55. How To Deal With A Witch?

Lukas dispelled the three clones. Their weapons and tools sat neatly piled on the broom cupboard’s shelf. When resummoning, he started with high mass and a steel weave but also channeled lightning through his body. He wove the energy into the standard Haste spell, attempting to create a body enhancement spell that stimulated the muscles and nerves. 

You have unlocked a new specialized clone. It excels at empowering its body, movements, and attacks with lightning magic and the Haste spell. 

Shadow Clone has progressed to rank 4!

The cost of creating specialized clones is reduced.

What would you like to name the specialization?

The probability of things working out had felt low. As a result, Lukas hadn’t thought of a name for the specialization. He used the name of a clone upgrade he hadn’t picked.

Shock Trooper.

The new specialization will henceforth be called Shock Trooper.

The Shock Trooper clone, El-One, swiftly equipped himself. He looked no different from Lukas except for his eyes. They were a violent blue and almost luminous. Much to his surprise, the clone’s magic levels weren’t static. Instead, it seemed to generate the new energies that came with Thunderstorm’s Eye. The volume wasn’t anything of note. In fact, the clone’s heart seemed to produce approximately half of what Lukas passively produced, but it was still better than nothing.

He had wanted a mostly passive ability for his Heart Pillar, not only because it meant he had fewer things demanding his attention during battle but also because the chances of the clones benefiting from it would be high. The gamble paid off, and he couldn’t be happier. 

The Shard of Growth and its Aura of Regeneration was arguably better for the clones’ longevity and Lukas’s survival. However, the involved costs concerned Lukas. He had worried the constant drain would’ve made them less effective in battle or even damaged their integrity in the long term. There was no guarantee that the Essence of Arcane Regeneration would overcome the issue. He believed it was responsible for amplifying the Shard of Static’s energy generation abilities and perhaps also the resistance to lightning and sonic attacks.

When creating the next clone, Lukas opted for the Stalker specialization again but added sonic energy to Silencing Shadows, hoping to mute the sounds he made and disrupt those around him. It was a simple process and involved removing one thread that fed the spell unattuned energy and twisting sound magic around another. The journal once again congratulated him for his success.

You have upgraded the Stalker specialization. It now excels at the use of sonic spells on top of shadow magic. The stalker clones’ ability to erase their magical signature and conceal their presence has improved considerably.

Much to Lukas’s disappointment, Shadow Clone didn’t gain another rank. It would’ve significantly improved his chances of success and, more importantly, survival. Growth would inevitably slow as his ranks continued to increase. He expected new specializations to stop giving him ranks eventually but didn’t think he’d hit the barrier so soon. 

Lukas summoned a second upgraded stalker clone, still beaming with pride. 

“What’s the plan, boss?” El-One asked. He hadn’t just picked up the hammer and shield but also relieved Hump of his armor. It was a decent fit and made him look like a guard. The clone dug through the cleaning supplies and smeared grease across his mouth. He also dusted his hair with a grey, ash-like substance. It wasn’t a significant change, but he now looked significantly older. Lukas hoped it would be enough so that others wouldn’t recognize the clone straight away.

Having an Elvis around has its benefits. Perhaps I should start packing the storage space with makeup, wigs, and other disguises. 

“I’m pretty sure I've located a member of the coven,” Lukas said, strapping the shortsword to his waist. He adjusted his coat so it concealed the weapon well. “We need to locate her.”

“And what then?” El-Three’s wide eyes focused on his fingertips. Tendrils of electricity danced between them. Unlike El-One, he and El-Three only produced energy at a quarter of the rate of Lukas. Now that he had a closer look, his and their hearts didn’t seem to produce distinct lightning and sonic energies as the journal claimed. It was all one and violent. 

Storm-attuned magic perhaps? I’ll figure it out later.

“We’re not supposed to tangle with the witches, boss,” El-Two added. “Esther said our magic isn’t strong enough, and our soul—”

“More importantly, there isn’t much for us to get out of this,” El-Three interrupted. “I get it if we were robbing the valets or the storerooms, but going after the witch is more likely to get you hurt. We can’t protect you from soul attacks, El-Prime.” 

“We’ll figure something out.”

Lukas had already scouted out the witch’s location. He walked along the auditorium’s exterior, scanning each box with his sensing technique. He had the stalker clones post themselves nearby. Eyes focused on the door. Meanwhile, returned to Mister Grey with El-One. Unlike regular Bruiser clones, the Shock Trooper didn’t seem to struggle as much when channeling and focusing on a spell. The sound magic produced by his heart appeared to partially cover Silencing Shadow’s energy drain.

“There is a reason mages and sorcerors often gravitate toward spells in theme with their shard abilities,” Esther had explained when convincing him to stick to mostly Shadow Magic. “Attuned magic is often easier to use and comes with less strain than raw magic. The spell and mind don’t need to waste energy converting or attuning.”

It was the other reason why he didn’t want to use the Shard of Growth. Aura of Regeneration would mostly come with healing energy. It had its uses in body reinforcement spells, but only to a limited extent. The clones wouldn’t benefit from the active components, and he’d only end up limiting himself further, making it a poor fit.

Lukas felt proud of himself as he returned to Mister Grey’s box. He had managed to awaken all of his pillars within three seasons of his arrival on Fracture. It had taken a lot of work, some luck, and walking down paths he had hoped to avoid following his fresh start. He had the clones to thank for it. They allowed him to take risks that most sane people would avoid. However, it was just the beginning.

Shards and awakened pillars only started him on the path to greatness. He needed to master their abilities, unlock the conjunctions and confluence, and also master magic. Lukas had only scratched the surface and still had a long way to go. 

“I didn’t expect you to return,” Mister Grey said when Lukas returned to his seat. “I thought you’d run off with the shards, and I wouldn’t see you again until you used one of them.”

“I was tempted.” Lukas smiled. “But I ended up having an explore, got reprimanded for wandering into somewhere I shouldn’t have entered, and saw a couple of familiar places. Then, by the time I found the exit, I wanted to know whether you got your badge or not. So, I had to come back.”

“Ten thousand and six hundred crowns. The bidding was furious, but I won in the end.”

Lukas whistled. “That’s an obnoxious amount of money.” He nodded at the witch’s box. “Was it them again?”

Mister Grey nodded. “It was a three-way battle in the end. Them and one of the high rollers.” He pointed at one of the more exclusive VIP boxes hanging off the far wall. Unlike the one Lukas and his current employer occupied, it was a permanent installation. “I’m guessing it's our friends at the Aquila guild in there.”

“There is another reason I came back, Mister Grey,” Lukas said, but the giant man’s attention had returned to the latest of the lots. “There is something you need to know. It’s about Kelpie and the dead Grey Rats.” When Mister Grey looked at Lukas again, his eyes were wide and his jaw set. “And the party behind it.”

“Tell me.” The friendly tone had disappeared. Only ice and venom remained.

“I’m sure your rats have told you about my recent delve into the undercity and how I returned with the unconscious Cold Fire Sorcerer and an unconscious Elder Wyrmkin.”

“I was told the Wyrmkin was dead,” Mister Grey commented.

If that’s the general consensus, it explains why the coven or city guard didn’t send anyone after us. Then again, Penelope and I have been challenging to find.

“Almost. We nursed him back to health and interrogated him. There is a coven of witches in Iskander. I haven’t figured out their purpose, but they employed Kelpie and her followers to smuggle the Elder Wyrmin into the city.” Lukas lowered his volume and leaned closer as he continued. “They used the secret docks and your slave tunnels.

“Penelope and I took out the Wyrmkin, their camp, and ritual laboratory. The news got out. Now, the coven is silencing everyone in the know. Kelpie. Rats. Guardsmen. Assassins sent after Penelope and me. Almost all who served them died the same way.”

“Almost?” Mister Grey raised a bushy eyebrow, his beady eyes burning with rage. Lukas was half worried the man would take his anger out on him. But he intended to use the giant, and he currently seemed like the lesser evil. “You mean there are people who served them and still breathe?”

“It seems they branded all who agreed to serve them except one person: Guard Captain Stefan Santana.”

“And why are you telling me this now?” Mister Grey demanded, sitting back in his chair and crossing his arms. He didn’t appear any less threatening.

“Honestly? I wasn’t going to tell you until tomorrow. The sorcerer and the Shadow Seekers are currently raiding the coven’s base: the Nightingale’s Rest. They intend to kill most of the witches and maybe capture a couple for questioning. I hoped to tell you only after I have good news so you wouldn’t look at me as you are now and not crush my skull.” Lukas sighed, nodding at the witch’s box. “But I sensed one of them here. She’s the one who’s been fighting you for the vestige items. Once the auction ends and she exits the building, she’ll know the coven has been captured or taken out. I’m sure the witch is going to flee, and I don’t have the strength to catch her.”

“You want to use my rage and need for vengeance to take her out?”

“I’ll help in whatever way I can.”

“You’re too clever for your own good, Lukas Zaun.”

“You’re not the first one to have told me that today,” Lukas replied, smiling sheepishly. “So? Are you going to help me?”

“Five thousand crowns!” Mister Grey exclaimed, returning his attention to the auction. He had seemed unbothered by the lot thus far. It was one of the shards that had intrigued Lukas, and he would’ve loved it on first arriving in Iskander.

“Five-thousand-two!” Rang a masculine voice from the witch’s box. 

“Five-thousand-four,” Mister Grey announced before grinning at Lukas. “I just don’t want her to win.”

“You want her to seek you out after the auction, don’t you?”

“I told Kelpie from day one. Your mind is as valuable an asset as your identification ability.”

Mister Grey’s pockets proved deeper than the witch had limited influence on her date. Lukas imagined the witch was bidding using her male companion’s assets. His funds were limited, or there was a limit to how much she could coerce him to spend without compromising her control.

“Ten-thousand-five going once!” The auctioneer called gavel waiting to drop. “Ten-thousand-five going twice!” Pin-drop silence hung over the auditorium. When no one spoke up, the man dropped the mallet. “Sold for Ten-thousand-five. Let’s move on to the final three, ladies and gentlemen.”

“You wouldn’t be willing to trade the Shard of Arcane Smithing for the Shard of Growth, would you?” Lukas asked.

“I’ll think about it if everything you’ve told me proves true.”

They didn’t wait around for the final lots. Mister Grey wished to collect his purchases and believed the witch would do the same. Her box had won the Shard of Arboreal Mastery. It seemed perfect for someone who relied heavily on ritual magic and alchemy. Growing one’s own ingredients and reagents had its benefits.

Lukas felt a stalker dispel himself as soon as they exited the box. Memories came with it. The witch and her date were also heading to the ground floor. The man appeared catatonic. His face was pale, and his eyes were blank. Lukas couldn’t tell what it was, but his face twitched every couple of seconds. Something wasn’t right about him. Lukas guessed the witch had taken out her rage over the loss on him.

Mister Grey returned to his usual self as they descended. He laughed and talked about the auction animatedly, took an oversized goblet from a passing server and tipped her, and also cracked a joke with a guard he recognized. Lukas couldn’t quite tell whether the man was amused or terrified. 

They descended the stairs to the lower floor, and Mister Grey traversed the corridors without needing directions. It was clear he had been to the auction several times before. Lukas was relieved that they had gotten through it without anyone discovering his identification abilities, but believed that Mister Grey’s targeted bidding was likely to raise suspicion. More importantly, the night was still far from over. There was a confrontation coming. He was sure of it. The question was of when and where, not if. 

The pair ended up near the auditorium’s rear where a giant counter awaited them. The guards in the area were numerous and felt significantly more powerful than the ones around the entrance or anywhere inside the building. Several valets also waited, standing next to large wooden or metal chests. Runes and spell scripts covered everything but the floors and people. It went without saying that the area was well-defended. Mister Grey didn’t seem to pay attention to any of it as he marched through it all to the counter. 

“Congratulations on your winnings, Lord Grey,” the woman behind it said, retrieving a parchment from a nearby drawer. She carried herself like the many noble women in attendance. “Your total for the night is thirty-six thousand and five hundred crowns. How do you intend to pay?”

“How about we check the debt ledger, my love?” The giant man asked, putting on a smile that appeared more threatening than charming. “If we put it against Iskander’s debt to little old me, how much is left over?”

“But sir, this is for charity—”

“Do we need to bring down a council member and discuss my deal with them?”

“No, Lord Grey.”

Lord Grey? The city is in debt to him? I thought this was a rags-to-riches story. No wonder he gets away with so much without consequence. I don’t think I’ll bring down his gang or the slave ring any time soon.

“The Council of Iskander will owe you thirty-two thousand and five hundred crowns after deducting the value of your purchases,” the woman continued. She amended a section of the parchment, crossing out the numbers and replacing it with a big zero. “Please look everything over and leave your mark, Lord Grey. Your prices will be brought out momentarily.”

“Very good.” 

The witch and her date arrived just as Mister Grey was going through the paperwork. She smiled sweetly at Lukas on the way to the counter. Her date’s movements were robotic, and his speech didn’t sound quite right as he spoke to the woman behind the counter. Lukas hadn’t dealt with zombies or ghouls since his early years in the Realm of Greater Beings, but he fit the bill. 

“Congratulations,” the woman said, looking up at Mister Grey. “I believe you and I were competing on several of the same things.”

“Is that so?” Mister Grey feigned surprise. “I apologize if I got too competitive. My mother always said that my brothers and I have trouble accepting defeat. I’m—”

“Your reputation precedes you, Mister Grey. Everyone knows who you are.” She offered him her hand, holding it up delicately, fingers facing down. “I’m, Lady Robin Silksong, the madame of the Nightingale’s Rest.”

Lords and ladies? Are these two genuine nobility ot did they buy their titles?

“Forgive me if I don’t kiss your hand, my lady.” 

The woman appeared disappointed but said nothing. A pair of workers arrived soon after pushing trolleys. The shards, trinkets, and antiques sat on velvet pillows. Lady Silksong’s cart only featured the Shard of Arboreal Mastery, a couple of trinkets, and an ornate dagger. She didn’t move to collect them, leaving her date to take it all. Instead, she followed Lukas and Mister Grey as they made their way toward the exit.

“I was hoping to catch you, Mister Grey,” Lady Silksong continued. “My companion didn’t bring enough funds to assist with bidding. But would you consider selling them directly? I’ll pay one-and-a-half times of what you spent and add you to our special client list. Intelligence and contracts exchanged in our backrooms would be of great interest to you. I assure—”

“I’m fine, thank you, Lady SIlversong. We can talk, but it won’t be about trade. I believe your people have already had dealings with mine and it didn’t go well with them.”

The woman froze.

What the hell is he doing?

Her eyes widened as City Hall’s doors opened in preparation for their exit. Eyes darted to the west toward the Nightingale’s Rest, even though walls and other obstacles obscured her field of vision.

“You fool,” she whispered, glancing at her date and making her fingers dance. He and his valet dropped the packages they carried. Their limbs twisted, and they spasmed, beginning to transform. Terrified yells escaped nearby guards as men among their ranks began to transform, too. 

Mister Grey also dropped everything but the mask and Aquila founder’s badge. His eyes glowed gold as he embraced the pair. They shrank and transformed, turning into rings. The second he slipped the first of them on, his feet lifted off the marble floor. The giant was flying.