Fractured Darkness

Fractured Darkness
Chapter 8: Rise of The Augment

By: Major Frostwing

I awoke to the sound of a heart monitor and only pain coursing through my entire body. I felt like someone ran me over twice and then shot me for good measure. I kept my eyes closed just trying to do a damage assessment on my body just like I was trained. Pain is radiating mostly from my spine, wings, chest, and claws. Legs are fine and so is my head. "Let's try opening my eyes now." I opened my eyes slowly not to a blinding light like I thought I blinked them a few times so my vision would clear up before looking at the heart monitor. It was running strong and was flashing. "Why would it be flas-" My question was interrupted by the door opening revealing Jon. He strode into the room and I tried to get out of bed so I could give him a salute only for my entire body to be restricted.

"None of that Far Sight." Jon said as he went over to the monitor tapping a few buttons shutting it down for now. "How do you feel?" He asked as he moved around the room looking over a few screens that weren't there when I went under.

"Slight discomfort sir. Nothing to really report." I answered as he only sighed.

"I wasn't asking for a damage assessment Far Sight. I have these to tell me that." He gestured to the screens. "I asked you how you are feeling." He looked at me a cold glare in his eyes. This wasn't a question. It was an order.

"I am fine sir. A little out of it since I just woke up but all in all I feel alright." I answered as he let out a sigh of relief.

"Good... Very good. We lost you a few times during the surgery since your body went into shock several times. So as you can see the surgery was a success and soon we can get you out of that bed. We just need to monitor for a few days and while that is happening we will be doing magical therapy to help with you along your road to recovery. Sadly I can't allow your fellow soldiers to go through the full surgery. The most they will go through in the hand augments. You will be one of a kind and rise to a very high rank in my army once you graduate. This is not a guarantee you will not get special treatment and I will not play favorites. If you slip you will be punished. Magical training will be handled by Mythril or myself if I need to step in." Jon explained before flicking his wrist lighting the room slightly. I noticed a large section of the room was cordoned off and there was a lot of blood along the sheets and floor. "You should thank your fellow soldiers. Since you have a very accepting blood type Everyone was able to donate blood to keep you alive with blood transfusions. You needed them. But now you carry something none of my other soldiers do. You carry a lot of weight on your shoulders. You carry their hope and dreams so do not let your shoulders sag. Do not let your knees buckle. Stand tall and walk forward without fear of what stands before you." Jon said as I only looked at him in aw.

"I won't let you down sir." I went to raise my arm only for it to stop once again.

"See that you don't." Jon turned on his heel leaving the room with a slam of the door.

After a few days of being bound to the bed I was finally allowed out of the medical room. It was strange to be walking about once again and feeling the weight that now settled in my body. I felt heavy but light on my feet. It was a strange feeling. It was weird to be around my fellow soldiers once again. When I first walked into the chow hall they all stopped and stared at me. I was feeling a bit self conscious at all the stares. As one the entire army stood as one and went to leave the chow hall but as the first one went to pass they punched my shoulder. I looked up at the first bird and they just cracked a smile.

"Glad to have you back." He said as he kept walking the next one passed and another punch to my shoulder. This continued for the entire squad and by the fiftieth person my shoulder hurt something fierce. Then someone who I didn't expect walked up to me. Mythril. Jon's very own second in command and his personal student in magic.

"Good to have you back Far Sight... Sadly this has to happen." I gave her a quizzical look only to be straight kicked out of the chow hall. I rolled on the ground for a bit before coming to a halt. "DEFEND YOURSELF FAR SIGHT!" Mythril yelled as she stepped out of the chow hall hands already glowing with magical might. I quickly stood raising my fists. and to my astonishment a glow of light green surrounded them. I didn't have time to think about the glow as a bolt of magic flew at me. I instinctively guarded only to be blasted onto my ass.

"Don't just block the magic with your body! If you have to block use a shield spell! If not redirect it!" I heard Jon yell from behind me. I quickly scrambled to my feet just as another bolt flew at me. I dodged it but only more flew my way. I raised my arms and the glow got brighter before covering my entire arms. The rounds that impacted the glow dissolved against it the others impacted me directly. "DON'T BLOCK WITH YOUR BODY! BLOCK WITH A SHIELD OR REDIRECT THEM!" Jon ordered as I looked over my shoulder at him. "AGAIN!"

Mythril once again shot at me and I could barely control this new feeling welling up inside of me. I didn't know what I was doing and could only rely on a base instinct to defend myself. And that's when it started to click in my head. As if a slap to the face it all made sense. A shining green shield appeared before me absorbing the shots that Mythril launched my way. I blinked in surprise before Jon's hand landed on my shoulder.

"Good. Now let us begin some more advance techniques." He said with a wicked smile. I felt my heart sink at that smile. It was a smile that only promised pain and suffering.