29. Soul Pillar Ascends

Lukas often wanted to curse Lady Silverspine for their continued entanglement. However, the journal had proven its value twice over. Even discounting Inspector’s Compendium being able to accurately track one’s growth while others couldn’t was already an incredible advantage. Unlike most others, he didn’t need to visit a temple to discover what his current essence would give him.

Steel-Weave Clones

• Clones will gain increased strength and durability but will become more expensive.

• The maximum number of clones will increase to three.

• Offensive and defensive minor abilities available

Shock Troopers

• Clones can be created at greater range for more magic and will trigger waves of repulsion on creation, death, and dispellment. 

• The maximum number of clones will increase to five.

• Minor offensive and utility abilities available.

Shadow Clone

• Substitute a part of the clone creation’s magic cost with ambient shadows. Gain sensitivity to ambient shadows.

• The maximum number of clones will increase to four.

• Minor magical abilities available.

Easiest decision ever.

The first option increased the cost of clones and would only increase their numbers by one. Even though increasing the strength and durability of normal clones and reducing the fragility of low-mass clones sounded amazing, it wasn’t enough to balance the shortcomings. The path wasn’t bad; it just wasn’t for Lukas.

Shock Trooper almost tempted Lukas. The increased range and ‘waves of repulsion’ had incredible strategic use.

However, the increased magic cost put Lukas off. His magic gathering and containment abilities were far from potent, and every wisp of energy in his arsenal was valuable. He couldn’t afford to pour the majority of his magic into shard abilities, let alone just one of them. If he were to use a kamikaze-clone strategy, Shock Trooper would’ve been perfect, but he considered them precious resources. It would be viable if he had a dozen or more of them, but five was still far too low a number. 

For the time being, he made plans to hold on to the essence sphere for a future upgrade. Adding explosions or concussive waves to any shard ability would increase its offensive power or improve its utility function. 

In comparison, Shadow Clone ticked all of the boxes. Four was a decent number of clones to work with. It wasn’t as much as Shock Trooper, but Lukas didn’t mind as much. Given his current wealth, power level, and the clones’ limitations, he worried too many clones would be challenging to manage. He hoped to keep their existence a secret for longer, and it was too early to send any of them out into the world to function independently. 

Unlike the other two options, Shadow Clone didn’t say much about the available minor abilities besides that they were going to be magical in nature, and that was good enough for Lukas. He wanted magic. The minor spells he had learned from the sword were a decent start but not nearly enough.

“Are you sure, boss?” Elvis asked. “I get why you don’t want Steel-Weave, but Shock Troopers seems incredible. We could make it look like I’m teleporting around the battlefield, causing mini-explosions along the way. It should be great for infiltration, too. I imagine you only need line of sight to conjure one of us somewhere.”

“You’re worried more about the magic efficiency of the shockwaves, aren’t you?” the arcane specialized clone asked.

Lukas nodded. “Our arcane gathering and recovery skills are far from potent. If the waves of repulsion disperse the magic shells too much on death or dispelling, I can’t recover most of it.”

“It’s just not efficient.” Elvis sighed. “I was just thinking about making we close-ranged clones' lives easier. You already use us as Shock Troopers.”

“As is your duty,” Lukas said.

When Lukas made his selection, the essence sphere dissolved, and the shadow contents shot into him. The words on the western point of the Power Compass changed from Arcane Clone to Shadow Clone. Next, the pages rapidly flipped to the ones dedicated to the ability, and new writing appeared.

Please select a minor ability to accompany Shadow Clone. It will be accessible to you as well as the clones.

• Shadow Sight: Burn magic to look through shadows like they are windows. You will also gain dark sight and a keener sixth sense related to shadows and their movements.

• Shade’s Mantle: Shape an almost tangible shroud out of ambient shadows, masking your features and form. You can manipulate and further shape shadows within your control.

• Night Stalker: Gain the ability to accelerate one’s perception of time while standing in shadows or darkness. The magic drain increases with longer usage, and frequent usage will cause compounding mental strain.

Is it my birthday?

Once again, it was an easy decision. If Lukas were prioritizing stealth, assassination, and thievery, he would’ve picked Shadow Sight in a heartbeat. If ‘look through shadows like they are windows’ worked how he imagined it, gathering intelligence and infiltrating hostile territory would be a breeze. 

The same went for Night Stalker. Accelerating one’s time perception was among his favorite tools in his old arsenal. However, the fact that it needed him to stand in shadows and darkness made it far too situational. The wording didn’t elaborate, but he was sure that his own shadow wouldn’t count, and the arcane ability demanded either his entire body or most of him needed to be standing in the dark. It was perfect for the undercity or acting during the night, but otherwise wouldn’t always be possible.

Meanwhile, Shade’s Mantle ticked all the boxes. It granted the means to blend into the shadows and disguise oneself. He could disperse clones all around the city without concern of someone seeing their face and mistaking them for him. The enhanced ability to sneak around made it even better. The best part of the ability was the shadow shaping and manipulation powers. It was only limited to the mantle, but it felt like a decent start. Lukas was sure that with enough practice and training, he’d learn to push the natural limits and bend the ability to his will. It didn’t matter if he couldn’t solidify shadows straight away, he could already foresee countless uses. 

“It’s the best one.” The arcane specialized clone nodded, his enlarged eyes betrayed his excitement. “Sensory deprivation is terrifying to go up against.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” Lukas recalled far too many clones dying to an unknown force just beyond Lady SIlverspoine’s territory. It started by blinding its prey and then deafening them. It toyed with the clones, depriving them of all of their senses one at a time. It killed them slowly while keeping the nerves alive unusually long. “This will prove invaluable on the Mister Grey job.”

“And undercity trips in general, whether it is me or you that’s down there. One of us could stick with Elvis and Penelope, and the other lingers in the shadows, waiting for opportune moments.”

“No protests here,” Elvis said. “I would’ve preferred Night Stalker since I’d get some use out of it, too. Combat. Smithing. It—”

“How would you use it for smithing?” The other clone asked. “You need to be standing in shadows or darkness for Night Stalker to activate.”

Elvis shrugged. “We’re in a high magic realm. I’m sure you geniuses can figure out dark light and, eventually, dark fire. I’m just saying we shouldn’t discard the possibility of getting bullet time this early.” He looked at Lukas. “What was it last time? A fifth circle spell? It will take us forever to get there.”

“I’m not disagreeing with you. It’s potent and powerful.” Lukas grinned. “But c’mon. You told me to have more fun, and this is fun. Shadow magic is fun. Why don’t you want me to have fun?”

The clone’s eyes narrowed as he glared at the original. “Fine.” He sighed. Play that card, El-Prime. What do you want us to tell Penelope if she comes by?”

“The truth. I’m ascending my Soul Pillar, and you’re keeping guard.”

All other words disappeared from the journal’s pages when Lukas made up his mind. Shadow Clone solidified at the top, and artwork depicting flowing black fabric spread from it, bordering the pair of pages. The amorphous blob that he considered a representation of his soul shifted, expanding and twisting. Darkness blossomed from it, overcoming his mind's eye. Consciousness fled soon after.

Lukas stirred to the early lights of dawn, sneaking through his window. Elvis stood by the window, watching the street below. The other clone sat in a meditative pose, eyes closed. The ambient magic seemed to ebb and flow as he practiced magic circulation techniques. 

“El-Two came by for a delivery,” Elvis said. “She was insistent about you taking the package, not me.”

“What did you tell her?” Lukas asked.

“The truth, and she seemed genuinely excited for you.”

“Did you offer to take the package?”

The clone nodded, seeming amused. “Apparently, it was too precious and delicate for me.” El-One chuckled. “I’m too brawn over brains, heavy-handed, and don’t take things seriously.”

“It means you’re doing your job brilliantly.”

“Yes. yes. It’s easier to convince people that we’re two different people if you’re the one with brains, and I’ve got all the good looks.” El-One looked him up and down. “How do you feel, boss?”

“Incredible,” Lukas answered, grinning. “My magic stores are now double of when I first awakened the Soul Pillar.”

“Physiologically?”

“No different, unfortunately.”  Lukas closed his eyes and focused on his arcane senses. “There is something new, though. I can’t quite put my finger on… It’s arcane.” 

He raised his eyebrows as he saw something move even though his eyes were closed. It wasn’t sight but felt like more the glimmer of a sixth sense. 

“What is it, boss?” El-One asked.

Lukas tried creating an ordinary clone. Much to his annoyance, the magic demands were no different from before. 

El-Three stood at attention and saluted. “Reporting for du—”

Lukas dispelled him, absorbing most of the magic that formed his shell. “Get the lights, El-One. I think I need darkness.” The clone complied, and Lukas’s new sense sharpened. “Of course,” he whispered. “It’s shadows. I can feel them. The range is the same as Shadow Clone’s, but the sense is so much sharper when I’m standing in complete darkness.”

When Lukas used Shadow Clone again, his magic stores only dropped by half of the usual. The surrounding darkness seemed to come alive and assist him, interweaving with arcane energies. They wrapped around his soul fragment together, forming the shell.

“Good job, boss,” El-Three said. “Want me to—”

Lukas dispelled all the clones and took a few minutes to take in all of their energy. There was far more than his body could contain. The clones’ endless magic gathering and channeling practice paid off. Instead of letting the energy disperse, he poured into the creation of an arcane specialized clone. Ambient energies, shadows, and a third of his own stores came together to form the El-One. He was different. It wasn’t just magic that seemed to embrace him but also the shadows. Lukas also recreated another Elvis—high-mass with agility and flexibility empowerment.

“Do it,” Lukas ordered. “Create the mantle”

The clones complied. Surrounding shadows came alive and embraced El-One, wrapping around him like a second skin. It seemed to gain tangibility, lingering in a state that resembled black smoke. The mantle took the form of Lukas’s hooded coat, ending just below the knees. 

“Manipulate it. See if you can cover all of yourself.”

El-One had no trouble with the task. Instead of a garment, black coated every bit of exposed skin and the boots. He looked like a living shadow. Meanwhile, Elvis had a much lighter version of the mantle. It only coated his shirt and trousers. It looked like ripped fabric covered his neck and hands.

“It’s harder than it looks,” he said. 

“Are you due at the smithy today?”

Elvis nodded. 

“Go down early. Be the best employee you can be.” Lukas created a second Elvis. “Head to the arcane smithy near the temple district. They were looking for a new apprentice the last time I checked. Big lines three days in a row.”

“They seem harsh and exploitative,” the new Elvis complained. 

“Does it matter?” Lukas asked. “We’re only interested in stealing their secrets.”

“Can’t you just make me look a bit more different? Maybe bulky and high mass?”

“It won’t matter if he’s slow,” the other Elvis added. “The smithy will appreciate the extra strength. Add arcane gathering techniques and a little shadow show, getting in shouldn’t be easy.” He looked at his twin. “Assuming you don’t fuck up whatever test they give you, of course.”

“I’m only as good as you but better.”

After some thought, Lukas dispelled the second Elvis and made a second arcane specialization clone but with high mass. He moved with more gravitas than the others. Each of his steps was slow but loud. The clone had no trouble creating a full Shade’s Mantle but went one step further and pulled it under his clothes, making it disappear.

“Neat. Aren’t I?” The clone grinned.

“Show-off.” Elvis grinned.

“Run along, El-Three,” Lukas said.

“Yes, boss.”

Elvis and El-Three departed together. The first went out the door and the other through the window. Lukas didn’t expect a high-mass clone to smoothly move along the rooftops but was confident he wouldn’t hurt himself when just hopping down to ground level. He turned his attention to the new El-One. 

“Think you can try a shadow bolt or something?”

El-One held out his hand. Shadows tore themselves away from his sleeve and gathered in his hand in a tight, eyeball-sized sphere. The core was dense and reminded Lukas of the Essence of Phasing’s center. The darkness was so deep it appeared unreal. The edges were more wispy and smoky. 

Absolute absence of light.

“I don’t think I have enough skill to launch it,” El-One said, jaw clenched. It seemed he was struggling to contain the manipulated, shaped, and condensed shadow. Lukas touched it. After the initial surface tension, it was like he was immersing his finger in dense vapors. “I don’t think I can hold it for long.”

“Throw it then.”

Once Lukas pulled back, the clone threw the ball at the wall. It struck with a soft thud and then popped like a water balloon, and darkness burst from it, spreading along the surface. It lingered in a state between liquid and gas for just over five seconds before dissipating.

“Not a lot of force behind it,” the clone said. “It probably won’t do more than blind or confuse someone for a few seconds.”

“Often, that’s all the time we need,” Lukas said. “Good job. Your only job for the foreseeable future is practicing this and the recovery technique. Nothing else. We need shaping and manipulation of shadows to be so instinctual that even meathead clones can do it. Afterward, we’re going to work on adding solidity to those spheres.”

Lukas created a fourth clone. It had low mass and agility empowerment. El-Four summoned a light Shade’s Mantle and grabbed a buckler and mundane shortsword.

“Head to the eastern wall. Watch our old friend’s store. See what’s going on there. If possible, also check out the secret port. If saboteurs and enemy forces are creeping in through it, there is a chance they’re bringing in things worth stealing.”

“About time we expand our accommodation.” El-Four nodded. He raised his hood and covered his face using a shadow mask. It wasn’t as smooth or quick as when the arcane specialized clones did it. “Should I head to the guildhouse afterward? Kwame isn’t too busy today, and I think we’re comfortable enough to use Frar and Skina without the focus.”

“Good thinking,” Lukas nodded, stripping off the previous day’s dirty clothes. “I’ll get freshen up and get ready. It's time Penelope and I have a serious talk.”