Chapter 117 — Capturing Lightning in Clay
S.C. 1511 — Late January
Foosha Village — Underground Lab (Chemical Bench)
Ren set three clay jars on the workbench, each carefully fired last week, each with a single purpose.
To hold electricity.
Well—a tiny amount of electricity.
Zemo sat on the ground beside him, eyes narrowed in deep suspicion.
Last chapter's sparks had clearly traumatized him.
Ren patted his head.
"Don't worry. Today won't explode."
Zemo didn't believe a word of it.
---
The Goal
Ren unrolled a parchment labeled:
"Zinc–Carbon Battery (Mini Version)"
He whispered with determination:
"If the hand crank can make sparks…
Then a small battery can store them."
Not for machines.
Not for fancy devices.
Just for knowledge.
For proof.
A tiny step toward future signal tools. Or a tiny light.
Or… well… anything.
---
Step 1 — Gathering the Ingredients
Ren laid out everything:
zinc shards scraped from old metal
charcoal powder (finely crushed)
saltwater solution
cloth strips
a small copper plate he hammered thin
three clay jars with cork lids
KEA nail for poking holes
Zemo sniffed the saltwater.
Ren pulled it away.
"No drinking experiment water."
Zemo huffed.
---
Step 2 — Preparing the Jars
Ren poured a layer of charcoal powder into each jar.
Not too thick.
Not too thin.
"This will be the cathode."
Zemo blinked.
Ren sighed.
"It's the… um… 'black stuff that helps the reaction happen.'"
Zemo nodded.
Finally something he understood.
---
Step 3 — The Zinc Electrode
Ren placed a strip of zinc inside each jar, pressing it gently into the charcoal.
"This part will react with the electrolyte."
He added seawater mixed with salt until the charcoal absorbed just enough moisture.
No splashing.
No overflow.
No danger.
Ren checked the stability.
Zemo watched with the dread of someone expecting sparks.
---
Step 4 — Adding the Copper Plate
Ren hammered the copper plate a bit more with a stone until it was thin and flat.
He placed it carefully into the jar, ensuring:
zinc → one side
copper → other side
charcoal → filling
brine → connecting layer
He poked a hole in the cork lid and inserted a small copper wire.
He sealed it tight.
"That's one."
Two more to go.
Zemo sat down like a supervisor watching an apprentice.
Ren made two more identical jars, each sealed with copper wires sticking out of the tops.
He wiped his hands.
"Okay… moment of truth."
---
Step 5 — Testing the First Jar
Ren connected the zinc from Jar 1 to the copper from the same jar.
Zemo's ears went back.
Ren hesitated.
"Please don't explode."
He touched the two ends to a tiny metal strip.
For a moment,
nothing happened—
Then—
tzzzt
A tiny spark jumped.
Barely visible.
Barely a flash.
But real.
Ren froze.
Zemo froze.
Ren whispered:
"…We did it."
Zemo barked triumphantly.
---
Step 6 — Linking the Jars
Ren connected the jars in series:
Jar 1 zinc → Jar 2 copper
Jar 2 zinc → Jar 3 copper
He held the final two ends apart over a scrap of thin metal.
He whispered:
"Zemo… ready?"
Zemo braced himself.
Ren touched the wires to the metal—
tzzZT—tzzZT
A slightly stronger spark flickered.
Not powerful. Not dangerous. But more than before.
Enough to confirm:
Electricity wasn't just possible—
It was storably possible.
---
Step 7 — Ren's Quiet Excitement
Ren scribbled rapidly into his notebook:
Zinc-Carbon Battery — Success (Mini)
Single jar → faint spark
Three jars in series → slightly stronger spark
No heat spikes
No chemical instability
Brine mixture effective
Charcoal purity acceptable
He circled:
"Stable storage achieved."
Zemo sat proudly beside the jars like a guardian of science.
---
Step 8 — Future Thoughts
Ren stared at the jars thoughtfully.
"We won't use this for anything big yet. But someday… tiny batteries could power—
signal flashes on the island,
quiet communication tools,
night lamps without oil,
or warning systems."
Zemo tilted his head.
Ren chuckled.
"Don't worry. No lightning guns."
Zemo sighed in relief.
---
Step 9 — Storing the Jars Safely
Ren placed each jar into a wooden box layered with straw.
He labeled it:
"Battery Batch #1 — Do Not Shake"
Then he tucked it high on the shelf of sensitive materials.
Zemo jumped up beside him, tail swishing proudly.
Ren smiled softly.
"We captured a tiny piece of lightning today…
and put it in a jar."
Zemo let out a quiet, satisfied bark.
---
End of Chapter 117