Shadow Clone Sorcery
Chapter 6: Hell Of A Tutorial (2)

“El found a shard?” Lukas asked, feigning surprise. “Mine came from behind the secret door in the storehouse. The raptors had already bled me apparently and the lady wanted more for all the blood locks so she gave me a shard. I guess it was meant to keep me alive through all the cuts and bloodletting. It's probably the reason I’m still alive.”

“Fine. We can circle back to all of that. I think the most important question is do you know where you are? And how did you infiltrate the city? Can you answer either question?”

Lukas shook his head. “I’m surprised and just glad to be alive. The blood loss and general exhaustion knocked me out as soon as I reached El. He was ripping open spell scrolls like no tomorrow. There was a white flash. Then everything went dark.”

“You didn’t stow away on a ship or sneak through the sewers?”

“No.”

“I need more than just a no,” Stefan said.

“If the first were true, you wouldn't be questioning me right now,” Lukas answered matter-of-factly. “There would be too much evidence for there to be any question regarding our innocence. Blood trails. Vessels reporting fighting or signs of stowaways. Our clothes—wherever they are, and my wounds should prove the latter isn’t true. They’d stink and most of my cuts would be infected.”

“Any clue as to where this manor was?”

“I remember mountains.” Lukas pretended to think super hard. “The lady mentioned waiting for reinforcements from the Gray. Does that mean anything? I don't know whether thats an order or a place.” Stefan said nothing, only taking notes. After a prolonged silence, he pushed on. “Are you happy to tell me how Elvis claims we got here?”

“Elvis claims he found a portal scroll and it brought the two of you here.” The guard captain stood. He reached under his breastplate and pulled out a pouch. Stefan carefully emptied it, laying out the contents on the cot next to Lukas. There was the shard Lukas had grabbed and two glass spheres. The first contained a pulsing fleshy ball that floated at its center. It turned into a solid black marble the next second was gaseous a moment later, then mercurial like the shard’s contents, and then fleshy again. The other contained lightning and resembled a miniature Dyson Sphere. “We found these in his pockets. Did they come from the manor vault or the storehouse?”

“It must’ve been the vault,” Lukas answered. Hiding his desire to snatch them out of the man’s hands was challenging. “Because I don’t remember El pocketing anything. The storehouse only had a bunch of shards, and I only took what the lady gave me. Nothing more. El must’ve grabbed those before dragging me through. Probably his shard too.”

“At least your stories match. Mostly. I appreciate you being direct and succinct.”

“El seems to have trouble keeping his mouth shut and taking things seriously.” Relief didn’t wash over Lukas. He and El-One had discussed their story during a brief lucid moment but he struggled to recall most of it. Exhaustion, blood loss, and starvation had left him mostly delirious. Stefan remained unreadable, staying friendly but professional. “I apologize for all of this. We did whatever the lady said and then it was all about survival at any cost.”

“And you really don’t remember anything before the grave?”

“I really wish I did. The cultists must’ve done something to us.”

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Stefan sighed. “Your head injuries are consistent with the Wyrm Cult’s rituals. I think you and your brother were meant as sacrifices to their lord.” He took a step back and crossed his arms, eyes peering through Lukas. “I’ll be honest, Lukas Zaun. Your story is too far-fetched and much like young Humphrey, I believe there is a lot you're not telling us. However, you haven't committed any crimes against the city besides illegal entry. The shards and essence might be illegally acquired but no one has reported any of it missing. So they’re not in danger of confiscation. Your only punishment is expulsion. I’m happy to set you free but it would be at the docks and my men would see you onto a vessel. Or it will be on the other side of the gate.”

“What will it take for you to let us stay?” Lukas frowned. “El and I have no memories. Understand little about Fracture and its magic. Kicking us out of the city in our current state is as good as sentencing us to death. We have no money and—”

“You have an unknown cracked shard, lightning essence, and I think the other is some sort of flesh or bestial essence. Surrender one of the latter two to the city of Iskander. The Iskander Guard will be thankful for your contribution and I will arrange identification and admission paperwork allowing you to live and work in the city.”

There were go. No wonder you sent little Hump away. Can't let the wide-eyed cadet see the corruption firsthand, can we?

“Take them both if you want. I don’t even know what they’re for and half expected you to confiscate them.”

“You’re really not lying?” Stefan asked, raising an eyebrow. He appeared surprised. Lukas hoped he hadn’t pushed his luck by offering up both. “You don’t remember anything? Shards? Essences?

Lukas shook his head. “Am I supposed to? Is it common knowledge? I just did what the lady said when she handed me the thing.”

“Nomads. Tribals. Backwater, shit-shoveling kids. Everyone knows what shards and essences are and how the Pillars of Self work.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say. Shards combine with the Pillars of Self to give abilities. That much I’ve inferred. Essence not so much.”

“Essences are needed for tiering up shard abilities and enchanting.” Stefan placed his hand on the sphere containing lightning. “I’d like to keep the lightning essence. Our quartermaster should be able to turn it into a potent anti-ship weapon. If you agree, I’ll also write you and your big-mouthed brother letters of recommendation. They’ll get you jobs or let you access all services available to the citizens of our fine city.”

Sure. That sounds like an equivalent exchange.

“I already said you can have it,” Lukas said, taking the change essence and cracked shard. He currently wore nothing but a nightshirt and tucked them under the sheet covering his legs. “Could you also direct me toward a library or a teacher for guidance on the pillars, shards, and essences? I don’t want to appear like a dunce and stand out too much.”

Stefan nodded, smiling. He visibly relaxed as he pocketed the Lightning Essence. “I’ll show you the library and a cheap inn.” He paused. “Are you willing to part with your weapons? Especially your short sword.”

“I’m not particularly attached to any of them. Why do you ask?”

“Well, you don’t have any money and I doubt you want to sell the shard or essence. The shortsword should get you enough to set the pair of you up until you find jobs.”

“Understood,” Lukas said, climbing out of bed. His legs almost gave way when he tried to stand. Stefan caught him before he could fall. “I think I need to eat something first.”

“Esther will be back any moment with your food,” the man told him. “Rest. Eat. I’ll fetch your brother from the dungeons before you’re done along with your paperwork.” He studied Lukas for a moment, eyes exploring the skinny malnourished frame. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but I’ve been curious about your shard ability. It must be something combat-oriented, right?”

“What makes you think that, Captain?”

“I can’t think of how else you could’ve fought off a horde of genuine wyrmkin and survived. Is it magic? Did you put the shard in your Body pillar?”

“It makes me smarter, more observant, wary, and quick on my feet. I’m afraid that’s all I’m willing to divulge.”

“That’s fine. I apologize for prying.”

Bribes and half-truths. They never fail. Believe me or not, he had his eyes on the essences right from the beginning.