Shadow Clone Sorcery (Book 1 complete!)

Penelope woke up four days after the battle. She looked almost as good as new, but slightly older, seeming closer to her early thirties than her usual mid-twenties appearance. The magic radiating from her didn't feel as potent as before. There was still an ancient presence about it that reminded Lukas of Lady Silverspine, but it was much weaker. A sorcerer's power and potential were truly frightening, but it came at an incredible, almost unfathomable, price. Lukas couldn't help but wonder what it would take for him to someday achieve the same and whether it was even possible.

"Your clones gave me a fright when I woke up," Penelope said. "Imagine waking up to four identical faces grimacing, giggling, and poking each other." She looked confused. "What in Yggdrassil's name did you have them doing? They wouldn't just tell me and just burst out laughing."

"I had them practising sonic touch spells." Lukas grinned. "It seems they had a bit too much fun tormenting each other and even more knowing that I'd feel it all afterward."

"You're starting to loosen up." The sorcerer smiled. "I like this side of you."

"Maybe I'm just comfortable with the current company." Lukas took a seat opposite Penelope, watching her caress and sip from a metal mug of steaming tea. It was cold when Shae had fetched it for her. "How are you? Your state…it gave me a fright."

"It's rare for me to push myself that hard," she admitted, staring at him for a moment. "It wouldn't be so bad if it were cold fire. My draconic bits naturally transform stored marriage into the azure flames you see."

"And you have to convert it into other forms before using all other magic?" Lukas asked.

Penelope nodded. "I had to burn through—pardon the pun—pretty much all of my stores, and a good deal of the energy went into conversation. It's been a while since I've had to deal with that level of mental and physical strain, too."

"Was it necessary, though? I'm pretty sure you, me, and Shae would've been fine."

"That might be true, but what about afterward? If most of the caravan got destroyed and crucial people died, we wouldn't have the resources, knowledge, or means to navigate to the Gray. Bass might've been able to fly me high above the storm. I could keep him and myself warm using magic, and we'd eventually find a settlement. But we'd have to leave you behind."

"So you put yourself through that for me?" Lukas's eyes widened.

"And the general good."

"I didn't take you for someone so benevolent." Penelope didn't answer, only narrowing her eyes. He couldn't help but laugh as he continued. "We need to talk about Shae and how he's changing. Do you have any clues regarding his heritage? Earth dragon, perhaps?"

"Limiting dragon types to elements is reductive and often leads to inaccuracies. Colors and origins are better. Drakan isn't a fire dragon despite what many think. He is a crimson dragon. More accurately, Drakan is THE crimson dragon. The color can represent fire, destruction, or rage, and yes. All of those are concepts a dragon's fire can represent."

"You learn something new every day," Lukas said, thinking back to everything he had witnessed Lady Silverspine accomplish. He wasn't quite sure what silver represented, but believed she contained pure arcane energy. Instead of destroying things, her breath would often change and transform things. She had polymorphed countless foes and devoured them.

"Green and emerald can represent poison, necrosis, plant, or even life magic. Blue and sapphire cover water, ice, healing, and all similar concepts—"

"And you're descended from a sapphire dragon, correct?"

"Apparently, so," Penelope answered. "There tends to be overlap between some of the colors. Terran dragons specialize in defence, body enhancement, and earth magic. They can be brown, black, onyx, or obsidian. I know they all sound the same, but they're not. The metal and crystalline bits of his scales suggest he is a terran for sure, but it will take a while before we know for sure."

"Well, whatever he is, for now, he'll make for an excellent bodyguard," Lukas said. "He did an excellent job engaging the snowmen and keeping them busy while you were casting. The clones—"

"Did anyone see the clones?" She interrupted. "You let them all lose. That was risky."

"The situation called for it." Lukas shrugged. "I had no other choice. If anyone in the caravan noticed all of the extra bodies, they didn't say anything. Everyone was busy with the assault. Then there were the visibility issues. I could barely see more than a couple of feet past your protective circle, and it was apparently worse for everyone else. Besides, if anyone saw much, I can just summon a bunch of shadow-clad stalkers and claim they're my shadow golems."

Penelope nodded. "That's probably the best excuse for now and going forward. If anyone asks, you can create shadow golems. Don't publicize information related to the journal again. I know there is good money in it, but—"

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"It's best if no one knows about my identification abilities," he said, completing the thought for her. "I get it and have learned my lesson. It draws far too much unwanted attention and cuts off my access to events and locations. Besides, with an Arcane-Smithing clone and all the magic metals I have stashed away—" Lukas nodded at his chest of belongings. The wood had cracked, and the metal banding had warped in places, but it still kept everything safe and contained. "Making money should be no trouble at all. I probably can't compete with the smiths in the Gray, but I am sure I can undercut them."

"Don't do that. You're bound to make enemies. Didn't Esther say the city houses a chapter of the Shadowseekers? Make an introduction and sell your creations to them. You probably won't make as much, but if your products are decent, they'll take them for training or newbies, and your reputation won't suffer. In fact, if you get good, you're more likely to improve your reputation."

"I bet if I can weave the Phoenix Forge's magic into my creations, they'll stand out, too," Lukas said thoughtfully. "Thank you. For all of this. I should've trusted you and opened up sooner. I have a lot to learn, and you have plenty to teach."

"You're also competent company and proving yourself trustworthy," Penelope replied. "Now that you're being honest and open with us, that is." She held up a hand before Lukas could justify himself. "Given the life you've had and the benefits of keeping your clones secret, I get your natural mistrust. So, did your clones' efforts bear any fruit?"

Lukas nodded, calling forth the journal. "They have indeed."

Spellweaver has progressed to Rank 6!

The mental strain of intent-based casting is further reduced.

Shadow Clone has progressed to Rank 6!

Volume of shadows contained within Shade's Mantlee is increased.

"The clones managed enough breakthroughs to formulate two sonic spells. One is a simple blast meant to repel, deafen, maybe even break bones. The other made the clones dizzy, throw up, and left their heads spinning." Lukas grinned. "Spellweaver gained a rank. And then I used their clones to make a new specialization dedicated to sound magic, so Shadow Clone also gained a rank. I can't wait to reach the next tier."

"I imagine any increase to your roster of clones will be a big power boost."

Lukas nodded. "I'd love it if the numbers doubled. I'll settle for six or anything in the general neighborhood. The second rank of Empowered Clones and the shards have made increased numbers more important than ever. I always want an active Morph and Arcane Smith—"

"Don't you mean Elvis?" Penelope asked.

Lukas shook his head. "I need a new name and disguise for the persona. Elvis is dead. It's best if I don't bring him back. My need for more clones will further increase as I get more shards. For the time being, I want them focusing on practising Spellweaver and Thunderstorm's Eye. The sooner we get to the next tier, the better. I want the conjunction abilities and, of course, start working towards the confluence."

"Don't you think you're rushing? Maybe pushing yourself too hard."

"I don't think so. Catching up to you is not in the cards. I just want to be strong enough to protect myself from the likes of the coven and Mister Grey." Lukas threw up a hand when the sorcerer tried to interject. "I know matching their power levels anytime soon is far-fetched. But deception, creativity, and inventiveness might help me get part of the way."

"You're planning more creations besides the magnetics, aren't you?"

"I am. Once in the Gray, I want a Spellweaver clone training under an enchanter. Maybe another under an alchemist, making reaching the next tier even more vital."

Penelope laughed. "Friends. Employees. Colleagues. You don't need any of those, do you? One man army, enterprise, kingdom."

"I do like having friends. They might be few in number, but I appreciate having you and Esther around. Perhaps colleagues and employees aren't in the cards, but I'd appreciate allies and vassals down the line."

"Allies and vassals." Penelope sighed, shaking her head. "Get out. I'd like to change and join everyone for dinner. It's vital they see me moving around and not just in seclusion."

"Are you strong enough to be moving around?" Lukas asked.

"You want to arm wrestle, young man? Use your best abilities and everything you have. I'll defeat you right now without breaking a sweat."

"I'm not falling for that. Sorcerer magic. Draconic heritage. You'll undoubtedly turn my bones into dust."

Penelope only laughed, playfully shooing him.

The caravan had not long stopped for the night. The sun had already set, and dusk had almost passed. Fresh fires roared within the circle of vehicles, and cooking pots sat among them. The cooks tended to prepare to peel and chop the vegetables, and process all ingredients during the journey. Lukas watched them shoving all into the pot alongside spices, herbs, and dried meat. Unlike the residents of Iskander, the locals seemed to prefer hearty meals.

Morph nodded at Lukas from a nearby group. He had somehow inserted himself with a fresh face among them without anyone realizing he was an imposter. It wasn't the result of an ability but decades of experience. The clone had dedicated his efforts to learn as much about the Gray as possible.

It wasn't a single city as Lukas had assumed, but a collection of several districts spread out across the foothills of the mountain and the valley below. Some sprawled across massive caverns, hidden from view and connected directly to the deep mines below. The Gray to,o had an undercit,y but it wasn't full of beasts. Instead, it was where extracted materials were processed and also acted as a refuge during monster outbreaks.

Many of the workers had family spread across the districts. It seemed most people preferred living by the one river that cut through the valley or near the entrance to the caverns. They were apparently the safest.

The clones also picked up information regarding the city's politics, the few crime families, and corrupt entities that still found a way to function, and also the major artisan organizations. Lukas needed to find a way to function without getting involved with any of them. He didn't want to make friends or enemies of anyone. Just make money, deal with whatever interests Lady Silverspine had in the area, and gain ability ranks. Lukas didn't want the same mess as with the coven or Mister Grey, but he was sure that trouble would find him sooner or later. It somehow always did.

"Another day," Bass said, passing. The familiar sauntered toward the carriage as Penelope shakily stepped out. He grew as he walked. "One more full day on the road and we should reach civilization by sunset the day after."