Shadow Clone Sorcery
Chapter 51: The Auction Cometh (1) (2)

Lukas reported to the distillery with only half of what he wanted. He wore a fine suit of charcoal. The velvety material had jumped out at Lukas, and though cheap, matched the outfits worn by the patrons of the Nightingale’s Rest. The shopkeeper tried to sell him a white silk shirt, but Lukas went with a red satin one instead. It had ruffles, which Lukas hated, but it was more economical. A white cravat brought it all together.

I hope I’m pretty enough to be Mister Grey’s prom date.

The man’s staff and entourage shot Lukas knowing looks as he marched into the venue. He had come alone and unarmed, as discussed. The clones waited outside: one in the alley just outside the property, the rest on nearby roofs.

It would’ve been a lot safer to send one of the clones instead. But he couldn’t risk Mister Grey requesting identification services and failing to deliver. Lukas was supposed to be well-rested for the job and not have spent any magic or wasted any uses of his ability prior to it.

There was no guarantee of it working, but Lukas had come well-prepared for the job. His gear was ready, Shade’s Mantle sat compressed under his suit—it blended brilliantly with the charcoal suit—and he also had a low-mass Steel Weave for additional protection. More importantly, Lukas was an unknown. Barely anyone knew what he could do, and the few who did had little knowledge about the extent and potency of his abilities.

The element of surprise should get me through the night.

The gang didn’t appear as well put together anymore. Clothes, makeup, accessories, and all looked fine. But eyes were sunken in and bloodshot, and skin pallid. It was clear that all of them were burning their candles at both ends, trying to figure out what had happened and to persecute the perpetrators.

The clones had noted growing friction between the Grey Rats and the city guard. Apparently, they had also spotted Captain Stefan Santana in the black market, haggling over valuables and heirlooms. A stalker had also followed him into the docks and seen the man meeting with ship captains. He was preparing to flee the city, likely scared for his life and that of his family. The coven probably still had use for him, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t silence him eventually.

Lukas hardened the shadows around his torso, turning them into steel. It provided a moderate sense of security, but he doubted it would hold up against a surprise attack. A pair of Shadow Whips also wrapped around his arms. Lukas prepared to flare the mantle as he ascended the stairs to the tavern’s first floor. His clones had seen Mister Grey erratic, angry, and violent. The man had killed five ‘ratlings,’ three guards, a pair of slaves, and a brothel servant in the past week. He was not in a stable state, but it was clear that the man was closing in on the truth.

Once at the top of the stairs, Lukas inhaled deeply before slowly exhaling. He steeled his nerves and reminded himself once again that not sending a clone wasn’t a stupid decision. Finally, he marched to the proprietor’s throne.

“Lukas Zaun!” Mister Grey exclaimed, flashing a wide smile. Unlike his staff and the man’s entourage, he appeared well-rested and not as mad. He wore clean, pressed clothes lacking blood splatters. It was a big change from everything he had seen over the last couple of days. “You’re a sight for sore eyes. Looking sharp and ready for tonight, I see. Handsome, isn’t he, K—” He caught himself, eyes drifting to his right where Kelpie usually sat. His smile remained, but the light in his eyes faded. “I hope you’re all ready and fresh for tonight.”

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“Full of magic. Focused. Ready.” Lukas flashed his widest and most pleasant smile. “Are you well? I heard of—”

“It’s for the best if we don’t get into that tonight,” the giant man interrupted, his smile faltering for a moment. “Tonight is going to be busy and stressful, and you need to be discreet. Think you can manage that.”

“I don’t have a middle name, but if I did, it would be discreet,” Lukas joked, hoping to lighten the mood. It didn’t seem to work. “Intelligence gathering and sneaking around just happen to be where I excel.”

“If you think you excel at the latter, we might be in trouble.” Mister Grey laughed. “My ratlings have had little trouble tracking and trailing you. You’re harder to follow than your brother. I’ll give you that. But you’re not as good as you think you are.”

Trailing the clones, you mean. Your ratlings are not nearly as good as you think they are.

The woman who had once threatened to turn Lukas into an identifying slave came running up the stairs. “The carriage is here,” she said, breathless. “Do you need more time?”

“No. We’re ready to go.” Mister Grey rose from his giant throne, hands running down his shirt and coat, straightening creases. Lukas heard faint metallic sounds, like those of the links of chainmail clinking. “Unless you need more time, Lukas?”

“I do not,” Lukas answered. “However, there is the matter of payment. We agreed that I’ll get a shard for just showing up.”

“Ah. Yes. How could I forget?” Mister Grey reached into his coat pocket, over a pocket he had touched seconds ago. He withdrew two shards. One featured a lone blue sphere that sparked and crackled. The other contained a twisting and changing chunk of biomass. One second it was fleshy, the next scaly, and then furry before the cycle repeated, and a couple of other forms occasionally slipped in. “Which would you like now, and which afterward? Given your brother”

“Mind if I identify them first?”

“Won’t that eat into your magic stores and identification charges?”

“Not enough to matter. Starting with full charges and magic, I can use the ability about two dozen times. Is that more than enough?”

“Go on in that case,” Mister Grey said. “Ten uses should be more than enough.”

Shard of Static

Shocking Core(Heart): Your heart becomes a source of static. It gradually generates and stores lightning until it reaches capacity. The lightning may be channeled through the body and expelled through touch or woven into spells. You will also gain resistance to lightning. Spells, abilities, and naturally occurring energies of the same rank or lower than your Heart Pillar will struggle to hurt you.

Shard of Growth

Aura of Regeneration(Heart): Your heart generates and radiates healing energies. All within the aura’s range washes away tiredness and fatigue, and slows the progression of illnesses or anything that may bring harm to the body. Focus everything on a target, greatly increasing the potency of the regeneration, or you may also weave the healing energies into healing or empowering spells.

Lukas took the Shard of Static. It wasn’t the most potent of shards, but he had Minarv’s ritual leather and plenty of shards for upgrading. The Shard of Growth’s Heart-Pillar ability was far more potent in its base version. It would help him survive a great deal of things, but it was for someone dedicated to group combat and willing to stick to a support role.

“Thank you,” Lukas said. “You have no idea how hard I’ve been looking for something of the sort.”

“I’m glad.” Mister Grey smiled, returning the other shard to his pocket. “I know your brother is no more, and I’m sorry about that. But if you help me find what I want, you can also have the other shard. As promised.”

As promised.