Shadow Clone Sorcery
Chapter 3: Agent of the Silver Dragon (2)

The original Lukas, El-Prime, crept through the ruined settlement. He had considered running but then decided it was a fruitless endeavor. He was too tired, too weak, and in too much pain to make it far. Only strength and power would help him make it to his second day on Fracture.

The Great Lady Silverspine's interests lay in the fallen estate. Find the blade that slew her ancestor before it falls into the Wyrm Cult's claws. You will be rewarded for your efforts, and the journal’s capabilities will expand beyond power tracking and translation.

Lukas and the clones had dedicated several seconds to cursing Lady Silverspine while cuddling for warmth. Instead of transmigrating him to somewhere safe where he could smoothly transition into his new life, she had thrown him straight into the fire where his only chance of survival lay in seeing her interests protected. He had agreed to do so, but it wasn't supposed to be an obligation or the only choice.

The rewards better be good.

The seconds following the explosion had served as the perfect distraction. He exited the storehouse just before El-Two while the raptors were still shielding their eyes and ducking for cover, and the dust had just started to settle. The transmigration had claimed his old knowledge and abilities. However, sneaking was a skill not easily robbed. Lukas lay low and hoped the raptors’ intelligence had come at the cost of enhanced lizard—or bird—senses.

“It's a shardling!” The new ‘Shamin’ called, words full of rage and hate. “Find him, Softscales! He be our sacrifice to the Great Sunbirther! Silver bitch’s blood nourish him!”

“For the Sunbirther!” Her little minion yelled. “Kill the star quencher’s spawn!”

“FOR THE SUNBIRTHER!” Dozens of raptors echoed the sentiment all around Lukas. There were far more of them than Lukas had assumed.

It was tempting to call forth another clone, but Lukas resisted. By estimations, he only had enough magic left for another use of the ability, and he wanted to save it for during or after Lady Silverspine’s task. Now, an additional body increased the chances of detection.

A third of the raptors scoured the ruined settlement while the rest spread out, checking the roads leading away from it or the woods further downhill. Few moved toward the manor. They all looked outward while Lukas crept between them, keeping low and stepping carefully. The ‘Shamin’ continued squawking orders, and her minions echoed them. Occasionally, he threw stones to redirect attention or draw away creatures that got too close. On several occasions he found the perfect opportunity to push a hunter down a hole, off a cliff, or to slit a throat. Lukas resisted. He couldn’t risk giving away his location or objective. The creatures had assumed that he meant to flee, and he didn’t intend to correct them.

The journal hummed as Lukas approached the manor. He ignored it at first, but the vibrations and sound grew lighter, forcing himself to relieve it from his pocket. The book took to the air, breaking free of his hold and moving independently to float a foot in front of his face.

Arcane Clone has progressed to rank 2!

I don’t think that information is necessary right now. Does the rank do me any good?

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Magic demands are reduced.

Fortunately, the journal's pages didn’t light up. He guessed the function was exclusively for low-light environments.

Can these be saved for non-lightful situations?

Yes. However, it's worth noting that the journal, its contents, and the light produced by it are only visible to its soulbound owner.

Regardless. It's distracting. Is there anything important to tell me pertaining to the task at hand? Perhaps the blade’s location?

Negative.

Then don’t bother me unless it's urgent.

The journal returned to his pocket and ceased its humming. Lukas took relief in the fact it could read his mind and didn’t require verbal communication. He double-checked that none of the raptors had detected him. Fortunately, they remained clueless, looking around instead of within.

A tall, skinny raptor wielding a bow watched from the path leading to the manor. He wasn’t the only one. Lukas’s new eyes didn’t have any natural or magical enhancements, but he was sure he saw movement near the destination, too. The raptors, more specifically the Wyrm Cult, already had agents hunting for the relic. Lukas didn’t have much time to waste.

Since the path wasn’t an option, he climbed the rockface, gritting his teeth through the pain. Lukas’s shoulder protested, and the bandage—formerly a flour sack—reddened faster as the frozen shut wound reopened. He was almost near the top when pebbles clattered above. A handful rained around him, barely missing Lukas’s face and shoulders.

A raptor stood at the top, bow ready and arrow nocked as it scanned the settlement below. A boulder shielded the rockface from the settlement, hiding him for most of the ascent. However, if the raptor were to look down, his efforts would prove fruitless. Even though an arrow to the face or neck was enough to prematurely snuff out Lukas’s light, he didn’t retreat.

No going back now. Only forward.

When he reached the top, muscles and lungs screaming, the creature was targeting someplace in the distance where his brethren had gathered. The new ‘Shamin’ screeched, pointing in the direction.

“It's tha hoomin!” A particularly shrill raptor called. “Stick it with the pointy end!”

“No!” A very human voice protested. “Please. I won’t tell anybody about this. I—”

Well, that’s a freebie.

Screeching raptors drowned out his protests. Lukas didn’t feel particularly bad about the man dying in his place. Despite their apparent stupidity, the creatures had brought down the settlement and its protection. They either got lucky, had more magic than they appeared to have, or were far more competent in combat than he initially assumed. It was more likely they had overwhelmed the defences with numbers in the middle of the night. Lukas ignored the chaos below and focused on the creature above.

The journal didn’t say so precisely, but Arcane Clone seemed targetable within a couple of meters of himself as long as the spot was within his line of sight. Lukas shimmied around the rockface so he wasn’t directly below the raptor. The act left him exposed to all below, but Lukas took the risk anyway. They were all sufficiently distracted. He used the ability, focusing on the spot just behind the archer.

It worked.

A clone solidified, blossoming from the sparse grass like a weed in grey clothing. It didn’t emerge from exactly where Lukas intended, but it was close enough. His left hand snapped closed on the raptor’s beak while the other claimed the dagger hanging from his belt. The blade found a home in the feathery throat. The movements were awkward and not at all smooth since the body lacked the necessary muscle memory, but they were so quick the creature failed to react. Then, El-One carefully lowered the gargling mess of a raptor to the floor.

“A little help,” Lukas whispered, extending a hand.

El-One rushed to assist without quipping or protesting. Neither spotted any obstacles on their way to the manor and crept onward, ready to complete the job and hopefully start their new life soon after.