Shadow Clone Sorcery
Chapter 10: The Sorcerer's Contract (2)

Penelope had already signed the papers when El-Two, or Lukas as far as she was concerned, returned from the washroom. “Any second thoughts?” She asked as he pretended to scan the document once more. “If there are any clauses you’re unhappy with—”

“There is just one little thing I’d like changed,” Lukas said, tapping on a section. “This bit is related to your services. I don’t want to have to wait until a week in your employ to receive lessons or help with the shard. It should be an ongoing thing.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have the time to start straight away.” Penelope pointed at a scribbled alteration. “Your brother wouldn’t sign unless I doubled the courier fees. We negotiated and I’ve increased it to eight shells. Is that not good enough?”

“Much like you and your familiar have been watching us, we’ve been watching you too,” El-One said, moving on to the sweet half of his breakfast. “We tend to do that when we find someone surveilling us.”

“Your late afternoons and early evenings are mostly open,” Lukas said. “We’re not asking you to give us all of your time. But breakfast, evening tea, or any time you’re not swamped with work can go into teaching us. And helping with the shard, of course.”

“You might be underestimating the intensity of my tutelage.” Penelope sighed. “I don’t intend for us to have simple chats. We’re going to have proper lessons that demand time and the lack of distractions. As for fixing a damaged shard, essences aren’t enough. They demand materials, especially crystalized magic. I’m afraid you lack the funds to purchase any, and I’m not willing to front you the money.” She pushed her plate away and flagged down a member of staff. “However, later in the week, I intend to venture down into the undercity. If you sign the contract, you will be accompanying me, and you could find the materials or acquire sufficient coin to buy it.”

“Very well. But you can provide theory lessons and guidance outside of these sessions. Correct?” The clone could sense her starting to get irritated, but he had instructions to get the most out of Penelope’s ‘services.’ “For example, we know about shards, essences, and the pillars but don’t know the first thing about conjunction abilities.”

“I suppose that’s something we can discuss on our way back to the inn. Since you’re determined, I’ll be generous and also throw in a scroll on arcane senses and warding against them. Is that acceptable?”

“Deal.” The fake Lukas signed the contract.

A sliver of energy danced off the parchment and slithered up his arm and through him. The sensation started at the fingertips and ended at his heart. It was like a mild shock but not painful.

For the first time since they had met, Penelope’s smile appeared genuine, reaching her eyes. She didn’t look victorious or triumphant like she had just come out on top, just pleased. El-Two couldn’t help but wonder whether Lukas was being overly suspicious or she was just that good an actress. In his personal opinion, she was going to be good for Lukas. Good for all of them.

Don’t let your eyes wander. You’re Lukas. Lukas Zaun. Stick in the mud extraordinaire.

The trio didn’t stick around after the bill arrived. Penelope paid, and they boarded the waiting carriage outside. Once it started moving, she opened her palm, revealing a marble of crimson energy. It moved in the air between them, leaving a thin line in the air.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“You understand the pillars and shard abilities? Yes?”

Lukas nodded.

“Good. That'll make this easier.” Dots appeared in the North and West positions. “Conjunction abilities form when the abilities in the adjacent pillars reach the first tier. It's a product of the individual shards.” The dots grew, and a third smaller one appeared on the line between it. “Often, the essences that help form them also play a role.”

“So a person with two shard abilities might have a third one at play,” Lukas muttered, making mental notes while El-One continued playing the dunce next to him, uncaring, staring out of the carriage window. “I don't get it.”

“What don't you get?” Penelope asked.

He repeated the conversation he had with Esther before continuing with his query. “I don't get why someone with one shard ability might be stronger than someone with two.”

“Shard abilities aren't easy to raise unless it's something you use constantly and every day,” She nodded at El-One. “Gaining ranks takes concentrated effort for most. Someone who focuses on just one will often have something more potent than someone dividing their time between two. A tier-three ability is generally stronger than two tier-twos. The conjunction abilities are often only half as strong and provide a utility function or an accompaniment to the other two.

“When you’re looking at three sharded pillars with two conjunctions, this isn’t as true anymore because volume, diverse energy sources, variety, and versatility will beat the specialist,” Penelope explained as a third dot appeared on the Southern corner, and one more formed on the line connecting it to the Western point. The diagram continued to change as the final corner also gained a shard. Instead of one more conjunction ability, another formed in the center of the diamond. “Then there are the fully ascended. They have four tier-two or stronger sharded abilities, four conjunction abilities, and a confluence ability.

“These are born from the connection of all four sharded and essenced pillars and their conjunction abilities, and can define the Self. The confluence ability tends to be more powerful than any shard and are closely guarded secrets for most.”

“Do you have one?” El-One asked, finally paying attention.

“Yes.” Penelope didn’t elaborate.

“What are the requirements for unlocking one of these? Four tier-two pillars and four unlocked conjunction abilities?”

The sorcerer nodded. “It's not instantaneous, though. Literature on confluence abilities is rare and research is sparse. Some say intent, will and personal breakthrough play a significant role in their development and unlocking.”

Once back at the inn, Penelope returned to her room, claiming she was unlikely to need courier services until the evening. The clones returned to their quarter and sat in silence, staring at one another.

“What are you waiting for?” El-One asked.

El-Two shrugged. “I was just wondering what Prime will do if his gamble fails.” Then he dispelled himself.

After an hour, El-One heard the door to Penelope’s room open and close. Her footsteps passed Lukas’s room and then descended the stairs. Another hour passed, and she didn’t return. Then, he dispelled himself as well, and Lukas absorbed everything the pair had learned from the other side of town, leafing through the stock in a second-hand bookstore.

Only a part of the gamble had worked. There was no telling whether Penelope would find out about the contract shenanigans at a later date. For the time being, it seemed he was in the clear. Lukas summoned both clones. One empowered for toughness and the other for speed and ordered them to return to the inn, taking courier jobs along the way. He sought out a cheap inn by the eastern cliff face of the city. It was on the opposite side of the primary accommodation and near the Shadow Seekers Guild. They were small and not with the most stellar reputations, but chatter on the street claimed that they accepted just about anyone, which made it perfect for Lukas.