has here, we’ll be delivered. Okay, I need to diffuse this situation. Don’t kill anyone. Man, Lord Bishop is really going to make that difficult.


    “In tempest''s rage, thy fire ignite,


    Strike down with fierce and fearsome roar.


    O elemental force so bright,


    Thy power I beckon to this core-”


    Liam sensed mana flying behind him, dozens of energy sources strengthening in a magical whirlwind between the Bishops and Soren’s royal magicians. But he had to stay focused on the Lord Bishop and was forced to trust in Rhendal’s friend.


    If Rhendal trusts him, so do I. Thought Liam.


    Wow, this bishop is still chanting away. That is one impressive incantation. I wonder if the length of the chant has any effect on the strength of the spell. Oh sh– If it does… This is gonna hurt!


    Liam could feel the mana pooling around the Lord Bishop, gathering strength for the instant of electrical release, when death itself would test Liam for the fourth time. Like watching a roller coaster cart rise to the top of the track, electrically increasing in power until it peaked and began the plunge.


    “Rethink your actions Lord Bishop! It is not too late to seek peace!” Shouted Liam, earning open laughter from the present nobles.


    That’s right, this world values strength and violence like christians value charity and forgiveness… I don’t have a choice. Fine. Let''s go goldilocks. Hit me!


    “Ancient whispers in the breeze,


    Now heed my solemn plea, I pray.


    Thy sacred might, thy searing keys,


    O lightning, answer night and day!”


    The Lord Bishop, now red in the face and gasping for air, leveled his golden staff at Liam’s chest, directing the mana at his target with a pious rage.


    A moment passed and nothing happened.


    “Having trouble getting it up? Happens to me sometimes too. This old body just doesn’t work like it used to.” Sighed Liam.


    If looks could kill, the bishop would have cut him into a million pieces. As it was, the man shrieked with rage, raising his staff to the heavens as if he meant to beat Liam over the head with it.


    At that instant, with the book held low and the staff raised high, Liam saw a path for energy to flow. One that led from the tip of the Lord Bishop’s golden staff through his vapid body all the way down to the bottom of his gaudy book. As if guided by Taloc''s finger, Liam mentally reached out his will, flicking on a light switch for the bishop’s power.


    *bbbbzzzzzZZZAAAAAPPPPPPpppppp*


    [Mana manipulation] increased to level 10