Shadow Clone Sorcery (Book 1 complete!)

While Eins and Zwei worked on their individual artisanal pursuits, Morph and El-Four had spent their time exploring the many districts. The latter of the pair had spent a good deal of the time in the Gray's subterranean sections and also the upper levels of the ever-deepening mines. As a result, Lukas had no trouble finding his way into the depths.

All entrances to the cavern districts sat up in the foothills, not far from where Lukas resided. However, security and activity in the areas had increased recently. Monsters who lived within and deep below the mountain usually avoided humans unless they entered their territory, preferring to hunt each other, fish in the underwater streams, or feast on the many fungal colonies.

The city officials and guards couldn't seem to figure out why the local fauna were acting out. Several populations were more visible around the surface than usual. Many had also attacked the miners and guards, resulting in casualties. A few had tried to make a break for the surface.

The guards and military were working on containment, but a call had also gone out to the guilds, asking for young, inexperienced, and inexpensive parties. Containment would provide fighters with valuable experience while not straining the city's resources or forcing them on recruitment drives. It seemed the Gray and Schwarzberg Kingdom as a whole had a better working relationship with the Union and all related organizations than Iskander.

Checkpoints already slowed movement between the districts. Entry into the caverns was now especially slow, forcing Lukas to pick an alternate route. He went down to the river where they sent barges of all unwanted materials downriver.

Smelting and mining waste came down on railed carts directly from the caverns and through a tunnel. They too had heavy security who ensured nothing got out and no careless individuals wandered in. However, there was plenty of cover for someone with Lukas's skill set to sneak through. He approached the entrance alone, covered in a compact Shade's Mantle with Silencing Shadows active.

Lukas took cover behind a train of carts, supply-laden carts heading back up the rails and into the tunnels. He moved in their shadow, staying low. It moved slowly, and the guards inspected their contents as everything passed. He waited until the train of vehicles passed and slipped between the carts, tucking himself into the gap. It was uncomfortable and made the space especially dark. However, the guards paused to converse between each cart, and Lukas hoped they wouldn't look too closely.

Much to his relief, the guards were locked in a heated discussion about who made the best cheese, potato, and onion pies in the district. Their inspections were swift and almost felt cursory. Lukas relaxed once within the tunnel. Glowing runes and crystal growths illuminated them, but he saw no signs of life. The carts trembled and squashed together as they picked up speed, forcing Lukas out from between them. He hopped into the lead cart and stayed low.

Lukas focused his arcane senses, studying his surroundings. He had no idea when the tunnels would end or if there were live inspection points along the way. Shade's Mantle became one with his fur, forming a thin, solid film. The ambient light made flaring it too risky. He also had a new tactic prepared and practised as the carts raced through the narrow, low tunnels.

Lukas pointed his focus arm far ahead and used the prepared spell. A series of footsteps and heavy breathing sounded far ahead. It was still bouncing around the walls when the carts zoomed past on their rails. Given Lukas's poor projection skills, the spells wouldn't have been half as useful without the Spell Sniper's Focus. It significantly improved his arcane range. He hoped to increase projection over time. Penelope believed the focus would multiply it.

Once Zwei's enchanting capabilities increased, Lukas hoped to reverse engineer the focus and the enchantment that launched spells farther. Spellweaver was doing its job, but there were far too many threads bundled and twisted together. He had a rough idea of their capabilities thanks to Arcane Analysis, but struggled to separate them. Skill and practice would get him where he needed to go.

Lukas saw the end of the tunnel long before reaching it. Lights brightened, and the sound of a woman barking orders reached his ears despite the roar of rushing wind. He stayed low and was glad there were no inspections at the exit point. The carts maintained their speed even after entering the open. Lukas saw the bright lights of luminous crystals above and stone-carved buildings speed by. He waited for a darker patch before sticking his head out.

The carriages had started to slow. They were heading toward the refining neighborhood where the supplies would be unloaded. He leaped out as soon as he found a dark and low-traffic clearing. Lukas had an enhanced-Haste active, allowing him to roll to a comfortable stop. He didn't linger for long, unwilling to risk anyone spotting the moving shadowed figure, and sped off immediately.

It was the first time Lukas had ventured into the city's subterranean sections personally. He was tempted to explore the magic metal forges and the local arcane smiths, but resisted, making a beeline for the closest entrance to the mines. He didn't make it far.

"Over here!" A woman called just ahead and around the corner from the Lukas, forcing him to skid to a halt and duck into a shaded corner. "It was right here."

"Are you sure?" Another asked. "The wards go off all the time."

"Not like this. Something got out."

"It could be a cat or rat—"

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"It was something bigger. A lot bigger. You know what could happen if a brat or big dog got in the mines?"

"They'd get killed?"

"Yes, and get our ears chewed off," the first replied, sounding annoyed.

The pair jogged past, arguing about what was worse: the death of children and dogs or their superiors reprimanding them. But then the first of the pair paused. "Hold on. I think it was closer to here."

"Are you sure?"

Lukas peeked out of his hiding place, watching the pair. He had expected Silencing Shadows to conceal his presence, but couldn't help but wonder if there was some sort of spatial field that he had interrupted.

The woman nodded. "I can sense it. This is where the wards flared."

"No footprints," her colleague commented. "No trail arcane or otherwise. Must be an animal."

"In that case, it's a big animal. What if someone sent their familiar to get up to no good?"

"Now, you're just being paranoid."

Despite the seconds' doubts, the pair didn't move on. Their eyes swept back and forth, scanning, leaving Lukas no choice but to take a risk. He relied on the Spell Sniper's Focus again, launching the Noise spell across the tracks and in the opposite direction from where they had come. The two raced towards the source without further commentary or discussion. He made the spell duration shorter in the hopes it would fade before they caught up to it. Realizing that it was a magical distraction would put the entire security force on high alert, making Lukas's life significantly harder.

A chord of solidified shadow shot out of his right sleeve, grasping the neighboring building's upper floor. Lukas retracted the tether, pulling himself up to the roof. The buildings stood much closer together in the cavern, making it easy to leap between them. Because of the bright crystals above, there were far fewer hiding places, but watching eyes were also sparse, allowing him to cover more ground swiftly. He didn't have to navigate the maze of streets and alleys between the many homes, workshops, and refineries.

Patrols didn't just walk the neighborhoods around the tracks. Lukas attempted an echolocation spell he had started to develop the night before to track them. It left him gritting his teeth and clutching the sides of his head. The feedback wasn't so bad in a small enclosed space like his new home's interior, but too much in the wide, open cavern. The information overload forced him to pause and wipe the tears from his eyes.

Let's not try that again without more practice.

Lukas took off again after taking a moment to recover. The headache dulled into a distant throb, but it wasn't enough to slow him for long. Within minutes, he was overlooking the entrance into the mines.

There was far more activity around the opening than usual. Instead of miners and equipment sheds, military tents, weapon stores, and repair stations crowded the area. Blacksmiths repaired equipment. Healers and their staff provided emergency care. Cooks stirred giant pots of simmering stew. Spiked barricades lined the mine's entrance, and a steady stream of people exited and entered. It was less than ideal.

Sneaking in wasn't an issue. Lukas had left his furs at home for his travelling coat since it was lighter. Temperatures were low in the mines, but he didn't have to worry about wind and snow. The garment was inexpensive and had seen better days. As a result, he didn't feel bad about shedding it for clothing that matched the guards.

There were the heavily armed units, and the more speedy ones that wore light or no armor at all, preferring leather pieces hardened with alchemical concoctions. Lukas opted for the latter, picking the most worn and stained pieces. He equipped a similarly dinged axe and dagger before confidently marching toward the entrance.

"Halt," one of the men keeping watch said. "Where is your party, soldier?"

"Still down there, sir," Lukas replied without missing a beat. "I came up earlier with the wounded and got held up reporting to six different people. I need to get back before anyone else gets hurt."

"Blighted commanders and their thick heads, eh?" The man snorted, shaking his head. "Move along. Don't keep your brothers and sisters waiting."

"Thank you."

Not long before reaching the entrance, Lukas had passed a wounded man on a stretcher. A pair carried him, and two more brought up the front and rear. He passed another such group after entering. Lukas received nods of acknowledgement and no scrutiny.

Relief washed over Lukas when Morph's latest memories filled his mind. The clone had long dispelled himself and was ressummoned almost straight away, followed by a Shock Trooper with Alter Metal Mass.

"Looks like I finished just in time," Morph said, transforming his hair and features almost straight away. He didn't don the appearance that the Frozen Phoenix guild knew. Instead, it was a new amalgamation of Lukas's face and the men memorized using Mimicry. "Extra arms or no extra arms?"

"Not yet," Lukas replied, manifesting Shade's Mantle and casting Silencing Shadows once again. It was his time to play the stalker role, keeping to the shadows and out of immediate danger. "They won't fit with the current outfit. Let's wait until we're off the beaten track and less likely to bump into rescue teams, patrols, or anyone else."

"So what are we then?" El-Four, the Shock Trooper, asked. "A reconnaissance duo?"

Lukas nodded. He had overheard a conversation while sneaking past the tents and temporary constructions. Besides the guards, combat parties, and rescue crews, there were also scouting and detection teams exploring the mines, looking for any creatures trying to sneak or burrow through the walls. They were individuals specialized in detection and had instructions to avoid combat unless necessary or commanded by a superior.

"If anyone asks, we're searching for one of the Aquila teams to deliver a confidential message. Their presence and influence out there is big enough for it to be believable."

"That's why they pay you the big bucks, boss," Morph said, having completed his facial rearrangement. His limbs steadily lengthened as he spoke.

"Pay? We're getting paid jackshit."

"Even more reason to not take advances. Stingy dragon. Stingier minon."

Lukas got the journal out at the next crossroads, asking for directions. It didn't react at first. So, he walked towards each of the three different paths, and the relic vibrated as he approached the third, downward route. It was darker than the rest and curved so he couldn't see as far down it as the others. The clones sped onwards. He drew a quick arrow on the wall and followed.