120. When The Hunter Becomes The Hunted

Lukas’s head was foggy. One moment, he was on the rail connecting the plateau with the Shadow Seeker’s fort to the district, the next, he was in a dark room, bound, gagged, and on his bottom. He tried to use his arcane senses and the sixth sense granted by Spellweaver to feel his surroundings, but failed. His brain was foggy. It felt as if he had indulged in too much to drink or was just recovering from a bad cold. The latter hadn’t bothered him in several decades, but he still remembered the discomfort.

The last thing Lukas remembered was smelling something sickly sweet. It was like the aroma of liquorice, but mixed with honey and other additives to mask the smell of medicine. Someone had drugged him. He tried to use an ability, but felt himself completely cut off from all of his abilities. However, when he willed it, the journal manifested, floating in front of him.

What happened?!

I do not keep track of what occurs in your life or your actions. 

A Stalker had boarded the carriage with Lukas. It stood as his mantle-covered bodyguard. He didn’t see or sense it nearby—not that he could if he wanted to. However, if an aerosolized alchemical brew had taken Lukas down, his clones would also be vulnerable to it. The Revolution had built the inter-district rail system and probably also controlled it from the shadows.. If they were all in on Ephram’s plot, drugging and kidnapping a passenger wouldn’t be too much trouble for them.

How many clones are active right now?

Seven. 

I need you to send them all messages. Now.

What would you like me to tell them?

Lukas took a moment to study his surroundings. He wasn’t in whatever underground lair where Ephram kept his valuables and prisoners. Hiscaptors had placed him in a giant circular room with a domed ceiling. Arcane lamps hung from the walls, emitting a pale blue light, and the half-painted black ritual circle that Lukas had seen during his previous visit was now complete.

Tell them that Ephram’s people took me. I’m tied up and in his ritual room. They intend to use me as a sacrifice as expected, and we need to execute the plan.

Done.

Eins: Geared and en route.

Zwei: On the way, boss. 

Flukas: Ace and I are already here. Also got a Stalker.

Morph: Me too. In position for the grand plan, boss. See you in a moment.

The door to the ritual room opened. Irma marched in, followed closely by Mira. The younger of the two women looked like they had been crying. 

“Finally!” Irma exclaimed. “You’re awake. I thought you were made of stronger stuff, Lukas Zaun.” She checked the pocketwatch dangling from the belt of her velvet black robes. Mira wore the same outfit. “We expected you to be awake half an hour ago. It’s not nice to keep everyone waiting. Rituals demand precise timing, you know.”

“Was this the plan along?” Lukas asked. Getting coherent words out was a struggle. The concoction was still strong in his system. They likely needed the concentration high to cut Lukas off from his magic. “Befriend me. Groom me for ritual sacrifice—”

“Save your breath.” Irma kneeled in front of Lukas and gently patted his cheek. “No. We genuinely wished to make you one of us. But then you had to go suppress the black dragon’s flame and poke around the Aquila guild and Ephram’s business.” She tutted, shaking her head. “We can’t have that. Why couldn’t you leave well enough alone?”

“I just expected better from you, Irma. Experimenting on children? Forcing dangerous magic on the untrained and unaware? I hoped you weren’t involved in this mess.”

“So dramatic.” Irma smiled up at Mira. “She was doing so well, adapting and progressing through the guild. You did more than suppress the black flame, Lukas. Do you realize that? Mira hasn’t been the same since you returned. She’s been quiet and withdrawn. The ritual might’ve damaged her mind. We’ll need the black dragon to fix the damage.”

“Anything to say, Mira?” Lukas looked up at his supposed friend. “I introduced you to Penelope and helped you. Is this what I get in return?”

“You were helping yourself,” Mira replied. “Using me for your Shadow Seeker investigation and whatnot.” She shook her head. “If you weren’t tied up, I’d offer a ladder to go with the high horse.”

“Cold as well,” Irma said, shaking her head. “Dear Mira was never this cold before. I expected to accomplish great things with you, Lukas.” She stood, groaning and massaging her hip. “You’re creative, have trained your shadow golems well, and you work hard. Focusing on arcane smithing and enchanting alone would’ve helped you go far. We could’ve made you rich.”

“Are you here to bore me with a speech?” Lukas glared. “Just complete your ritual and put me out of my misery. We don’t need this conversation.”

“But we do. It's vital to establish whether you want your legacy and discoveries to live on or end with you.” Irma withdrew rolled parchments from her robe. “Signing these will make your demise swift and painless. It will give us access to your workshop and rights to all the creations and notes within. We’ll even name the lightning lodestone discovery after you and ensure your name is included in the credits.”

“I knew you wanted something from me. What if I refuse?”

“We take it all anyway and deal with the Cold Fire Sorcerer to ensure she never speaks up against us,” Irma stated matter-of-factly. “It won’t be easy, but we have the manpower, access to incredible equipment and alchemical brews, and intelligence experts. Locating the real you was a challenge, but we managed. It's just a matter of patience and research.”

Lukas had wondered how the Revolution found the real him, let alone catch him off guard. Using alchemical brews was a smart move. If it were a spell, he or the accompanying Stalker would’ve sensed something before the magic took effect. An alchemical brew or drug would have an easier time entering their system untraced. The effect didn’t need to be powerful. The carriage ride was long, and it could’ve taken effect slowly during the journey.

The real challenge his captors likely faced was tracking him and the clones, as well as figuring out whom to track. It meant the Revolution had figured out that the shadow golems weren’t just dark entities but copies of Lukas covered in darkness. Then, they figured out how to differentiate between the fakes and the original.

Following Ogden’s warning, Lukas had equipped the ‘specia’ clones with gear that contained essences. Morph had a heat-protection amulet. Flukas carried a simple arcane focus and also had permission to use the Phoenix Glaive. Even Ace had a simple trinket, more to mask his presence than for genuine function. 

I either missed something or these fuckers got lucky. Otherwise, they would’ve launched an attack on all clones simultaneously.

“So you serve the Great Black Dragon?” Lukas asked.

“Serve?” Irma asked. “Nothing so pedestrian. We collaborate. He is more a client than a patron.”

“You’ll meet our true guide soon enough,” Mira stated. She looked over her shoulder at the door. “It’s time, I think.” Her eyes focused on empty air for a moment before returning attention to Lukas. “Would you like me to double-check the ritual circle? We don’t have much time to waste.”

“Please do.” Irma nodded; she ruffled Lukas’s hair before moving away. “Ephram inspected it the day before yesterday, but he’ll appreciate a final inspection before we begin. Are you familiar with it?”

Mira nodded. “Het let me oversee the preparations. If anything goes wrong, it will be my fault.”

“You don’t need to worry about proving yourself or your loyalty anymore,” Irma said. “You did well bringing this one in. We couldn’t have done any of this without you. There are no longer any questions regarding your allegiance.”

“I appreciate your confidence, Irma, but that’s not enough. I’m done being just an inductee. My spellscribing and ritual work might not be on Ephram’s level, but I’d like full membership.”

“How about we discuss that after the Black Dragon is done with you? Erasure is vital to our plans. Once the black dragonfire has regained dominance, and you master its use, we can discuss your progress through the ranks.”

Journal. I need you to double-check their readiness.

Morph checked in a moment ago. Eins has almost arrived. The rest are already in or around the building.

More people started to file into the room. They all wore the same velvet black robes as Irma and Mira. Most had their hoods up, but Lukas still recognized faces and body shapes. The weaponsmith responsible for the guards’ crossbows was among them, as was the alchemist Zwei had met the first time Irma brought him along. It wasn’t a faction within the Revolution; they were all in on it. He couldn’t help but wonder if they were directly affiliated with the Aquila guild or if the connection was only through Ephram.

Morph’s investigation had failed to find illicit guild activities. However, there were several ‘special’ individuals among the Aquila’s ranks, and the bulk of them reported to Ephram. Many of them also frequented the Gray’s illegal fighting pits.

Penelope will kill me when she finds out precisely what I planned, or for perceived carelessness, but this couldn’t be more perfect.

Lukas had spent several days now without half of his clones. Morph was deep under cover while Flukas, Ace, and a Stalker hadn’t left Ephram’s estate since infiltrating it three days prior. The journal’s new function had proven invaluable, helping them uncover secrets, coordinate, and prepare. 

Stormtrooper One: I’ve alerted Penelope. We’re on our way with Shae. Bass is fetching Ogden and a small Shadow Seeker’s squad. They’ve been ready for the new moon. 

The abduction was unexpected and felt unnecessary. Lukas had intended to attend the ritual all along. He had considered sending Flukas in his place. However, he had learned from a glance that the ritual was meant to breach dimensional barriers and commune with a powerful entity. The Revolution didn’t just want to communicate, but also wanted something from it. A simple essence-fuelled device wouldn’t fool such beings. They’d likely sense that any clone Lukas sent was a fake. If Lady Silverspine figured it out, it would too.

The Revolution probably wanted to minimize risk. 

Only Ephram entered the ritual circle. The rest took up positions along the perimeter. All of them carried fist-sized arcane crystals. A couple went around placing reagents on circles around the script’s edge. 

“Is everything ready?” Ephram asked.

“I’m checking it a third time now,” Mira announced, swapping the positions of two reagents. “Everything looks good, and the time is almost here. We don’t have more time to waste. It’s best if we get started, master.”

“The sacrifice is conscious and ready,” Irma said.

“Good.” Ephram handed her an ornate blade. “The Abyss Engine will appreciate Zaun’s mind. His requirements should be met.”

The Abyss Engine?! Tell them all. Ogden and Penelope need to know. The Revolution has been dealing with a Void entity. They’re likely behind the incident in Reistein. It's been these bastards all along. 

The Abyss Engine can’t be allowed to extend its influence to Fracture. It will accelerate this universe’s demise. You must escape this situation now. Let’s—

I need something from you, Journal. And you can’t demand payment from me for it. Find your energy elsewhere. Take it from the confiscated loot if you must.

Lady Silverspine won’t be pleased if we break protocol. But if it's to stop the Abyss Engine, she will understand and accept it. What do you need?

Instant ascension and the energy to get there prematurely. We’re going to need Thunderstorm’s Eye.

The instant ascension is possible, but I can’t get you the energy to reach the threshold. However, I have an idea that might help.

Tell me.

Lukas winced when Ephram sliced open his forearm and let blood trickle into a prepared vial, but the journal had his attention. He, Irma, and the other Revolution members were ignoring him now. Nothing but the ritual seemed to matter to them. It was perfect for Lukas. Things were going to plan, and he intended to twist it all in his favor.